Humanoid robot rental prices fall as Chinese supply grows
Humanoid robot rental prices in China have fallen to advertised rates as low as 289 yuan (about $40) per day for some Unitree machines, according to Notebookcheck, citing reporting by Cailian. The report puts daily rates at around 2,000 to 3,000 yuan (about $300 to $450) in early 2026, followed by offers below 1,000 yuan (about $150). That compares with reported five figure yuan daily rates after Unitree’s appearance at China’s 2025 Spring Festival Gala drove a surge in demand. The lowest figure is a classifieds listing, not evidence of a standard market rate. The article does not specify what those offers include, such as transport or operator support.
More machines in circulation and a fading novelty premium are the report’s explanations for the decline. Public exposure has continued: Magic Atom, Unitree, Songyan Power and Galaxy General appeared at the 2026 gala. Rental services are also becoming more organized. Qingtianzu, described in the report as a dedicated robot rental platform, announced a seed funding round in January 2026. Its order volume reportedly grew about 30 percent in the first week of February compared with the previous period. No absolute order count or funding amount is provided, limiting what that growth figure says about the platform’s scale.
Lower rental charges reduce the upfront cost of trying a humanoid, particularly against the reported starting purchase price of 95,000 yuan (about $14,000) for a Unitree G1+. But inexpensive access is not evidence of productive automation. Notebookcheck describes rentals largely as opportunities to try the machines or use them as showpieces at festivals and exhibitions, and suggests idle time may be contributing to price pressure. The report provides no task completion rates, operating hours or customer productivity figures that would establish these rentals as a proven industrial service.
Source: Notebookcheck
