Unitree humanoid robots (Photo/Unitree Robotics)

Chongqing - At the 2025 Spring Festival Gala, the Unitree humanoid robots, dressed in floral cotton jackets and performing traditional yangge dance with a handkerchief, went viral due to its smooth movements and precise AI interaction.

The company's G1 model saw a huge spike in popularity, with high daily rental prices and fully booked schedules in the rental market.

On February 12, Unitree Robotics launched its H1 and G1 humanoid robots for sale on JD.com. The G1 humanoid robot is priced at 99,000 yuan ($13,622), while the H1 is priced at 650,000 yuan.

Compared to the hefty price of the H1, many have focused their attention on the G1 robot. According to the official introduction, the Unitree G1 is 1.3 meters tall, has a maximum joint torque of 120N.m, and can perform high-difficulty movements such as single-leg jumps and 360-degree turns.

"I ordered three G1 robots, and after the humanoid robot became popular, I bought four more," said a business owner surnamed Jin in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, who offers G1 humanoid robot rentals. He started paying attention to humanoid robots at the end of last year, and after the Spring Festival Gala's surge in popularity, many customers began adding him on WeChat to inquire about rental options starting on the eighth day of the Chinese New Year.

Despite the rental price of 15,000 yuan per day, the enthusiasm to experience interaction with the robot hasn't waned. Within a month, aside from Zhejiang, Jin also received orders from Shanghai, Chongqing, Chengdu, and Jiangsu. "Now orders are booked until April 1. The money spent on purchasing the robots has already been recouped."

Businesses typically sign contracts with customers and send professional operators to handle the robots when providing rental services. The rental fee also includes robot transportation, setup, and on-site support.

"The price varies greatly depending on the city and the schedule. In Hangzhou, with plenty of available dates, the rental is 3,000 yuan per day. However, in more distant areas or with tight schedules, the price can go up to 10,000 or 20,000 yuan per day," said Zheng Huizhai, one of the heads of Lianbei (Hangzhou) Technology Co Ltd.

Zheng added that currently, most rental clients are companies involved in corporate displays, film shoots, and educational activities.

According to Yu Jian, General Manager of Zhejiang Jike Robot Technology Co Ltd, many people mistakenly think robot rentals started this year. In fact, the rental market for robots has been around for a long time. "From 2016 to 2018, the robot rental market was very profitable. The first wave of demand came from TV stations and real estate companies, and later, new energy vehicle companies got involved."

In Yu's view, the robot craze since this year's Spring Festival has brought the focus on robot manufacturing to a peak.

"It's not just companies that are interested in humanoid robots; individual buyers are also increasing. The most in-demand humanoid robots today are those with functional capabilities and large models, they can handle specific tasks. With technology advancing, maybe in 5 to 10 years, robots will be able to help with home care and cleaning," Yu said.

Wang Xingxing, CEO of Unitree Robotics, has stated earlier that AI-driven robots are evolving rapidly, with their progress often exceeding expectations. "By the end of this year, humanoid robots powered by AI will reach a new level. If everything goes smoothly, basic applications in service industries or manufacturing could take off by next year or the year after. However, for household use, the safety requirements are higher, so the technology still needs to be more mature."

(Tide News and Chengdu Economic Daily contributed to this report.)