Humanoid Robot Pre-Order Guide: Who Accepts Deposits and Expected Lead Times

The Current State of Humanoid Robot Pre-Orders

The humanoid robotics sector is often mischaracterized as a consumer retail market. In reality, pre-orders for bipedal and quadrupedal humanoid platforms are primarily structured as engineering reservations, pilot deployment commitments, or B2B procurement agreements. Manufacturers rarely offer consumer-grade pre-orders with immediate fulfillment. Instead, deposits secure placement on a manufacturing queue, often accompanied by technical onboarding, site readiness assessments, and phased delivery schedules.

RobotWale grades availability claims using a strict hierarchy: shipping hardware takes precedence, followed by verified pilot deployments, and finally public announcements or concept reveals. This article adheres to that hierarchy and focuses exclusively on manufacturers accepting deposits or reservations for units that have passed initial engineering validation.

Grading by Maturity: Shipping Hardware, Pilots, and Announcements

Pre-order availability must be evaluated against the manufacturer's production stage. Rendered concepts, stage presentations, and roadmap slides do not constitute fulfillment capacity. The current landscape is divided into three tiers:

• Shipping Hardware (Tier 1): Platforms with documented unit deliveries, published spec sheets, and active manufacturing lines. These manufacturers accept formal purchase orders or engineering reservations.
• Pilot Deployments (Tier 2): Platforms operating in controlled industrial or research environments. Deposits may secure pilot slots, but full commercial delivery is contingent on site validation and performance benchmarks.
• Announcements & Reservations (Tier 3): Platforms with public roadmaps or concept demonstrations. Deposits at this stage are typically non-binding or refundable, with lead times ranging from 12 to 24 months.

Verified Pre-Order & Reservation Channels

Only a subset of humanoid manufacturers currently process formal deposits. The following entries are verified against manufacturer press releases, official store configurations, or independent logistics reporting.

Unitree Robotics (China)

Unitree is the only manufacturer currently operating a direct-to-customer and B2B storefront for production humanoid robots. The G1 (29-DOF, 22kg) and H1 (40-DOF, 47kg) units ship from Hangzhou. The G1 is priced at approximately $9,000 USD for the developer edition, with commercial variants ranging between $12,000 and $15,000 USD. Lead times are typically 8 to 12 weeks for stocked configurations, extending to 16 weeks for custom payloads or software stacks. Deposits are processed via the official Unitree store or authorized regional distributors.

Figure AI (United States)

Figure AI operates the Figure 01 and Figure 02 platforms. The company has secured pilot deployments with BMW Group, Amazon, and Hyundai. Figure 02 pricing is listed at $39,000 USD, but the company does not accept public pre-orders. Instead, deposits are processed through enterprise pilot agreements that require facility audits, safety certifications, and integration planning. Lead times for pilot hardware range from 6 to 10 months post-agreement.

Agility Robotics (United States)

Agility Robotics ships the Digit platform to logistics and manufacturing partners. Pricing is approximately $75,000 USD per unit. The company accepts formal purchase orders rather than consumer pre-orders. Lead times are 6 to 9 months depending on software configuration and warehouse integration requirements. Deployments have been verified at DHL and Amazon facilities.

Apptronik (United States)

Apptronik Apollo is positioned for commercial deployment in healthcare, logistics, and research. Pricing is reported in the $250,000 to $350,000 USD range for full commercial packages. The company processes reservations through enterprise sales channels. Lead times average 10 to 14 months. Apollo units have completed verified pilot deployments in partnership with Walmart and various academic institutions.

Tesla (United States)

Tesla Optimus remains in an internal pilot phase. The company has stated that production units will prioritize Tesla employees before external deployment. No public pre-order channel exists. Roadmap slides reference a target price near $20,000 USD, but this remains unverified and is not a formal pricing structure. Lead times cannot be estimated until pilot-to-production transition data is published.

India Availability, Import Logistics, and Landed Cost Estimates

India does not yet have an official humanoid robot import classification separate from industrial automation equipment. Units are typically cleared under HS Code 8479.50 (machines for assembly) or 8431.49 (parts for industrial robots). Importers must account for base customs duty (15%), IGST (18%), and anti-dumping or safeguard duties if applicable. Landed cost estimates for India are clearly flagged below and assume direct import via sea freight, standard documentation, and basic safety compliance.

• Unitree G1: Base price ~$9,000 USD. Landed India estimate: ₹12,00,000 to ₹14,50,000 (flagged as estimate). Available via direct import or authorized Indian distributors. Voltage compatibility: 230V/50Hz standard. Service network: Limited to tier-1 cities; third-party maintenance required.
• Unitree H1: Base price ~$20,000+ USD. Landed India estimate: ₹25,00,000 to ₹30,00,000 (flagged as estimate). Available via direct import. Requires industrial power conditioning and dedicated charging infrastructure.
• Agility Digit: Base price ~$75,000 USD. Landed India estimate: ₹90,00,000 to ₹1,05,00,000 (flagged as estimate). B2B procurement only. Import requires DGFT approval for advanced robotics equipment.
• Figure 02: Base price ~$39,000 USD. Landed India estimate: ₹55,00,000 to ₹65,00,000 (flagged as estimate). Enterprise pilot channel only. No retail availability.

Indian importers should verify DGFT notifications, BIS certification requirements for power systems, and state-level robotics incentives. Direct import bypasses distributor markup but shifts warranty, software localization, and spare parts logistics to the buyer.

Lead Times, Deposit Structures, and Fulfillment Realities

Pre-order lead times in the humanoid sector are dictated by supply chain constraints, software integration cycles, and site readiness assessments. Manufacturers typically structure deposits as follows:

• Refundable Engineering Deposits: 10% to 20% of unit price. Applied toward final invoice upon shipment. Common in Tier 1 and Tier 2 channels.
• Non-Refundable Pilot Commitments: 25% to 30% upfront. Covers facility audits, safety certification, and integration planning. Common in Tier 2 channels.
• Reservation Slots (Tier 3): $500 to $5,000. Often refundable or convertible to hardware upon production start. Subject to roadmap delays.

Lead times range from 8 weeks (stocked developer units) to 18 months (enterprise pilots). Delays are typically communicated via press releases or direct customer notifications. Buyers should request written fulfillment schedules, warranty terms, and software update commitments before depositing funds.

How to Verify Pre-Order Claims

The humanoid market contains numerous concept reveals and roadmap projections. RobotWale recommends the following verification protocol before engaging with any pre-order channel:

• Check Manufacturing Status: Request factory video footage, unit serial numbers, or third-party logistics documentation. Rendered concepts and stage slides do not indicate production capacity.
• Review Spec Sheets: Verify actuator types, battery capacity, payload ratings, and software stack compatibility against published technical documentation.
• Confirm Deployment History: Pilot deployments at recognized facilities (e.g., automotive plants, logistics hubs, research labs) carry more weight than internal testing videos.
• Validate Pricing Structure: Manufacturer press releases and official store pages are the only reliable pricing sources. Third-party listings often include unverified markups or speculative configurations.
• Assess India Support: Confirm local service partners, voltage compatibility, and spare parts availability. Importing without a verified support network increases operational risk.

Pre-orders in the humanoid sector are procurement tools, not consumer purchases. Deposits secure manufacturing slots, not immediate delivery. Buyers should treat them as engineering commitments requiring site preparation, safety compliance, and integration planning.

References

• Unitree Robotics Official Store: https://www.unitree.com
• Unitree G1 Technical Specifications: https://www.unitree.com/g1
• Figure AI Figure 02 Press Release: https://www.figure.ai
• Agility Robotics Digit Deployment Reports: https://www.agilityrobotics.com
• Apptronik Apollo Commercial Specifications: https://www.apptronik.com
• Tesla Optimus Production Updates: https://www.tesla.com/optimus
• DGFT Robotics Import Guidelines: https://dgft.gov.in
• Independent Logistics Reporting: https://www.reuters.com/technology/robotics