Buying guide
Astribot S1 vs K2 Bumblebee in 2026
Comparing 2 humanoid robots across availability, pricing, capabilities, and verified deployments. Current as of 2026.
Key differences
- K2 Bumblebee has more verified real-world deployments (1 vs 0).
- Astribot S1 is at the research stage; K2 Bumblebee at the pilot stage.
| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Stardust Intelligence | Kepler Robotics |
| Form factor | humanoid | humanoid |
| Maturity | research | pilot |
| Autonomy | ◐ not independently verified | ◐ not independently verified |
| Availability | announced-no-dateannounced | shipping-nowshipping |
| Price | Not announced | $34,000 (actual sale price) |
| Capability claims |
|
|
| Brain | — | — |
| Verified deployments | 0 | 1Shanghai, China |
| Privacy practices | — | — |
| Sources on file | 6 | 7 |
Editorial summaries
Astribot S1
The Astribot S1, from China's Astribot (Shenzhen), is a research humanoid that drew wide attention for fluid bimanual manipulation demonstrations (folding clothes, pouring, handling objects). There is no verified consumer price or delivery date on record, and the manipulation footage is demonstration material, not evidence of verified autonomous deployment. DEPLOY classifies its maturity as research and applies verified-vs-claimed discipline: the demos are impressive claims; verified deployment and pricing are absent.
K2 Bumblebee
Kepler Robotics describes the K2 (Bumblebee) as commercially available and in mass production, priced at about $34,000 (RMB 248,000) per unit per the company's official announcement. Most volume is sold through enterprise framework agreements rather than individual retail. The price is verified from Kepler's own release.
Common questions
- What is the difference between Astribot S1 and K2 Bumblebee?
- Astribot S1 and K2 Bumblebee are both humanoid robots on the DEPLOY registry. They differ in maker, maturity, price, verified deployments, and how much of their autonomy is independently verified. See the table above for the full head-to-head; each figure is sourced.
- Is Astribot S1 or K2 Bumblebee more autonomous?
- On the DEPLOY registry, neither Astribot S1 nor K2 Bumblebee has capabilities independently verified as fully autonomous yet; their recorded capabilities are teleoperated-assisted, demonstrated, or vendor-claimed. See the table for each capability's verification status.
- Which has more verified deployments, Astribot S1 or K2 Bumblebee?
- K2 Bumblebee has more verified deployments (1) on the DEPLOY registry than Astribot S1 (0). DEPLOY counts a deployment only when confirmed at a named site with a primary source.
Recent coverage
- Video: Chinese startup unveils $13K humanoid robot for wider adoption - Interesting EngineeringAstribot S1 · Google News · 2026-05-28
- A-Share Company Controls Kepler, Is Humanoid Robot M&A "Opening"? - GasgooK2 Bumblebee · Google News · 2026-05-20
- Watch: Kepler's Bumblebee robot does welding like an industrial welder - India TodayK2 Bumblebee · Google News · 2026-05-12
- Astribot S1 Review: Price & Specs - RoboZapsAstribot S1 · Google News · 2026-02-02
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