DEPLOY

Buying guide

Atlas vs Adam in 2026

Comparing 2 humanoid robots across availability, pricing, capabilities, and verified deployments. Current as of 2026.

Key differences

On DEPLOY's record, Atlas is further along: at the pilot stage versus Adam at the research stage, as of 2026.

  • Atlas has more verified real-world deployments (3 vs 0).
  • Atlas is at the pilot stage; Adam at the research stage.
Attribute
Boston Dynamics all-electric Atlas humanoid robot in a test facility. Still from the official Boston Dynamics video "All New Atlas | Boston Dynamics" (2024).
AtlasView full model page →
Adam | Unity
AdamView full model page →
ManufacturerBoston DynamicsPNDbotics
Form factorhumanoidhumanoid
Maturitypilotresearch
Autonomy◐ not independently verified◐ not independently verified
Availabilityinternal-onlyenterprisepreorder-openpreorder
PriceNot announced$45,000 (manufacturer target)
Capability claims
  • Picks and packs (demo-only, demonstrated-once)
  • Picks and packs (claimed-only, claimed)
Brain—
Verified deployments30
Privacy practices——
Sources on file217

Track this matchup

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Atlas

Verified changes only. No press-release noise.

Adam

Verified changes only. No press-release noise.

Editorial summaries

Atlas

Atlas is the cohort's longest-running humanoid research platform, first unveiled (hydraulic) in 2013. Generation discipline matters here: the hydraulic Atlas was retired in 2024; the current electric Atlas, unveiled the same year, is the active research vehicle and inherits the lineage but not the deployment record.

Hyundai's 2020 acquisition reframes the economics: Atlas's pilot at Hyundai's Metaplant America is parent-corp R&D rather than arm's-length commercial pursuit, which keeps the maturity stage at research under DEPLOY's maker-facility rule. Boston Dynamics describes Atlas through research demonstrations; the engineering credibility is the deepest in the cohort, but commercial deployment at named third-party operators is not yet on the record.

Adam

Adam, from China's PNDbotics, is a full-size humanoid (~1.6-1.67 m, ~60-63 kg) in several variants (Adam Lite, Adam/Adam SP, the teleop/research Adam-U, Adam Pro), with quasi-direct-drive actuators and five-finger hands. The research-focused Adam-U is offered to research institutions on pre-order at about $45,000; other variants have no published consumer price.

DEPLOY classifies its maturity as research. A China deployment partnership (Tianyong) is stated, not yet a verified deployment.

Common questions

How do Atlas and Adam differ?
On DEPLOY's record, Atlas is further along: at the pilot stage versus Adam at the research stage, as of 2026. Atlas has more verified real-world deployments (3 vs 0). Atlas is at the pilot stage; Adam at the research stage.
What is the difference between Atlas and Adam?
Atlas and Adam 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 Atlas or Adam more autonomous?
On the DEPLOY registry, neither Atlas nor Adam 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, Atlas or Adam?
Atlas has more verified deployments (3) on the DEPLOY registry than Adam (0). DEPLOY counts a deployment only when confirmed at a named site with a primary source.

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Which humanoid robots can you actually buy in 2026?Answer The verified list.Humanoid robot prices: every verified figureAnswer The verified list.All humanoidsRegistry Every verified record in the category.AtlasModel The full model page.AdamModel The full model page.Boston DynamicsRecord The maker's verified record.

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