Chinese Humanoid Robot Comparison: EngineAI PM01 vs. Unitree G1 vs. AgiBot Lingxi X2

Updated: March 22 2025 11:32
The robotics landscape is witnessing an extraordinary evolution in recent months, with Chinese companies at the forefront of humanoid robot development. Robot demonstrations from EngineAI, Unitree, and AgiBot showcase remarkable advances in mobility, balance, and adaptability that were unimaginable just a few years ago. From executing perfect dance routines to mastering martial arts moves, these robots are blurring the lines between mechanical precision and human-like fluidity. Here is a table comparising these 3 humanoid robots:



EngineAI's latest showcase has captured global attention with its PM01 humanoid robot performing the iconic "Axe Gang" dance from Stephen Chow's cult classic "Kung Fu Hustle." After rigorous training sessions with professional choreographers, PM01 has achieved a level of precision that allows it to execute every move from the film with eerie accuracy.

📡 When Robots Dance Like "Axe Gang": EngineAI Redefined Robot "Soul" 🕺

After last month's viral "robot front-flip," 🔥we're back with new moves—merging advanced robotics and Hong Kong cinema flair, sparking "encore!" from fans and engineers alike. pic.twitter.com/9IymvwaE7j

— EngineAI (@engineairobot) March 16, 2025

"Now, We're back with new actions—this time merging hardcore robotics with Hong Kong cinema nostalgia in a way that's making engineers and movie fans scream encore," reads the company's video description.


This cinematic demonstration follows PM01's February breakthrough when it became the first humanoid robot to successfully perform a front flip—a feat requiring extraordinary balance and coordination.



Standing at 1.38 meters (4.5 feet) tall and weighing 88 pounds (40 kilograms), the PM01 is designed as a more compact version of EngineAI's flagship SE01 humanoid. The robot features:

• 0.01-second precision in joint control for dynamic movements
• Force-controlled arms enabling fluid, natural motion
• 24 degrees of freedom (DoF) for lifelike walking patterns
• 320-degree waist rotation capability
• An aluminum alloy exoskeleton balancing durability and agility
• Intel RealSense depth camera for advanced visual perception
• Dual-chip system combining NVIDIA Jetson Orin and Intel N97 CPUs
• High-capacity quick-release battery offering up to two hours of operation

The PM01 is priced at ¥88,000 (approximately $12,000) for business and education versions—positioning it $3,000 below Unitree's competing G1 humanoid.


Meanwhile, Unitree Robotics continues to demonstrate the impressive capabilities of its G1 humanoid robot. In a recent 15-second clip, the G1 displays remarkable agility by kicking a baton from a human's hand while executing a complete 720-degree turn.


This follows earlier demonstrations of the G1 attempting to master kung-fu moves, showcasing Unitree's continuous algorithm upgrades that enhance the robot's balance and expand its range of motion. The G1 specifications include:

• 23 degrees of freedom for enhanced coordination and flexibility
• Compact design at 4.33 feet tall (1.32 meters) and 77 lbs (35 kg)
• 3D LiDAR and RealSense depth camera for environmental awareness
• 9,000-mAh quick-release battery with two-hour operation time
• Walking speeds of up to 2 m/s (4.5 mph)

Here is another video showing the challenging robot standing side flip:







There are several interesting observations about how these two advanced humanoid robots compare:

• Motor Performance: The PM01 showcases impressive motor specifications with a maximum joint torque of 140 N·m compared to the G1's 90-120 N·m. This higher torque capacity likely contributes to the PM01's ability to perform more demanding movements like frontflips.
• Joint Motion Range: While both robots offer extensive joint motion ranges, they differ in specific articulations. The PM01's waist can rotate from -230° to 90° (a 320° range), while the G1's waist offers ±155° (a 310° range). These differences suggest optimization for different types of movements.
• Battery Capacity: The PM01 edges out the G1 with a 10,000 mAh battery versus the G1's 9,000 mAh, though both offer approximately 2 hours of operation time.
• Physical Dimensions: The PM01 is slightly taller (1.388m vs 1.32m) and has a larger footprint than the G1, with longer limbs (0.69m vs 0.6m leg length, 0.49m vs 0.45m arm span), potentially giving it different leverage capabilities.
• Educational Focus: Both companies offer education versions with enhanced capabilities, including optional NVIDIA Jetson Orin modules and additional sensors, highlighting the importance of these platforms for research and development.
• Unique Technological Approaches: The specification for "Force Control Accuracy" (5%) in the PM01 suggests a focus on precise movement control, while the G1's emphasis on "Full joint hollow electrical routing" indicates a different approach to internal design and cable management.
• Speed Parity: Both robots can achieve speeds of up to 2 m/s, suggesting a current technical limitation or benchmark for bipedal locomotion in humanoid robots of this size class.
• Market Positioning: The price difference ($12,000 for PM01 vs $16,000 for G1) combined with the technical specifications indicates different target markets, with PM01 possibly targeting a wider commercial audience while G1 focuses on higher-end research applications.

This comparison reveals the rapid development in humanoid robotics, with Chinese companies establishing different technical priorities and design philosophies while pushing the boundaries of what these systems can achieve. The specialization between entertainment/performance capabilities (PM01), research expandability (G1 EDU), and zero-training intelligence (X2) represents different visions for the future of humanoid robotics.


Taking a different approach, AgiBot's Lingxi X2 demonstrates how AI is transforming robotics beyond just physical capabilities. This 1.3-meter tall humanoid weighing 74.6 pounds can walk, run, dance, ride scooters, and even cycle—all while exhibiting advanced interaction capabilities.


What sets the X2 apart is its use of the Genie Operator-1 (GO-1) AI model, which enables "zero-sample generalization." This revolutionary approach allows the robot to manage objects and perform basic tasks without prior training, examining facial expressions and vocal tones to identify emotional states and respond appropriately.


AgiBot World GO-1 Technical Paper: AgiBot World Colosseo: Large-scale Manipulation Platform for Scalable and Intelligent Embodied Systems. The GO-1 AI model represents a significant breakthrough in robot learning:

• It processes both visual and language inputs for improved decision-making
• Uses "latent actions" to comprehend movement by analyzing past and current frames
• Implements a denoising technique to produce precise action sequences
• Outperformed state-of-the-art models in tests, boosting success rates from 46% to 78%

A fascinating aspect of these advancements is how the robots learn their impressive moves. Unitree's approach begins in Nvidia's Isaac Simulator, where robots like the G1 master complex behaviors through reinforcement learning before any physical prototype is built. Here are the official open source modules from Unitree.

The company has also released an open-source full-body dataset to enhance natural movement across its humanoid robot line. Captured with LAFAN1 motion capture technology, this dataset improves flexibility and coordination for more human-like motions.


AgiBot takes a different approach with its GO-1 model, which can learn from both human and robotic data. This allows it to adapt to new tasks and continuously improve in real-world settings without extensive pre-training.

EngineAI's PM01, meanwhile, perfected its cinematic dance moves through direct training sessions with professional choreographers, combining hardware precision with human artistic direction.


While these demonstrations capture attention through entertainment value, the underlying technologies point toward practical applications. Unitree envisions its G1 for challenging, repetitive tasks in homes, factories, and hospitals—positioning humanoid robots as practical work companions.

AgiBot's X2 is being positioned for multiple functions including housekeeping, cleaning, and security, with customization options for healthcare and education sectors.

EngineAI's robots are reportedly being tested by Shenzhen's police department as part of an initiative integrating artificial intelligence into law enforcement.


China's robotics industry has reached a significant milestone as the country's National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has introduced a new data category specifically tracking "service robots" in its monthly industrial output reports. This addition highlights the growing importance of robotics beyond traditional industrial applications and provides valuable insights into China's rapidly evolving tech ecosystem.

The recent NBS data revealing a remarkable 35.7% increase in service robot production during the first two months of 2025, reaching nearly 1.5 million units. This growth significantly outpaces even the impressive 27% year-over-year increase seen in industrial robot production, which reached 91,088 units in January and February. According to NBS statistician Sun Xiao, the combined output from both robot segments, along with industrial control computers and systems, contributed to a 9.1% growth in the added value of digital product manufacturing.

The Chinese government has demonstrated strong commitment to developing the robotics sector. During the recent "two sessions" annual meetings of China's top legislature and advisory body, the concept of "embodied intelligence" was mentioned for the first time in the government's work report. This term refers to the application of artificial intelligence in physical systems like robots, signaling increased focus on this strategic technology area.


The rapid advancement of humanoid robotics in China represents a significant shift in the global robotics landscape. What began as experimental platforms has evolved into commercially viable products with increasingly sophisticated capabilities. The specifications of the PM01, G1, and Lingxi X2 reveal distinct market approaches:

• Performance-Oriented Systems: EngineAI's PM01 prioritizes movement precision and entertainment applications, evidenced by its high joint torque (140 N·m), extensive motion range, and demonstration of complex movements like frontflips and choreographed dances.
• Research and Development Platforms: Unitree's G1 EDU variant, with its expandable degrees of freedom (up to 43) and optional components like dexterous hands, targets academic and industrial research applications where customization is essential.
• Everyday Assistance Focus: AgiBot's Lingxi X2, with its zero-training generalization capabilities, appears oriented toward practical everyday tasks and human-robot interaction scenarios.

This segmentation indicates a maturing market where manufacturers are identifying specific use cases rather than pursuing general-purpose humanoids, allowing for optimization of designs for particular applications. The growth of this sector is driving specialized component manufacturing and ecosystem development in supply chain development. As these technologies continue to mature, we can expect:

• Increased Specialization: Further differentiation between platforms optimized for specific applications rather than general-purpose systems.
• Deeper AI Integration: More sophisticated learning algorithms that enable adaptation to new tasks and environments with minimal programming.
• Enhanced Physical Capabilities: Continued improvements in strength-to-weight ratios, energy efficiency, and dexterity.
• Expanded Ecosystem: Growth of supporting technologies, including specialized components, development tools, and application frameworks.
• Broader Adoption: Movement beyond research and demonstration into practical, everyday applications across multiple sectors.

The competition between these platforms and approaches will drive innovation, reduce costs, and ultimately accelerate the integration of humanoid robots into our daily lives. While significant challenges remain—particularly in power management, advanced dexterity, and natural interaction—the trajectory is clear: humanoid robotics is transitioning from science fiction to practical reality in the not too distant future.