Sophia vs CL-1: Specs, Price & ROS Support Compared (2023)
Hanson Robotics vs LimX Dynamics — independent, side-by-side analysis.
Quick Verdict
Sophia leads in more DOF. Overall, Sophia has an edge in 1 out of 1 compared categories.
Sophia
Hanson Robotics
CL-1
LimX Dynamics
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Sophia CL-1
Specifications
Contact (R&D version available)PricePrototype (2023), never sold; superseded by CL-3 / Oli (full-size humanoid now sold on limxdynamics.com)
167 cmHeight157 cm
20 kgWeight—
83DOF20
1.2 kgPayload—
—Runtime—
—Speed1.11 m/s
NoStairsYes
NoLiDARYes
Intel Core i7, 32 GB RAMComputeN/A
Ecosystem Openness
40
Sophia
/100
—
CL-1
Hanson AI SDK + OpenCog. Ubuntu. Partial ROS. Niche community.
Pros and cons at a glance
Sophia
Pros
- Shipping to customers (verified commercial availability)
- 83 degrees of freedom — full-body articulation
Cons
- Unit price not publicly disclosed (quote-on-request or enterprise-only)
- Low rated payload (1.2 kg) — research or light-handling tasks only
- Cannot navigate stairs — restricts deployment environments
CL-1
Pros
- Ships with LiDAR for robust depth sensing in low-light environments
Cons
- Discontinued by the manufacturer
- Unit price not publicly disclosed (quote-on-request or enterprise-only)
Frequently asked questions
How do Sophia and CL-1 compare on price?
Sophia: Contact (R&D version available). CL-1: Prototype (2023), never sold; superseded by CL-3 / Oli (full-size humanoid now sold on limxdynamics.com).
Is Sophia or CL-1 actually available to buy?
Sophia is shipping to customers. CL-1 has been discontinued. Status reflects the vendor's published commercial position as of the last review and can change between announcement and actual delivery.
Does Sophia or CL-1 use LiDAR?
CL-1 ships with LiDAR for depth sensing; Sophia does not. LiDAR adds cost and complexity but improves obstacle detection in low-light or low-contrast environments.
Last updated: 2023