Phoenix vs CL-1: Specs, Price & ROS Support Compared (2023)
Sanctuary AI vs LimX Dynamics — independent, side-by-side analysis.
Quick Verdict
Phoenix leads in more DOF, while CL-1 leads in faster speed. The two robots are evenly matched, each excelling in different areas.
Phoenix
Sanctuary AI
CL-1
LimX Dynamics
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Phoenix CL-1
Specifications
Contact (enterprise). Phoenix Gen 8 still in development; since mid-2026 Sanctuary also sells its Carbon control software on third-party industrial robotsPricePrototype (2023), never sold; superseded by CL-3 / Oli (full-size humanoid now sold on limxdynamics.com)
170 cmHeight157 cm
70 kgWeight—
41DOF20
25 kgPayload—
—Runtime—
0.83 m/sSpeed1.11 m/s
YesStairsYes
NoLiDARYes
Carbon AI system (Microsoft Azure)ComputeN/A
Ecosystem Openness
8
Phoenix
/100
—
CL-1
Carbon AI fully proprietary. Microsoft Azure backend.
Pros and cons at a glance
Phoenix
Pros
- High rated payload (25 kg) for industrial pick-and-place
- 41 degrees of freedom — full-body articulation
Cons
- Still in development, no commercial availability
- Unit price not publicly disclosed (quote-on-request or enterprise-only)
- Closed software stack — no public SDK or ROS support
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 Phoenix and CL-1 compare on price?
Phoenix: Contact (enterprise). Phoenix Gen 8 still in development; since mid-2026 Sanctuary also sells its Carbon control software on third-party industrial robots. CL-1: Prototype (2023), never sold; superseded by CL-3 / Oli (full-size humanoid now sold on limxdynamics.com).
Is Phoenix or CL-1 actually available to buy?
Phoenix is in active development without commercial availability. 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.
Which is better for ROS-based development: Phoenix or CL-1?
Phoenix has no ROS support; CL-1 has ROS 1 only. For research and multi-vendor robotics stacks, native ROS 2 is the strongest signal of ecosystem maturity.
Does Phoenix or CL-1 use LiDAR?
CL-1 ships with LiDAR for depth sensing; Phoenix does not. LiDAR adds cost and complexity but improves obstacle detection in low-light or low-contrast environments.
Last updated: 2023