The buzzy Chinese startup EngineAI says its next-generation humanoid robot is an ultra-lightweight AI-powered social companion available at a price that undercuts the global competition.
The Shenzhen-based firm teased its new SA02 humanoid robot at the end of a marketing video promoting its presence at the 2025 World Robot Conference (WRC) in Beijing. According to EngineAI, the humanoid is intended as a social robot for young people, priced starting at $5,300 (¥38,500). EngineAI is apparently targeting Unitree’s new humanoid, the R1, which is available starting at $5,900.
A still image shows a silhouette of a humanoid figure with anime-like spiky hair, a slender build, and a confident pose. Standing 125 cm (4’1″), the SA02 weighs just 25 kg (55 lbs). The robot boasts a reported 26 degrees of freedom (DoF) and two in its fingers.
EngineAI says the new robot possesses a built-in large language model, high-fidelity speakers, and dual HD cameras for understanding and navigating its surroundings.
Robotics entrepreneur Zhao Tongyang launched EngineAI in 2023 after leaving the Shenzhen-based Xpeng, where he led the EV maker’s humanoid robotics program. EngineAI is now competing with Xpeng as the automotive manufacturer has begun using its flagship IRON humanoid robots in its showrooms and plans to scale production in 2026.
The SA02 follows EngineAI’s SA01, which was launched in July 2024 as an educational and research bot built from durable aluminum alloy. That robot featured an open-source architecture, reinforcement-learning control, and a highly competitive price around $5,400.
The company gained international recognition in October 2024 when it debuted its flagship full-sized robotic humanoid, the SE01, with a video showcasing its shockingly humanlike walking gait. They followed that with its scaled down robot, the PM01, which was priced under $15,000 to undercut Hangzhou-based Unitree’s then record-low price for its G1 humanoid.