Unitree’s H1 humanoid robot is back on top. Or is it?
The Chinese robotics leader just shared footage of its full-sized humanoid to reclaim the title for fastest humanoid on two feet. The robot first broke a record for running speed in March 2024, clocking in at 12 km/h (7.5 mph). The previous fastest bipedal humanoid was likely Boston Dynamics’ hydraulic Atlas, though the Massachusetts robotics leader never declared it.
The H1 remained the fastest humanoid for just 6 months until Beijing’s RobotEra ran away with the title at 3.6 m/s (8 mph). Several other Chinese firms have since declared faster speeds, including Tien Kung from the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Center (also known as X Humanoid) and Bolt from Shanghai-based MirrorMe, which reported its top speed as 10 m/s (22 mph) in February 2026.
That’s the same benchmark that Unitree’s H1 just hit. However, the H1 likely takes the edge as its top speed was achieved in real-world conditions while Bolt used a treadmill.
The robots are likely preparing for the 2nd annual Humanoid Robot Half Marathon in Beijing’s E-Town.