Unitree Robotics launched the Dex5-S on September 21, 2026, a human-sized robotic hand with 22 degrees of freedom priced from $6,500, excluding tax and shipping, or from about RMB 39,900 in China. Unitree says all 22 joints are back-drivable and each has impact-torque protection.

The hand is sold as a component for developers and humanoid builders rather than as part of a new robot. Unitree has used low list prices to win buyers for its legged robots, and the Dex5-S applies the same approach to a component.

Key Facts

  • Launched September 21, 2026; priced from $6,500 excluding tax and shipping (about RMB 39,900)
  • 22 degrees of freedom in a 1:1 human-hand-sized, five-finger form
  • Every joint driven and back-drivable, with impact-torque protection (company-reported)
  • Predecessor Dex5-1 (May 2025): 20 DoF, of which 16 active and 4 passive; about 1 kg

What is new in the Dex5-S?

Unitree describes the Dex5-S as a 1:1 real-hand-size biomimetic hand with 22 degrees of freedom. Its predecessor, the Dex5-1, launched in May 2025 with 20 degrees of freedom, of which 16 were active and 4 passive. On the Dex5-S, Unitree says every degree of freedom is driven and back-drivable. Humanoid.guide’s product listing says each joint has its own back-drivable electric motor, with dual encoders reporting position, speed, torque and temperature, and that an optional Pro version is offered.

Back-drivable joints give way when an external force pushes on them instead of locking against it. For a hand that will strike objects, tables and people during teleoperation and data collection, that property and the per-joint torque limit are protection for the hardware as much as for anything it touches.

What has Unitree not disclosed?

As of September 22, 2026, Unitree had not published the Dex5-S’s weight, payload, grip force or fingertip repeatability, nor mounting, electrical and software documentation. It has not said whether the hand supports the optional 94-sensor tactile array offered on the Dex5-1P. Regional shipping dates and the contents of the base configuration are also unclear.

For reference, Robotics 24/7 reported the Dex5-1 at about 1 kg, with a payload of 7.7 to 8.8 lb depending on grip orientation and ±1 mm fingertip repeatability. Buyers comparing the two should not assume those figures carry over.

Why it matters

Hands and actuators make up about 70% of humanoid hardware cost, by the estimate cited in our coverage of Wonik Robotics, and the component market is filling with specialists: Korea’s Tesollo sells a 20-joint hand and is preparing an IPO, and Tacta Systems has taken the opposite approach, with a 15-DoF hand that has no motors inside it. A 22-DoF, fully actuated hand from Unitree at $6,500 sets a public price point that those companies will be measured against. The open question is durability under repeated contact, which a specification sheet cannot answer.

Frequently Asked

How much does the Unitree Dex5-S cost?

Unitree lists the Dex5-S from $6,500, excluding tax and shipping. Pandaily reports a China starting price of about RMB 39,900.

How many degrees of freedom does the Dex5-S have?

The Dex5-S has 22 degrees of freedom, and Unitree says all of them are driven and back-drivable. The earlier Dex5-1 had 20, of which 16 were active and 4 passive.

What does back-drivable mean for a robot hand?

A back-drivable joint yields when an outside force pushes on it rather than locking in place. Unitree pairs this with impact-torque protection on every joint of the Dex5-S to limit damage from collisions.

Does the Dex5-S have tactile sensors?

Unitree has not confirmed it. The earlier Dex5-1P offered an optional array of 94 force and temperature sensors, but Unitree has not said whether the Dex5-S supports it.

Sources & Further Reading