just announced its most capable robot. Now the only thing missing is that there is demand

The Chinese company Unitree Robotics just presented the H2its most advanced humanoid robot to date. At 180 centimeters tall and weighing 70 kilograms, this model is getting closer and closer to that preconceived idea we have about robots that we have seen so much in fiction. Perhaps the most striking thing about his announcement is his presentation video, where we see him dancing, dressed and even with a humanized face.

A robot that dances and does kung-fu. Demo images show the H2 performing complex dance and martial arts sequences with surprising fluidity. The robot maintains balance naturally, makes smooth transitions between movements and demonstrates remarkably organic limb articulation. Although Unitree has not revealed all the technical specifications, previous leaks They pointed out that the H2 would have 31 degrees of freedom, compared to the 23 of its predecessor.

The legacy of the H1. Unitree’s previous model, the H1, achieved widespread fame after appearing at the 2024 Spring Festival Gala in China, where its Yangko dancing performance went viral both inside and outside the country. With that robot, China had achieved its first full-size model capable of running, setting a world record reaching 3.3 meters per second, even with peaks with the potential to exceed 5 m/s. Equipped with 3D LiDAR and depth cameras that provided 360° spatial perception, the H1 weighed just 47 kilograms and was powered by a swappable 864 Wh battery.

From the workshop to the living room. The H2 represents a new level with respect to industrial robotics that China already dominates. The Asian country installed nearly 300,000 industrial robots in 2024more than the rest of the world combined, according to the International Federation of Robotics. However, humanoid robots like the H2 remain a bet for the future with sales still marginal. The Chinese startup ecosystem focused on humanoid robotsdriven largely by state policy, seeks to continue evolving in this field so that the country also scores the same in this sector.

A two-speed strategy. Unitree is committed to covering the entire spectrum of the market. While the H2 represents its high-end offering aimed at advanced industrial and commercial applications, the company also recently launched the R1, a 1.2-meter robot designed for developers and researchers at a somewhat more accessible price. In fact, the R1 was recognized by Time magazine as one of the best inventions of 2025. They are two models that reflect Unitree’s efforts to become known in the world of robotics, at the level of large American manufacturers such as Boston Dynamics.

And now what. The real challenge is not only technical, but commercial. China has demonstrated its ability to develop increasingly sophisticated humanoid robots, but the real test will come when practical large-scale applications have to be found that justify the investment. Unitree CEO Wang Xingxing confirmed at the beginning of the year at the Hangzhou World Digital Commerce Exhibition that this model was planned for the second half of 2025. The schedule has been met. Now it’s time to see how the market reacts.

Cover image | Unitree

In Xataka | With AI, Microsoft has once again insisted that we talk to our computer: experience says that we don’t feel like it