A humanoid robot seeks to retrieve items from a shelf at an industry fair in Shanghai on September 24, 2025. File photo: VCG

　　Driven by constant tech breakthroughs and growing market adoption, humanoid robots in China are undergoing a notable wave of price cuts this year.

　　Once high-threshold products costing hundreds of thousands of yuan, some robot models have now entered the 10,000-yuan range ($1,450). The industry"s focus has shifted from whether robots could be built to how quickly they will be snapped up by consumers, experts said.

　　Behind the falling prices is the steady expansion of real-world applications. From designing, manufacturing to being put on display in exhibition halls, humanoid robots are increasingly moving into our daily life.

　　During the May Day holidays, Unitree Robotics opened a store in a shopping mall in Beijing"s downtown Wangfujing Shopping Street, drawing large crowds. Many visitors tried operating the robots, asked staff about product details, and some placed orders on site. Some models are reportedly available for immediate pickup.

　　"The store only released promotional posters in advance, but the foot traffic and attention on the opening day exceeded expectations," store representative Sun Baoyan told the Global Times.

　　Changes on the consumer side are evident. Buyers are growing more price-conscious, with robots affordability and practicality becoming key priorities. Robot enthusiast Ding Liandong said that robot dogs used to cost between 60,000 yuan and 80,000 yuan a few years ago, and now, some entry-level robot models have dropped to just over 10,000 yuan, "making them affordable for ordinary families."