Tesla Optimus Gen 3: What We Know
Faster, lighter, and closer to mass production than anyone expected.
Expected Gen 3 Specs
| Spec | Gen 2 (Current) | Gen 3 (Expected) |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 5'8" | 5'8" |
| Weight | 125 lbs | ~110 lbs |
| Walking Speed | 5 mph | 7+ mph |
| Payload | 20 lbs | 40+ lbs |
| Battery Life | ~4 hours | 8+ hours (projected) |
| Degrees of Freedom | 28 | 40+ (rumored) |
| Hands | 11 DOF per hand | 22 DOF per hand (human-like) |
| Production Cost Target | ~$20K | Under $15K |
What's New
The hands are the breakthrough
Gen 2's hands can sort batteries and pick up eggs. Gen 3's hands are expected to match human dexterity — folding laundry, turning screwdrivers, handling irregular objects. This is the difference between a factory demo and a useful worker.
Dojo-trained AI
Gen 3 will run on neural networks trained on Tesla's Dojo supercomputer at Gigafactory Austin. The same AI architecture that powers Full Self-Driving, adapted for bipedal robotics.
Mass production design
Every Gen 3 design decision is about manufacturability. Tesla wants to build these at car-factory scale: thousands per month, not dozens.
Timeline
Elon has said Optimus will be "available for purchase" by 2027. Gen 3 prototypes are expected at Tesla's next product event. Factory deployment (Tesla's own factories first) likely begins late 2026.
Compare all humanoid robots: Robot News Today has the full comparison table.