The FANUC CRX-25iA is the big-bicep option: 25 kg payload, long reach, and thrives in FANUC-heavy setups. 

RO1, meanwhile, doesn’t care what brand you’ve used before. It’s smarter, faster to deploy, and doesn’t hide behind integrator fees. 

FANUC’s CRX-25iA is made to slot into legacy systems. RO1 actually helps you escape them. If you’re picking a cobot in 2025, don’t let the sticker fool you. Let’s get into what matters.

FANUC CRX-25iA vs. RO1: A quick look

RO1 is the cobot for teams that want fast deployment, no-code programming, and ready-to-go integration with CNCs, conveyors, tool changers, and more. It works across use cases without locking you into a vendor playbook.

FANUC CRX-25iA fits best in facilities already running FANUC hardware. It offers a 25 kg payload and long reach, but expects your systems (and staff) to already speak FANUC fluently.

If you want high-payload compatibility inside a closed system, CRX-25iA is a solid pick. If you want flexible automation that won’t charge you for breathing, RO1 offers another option.

Quick comparison: CRX-25iA vs. RO1

Here’s how these two cobots stack up on paper. But keep reading, because specs alone don’t tell you how fast a robot actually gets working, or how much hand-holding it needs.

Brief background on RO1 and FANUC CRX-25iA

The FANUC CRX-25iA launched in 2022 as the highest payload model in the CRX line. It’s part of FANUC’s push to modernize its line of industrial collaborative robots without ditching its proprietary stack. With a 25 kg payload and 1.8 m reach, it’s a beast made for heavy lifting in tight workspaces.

RO1, from Standard Bots, hit the market in 2023 with a no-code interface, modular design, and AI-native control. All aimed at making high-tech a part of everyone’s playbook, not just big players. It supports machine tending, welding, QC inspection, packaging, pick-and-place, and a lot more.

RO1 vs. FANUC CRX-25iA: Feature-by-feature comparison

Payload

CRX-25iA lifts 25 kg, no surprises there, it says it in the name. It’s one of the strongest options in the FANUC cobots line, and it’s great if your automation work is closer to powerlifting than finesse.

RO1 tops out at 18 kg, which still covers 90% of use cases. Machine tending, tool swaps, pick-and-place, packaging, and more. And it’s not trying to pop a disc in the process.

Winner: CRX-25iA, if you're hauling bricks. But for everything else? RO1’s strength-to-flexibility ratio hits harder.

Reach

CRX-25iA reaches up to 1,889 mm. Big wingspan, great for palletizing, over-the-table work, or when your workbench setup refuses to cooperate.

RO1 hits 1,300 mm. Shorter, sure, but made to shine in tighter cells and agile setups.

Winner: CRX has the stretch. But if you don’t need reach for the sake of it, RO1’s footprint is easier to work with.

Repeatability

CRX-25iA lands at ±0.05 mm, which is totally fine for most assembly and packaging lines — but it’s not surgical.

RO1 fires at ±0.025 mm, which is CNC-grade precision. The kind that lets it hit the same bolt hole all shift long without drifting.

Winner: RO1, clearly. When the job calls for extra-close over power, it delivers. Take a look at why that matters.

Weight

CRX-25iA weighs 135 kg. Once it’s in place, it’s part of the building now, unless The Rock and Dave Bautista are part of your team. 

RO1 weighs 32 kg. Two people (or one person who lifts) and a reason to move it, and you’ve got a whole new line reconfigured before lunch.

Winner: RO1 wins portability by several weight classes.

IP rating

CRX-25iA’s IP67 means dust, water, and coolant spills can go cry in a corner.

RO1’s IP54 keeps it safe in most shops, unless your workspace looks like a car wash and a sandstorm had a baby.

Winner: CRX-25iA, if your floor is consistently hostile. Otherwise? Save the budget and go RO1. Alternative options — like the truth — are out there.

Programming

CRX-25iA uses a teach pendant with drag-and-drop controls. “Intuitive” if you’ve spent the last decade programming FANUC robots. If not, get ready to learn.

RO1? No code. No engineers. Just a touchscreen. Leo, a CNC operator with zero robotics experience, had it running faster than engineers wrestling UR arms. Not a joke.

Winner: RO1. If you can use a phone, you can run this cobot.

Price

CRX-25iA clocks in at $63,776. Not a guess, that’s the Qviro-listed number. And that’s before integration, setup, or whatever custom extras your distributor pitches. More pricing insights.

RO1? Roughly half that. List price: $37K, with full AI capability, no integrators, and real support.

Winner: RO1. You’re getting a smarter cobot at half the cost, with zero “call us for pricing” nonsense.

Maintenance

CRX-25iA says 8 years of no maintenance. And sure, that’s great, until it isn’t, and suddenly you’re on hold waiting for a FANUC-certified tech to show up.

RO1 is modular. Pop off a part, swap it, done. No service contracts, and no support reps gatekeeping your uptime.

Winner: RO1. It's not just fixable, it's fixable by you.

Ideal users

CRX-25iA fits best in FANUC-heavy factories, especially if you’re already living in their ecosystem and want something familiar, powerful, and a little unapproachable.

RO1 is for shops that don’t want to look over their robots’ shoulders. It plugs into whatever you’re running, doesn’t require tribal knowledge, and actually delivers that “smart factory” energy. If you're choosing right now, check out our guide.

Winner: CRX-25iA if you're a FANUC loyalist who needs reach and payload above all. RO1 if you care about fast setup, flexibility, and not feeling like you just bought a robot from 2008.

RO1’s AI-driven learning

Most cobots follow instructions. RO1 learns. Out of the box, it adapts to patterns, flags inefficiencies, and adjusts behaviors without you rewriting programs every five minutes.

Operators don’t need to code it. They teach it once, and RO1 optimizes from there. It identifies repeatable jobs, remembers sequences, and improves cycle timing over time. The AI running under the hood is on par with GPT-4, but tuned for manufacturing, not chatrooms.

That means faster job swaps, smarter error handling, and real on-the-fly adaptability. RO1 doesn’t just run automation — it gets better at it while it works.

More on what the AI actually does.

User reviews

FANUC CRX-25iA: What users think

We pulled real feedback from Qviro, where users rate industrial robots without the sugarcoating. Here’s the CRX-25iA, straight from the people using it.

Pros

• Big payload, no problem: Users consistently call out the 25 kg capacity as reliable and ideal for heavier handling jobs. One reviewer even said it “replaced two smaller cobots in a single application.”
  
  
• Works great if you're already using FANUC: If your factory runs on FANUC infrastructure, CRX-25iA fits right in. Setup’s smoother, programming's familiar, and support is built-in.
  
  
• Solid environmental protection: IP67 isn’t just for spec sheets. Reviewers say it holds up in dirty, wet, and coolant-heavy shops.

Cons

• Price surprise: At $63K+, several reviews flag the pricing as “high compared to similarly specced cobots.” Especially once integration gets factored in.
  
  
• Not for beginners: One user flat-out said, “It’s easy for a FANUC, but not easy.” New teams without prior robotics experience will likely hit a steep learning curve.
  
  
• Locked-in vibe: The CRX-25iA works best inside the FANUC ecosystem. Great if you're already there. Limiting if you’re not.

Punchline: If you’re already riding the FANUC cobots train, CRX-25iA fits like a glove. But if you’re starting fresh or want fast flexibility, the learning curve and price might hit harder than expected.

RO1: What users think

We pulled straight from actual deployments, Standard Bots’ CNC testimonial and Ultrafab’s case study. These are shops that don’t have time to baby robots, and don’t need a white paper to get things running.

Pros

• No-code means no stress: Leo had never touched a robot before. RO1 was live faster than the engineers using other brands. No joke. Just touchscreen, drag blocks, done.
  
  
• Deployment without the pain: Henry called it “a no-brainer.” They skipped the integrators entirely, just mounted it and got to work. No begging support for setup help.
  
  
• Affordable and scalable: Alan’s team used RO1 to create a second shift. It helped scale output from 1,500 to 6,000 parts per day, lights out. Now they’re planning three more.

Cons

• Don’t put it in a hurricane: It’s IP54, which is fine for 95% of shops, but not made for flood zones or slurry pits.
  
  
• It’s not a bench presser: If you’re regularly moving parts over 25 kg, RO1’s 18 kg limit won’t cut it. But it really handles pretty much what any regular shop floor will throw at it.
  
  

Punchline: If you want a cobot that actually shows up ready to work, RO1 delivers in spades. No integrator tax, no steep learning cliff, and no mystery pricing. And yes, actual operators like using it without having to call IT every two seconds. 

Summing up

The FANUC CRX-25iA is a strong, reliable pick. If you’re already in the FANUC game, need serious reach and payload, and don’t mind the classic cobot onboarding process.

On the other hand, RO1 skips all that bureaucratic jazz. RO1 deploys fast, doesn’t need an integrator, and actually improves with use thanks to its built-in AI. It’s the cobot you choose when your team wants modern automation that just works.

Choose FANUC CRX-25iA if ...

• Your floor already runs on FANUC hardware and software
• You need a 25 kg payload and IP67 durability
• Your tech team has the experience (and patience) for traditional programming
  
  

Choose RO1 if ...

• You want one-and-done setup without third-party installs
• You’re working across changing jobs, tools, or part types
• You want smarter automation, and fewer support calls

Next steps with Standard Bots’ robotic solutions

Ready to ditch rigid systems and overpriced setups? Standard Bots’ RO1 gives you a smarter six-axis way to automate. Fast deployment, no-code programming, and an AI brain that actually learns on the job.

• Affordable and adaptable: Costs half as much as traditional cobots, with a list price of $37K.
  
  
• Precision and power: Repeatability of ±0.025 mm and an 18 kg payload make it perfect for handling real work, from pick-and-place to tool changes and more.
  
  
• AI-driven simplicity: RO1 optimizes as it runs, cuts down cycle times, and learns without being told twice.
  
  
• Safety-first design: Collision detection and machine vision let RO1 work right next to your team — no cages, no problem. 

Schedule your risk-free, 30-day on-site trial today and see what fast, flexible automation actually looks like.

FAQs

1. What’s the best cobot for fast, flexible deployment without hiring an integrator?

RO1. It runs on no-code, touchscreen-based programming, sets up in hours (not weeks), and doesn't need you to call in outside help just to move it. You can go from unboxing to real production without ever opening a manual or a ticket.

2. Can the FANUC CRX-25iA integrate with other platforms besides FANUC?

Technically, yes, but it’s not exactly one-and-done. Most users say it works best in all-FANUC environments. Outside that? Get ready for more setup time and a few extra compatibility headaches.

3. Does RO1 support advanced tool changers and sensors?

Yes, and it doesn’t make it weird. RO1 auto-detects most accessories and lets you assign functions visually. No drivers, no code, no calling support to ask where the config file lives.

4. Is the CRX-25iA good for palletizing jobs?

Absolutely, that’s one of its best use cases. The 25 kg payload and 1,889 mm reach give it the strength and range to stack, shift, and move heavy units. 

5. How does RO1 handle job changes compared to other industrial collaborative robots?

RO1 loves flexibility. You don’t need to reprogram it from scratch every time you swap jobs, it learns patterns, adapts, and stores sequences for future reuse. Way less downtime, way more doing.