Dobot cobots have become one of the most searched cobot brands in the UK used market, and for good reason: the CR series offers competitive specifications at a price point that undercuts most European and American rivals by a meaningful margin. Whether you are a UK SME weighing up your first cobot purchase or a procurement manager looking to stretch a fixed automation budget, the Dobot lineup deserves a serious look in 2026.
This guide covers every current Dobot model with UK pricing for both new and used units, explains what to check when buying used, and directly compares the CR5 against Universal Robots and ABB at the same payload class. It is written for buyers, not engineers: the goal is to help you decide whether Dobot is the right choice for your application, and if so, which model to buy.
> Quick answer: The Dobot CR5 is the best value 5 kg cobot available in the UK in 2026 for buyers who do not need the Universal Robots integrator ecosystem. New units cost £16,000 to £20,000; used CR5 cobots in good condition with documentation sell for £12,000 to £18,000. For desktop automation at very low cost, the Dobot MG400 is the standout option at £2,000 to £3,500 used. The CR series is CE marked and ISO compliant. The main trade-off versus Universal Robots is a smaller UK integrator network.
The Dobot Lineup: Every Current Model Explained
Dobot makes collaborative robots at four distinct price and capability tiers. Understanding where each model sits helps you narrow the field quickly.
Dobot MG400
The MG400 is a compact 4-axis desktop arm aimed at tabletop automation. It has a 0.75 kg payload and a 440 mm reach, which makes it unsuitable for anything requiring meaningful force or a large working envelope. Its value lies in its price: new units start at approximately £3,000, and used MG400 arms sell for £2,000 to £3,500 in the UK.
The MG400 is ROS-compatible and supports Python and C++ APIs, which makes it popular in university research environments and for product prototyping. For commercial production use, its payload is a hard constraint: it is genuinely only suitable for very light pick-and-place, soldering, dispensing, and similar bench-scale tasks. It is not a substitute for a full collaborative arm.
Dobot M1 Pro
The M1 Pro is a 4-axis SCARA-style arm with a 1.5 kg payload and 400 mm reach. It is positioned for electronics assembly and small-part handling where speed and repeatability matter more than flexibility. Repeatability is quoted at 0.02 mm, which is among the tightest specifications in its class. New pricing in the UK sits around £6,000 to £8,000. Used units are uncommon at this point, as the M1 Pro has not been widely deployed long enough to generate significant secondary supply.
Dobot Nova 2 and Nova 5
The Nova series represents Dobot's entry into 6-axis collaborative arms designed for lighter commercial applications. The Nova 2 has a 2 kg payload and 700 mm reach; the Nova 5 has a 5 kg payload and 800 mm reach. Both are priced below the CR series and use a simplified controller to keep costs down.
New Nova 2 units sell for approximately £10,000 to £13,000 in the UK; Nova 5 units for approximately £13,000 to £16,000. The Nova series trades some of the CR series' robustness and controller capability for lower entry cost. For straightforward applications where the reduced I/O and simplified controller are not a limitation, the Nova 5 in particular offers a credible option. The Nova series is CE marked.
Dobot CR3
The CR3 is the entry-level model in the CR series proper: 3 kg payload, 700 mm reach, 6 axes. It is CE marked and carries the full CR series safety certification. New pricing is approximately £14,000 to £18,000 in the UK. Used CR3 units, where available, sell for around £9,000 to £14,000.
The CR3 suits applications where the 3 kg payload is sufficient and budget is tight. Its 700 mm reach is limiting for anything other than compact workcells. For buyers with more flexibility on payload, stepping up to the CR5 is usually worth the additional cost.
Dobot CR5
The CR5 is the model most UK buyers should start their Dobot research with. It has a 5 kg payload, 910 mm reach, and 6 axes, and it hits the sweet spot between capability and cost that makes it genuinely competitive against Universal Robots and ABB at the same payload class. New CR5 units sell for approximately £16,000 to £20,000 in the UK. Used units in good condition with documentation sell for £12,000 to £18,000.
The CR5 is CE marked, complies with ISO 10218-1 and ISO 10218-2, and meets EN ISO 13849 safety requirements. It comes with Dobot's Studio programming environment and supports Modbus TCP, EtherNet/IP, and PROFINET communication protocols.
For UK SMEs in electronics assembly, laboratory automation, light manufacturing, and product testing, the CR5 is the most cost-effective capable cobot available on the UK market in 2026.
Dobot CR10
The CR10 has a 10 kg payload and 1,350 mm reach, targeting applications where the CR5's payload is insufficient. New pricing in the UK is approximately £24,000 to £30,000. Used CR10 units are less common than CR5 units but do appear through specialist dealers, typically at £16,000 to £22,000.
The CR10 competes directly with the Universal Robots UR10e at a lower price point, though the UR10e has a significantly stronger used market and wider integrator support in the UK.
Dobot CR16
The CR16 is Dobot's heaviest-payload collaborative arm: 16 kg payload, 1,000 mm reach, 6 axes. It is designed for palletising, heavy assembly, and machine tending tasks where lighter cobots are insufficient. New UK pricing is approximately £35,000 to £42,000. The CR16 is less commonly seen on the UK used market given its more recent introduction and more specialised application profile.
Dobot Price Comparison Table: UK New and Used Prices 2026
| Model | Payload | Reach | New (UK) | Used (UK) | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MG400 | 0.75 kg | 440 mm | ~£3,000 | £2,000-3,500 | Desktop, bench automation |
| M1 Pro | 1.5 kg | 400 mm | ~£6,000-8,000 | Uncommon | Electronics assembly, SCARA tasks |
| Nova 2 | 2 kg | 700 mm | ~£10,000-13,000 | £7,000-10,000 | Light 6-axis tasks, cost-driven |
| Nova 5 | 5 kg | 800 mm | ~£13,000-16,000 | £9,000-13,000 | Light SME applications |
| CR3 | 3 kg | 700 mm | ~£14,000-18,000 | £9,000-14,000 | Compact workcells, light pick-and-place |
| CR5 | 5 kg | 910 mm | ~£16,000-20,000 | £12,000-18,000 | SME general automation, best value |
| CR10 | 10 kg | 1,350 mm | ~£24,000-30,000 | £16,000-22,000 | Heavier assembly, machine tending |
| CR16 | 16 kg | 1,000 mm | ~£35,000-42,000 | Uncommon | Palletising, heavy tasks |
Prices are indicative based on distributor quotes and used market listings observed in 2026. Used prices assume good condition with full documentation.
Dobot CR5 vs Universal Robots UR5e vs ABB GoFa
The most relevant comparison for most UK buyers considering the CR5 is against the Universal Robots UR5e and the ABB GoFa CRB 15000. All three are 5 kg payload collaborative arms, and all three are CE marked and ISO compliant. Here is how they compare on the dimensions that matter most.
Price
The CR5 is the cheapest of the three, both new and used. A new UR5e costs approximately £22,000 to £28,000 in the UK; the ABB GoFa CRB 15000-5 sits at approximately £25,000 to £32,000 new. The CR5 undercuts both by £5,000 to £12,000 new. On the used market, the UR5e has the deepest supply and correspondingly the widest price range: well-maintained used UR5e units sell from £8,000, which can bring the UR5e below CR5 used pricing for buyers who are patient. ABB GoFa used units are rare and do not yet offer meaningful secondary market savings.
Integrator network in the UK
Universal Robots has by far the strongest integrator presence in the UK. Hundreds of certified UR integrators operate across the UK, and the PolyScope ecosystem has had more than a decade to mature. Finding local support, training, and programming expertise for a UR cobot is straightforward.
Dobot's UK integrator network is smaller and less mature. Dobot has a growing European partner network based out of Germany, and UK distributors do offer integration services, but the depth and geographic coverage are not comparable to UR at this stage. For buyers who need a complex integration with custom vision, force sensing, or tight MES integration, this is a real consideration.
ABB's GoFa is supported through ABB's own service network, which is strong in the UK for industrial robots but less focused on the collaborative robot SME segment than UR's ecosystem.
Programming and ease of use
Universal Robots' PolyScope is the benchmark for cobot programming ease. Its teach-by-demonstration interface and graphical program editor allow non-specialists to create and modify programs with minimal training. This is a genuine competitive advantage for SMEs who want to handle day-to-day reprogramming in-house.
Dobot's Studio programming environment is competent and improving with each software release, but it has not reached the same level of ecosystem maturity or third-party app support as PolyScope. For buyers who are comfortable with a learning curve or who will rely on an integrator for programming, this is a manageable trade-off. For buyers who specifically want internal staff to handle all programming without specialist support, UR's tooling remains the stronger choice.
ABB's GoFa uses ABB's RAPID programming language and Wizard easy programming interface. RAPID is powerful but has a steeper learning curve than PolyScope. The Wizard interface simplifies this for basic tasks, but it does not match UR's depth of no-code capability.
Summary comparison
| Factor | Dobot CR5 | UR5e | ABB GoFa CRB 15000-5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| New price (UK) | £16,000-20,000 | £22,000-28,000 | £25,000-32,000 |
| Used price (UK) | £12,000-18,000 | £8,000-15,000 | Uncommon |
| Payload | 5 kg | 5 kg | 5 kg |
| Reach | 910 mm | 850 mm | 950 mm |
| UK integrator network | Developing | Extensive | Strong (industrial) |
| Ease of programming | Good | Excellent | Moderate |
| CE marking | Yes | Yes | Yes |
The CR5 wins on headline hardware price. The UR5e wins on ecosystem depth and used market availability. The ABB GoFa wins on precision and is best suited to buyers who already have an ABB relationship or who need ABB's service contract infrastructure.
Used Dobot Cobots for Sale in the UK
The Dobot used market in the UK is growing but is not yet as deep as the Universal Robots secondary market. This has two consequences: there are genuine deals available from buyers who know what to look for, and there is less standardisation in what sellers offer.
Where used Dobot cobots appear
Used CR series cobots appear through several channels in the UK:
- Specialist robotics dealers who buy decommissioned factory equipment. These dealers typically offer some level of testing and documentation and are the most reliable source for buyers who want confidence.
- Industrial auction platforms including Surplex, Hilco, and Euro Auctions. Prices at auction can be lower, but condition and documentation are less certain.
- Direct from manufacturers and research institutions who are decommissioning automation cells. Universities and contract manufacturers are a useful source for well-maintained, low-hours cobots.
- Dobot's UK distributor network, which sometimes offers refurbished units with a limited warranty.
What condition to look for
For a used Dobot CR5, look for units described as "decommissioned from working application" rather than "sold as seen" or "spares or repair." Key things to ask before purchase:
- Total running hours (the controller log records this and can be exported)
- Whether the arm has been dropped or subject to a collision stop (collision stops are logged and should be disclosed)
- Condition of the tool flange and wrist joints, which show wear on heavily used arms
- Whether the original CE declaration of conformity is included with the unit
- Whether any risk assessment documentation from the previous installation is available
- Controller firmware version and whether the software licence is transferable
Pricing by condition
Used CR5 pricing in the UK varies considerably by condition and documentation:
- Good condition, full documentation, recent decommission: £15,000 to £18,000
- Good condition, partial documentation: £12,000 to £15,000
- Untested or sold as seen: below £10,000, higher risk
For a first-time buyer without in-house diagnostic capability, paying more for a unit from a dealer who has tested it and can provide documentation is usually worthwhile. The saving on an untested unit can easily be absorbed by unexpected repair or recertification costs.
Documentation to request
Before committing to a used Dobot CR cobot, request the following:
- CE declaration of conformity for the robot and controller
- Controller log export showing running hours and collision stop history
- Original operating manual and safety documentation
- Serial number verified against the CE declaration
- Any risk assessment or PSSR documentation from the original installation
For UK buyers, the CE declaration is particularly important if the robot may need to be presented to an insurer or if your site requires documented risk assessment for robotic systems. Post-Brexit, the UK has maintained alignment with CE marking requirements for most machinery, so CE-marked Dobot cobots continue to be appropriate for UK deployments.
CE Marking, ISO Compliance and Dobot's UK Support
Dobot CR series cobots carry CE marking and comply with the Machinery Directive (2006/42/EC). They meet ISO 10218-1 (robot design and construction) and ISO 10218-2 (integration), and are assessed under EN ISO 13849 for safety-related control systems. The Nova series also carries CE marking.
Dobot is a publicly listed Chinese company (Shenzhen Stock Exchange: 688 138) with ISO 9001 quality management certification. Its European operation is headquartered in Germany, where technical support, warranty repairs, and spare parts are handled for the UK and European market.
For UK buyers, this means:
- Warranty repairs and technical support are routed through the European team in Germany, not directly through a UK office. Lead times for parts and in-person support may be longer than with a manufacturer that has a UK base.
- Dobot has an established UK distributor network. Distributors handle first-line support and can escalate to the European team.
- Post-Brexit, spare parts shipments from Germany to the UK may involve import formalities. For buyers who need guaranteed fast parts supply, clarifying parts availability with the UK distributor before purchase is advisable.
For most SME applications, Dobot's support structure is adequate. The robots are not complex to maintain, and the distributor network covers most of the UK. The gap versus Universal Robots or ABB is most visible in applications where fast on-site support is a hard requirement.
Who Should Buy Dobot and Who Should Not
Dobot cobots are a strong choice for:
- UK SMEs with a clear, straightforward application such as pick-and-place, dispensing, screwdriving, or light assembly, who want to minimise hardware cost
- Electronics manufacturers and laboratories where the desktop MG400 or M1 Pro are a natural fit for bench-scale automation
- Buyers who will work with an integrator and do not need the depth of the UR ecosystem for in-house programming
- Research institutions and universities where the Python and ROS compatibility of the MG400 and CR series are a genuine advantage
- Buyers who have identified a used CR5 with full documentation and want a capable cobot below the price of a comparable UR5e
Dobot cobots are less suitable for:
- Buyers who need extensive third-party software integration out of the box, where UR's ecosystem of +/- 300 PolyScope apps is a material advantage
- Applications requiring guaranteed fast on-site UK support, where a manufacturer with a UK technical base may reduce operational risk
- Buyers who want maximum used-market liquidity, as the UR cobot secondary market in the UK is deeper and more liquid than Dobot's at this stage
- Complex multi-robot or vision-intensive applications where the maturity and ecosystem depth of UR or FANUC become important
For buyers who are on the boundary, the best cobots for UK small businesses guide includes a ranked comparison of all major cobot platforms including Dobot, Universal Robots, Techman, and Kassow. If you are specifically comparing used options, the used cobot and industrial robot UK buyers guide covers the buying process in detail including what to inspect and how to negotiate.
For buyers specifically looking at desktop cobots and whether the MG400 or similar products are the right fit, the used desktop cobot robot arm UK buyers guide covers that segment in depth.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Dobot CR5 and who is it for?
The Dobot CR5 is a 5 kg payload collaborative robot with 910 mm reach and 6 axes, priced at approximately £16,000 to £20,000 new in the UK. It targets UK SMEs in electronics assembly, laboratory automation, and light manufacturing where budget is a priority. The CR5 is CE marked and meets Machinery Directive requirements. Used CR5 units sell for £12,000 to £18,000, making it one of the most affordable capable cobots on the UK secondary market.
How does the Dobot CR series compare to Universal Robots?
The Dobot CR series is priced 20 to 35% below Universal Robots e-Series at equivalent payloads. Universal Robots has a larger UK integrator network, more third-party software compatibility, and longer market presence. Dobot offers better value for straightforward applications and for buyers who do not need the full UR ecosystem. For complex applications requiring extensive third-party integration, Universal Robots is the safer choice. For cost-sensitive applications where the standard Dobot toolbox is sufficient, the CR series represents genuine savings.
What is the Dobot MG400 and what can it do?
The Dobot MG400 is a desktop 4-axis collaborative arm with 0.75 kg payload and 440 mm reach, priced from approximately £3,000 new. It is designed for tabletop automation tasks including soldering, dispensing, pick-and-place, and quality inspection in electronics and laboratory environments. It is ROS-compatible and supports Python and C++ APIs. Used MG400 units sell for £2,000 to £3,500 in the UK.
Are Dobot robots reliable and CE marked?
Dobot CR series robots are CE marked and comply with ISO 10218 and EN ISO 13849 safety standards. The company is a publicly listed Chinese manufacturer with ISO 9001 certification and an established European sales network. UK buyers should ensure the unit they are purchasing includes the original CE declaration of conformity and that any risk assessment documentation from the previous installation is available. Dobot's European technical support is based in Germany.
Where can I buy used Dobot robots in the UK?
Used Dobot CR series cobots appear through specialist robotics dealers, factory decommission sales, and online industrial auctions. Dobot's UK distributor network can sometimes source refurbished units with a limited warranty. Prices for a used CR5 in good condition with documentation range from £12,000 to £18,000. Always request the controller log, CE declaration, and original installation risk assessment before purchase.