Choosing between two used collaborative robot arms means weighing a working single system against a higher-capacity package that may need work. The Rethink Robotics Sawyer and the Universal Robots UR5 package sit at opposite ends of the same industrial robotics cobot decision: one is ready to run, the other is a repair project. Your choice comes down to how fast you need to be productive and how much you are willing to take on.
Quick verdict
For most shops and labs, the Rethink Robotics Sawyer is the more practical pick. It is listed as used and described as working, with a gripper included, a longer reach, and built-in vision. The Universal Robots UR5 package offers more payload and a multi-unit parts bundle, but its for-parts or not-working condition makes it a refurbishment project rather than a plug-and-play solution.
Quick comparison
| Decision Point | Rethink Robotics Sawyer | Universal Robots UR5 Package |
|---|---|---|
| Listed price | USD 6,995.00 | USD 12,750.00 |
| Condition | Used | For parts or not working |
| Arm reach | 900 mm | 850 mm |
| Payload | 4 kg | 5 kg |
| Axes | 7-axis | 6-axis |
| Included extras | Electric parallel gripper, vision system, force sensing in each joint | Two robot systems, teach pendant, controller tablet, mobile steel pedestals, pneumatic tooling, safety scanner |
Where each product wins
The Sawyer wins on practicality. You pay less upfront, and the package is centered on a working arm with the gripper already there, so you can move from purchase to a running cell faster. The UR5 package wins on potential. It shows up with a multi-unit bundle and an extended equipment list, which makes it attractive to a team that has the benches and parts access to rebuild robots.
Product notes
Rethink Robotics Sawyer Collaborative Robot
The Sawyer earns its place as the lower-risk option. For the listed $6,995, you get a used but working 7-axis collaborative arm with a 900 mm reach, built-in vision, and an electric parallel gripper. That is a sensible setup for machine tending, loading CNC machines, placing parts into inspection stations, and pick-and-place packaging or assembly. Programming is covered by Intera 5.3 software, and an SDK mode with ROS is also available. The main limitation is the 4 kg payload, so it is not meant for heavier parts, and the package is a single-arm setup rather than a multi-unit parts haul. If you need a running system for light-duty automation, this is the one to choose.
Universal Robots UR5 Collaborative Robot Package
The UR5 package is a different kind of buy. The $12,750 price brings two UR5 systems, each a 6-axis collaborative arm with a 5 kg payload and 850 mm reach, plus mobile steel pedestals, a teach pendant, a controller tablet, pneumatic end-of-arm case packer tooling, and a safety scanner. That higher payload makes it a better fit for heavier assembly or case-packing work. The trade-off is condition: the listing describes it as for parts or not working, and the unit has not been tested since removal. You need repair skills and a willingness to refurbish before any of this equipment earns its keep. For an automation team with that capability, the UR5 package is a substantial project and a potential upgrade in capacity.
Final choice by use case
Choose the Sawyer when you need to be productive quickly with light payloads, especially for machine tending and STEM education. Choose the UR5 package when you have the ability to repair and bring back a 5 kg payload system, and you want two robots plus tooling for a larger automation effort.
