Idc forecasts global dexterous hand shipments to reach 25,000 units in 2026, with chinese manufacturers dominating market share

IDC has released a report indicating that global shipments of dexterous hands are projected to reach approximately 25,000 units in 2026, excluding internal supply to manufacturers' own robotics products. The report highlights that Chinese manufacturers are expected to account for over 85% of the global market share, securing a significant position in the sector. The industry is shifting focus from mere hardware specifications, such as degrees of freedom and gripping force, toward advanced capabilities like fine manipulation, sensory control, and integration with embodied AI models. Current primary demand centers on supporting humanoid robots, academic research, and data collection for embodied AI, while large-scale industrial adoption remains exploratory. IDC anticipates that over the next three years, the market will transition from a phase of route exploration to one of engineering competition. Future competition will hinge not just on hardware, but on the synergy between structural design, core components, sensory control, AI models, and data, as reliability and cost-effectiveness become critical factors for real-world deployment.