Ouster Lidar in 2026: OS0, OS1, OS1 Max, OSDome and OS2 Compared, and How to Buy One

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Ouster’s current lidar lineup is the REV8 OS family, launched May 4, 2026: the OS1 Max (200 m range on a 10% reflective target), OS1 (90 m), OS0 (35 m with a 90° vertical view) and OSDome (20 m with a 180° hemispherical view). Every REV8 sensor also outputs color for each point. The long-range OS2 is still sold only in the older REV7 generation. Ouster doesn’t list prices online; you pick a configuration and order through its sales team. Specs below are from Ouster’s 2026 product catalog, checked October 19, 2026.

Which Ouster sensor fits your job

All four REV8 sensors spin 360° horizontally. The difference is how far they see and how tall their vertical view is. Range figures are for a 10% reflective target at 90% detection probability, which is how Ouster rates all its sensors.

  • OS1 Max: 200 m range, 43.9° vertical view, up to 256 channels. For highway-speed vehicles, trucks, mining and long-range mapping. 670 g, 19 W nominal.
  • OS1: 90 m range, 44° vertical view, 32, 64 or 128 channels. The general-purpose choice for mobile robots, delivery vehicles, drones and mapping backpacks. 500 g, 15 W nominal.
  • OS0: 35 m range, 90° vertical view, 32, 64 or 128 channels. For robots that need to see the ground and objects close around them, like autonomous forklifts. 500 g, 15 W nominal.
  • OSDome: 20 m range, 180° vertical view, 32, 64 or 128 channels. Mounted on a ceiling or the top of a machine, it sees everything below. Common in warehouse and building security. 540 g, 15 W nominal.
  • OS2 (REV7 only): 200 m range with a narrower 22.5° vertical view. The catalog lists it only with sensor revision 070. For new long-range projects, the OS1 Max now matches its range with roughly twice the vertical field of view.

Shared REV8 specs: up to 10,485,760 points per second, frame rates from 5 to 40 Hz, two returns per point, an embedded IMU, IP68 and IP69K sealing, -40 °C to +85 °C operation, 12 V or 24 V power and Gigabit Ethernet.

What changed from REV7 to REV8

The REV8 sensors run on Ouster’s new L4 chip. Comparing the REV7 and REV8 pages of the same catalog:

  • Range and resolution: the OS1 and OS0 keep their 90 m and 35 m ranges, but finer horizontal resolution (up to 0.09° on OS1, versus 0.18° on REV7) and better precision (±0.25 cm, versus ±0.5 cm on the REV7 OS1). The 256-channel OS1 Max is new.
  • Native color: each point carries 48-bit color captured in the same photon event as the distance, with 116 dB dynamic range. Ouster says this removes the separate camera-to-lidar calibration step for colored point clouds.
  • Functional safety: REV8 sensors are designed for ASIL-B (ISO 26262), SIL-2 (IEC 61508) and PLd (ISO 13849) certification and ISO 21434 cybersecurity. “Designed for” isn’t the same as certified for your machine; your own safety case still has to cover the integration.

If you’re adding sensors to a fleet that already runs REV7 units, check with sales that the REV8 data format works with your software version before mixing generations.

How ordering works

Ouster’s catalog describes a four-step process, finished through its Talk to Sales page:

  1. Pick the sensor by range and vertical field of view.
  2. Pick the channel count and beam spacing. Uniform spreads the beams evenly. Gradient packs them near the horizon. Below Horizon aims them downward. On REV8, the 128- and 256-channel versions come only with uniform spacing.
  3. Pick the connection and accessories. REV8 ships with standard Gigabit Ethernet (1000BASE-T). Automotive Ethernet (1000BASE-T1) for REV8 arrives in late 2026, according to the catalog. Choose a cable (interface box for bench testing, pigtail or M12 for integration) in 1 to 15 m lengths, plus an optional baseplate and Halo cap.
  4. Add warranty and certifications. Every sensor includes a one-year warranty. You can extend it to up to five years in total. Ouster sensors made at its San Francisco headquarters can be ordered with Buy America or Buy American certification, which US public projects using federal funds often require.

Your choices produce a part number, such as OS0-070-128U-AX-BH from the catalog’s example. Price, lead time and volume discounts come back in a quote. If you buy from a reseller instead, confirm the part number shows the revision you want before ordering.

Software and integration

Ouster provides an open-source Python SDK and C++ driver on GitHub plus Ouster Studio for viewing and sharing recordings. The catalog lists supported integrations with ROS 2, ROS, NVIDIA DriveWorks, NVIDIA Isaac and Isaac Sim, and MATLAB. Datasheets, firmware, CAD models and manuals are in Ouster’s download center.

If you only need short-range depth for a robot arm or indoor robot, a stereo depth camera can cost far less than a spinning lidar; see our RealSense camera guide.