Cognex vs Keyence: Vision & 3D perception compared

November 2026 edition · assessment by Frontier Tech Intelligence

Keyence ranks 12 on the Robotics 100 with a score of 91; Cognex ranks 23 with 87. Cognex is ahead on progress. Keyence is ahead on positioning and firepower. Level on deployment, production, commercials, technology and leverage. Cognex is based in Natick, United States, Keyence in Osaka, Japan. Cognex: Established. Keyence: Public. Cognex is named in 15 signals and Keyence in 15.

Cognex →

Natick, Massachusetts, United States · Robotics · Sensing / Vision & 3D perception · Established · cognex.com

Cognex supplies machine-vision cameras and inspection systems for robot guidance and production quality control, including the In-Sight 3900 with embedded AI inspection.

Robotics 100 · rank 23 · score 87AI Core · prospect · score 32

Scores, Robotics (of 10)

Deployment10
Production10
Commercials10
Progress9
Technology8
Positioning8
Firepower8
Leverage8

Darker bar: ahead of the other company on that measure.

Positioning

Cognex is a US machine-vision leader (FY26 guidance $1.13-1.15B, up from $994M in FY25; Q2-26 record revenue of $291M, +17%) whose AI-powered In-Sight 6900 (on NVIDIA Jetson) and 3900 (on Qualcomm Dragonwing) launched in 2026. It posted eight consecutive quarters of margin expansion, made its OneVision AI platform generally available (May 2026), and divested its Japan trading business, holding $622M cash with no debt. Growth is double-digit across logistics, electronics, semiconductor, and automotive.

Latest signals

  • Cognex launched the AI-powered In-Sight 1750 wafer reader for semiconductor fabs.AIM (Analytics India Magazine)
  • Cognex acquires RealSense for $500 millionRobot News
  • Cognex launched the In-Sight 1750 Series AI-powered wafer and panel identification system.eeNews Europe

15 signals name Cognex.

Facts, with sources

  • Cognex’s In-Sight 3900 adds embedded AI for high-speed machine-vision inspection.Automation News Japan
  • Cognex’s In-Sight 3900 expands inspection connectivity, data capacity, and multi-device deployment.Automation News Japan
  • [object Object]The Robot Report

7 facts on file.

Keyence →

Osaka, Osaka, Japan · Robotics · Sensing / Vision & 3D perception · Public · keyence.com

Keyence supplies industrial automation equipment, including PLCs, servo systems, programming software and multi-axis commissioning tools used in automated production and robotic manufacturing environments.

Robotics 100 · rank 12 · score 91

Scores, Robotics (of 10)

Deployment10
Production10
Commercials10
Progress7
Technology8
Positioning10
Firepower10
Leverage8

Darker bar: ahead of the other company on that measure.

Positioning

Keyence is a Japanese machine-vision and sensor giant (TSE:6861, ~$6.5B revenue, famously >50% operating margins) whose CV-X and RB series 3D vision serve bin picking, sold through a direct-sales consultative model across a broad sensing and inspection catalog. It is the profitability benchmark of the sensing layer, named across every vision-guided-robotics roundup, with momentum scored low only on the absence of dated 2026 events this pass, not weakness. The current revenue marker is dated.

Latest signals

  • Keyence shares rebounded in Tokyo trading.Moomoo
  • Keyence released a generative AI assistant for technical product inquiries.Automation News Japan
  • Keyence launched the AM-1000 series automated desktop 3D measuring machine.Automation News Japan

15 signals name Keyence.

Facts, with sources

  • Keyence enhanced KV STUDIO with reusable programming assets and automated multi-axis commissioning.Automation News Japan
  • Keyence introduced Universal Library presets for equipment from more than 18 manufacturers.Automation News Japan
  • Keyence expanded the SV3 servo system with faster multi-axis motion control and broader actuator connectivity.Automation News Japan

7 facts on file.

More comparisons

Questions this page answers

Cognex or Keyence: which is ahead in robotics?

Keyence ranks 12 on the Robotics 100 with a score of 91; Cognex ranks 23 with 87. Cognex is ahead on progress. Keyence is ahead on positioning and firepower. Level on deployment, production, commercials, technology and leverage. Cognex is based in Natick, United States, Keyence in Osaka, Japan. Cognex: Established. Keyence: Public. Cognex is named in 15 signals and Keyence in 15.

How do Cognex and Keyence compare?

Keyence ranks 12 on the Robotics 100 with a score of 91; Cognex ranks 23 with 87. Cognex is ahead on progress. Keyence is ahead on positioning and firepower. Level on deployment, production, commercials, technology and leverage. Cognex is based in Natick, United States, Keyence in Osaka, Japan. Cognex: Established. Keyence: Public. Cognex is named in 15 signals and Keyence in 15. Both company files carry the scores on eight measures, the facts with sources and the latest signals.

Every comparison here comes from the same files members use every day.

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