Robotics company 1X launched NEO Home Robot on Tuesday announces pre-orders for “the world's first ready-to-use humanoid robot.” It looks like it could win Tesla to the blow.
Designed to help with housework, the NEO home robot stands 5'6″ (168 cm) tall, weighs 66 lb (30 kg) and is covered in a soft 3D lattice polymer that is available in three color options: brown, gray and dark brown. It also has Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and 5G capabilities which, when combined with the built-in NEO speakers, allow users to use it as a very special sound system.
“Humanoids have long been the subject of science fiction… they were a research topic back then, but today – with the launch of NEO – humanoid robots have become a product,” This was stated by 1X CEO and founder Bernt Bernich in his blog announcing the launch of NEO.
1X claims that NEO can be controlled via verbal commands as well as a mobile app, and is capable of lifting over 150 pounds (68 kg) and carrying 55 pounds (25 kg). Even then, you might not want him to carry your groceries out of the car. The company notes that NEO's arms are waterproof, but the rest of the body is not, and that the robot is designed to be used “in and around your home and on solid ground.”
“If your NEO gets wet, an order will automatically be placed for a plastic baby pool and 100kg of basmati rice,” jokes 1X on the NEO FAQ page. “Not really, but please don't get NEO wet.”
Mashable Speed of Light
It's no surprise that NEO doesn't yet seem to have the independence, agility, and efficiency that science fiction enthusiasts dream of. Cooking is currently beyond its capabilities, and while the NEO can obviously handle tasks like folding laundry and cleaning, it can take a while. In demo 1X Wall Street Journal watched NEO take two minutes to fold his shirt and also struggle to keep his balance while closing the dishwasher. The robot has four hours of battery life.
NEO is also not completely autonomous. Magazine reporting that he did not see the robot do anything without human guidance. Instead, users can schedule a time for a 1X employee to put on a VR headset and connect to their NEO to help them complete unfamiliar tasks, which will help them learn. In this regard, it seems like hiring a housekeeper is just one expensive and ineffective step away.
Having a human pilot and a robot in other people's homes also raises some safety concerns. 1X states that employees will not be able to jump into NEO without the owner's permission and that the light rings around its ears will change color to indicate that they are controlling the robot. However, allowing a stranger to see, hear and explore what's going on in the privacy of your home can make some people nervous.
How to pre-order NEO humanoid robot
However, the concept of a humanoid household robot alone will undoubtedly be enough to get some tech enthusiasts excited. Unfortunately, if you decide to bring a NEO robot into your home, it will cost you a pretty penny. 1X charges $20,000 for a full NEO purchase, including a $200 pre-order deposit. Those who don't have 20 grand to spare can instead pay $499 a month to rent the robot for a minimum of six months and return it after the subscription expires.
Pre-orders are available on the 1X website. Shipments will begin primarily in the US next year, with other markets receiving NEO in 2027.
NEO is not 1X's first humanoid robot. wheeled robot EVE launched while still operating under its former name Halodi Robotics. However, EVE was designed to assist people in warehouses rather than at home, and could only be described as waist-high humanoid.
Several other technology companies are also working on developing humanoid robots that can do housework. Tesla spent several half-hearted demonstrations of his robot Optimusbut it's not planned move from prototype stage to production until next year. Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer XPENG also plans to begin mass production of its humanoid iron robot in 2026 and is currently testing it at the company's plant in Guangzhou.. Despite this, neither of them have announced when customers can purchase them, so 1X was the first to go ahead with pre-orders.
