Robotics company 1X launched the NEO Home Robot on Tuesday, declaring preorders open for the "world’s first consumer-ready humanoid robot." It seems it may have beaten Tesla to the punch.
Designed to assist in household chores, the NEO Home Robot stands 5'6" (168cm) tall, weighs 66lb (30kg), and is covered by a soft 3D lattice polymer which comes in three colourways: Tan, Gray, and Dark Brown. It also has Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and 5G capabilities which, paired with the NEO's inbuilt speakers, enables users to utilise it as a very weird sound system.
"Humanoids were long a thing of sci-fi... then they were a thing of research, but today — with the launch of NEO — humanoid robots become a product," 1X CEO and founder Bernt Børnich said in a blog post announcing NEO's launch.
1X states that the NEO can be operated using verbal commands as well as via a mobile app, and is capable of lifting over 150lb (68kg) and carrying 55lb (25kg). Even so, you may not want it to carry your groceries in from the car. The company notes that while NEO's hands are waterproof, the rest of it is not, and that the robot is designed to be used "in and around your own home and on firm ground."
"Should your NEO get wet, an automatic order will be placed for a child sized plastic swimming pool and 100kgs of Basmati rice," 1X jokes on the NEO's frequently asked questions page. "Not really, but please don't get NEO wet."
Unsurprisingly, the NEO also doesn't seem to have the independence, dexterity, and efficiency that sci-fi enthusiasts dream of quite yet. Cooking is currently beyond its capabilities, and while the NEO can apparently perform tasks such as folding laundry and tidying up, it can take a while. In a demonstration by 1X, the Wall Street Journal observed the NEO taking two minutes to fold a shirt, as well as struggling to maintain its balance while closing a dishwasher. The robot has four hours of battery life.
The NEO isn't completely autonomous either, the Journal reporting that it didn't see the robot do anything without human guidance. Instead, users can schedule time for an 1X employee to don a VR headset and connect to their NEO in order to guide it through unfamiliar tasks, which will help it learn. In this regard it seems like just one expensive, inefficient step removed from hiring a housekeeper.
Having a human pilot a robot in other people's home does raise some security issues as well. 1X states that employees won't be able to jump into a NEO without the owner's authorisation, and that the light rings around its ears will change colour to indicate when they are operating the robot. Even so, allowing a stranger in to see, hear, and explore what's happening in the privacy of your home may be unnerving for some people.
How to preorder the NEO humanoid robot
Even so, the mere concept of a humanoid household robot will no doubt be enough to excite some tech enthusiasts. Unfortunately, if you do decide to bring a NEO robot into your home it will cost you a pretty penny. 1X is charging $20,000 to buy the NEO outright, including a $200 deposit upon preorder. Those without 20 grand to spare can instead pay $499 per month to lease a robot for a minimum of six months, returning it once their subscription expires.
Preorders are available via 1X's website. Deliveries will begin primarily in the U.S. next year, with other markets to receive the NEO in 2027.
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NEO isn't 1X's first humanoid robot, having launched wheeled robot EVE in while still operating under its previous name Halodi Robotics. However, EVE was designed to assist humans in warehouses rather than in domestic settings, and could only be called humanoid from the waist up.
Several other tech companies have also been working to develop humanoid robots capable of performing household chores. Tesla has conducted a few sluggish demonstrations of its Optimus robot, but it isn't scheduled to move beyond the prototype stage to production until next year. Chinese EV manufacturer XPENG also aims to mass-produce its humanoid Iron robot in 2026, and is currently testing it by having it assist in the company's Guangzhou factory. Even so, neither have announced when customers might purchase them, leaving 1X the first out of the gate with preorders.
