The NEO is a 5’6″ (168 cm) tall humanoid robot developed by the Norwegian company 1X Technologies (backed by OpenAI) for use in private homes. This sophisticated robot is engineered to assist with a wide array of household tasks, including cleaning, cooking, and even providing companionship, all while optimizing efficiency and enhancing the quality of life for its users. Its humanoid design features advanced artificial intelligence, enabling it to learn and adapt to the preferences of individual households. Pre-orders are currently open, with deliveries in the U.S. expected to begin in 2026, making it a highly anticipated addition to smart home technology, appealing to families seeking to balance busy lifestyles with the convenience of automation. As the launch date approaches, the excitement surrounding the capabilities and potential applications of the NEO continues to grow, paving the way for a new era of domestic assistance.

Specifications

Height & Weight: Stands 5’6″ (168 cm) tall and weighs approximately 66 lbs (30 kg).

Design: Features a soft, human-friendly exterior made of a custom 3D lattice polymer shell and a machine-washable knit suit, which minimizes injury risk during interaction.

Actuation: Uses patented Tendon Drive actuation with high torque-density motors, which results in smooth, quiet, and low-energy movements that mimic human muscle movement.

Capabilities:

Lifting/Carrying: Can lift up to 154 lbs (70 kg) and carry approximately 55 lbs (25 kg).

Dexterity: Possesses “human-level dexterity” with 22 degrees of freedom (DoF) per hand, allowing for fine manipulation.

Tasks: Designed for chores like folding laundry, vacuuming, opening doors, organizing shelves, and taking out the trash.

AI & Sensors:

Sensing: Equipped with dual fisheye cameras for 360° vision, four beamforming microphones, and three speakers.

Autonomy: Runs on 1X’s proprietary AI stack (“1X Cortex” / Redwood AI), which uses vision and language models for natural conversation and task learning. It learns new skills through a combination of real-world experience, software updates, and guided teaching sessions (involving a human-in-the-loop for complex tasks).

Battery: Has an 842 Wh capacity battery with a run-time of around 4 hours and self-charging capabilities. The hands are waterproof, but the main body is not. 

Purchase Information

Price: The early access price is $20,000 for an outright purchase. A subscription option is also available for $499 per month.

Availability: Pre-orders require a deposit and the first units are expected to ship to U.S. customers in 2026. A global rollout is planned for 2027.

Color Options: Available in blue, beige, and black. 

Reviews and User Considerations

Reviewers and industry observers note that while the concept is exciting, the current version relies on remote human operators via VR for many complex tasks. This has raised some privacy concerns, although 1X has implemented safety features like user authorization and “no-go zones” for remote operation. The robot is a work in progress, and early adopters are essentially contributing data to train its AI for full autonomy in the future.