Summary:
-
1X launches Neo, a humanoid robot for household chores, available for pre-order with a $20,000 purchase price or $499 monthly subscription. Deliveries in 2026.
-
Neo is the world’s first consumer-ready humanoid robot, designed to transform life at home, offering near-human dexterity and autonomy.
-
Privacy concerns arise with Neo’s connected system, requiring access to cameras and sensors for optimal function, balancing convenience and privacy.
1X, a Palo Alto robotics company, has officially launched Neo, a 5.5-foot humanoid robot designed to handle your household chores, from folding laundry to serving drinks, and it’s available now for U.S. pre-orders.
Buyers can either pay a $20,000 purchase price or opt into a $499 monthly subscription, with deliveries expected in 2026.
According to the company’s official announcement, Neo is “the world’s first consumer-ready humanoid robot designed to transform life at home.” The device’s debut marks a major leap in bringing decades of robotics research into domestic reality.
NEO The Home Robot
Order Today pic.twitter.com/fTQtCHB4UW— 1X (@1x_tech) October 28, 2025
“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,” said Bernt Børnich, CEO and founder of 1X, in a press release. “Something that you and I can reach out and touch.”
Neo stands at 5.5 feet, weighs 66 pounds, and can lift up to 154 pounds while carrying up to 55 during normal use. Its Tendon Drive technology — a system of high-torque motors and 22 degrees of freedom in the hands — allows near-human dexterity for handling everything from dishes to folded clothes.
ADVERTISEMENT
Powered by onboard AI and a companion mobile app, the robot can complete assigned chores autonomously or take real-time verbal commands. For more complex tasks, 1X offers an Expert Mode, where technicians remotely guide the robot until it learns to perform new chores on its own — a training system that improves Neo’s AI over time.
1X acknowledges that early units “will require some human oversight,” but stresses that Neo is designed to learn and evolve.
POV:
You wake up the morning after your NEO home robot subscription payment failed pic.twitter.com/p44g3hmrLn
— Will (@wllottnwldr) October 29, 2025
Privacy vs. Progress
Neo’s connected system includes two 8-megapixel cameras, four microphones, and three speakers, giving it both visual and audio awareness. It operates at 22 decibels — quieter than a refrigerator — but not without concerns.
To function effectively, users must grant the robot access to home cameras and sensors. The company says privacy protections include blurring human faces and allowing owners to create “no-go zones.” However, early adopters must also consent to data collection as part of the robot’s ongoing machine learning, a trade-off between convenience and personal privacy.
Neo’s exterior features soft 3D lattice polymers wrapped in machine-washable fabric, with color options in tan, gray, or dark brown to blend into different home aesthetics. “NEO is approachable and comfortable to be around,” the company’s announcement reads, describing it as a “complement to living spaces rather than a disruption.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Independent testers have praised the robot’s dexterity and design but noted that its autonomy remains limited, with frequent human intervention needed for complex tasks like loading dishwashers or sorting laundry.
