The 1X Neo humanoid household robot, introduced in 2024, has entered the pre-order phase in the United States as the company behind it seeks to advance its position in the emerging market for AI-assisted home robotics. The device arrives alongside other early contenders in the segment, including Figure 03 and Tesla Optimus, at a time when public confidence in humanoid robots remains cautious following high-profile demonstration failures elsewhere.
A preliminary evaluation conducted by the Wall Street Journal examined Neo’s behaviour in day-to-day household tasks, assessing its physical stability, intelligence and overall usefulness. The robot is designed with a textile covering to reduce injury risk and create a more approachable appearance. Internally, it uses lightweight belt-driven motors intended to produce smoother movement while keeping total weight low enough to minimize impact if the robot falls.
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The test showed a mixed performance. Neo completed some activities, such as vacuuming, with a reasonable degree of reliability, but struggled with others requiring dexterity or strength. Simple tasks such as opening a refrigerator door slowed the robot significantly, and force-based actions remain outside its capabilities. The model under review also displayed limitations in timing, coordination and responsiveness, reflecting its early-stage development.
The version currently being assessed still relies heavily on remote human intervention. The manufacturer employs a teleoperation system in which a human operator can step in when Neo cannot complete a task on its own. A more autonomous iteration is planned for release in 2026, with goals of improving environmental awareness, fine motor control and independent problem-solving. Data collected from real household use will be used to train the system further, though the company says privacy safeguards are built into its data-handling approach.
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Pre-orders for the robot require a deposit and are initially limited to U.S. customers. Buyers can choose between an upfront payment model or a subscription plan. Broader market availability, including Europe, is expected by 2027 as the company continues refining the robot into a tool aimed at daily household support and assistance for people with disabilities, older adults and other groups that could benefit from AI-enabled domestic help.
Source: Wall Street Journal