The robotics industry is currently showcasing a new phenomenon: NEO, a humanoid robot that 1x Technologies specifically designed for home use rather than research centers or factories. By developing these robots, 1x Technologies is driving a major shift—from machines built for controlled industrial environments to robots that assist with everyday life. The goal of NEO is to fit in the household, perform chores, have deep conversations, carry groceries and constantly enhance by learning over time.
Priced at $20,000 for ownership during early access or available through a $499 monthly subscription, NEO is strikingly accessible when compared with other general-purpose robots. This article walks through exactly what NEO is, the technology behind it, what it’s capable of at present, what limits it still faces, and what its price means for the growing field of personal robotics.
What Is NEO?
NEO is a humanoid assistant robot designed by the American–Norwegian company 1X Technologies. The company’s goal is straightforward but futuristic: to build robots able to take on a wide range of human tasks, pushing toward what it calls “a society of abundance through general-purpose robots capable of performing any kind of work autonomously.”
Below are the key technical specifications for NEO:
- Weight & Size: Weighs roughly 66 lbs (about 30 kg).
- Lifting and Carrying Capacity: Can lift objects as heavy as 154 lbs (70 kg) and transport up to 55 lbs (25 kg).
- Mobility: Designed for homes with safe navigation at moderate walking speeds. Every movement is optimized for balanced and secure motion around humans and indoor furniture.
- Battery: Runs on an 842 Wh battery and lasts up to four hours per charge. It also autonomously returns to its dock for self-charging.
- Noise Level: Exceptionally quiet at just 22 decibels, quieter than most household refrigerators.
- Degrees of Freedom: Features 22 articulation points across the neck, arms, legs, and hands, allowing it to move with finely tuned precision.
- Drive System: Uses 1X’s patented Tendon Drive high-torque actuators that let it move fluidly and safely.
- Connectivity: Supports Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and 5G for seamless network interaction.
- Sensors & Processing Hardware: Integrated dual fisheye cameras, microphones, and the 1X NEO Cortex computing platform powered by NVIDIA Jetson Thor for running intensive AI algorithms.
- Audio Components: Three-level speaker units located in the chest and pelvis produce immersive audio output, doubling NEO as a portable entertainment hub.
- Safety Design: Constructed using a 3D-printed polymer lattice body structure for flexibility and reduced risk of physical injury.
Intelligence and Autonomy: What Can NEO Actually Do?
NEO was not made to be just a mechanical robot, it is built around an intelligent system capable of speech, perception, and adaptability. The AI that drives it merges conversational ability, image understanding, and physical motion in one ecosystem.
Conversational Intelligence
- Language Understanding: NEO integrates a large language model enabling natural dialogue and context-aware replies. It can interpret human speech accurately, allowing smooth interaction.
- Audio Recognition: Hearing is active only when needed. The robot recognizes when someone is addressing it and avoids recording or listening continuously, maintaining personal privacy.
- Memory & Personalization: with intelligence, it can remember preferences over time. Such capabilities can also make it compatible for different routines, birthdays, favourite meals or products you frequently buy.
Automated Household Tasks
You can schedule tasks such as laundry folding, shelf organizing, or clearing out scattered items. When it encounters unfamiliar tasks, NEO can enter 1X Expert mode, where professionals remotely guide it through an activity so it learns for future repetition. Its skill set expands continually through AI training and scheduled software updates.
Autonomous Navigation
Equipped with an advanced visual navigation system, NEO moves around rooms independently. It can open doors, fetch small items, switch off lights, and navigate to specific areas, all built around safe, step-by-step motion.
Design and Everyday User Experience
NEO’s appearance and form factor have been carefully thought out to make it a comfortable, familiar presence indoors rather than an intimidating piece of hardware.
- The body of NEO features a smooth-touch frame which is covers in a textured knit suit. This can also be removed and machine washed, keeping a product clean and hygienic.
- Its design also comes in neutral tones like tan, dark brown or grey to blend easily with any type of interior style.
- Its limb and joint motion is intentionally cushioned by tendon-driven mechanics, minimizing the potential for pinching or impact.
- 1X Technologies added circular light “ear rings” on its head that visually express NEO’s current state, ranging from battery levels to attention or communication mode, adding a subtle sense of character.
Pricing and Availability – Breaking Down the “Neo Robot Price”
1X has offered multiple purchasing options to make the robot accessible to enthusiasts and early adopters.
- Purchase Option (Early Access): $20,000 for full ownership with a three-year warranty and priority shipping.
- Subscription Plan: $499 each month with similar functionality for those who prefer rental flexibility.
- Pre-Order Deposit: A $200 refundable deposit secures the unit in advance.
- Delivery Schedule: U.S. deliveries begin in 2026, while international orders are anticipated to roll out by 2027.
This pricing model marks one of the first real attempts to make humanoid Robotics available at a quasi-consumer level rather than within research institutions.
How People Might Use NEO at Home
Practical applications for NEO around the home are as broad as they are intriguing. Here’s what its early adopters can expect to do with it.
- Everyday Cleaning Tasks: Have NEO help with folding clothes, clearing tables, organizing objects, or keeping a space tidy.
- Personal Assistant Role: Set reminders, prepare checklists, maintain grocery records, or plan day-to-day tasks via friendly conversations.
- Kitchen Utilities: Since its vision system can detect various ingredients, NEO could help suggest dishes, prepare tools, or fetch kitchen essentials during cooking.
- Entertainment Setup: The robot’s embedded speakers make it a mobile companion for music and podcasts, capable of moving through rooms as audio plays.
- Learning for Custom Needs: Through continued training and Expert guidance, NEO gradually adapts to unique tasks relevant to each household’s lifestyle.
- Safe for Families: Its quiet movement, soft body, and gentle actuation design help ensure it remains child and pet-friendly.
Challenges and Limitations
While groundbreaking, NEO still faces a learning and development curve typical of early-stage robotics technology.
- Limited Early Autonomy: Today, it mostly carries out simple repetitive microtasks lasting about ten seconds and may require remote assistance for complicated steps.
- Runtime Limitation: A four-hour charge span can restrict long continuous use, though its self-docking capability partially balances this issue.
- Performance Variability: Household clutter, narrow spaces, or uneven objects can still challenge its stability or handling precision.
- Long-Term Cost: The software updates, maintenance or additional training hours also add to the expenditure of the owner beyond its purchase or subscription.
- Privacy Considerations: With built-in cameras and microphones working over Wi-Fi, 5G, and Bluetooth, users must trust the device’s local data protections.
- Ethical Questions: Remote robot control raises liability questions, such as accountability for errors, an issue that regulators may soon need to address.
Comparison: NEO and Other Humanoid Robots
While there are several humanoid robotic systems worldwide, few are designed specifically for domestic life. Here’s how NEO compares:
| Robot | Purpose | Pricing | Key Highlights |
| Unitree G1 Humanoid | Research | Tens of thousands of euros | Built for lab testing, not for household use |
| Unitree G1 EDU-U1 | Education | Academic purchase | Meant for robotics learning and development |
| Unitree G1 EDU–Ultimate B | Advanced research | High-end prototype | Focuses on tactile precision, not daily chores |
| 1X NEO | Home assistant | $20,000 or $499/month | Soft polymer body, tendon-based safety, conversational AI, self-charging, and chore automation |
Compared to its peers, NEO distinguishes itself by prioritizing safety, comfort, and household integration over raw performance metrics or lab experimentation.
The Bigger Picture: What NEO Signals for Robotics
The launch of NEO points toward the democratization of humanoid robotics, signaling that personal robots are closer to mainstream life than ever before.
- Bringing Robotics to Consumers: By offering a relatively lower-cost humanoid companion, 1X moves robotics beyond factories into the average buyer’s reach.
- A Shift in Human Labor: NEO demonstrates the idea of robots as household helpers, freeing people from repetitive physical work so they can focus elsewhere.
- Human-Guided AI Evolution: The mix of autonomous learning and remote expert teaching might serve as a stepping-stone to fully independent, self-taught home robots.
- Integration with Smart Ecosystems: Acting as a bridge between home automation devices and physical action, NEO could soon become a moving control hub for smart homes.
- Scaling and Manufacturing: To meet real demand, 1X must refine mass production and prove long-term reliability, a feat that will shape how fast humanoid robots can reach the market.
Conclusion: Is NEO the Future of Everyday Robots?
NEO represents one of the most advanced attempts yet to merge human-like interaction, dexterous movement, and autonomous learning into a single home-ready product. It reimagines how robotics can fit within daily life, helping with chores, offering conversation, and acting as a friendly interface between people and technology.
At $20,000 or via its subscription plan, NEO isn’t cheap but remains far more accessible than previous humanoid prototypes costing several times more. For now, it stands as an early look at what personal robotics will eventually become, a mix of mechanical precision and evolving intelligence that slowly blends into ordinary living.
1X Technologies now faces the real test: sustaining quality, scaling production, advancing AI safety, and making continued learning updates reliable over time. If it succeeds, NEO could become known as the first humanoid to genuinely make “home robotics” a reality.
FAQs
What is the NEO robot price?
The robot is available at $20,000 for purchase or with a $499 monthly subscription.
When will NEO begin shipping?
Early-access deliveries to customers in the U.S. are set for 2026, followed by expansion to other markets in 2027.
Can NEO learn new activities?
Yes. Through its Expert Mode, skilled human operators can remotely instruct NEO in learning custom household tasks.
How long does it run between charges?
The 842 Wh battery delivers an estimated four hours of operational time before self-docking for recharging.
Is it safe for families and pets?
The robot uses soft polymer materials and a tendon-based drive system that reduce force and avoid hard edges, making it safe for people and animals around it.
What specific chores can it perform now?
Launch capabilities include door-opening, object fetching, turning lights on or off, folding laundry, and keeping rooms organized.
Does it connect to the internet?
Yes, NEO supports Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and 5G connectivity for updates, cloud-based control, and system optimization.
