If you’ve ever wished your vacuum could answer back or your dishwasher could just do the dishes, NEO might be just what you’ve been waiting for.
The new humanoid robot from 1X Technologies is built to handle household chores with human-like motion and a surprisingly soft touch. The 5-foot-6-inch robot, priced at $20,000, can fold clothes, clean up trash, put dishes away, and water plants. NEO still relies on remote human operators for complex tasks, but 1X says the robot will continue to learn from every job it performs.
The company opened preorders on October 28, offering buyers the option to purchase the robot outright or test it through a $499-per-month subscription plan.
How NEO works and what sets it apart
NEO’s design emphasizes both safety and familiarity. The robot’s body is coated in a custom 3D lattice polymer to prevent damage or injury during close interaction with people or furniture. Under the surface, it’s built with 1X’s patented Tendon Drive that uses the highest-torque density motors to create precise and low-energy movements necessary for home use. This way, the robot can mimic the way human muscles flex and release, resulting in smoother and more natural motion.
The robot can lift objects weighing up to 154 pounds for brief tasks and carry around 55 pounds for normal operations. A ring of sensors and cameras provides 360-degree environmental awareness, helping NEO navigate cluttered or narrow spaces. It pairs visual and spatial awareness with memory to personalize interaction, allowing it to see, hear, and remember things about your environment to provide you with helpful assistance.
Speaking to USA Today, Dar Sleeper, VP of product and design at 1X, described the product as a humanoid companion designed to transform your life at home. “It combines AI and advanced hardware to help with daily chores and bring intelligence into your everyday life,” says Sleeper.
NEO uses Redwood AI, 1X’s generalist AI model, which allows the robot to learn by watching and repeating tasks performed by humans through teleoperation. NEO comes with basic autonomy and the system is expected to transition from assisted control to semi-autonomous performance over time.
While NEO can’t cook for you yet, it can suggest recipes or help with the cleaning instead. Think of it as a companion that shares stories and gives you real-time answers for almost anything, from historical facts and practical advice to a few robot jokes.
Price, privacy, and what buyers should expect
NEO’s price places it between a luxury appliance and an entry-level electrical vehicle. Buyers can pay $20,000 upfront or choose the $499 monthly subscription with a six-month commitment. Shipments are expected to begin in 2026.
The robot is a fully electronic humanoid model powered by a 0.75 kWh battery pack. According to 1X, NEO’s daily power consumption is low, costing less than $1 per day to operate at standard electricity rates. Routine maintenance is recommended and can be performed by the 1X Service team, which offers mobile support for in-home servicing and diagnostics.
For subscription users, monthly payments cover both access and usage. At the end of the subscription term, customers may extend their plan or return NEO to 1X.
Privacy, however, remains a key consideration. Because early models depend on remote human oversight, some camera and sensor data may be viewed by company representatives during operations. As The Wall Street Journal noted, “Just one hidden cost: your privacy. For now, you’ll need to be cool with a company representative potentially peering through the robot’s camera eyes to get chores done. There are guardrails, including controls over when and what the operator can do.”
1X CEO Bernt Børnich acknowledged the tradeoff, saying, “It’s not for everyone. If you buy this product, it is because you’re OK with that social contract. If we don’t have your data, we can’t make the product better.”
1X said all customer data collected from real-world tasks will refine NEO’s base intelligence, but this data won’t be used to build a profile of the user or be sold on. Additionally, all customer data is encrypted and handled with strict access controls and users can review what is shared through the companion mobile app. The robot connects via Wi-Fi for updates and integrates with the app for scheduling, task management, and performance tracking.
How NEO fits into the future of home robotics
NEO marks a turning point for humanoid robots in consumer spaces. While automation has long been present in industrial environments, NEO signals the start of robotics designed to live and work alongside people. Its combination of physical strength, adaptive AI features, and service-based availability positions it as an early model for personal robotics in daily life.
Most humanoid systems still depend on human oversight and a structured environment, and the widespread adoption will take time. Even so, NEO represents the next step towards a home robot capable of learning, adapting, and, eventually, handling the tasks people would rather avoid.
To explore more about the latest developments in robotics and AI, read our list of top robotics companies that are revolutionizing automation.