The 1X NEO is the world's first consumer-ready humanoid robot designed specifically for home use, priced at $20,000 for outright purchase or $499/month as a subscription. Standing 168 cm tall and weighing just 30 kg (66 lbs), NEO can lift up to 70 kg, carry 25 kg, and features 22-DOF hands per side (75 total body DOF) for near-human dexterity — all while operating at just 22 dB, quieter than a modern refrigerator. Pre-orders are open now with a fully refundable $200 deposit, and first deliveries to US homes are expected in 2026. Built by Norwegian company 1X Technologies with backing from OpenAI and NVIDIA, NEO uses a hybrid model where onboard AI handles routine tasks while remote human "1X Experts" assist with complex ones via teleoperation.
Price and Availability
NEO is the first humanoid robot you can actually pre-order for home delivery.
| Option | Price | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Early Access purchase | $20,000 | Priority delivery in 2026, includes required services |
| Monthly subscription | $499/month | Ships at a later date |
| Refundable deposit | $200 | Secures your place in queue, fully refundable |
| First deliveries (US) | 2026 | Early Access buyers first |
| International availability | 2027 | Expansion beyond US |
| EQT industrial agreement | Up to 10,000 units | 2026–2030 industrial deployment |
| Colors | Tan, Gray, Dark Brown | Available at launch |
Full Specifications
Chassis and Build
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Height | 168 cm (5 ft 6 in) |
| Weight | ~30 kg (66 lbs) |
| Total DOF | ~75 |
| Hand DOF | 22 per hand (44 total) |
| Exterior | Soft 3D-lattice polymer body, machine-washable knitted nylon suit |
| Joints | Fully covered, completely pinch-proof |
| Noise level | 22 dB (quieter than a refrigerator) |
| Actuation | Proprietary Tendon Drive — flexible polymer tendons + highest torque-density motors |
| Backdrivability | 95% — safe, compliant movements |
| Safety rating | HIC < 250 (Head Injury Criterion — safe for human proximity) |
| IP rating | Hands: IP68 (submersible) / Body: IP44 (splash-proof) |
Performance
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Lifting capacity | Up to 70 kg (154 lbs) |
| Carrying capacity | 25 kg (55 lbs) |
| Walking speed | 1.4 m/s (5 km/h) |
| Running speed | Up to 6.2 m/s (22.3 km/h) |
| Stair climbing | Yes |
| Sitting / kneeling | Yes — for low-reach tasks |
| Fall recovery | Autonomous |
| Demonstrated tasks | Laundry folding, dishwasher loading, tidying, fetching items, opening doors, carrying groceries, cooking assistance |
Battery and Power
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Battery capacity | 842 Wh |
| Runtime | ~4 hours |
| Fast charging | ~6 minutes per hour of runtime (~24 minutes to full) |
| Self-charging | Yes — autonomous wall-mounted dock |
| Charging method | Self-plugging (walks to dock and connects) |
Sensors and Perception
| Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| Cameras | 2× 8.85 MP / 90 Hz stereo fisheye (180° FOV) |
| Microphones | Beamforming array |
| Speakers | Three-stage speakers (pelvis + chest) — home entertainment capable |
| LiDAR | Available on some configurations |
| Force-torque sensors | Yes |
| Joint encoders | Yes |
| Proximity sensors | Yes |
Computing and AI
| Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| Compute module | 1X NEO Cortex (NVIDIA Jetson Thor — up to 2,070 FP4 TFLOPS) |
| AI model | Redwood AI — 1X's proprietary World Model |
| Language model | Built-in LLM for natural conversation and voice commands |
| Learning method | World Model learns from watching videos — reasons about object behavior rather than memorizing routines |
| Teleoperation | "Expert Mode" — remote 1X operator takes control via VR for complex tasks; interaction becomes AI training data |
| Fleet learning | All NEO units learn collectively — improvements distribute across the fleet |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi + Bluetooth + 5G cellular |
| Data offload | High-speed wireless |
| OTA updates | Yes — regular capability expansion |
How NEO's Hybrid AI Model Works
This is the most important thing to understand about NEO: it is not fully autonomous in 2026.
NEO uses a hybrid system. For tasks it can handle — walking, fetching items, basic tidying, carrying objects, conversational assistance — the onboard World Model AI runs autonomously. When NEO encounters a task it cannot yet complete on its own, it requests help from 1X's "Expert Mode" service. A trained human operator takes remote VR control, completes the task, and that interaction becomes training data for the AI. Over time, the AI learns to handle more tasks independently, and the need for human assistance decreases.
This teleoperation-as-training-data approach is how 1X plans to bootstrap autonomous capability. It ensures tasks always get done (even if a human is behind the curtain initially), while building the dataset needed for genuine autonomy. The Expert Mode service is included in both the $20,000 purchase and the $499/month subscription.
Buyer's Guide: What to Know Before Buying a 1X NEO
It Is Not Fully Autonomous
The single most important fact. NEO relies on remote human operators for complex tasks in 2026. You are buying a developing platform, not a finished product. Expect the autonomous capability to expand through OTA updates over time, but early adopters should be comfortable with human-in-the-loop assistance.
The $200 Deposit Is Fully Refundable
You can lock in your queue position with $200 and decide later whether to commit $20,000. This is a low-risk way to evaluate the timeline and product development before full commitment.
Battery Life Is 4 Hours
Four hours of active use means NEO will need a mid-day recharge for all-day operation. The fast-charge system (6 minutes per hour of runtime) and autonomous self-docking help, but this is not an all-day robot without a break.
Safety Is a Core Design Priority
NEO's entire body is covered in soft 3D-lattice polymer. All joints are pinch-proof. It operates at 22 dB. It weighs only 30 kg with 95% backdrivable actuators. The HIC < 250 safety rating means it's designed to be safe around children, elderly people, and pets. IP68 hands can handle water; IP44 body handles splashes.
First-Generation Product Expectations Apply
This is genuinely first-generation home robotics hardware. Expect firmware bugs, limited initial task capability, and the typical growing pains of any brand-new product category. 1X has strong backers (OpenAI, NVIDIA) and genuine engineering substance, but early adopters should approach with realistic expectations.
US-Only Initially
First deliveries in 2026 are limited to the United States. International expansion begins in 2027. If you're outside the US, you'll need to wait.
1X NEO vs Similar Robots
- NEO vs Figure 03: The most direct competitor. Both target home use at ~$20,000. Figure 03 relies on fully autonomous Helix AI; NEO uses a hybrid AI + teleoperation model. NEO is accepting pre-orders now with 2026 delivery; Figure 03 plans limited home deployments in late 2026 but has no public pre-order. NEO is shipping sooner; Figure 03 may be more autonomous when it arrives.
- NEO vs Tesla Optimus: Optimus targets industrial applications first at $20,000–$30,000, with consumer sales not expected until 2027+. NEO targets homes first and is shipping in 2026. NEO has more hand dexterity (22 DOF vs 11 DOF in Gen 2). Optimus has Tesla's manufacturing scale. For consumers wanting a home robot this decade, NEO is the realistic option.
- NEO vs Unitree R1: The R1 ($4,900–$35,000) is much cheaper and is shipping now, but it targets education and research — not home chores. The R1 has 1-hour battery life (vs NEO's 4 hours), no teleoperation support, and is not designed for domestic tasks. Different products for different buyers.
- NEO vs Unitree G1: The G1 ($13,500+) is a research platform for labs. NEO is a home assistant for consumers. The G1 has no home-specific features (soft body, quiet operation, self-charging). No overlap in use case.
- NEO vs NEURA 4NE1: The 4NE1 starts at €98,000 (~$105,000) and targets industrial/Porsche customers. NEO is 5× cheaper and designed for homes. Entirely different markets.
