The Norwegian company 1X has opened pre-orders for NEO, a humanoid robot designed for the home that can interact with users and perform daily tasks autonomously. Standing at 1.68 meters tall and weighing 29.94 kilograms, NEO arrives in early access with a clear goal: to handle routine chores — from cleaning up the kitchen to carrying laundry — so residents can “focus on what matters.”
Reservations require a $200 deposit and offer two purchase options: a one-time payment of $20,000 or a monthly subscription of $499. First deliveries are scheduled for 2026.
A “soft” and safe design for coexistence with people
NEO adopts a passive safety approach: its body is wrapped in a deformable 3D polymer that serves as a protective padding. It wears a turtleneck-style knit suit and employs a tendon-driven transmission system (Tendon Drive) combined with high-torque motors to produce smooth and pinch-proof movements. The brand emphasizes that the robot is designed for close interactions without startling users: the motor noise stays at just 22 dB, quieter than a modern refrigerator.
The hands feature 22 degrees of freedom, essential for manipulating household objects with some skill. Its drivetrain allows it to carry up to 24.95 kg (e.g., laundry baskets or shopping bags) around the home.
Autonomy, sensors, and connectivity
In terms of sensors, NEO incorporates two 8 MP cameras, four 360° microphones, and three speakers to see, hear, and communicate with users. It moves with full mobility around the house and — thanks to its 5G connectivity — can operate both indoors and outdoors when the weather is dry.
The robot is powered by a 0.75 kWh battery pack, offering up to 4 hours of autonomy per charge. When the battery reaches a low threshold, NEO automatically docks to its charging base.
Onboard intelligence… and remote assistance when needed
NEO’s brain is based on the NVIDIA Jetson Thor platform, enabling contextual conversations, online searches, and interaction memory. The company states that the robot remembers conversations to personalize future responses and routines.
By default, NEO operates autonomously. For unexpected tasks or those it is not yet capable of, 1X offers “Expert Mode”: a human operator (1X Expert) can teleassist the robot to guide it step-by-step as it learns and completes the task. This combination of autonomy and remote assistance aims to quickly expand its task repertoire — from scheduling chores and timetables to solving specific issues — without sacrificing effectiveness.
What it can do at home (and its limitations)
At launch, NEO is focused on common household tasks:
- Doing laundry: gathering and transporting clothes to the washing machine, sorting, and organizing.
- Cooking: clearing surfaces, taking food to the fridge, arranging items.
- Scheduled routines: task lists and timetables to help create a more organized home.
- Companionship: conversation, answering questions, recipe ideas, reminders, and leisure moments like jokes, simple games, stories.
The company emphasizes that NEO is “built for total autonomy,” but its Early Access provides a foundational autonomy that will grow with use and new capabilities. It’s not, therefore, a sci-fi butler or a universal substitute: full autonomy has not yet been achieved. 1X humorously notes this with a joke referencing Asimov and Terminator: “calm, for now.”
Ergonomics and presence: coexisting with a robot without intimidation
Beyond the numbers, 1X has carefully considered the presence of the robot: its soft body, gestural language, and “body language” to communicate intentions (e.g., approaching or yielding), luminescent “ear-rings” to express states, and a textile aesthetics that softens its technical appearance. The goal is for it not to overwhelm in domestic spaces and to feel “pleasant to have nearby”.
Privacy and realistic expectations
Allowing NEO to remember conversations and connect online raises questions about privacy, data retention, and controls. 1X highlights the utility of its memory for personalizing the experience; for the discerning buyer, it will be crucial to understand:
- Which data is stored locally and which in the cloud.
- How it is encrypted, who can access, and for how long.
- Controls to delete data, limit remote assistance, or disable connectivity when desired.
Regarding capabilities, it’s important to maintain realistic expectations: Opening a closet and storing dishes or folding a piece of clothing reliably in different homes is a major technical challenge. Human assistance and software updates will make a significant difference in daily performance.
Technical specs (highlights)
- Height and weight: 1.68 m and 29.94 kg.
- Payload capacity: up to 24.95 kg.
- Hands: 22 degrees of freedom.
- Motors: tendon-drive with high torque; 22 dB noise level.
- Sensory equipment: 2× 8 MP cameras, 4× 360° microphones, 3× speakers.
- Connectivity: 5G for indoor and outdoor in dry conditions.
- Battery: 0.75 kWh, up to 4 hours per charge; auto-docking.
- AI platform: NVIDIA Jetson Thor; interaction memory; online access.
- Modes: autonomous + Expert Mode with remote teleassistance.
- Pre-orders and price: $200 deposit; $20,000 purchase or $499/month subscription.
- Availability: Deliveries in 2026.
Who is it for?
- Homes with a high volume of tasks (large families, big houses) where automating chores and organizing frees up time.
- People with mobility challenges or elderly who can benefit from an extra hand — always with prior safety assessment and environment considerations.
- Early robotics enthusiasts willing to coexist with an evolving product (Early Access), along with its strengths and limitations.
What’s next
By 2026, 1X plans to expand capabilities, refine autonomy, and reduce friction in complex tasks through learning and scheduled teleassistances. Success will depend on three factors: reliability (it always does what it promises), security (physical and data), and cost-efficiency (the time saved should justify the expense and attention it requires).
FAQs
Can NEO operate without Internet?
Parts of its local autonomy will still work, but online searches, updates, and tele-assistance from 1X Experts require connection, preferably 5G.
What tasks are “standard” and which require assistance?
Routine tasks (gathering, transporting, basic tidying) are included; for unfamiliar tasks, it can learn with remote guidance. With use, 1X promises to unlock more capabilities.
Can I limit what it remembers or delete memory?
This is a critical point to review in the settings: buyers should request clear controls over memory, deletion, and retention policies before purchase.
Why only outdoors “in dry conditions”?
The design is not meant for rain or humidity. The body protection and electrical safety impose that operational limit.
Availability and Orders: pre-orders are open with a $200 deposit. Purchase prices are $20,000 or, alternatively, $499/month subscription. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2026.
