1X has launched NEO, a humanoid household robot. Here’s how to preorder.

A robotics company 1X: launched NEO Home Robot: on Tuesday, announcing that pre-orders are open for “the world’s first consumer-ready humanoid robot.” It looks like it could take a beating Tesla to the punch.

Designed to help with chores around the house, the NEO Home Robot stands 5’6″ (168cm) tall, weighs 66lbs (30kg) and is covered in a soft 3D lattice polymer that comes in three colors: brown, gray and dark brown. It also has speakers, allowing users to use it as a very quirky sound system.

“Humanoids have long been science fiction…then they were the subject of research, but today, with the launch of NEO, humanoid robots are becoming a product.” 1X CEO and founder Bernt Bornich said in a blog post about the launch of NEO.

1X says the NEO can be operated via verbal commands as well as a mobile app, and is capable of lifting more than 150 pounds (68 kg) and carrying 55 pounds (25 kg). However, you may not want it to carry your groceries from the car. The company notes that while NEO’s arms are waterproof, the rest are not, and that the robot is designed to be used. “In and around your house and on firm ground.”

“If your NEO gets wet, an automatic order will be placed for a kid-sized plastic swimming pool and 100kg of basmati rice,” jokes 1X on the NEO FAQ page. “Not really, but please don’t get wet NEO!”

Not surprisingly, the NEO still lacks the independence, dexterity, and efficiency that sci-fi fans dream of. Cooking is currently beyond her capabilities, and while NEO can apparently handle tasks like folding laundry and tidying up, it could take some time. During the 1X demo that Wall Street Journal noticed that NEO takes two minutes to fold a shirt and also struggles to balance when closing the dishwasher. The robot has four hours of battery life.

NEO is not fully autonomous either Magazine reports that he has not seen the robot do anything without human guidance. Instead, users can schedule time for a 1X employee to don a VR headset and join their NEO to guide them through unfamiliar tasks, helping them learn. In this sense, it seems like just one expensive, inefficient step removed from hiring a housekeeper.

Having a human-piloted robot in other people’s homes also raises some safety issues. 1X notes that employees won’t be able to jump into NEO without the owner’s permission, and that the light around its ears will change color to show the robot when they’re working. However, allowing a stranger to see, hear and study what’s going on in the privacy of your home can be unsettling for some people.

However, the mere concept of a humanoid home robot is sure to be enough to excite some tech enthusiasts.

How to Pre-Order the NEO Humanoid Robot

Unfortunately, if you decide to bring a NEO robot into your home, it’s going to cost you a pretty penny. 1X charges $20,000 to buy NEO outright, including a $200 deposit on pre-order. Those without 20 grand to spare can pay $499 a month to rent the robot for a minimum of six months, returning it when their subscription expires.

Pre-orders are available through 1X’s website. Shipments will begin primarily in the US next year, with other markets receiving the NEO in 2027.

NEO isn’t the first humanoid robot 1X has launched the wheeled EVE robot until now operating under its former name Halodi Robotics. However, EVE was designed to assist humans in warehouses, not domestic environments, and could only be called humanoid from the waist up.

Several other tech companies are also working to create humanoid robots that can do housework. Tesla has held several slow motion demo of his robot Optimusbut it’s not meant to be move from the prototype stage to production until next year. A Chinese EV manufacturer XPENG: Also aims to mass produce its humanoid iron robot in 2026 and currently testing it with support at the company’s Guangzhou factory. However, neither has announced when customers will be able to purchase them, leaving the 1X to be the first with pre-orders.