Home Helper Robot Gets First Pre-Orders: Meet NEO

Tech company 1X Technologies has opened pre-orders for its latest home-oriented robot, named NEO, a humanoid designed to assist with household chores and daily tasks. The robot is priced at about USD 20,000 or a monthly rental option, and the first units are expected to ship in early 2026.

NEO stands about 5′6″, weighs roughly 66 lb (around 30 kg), and uses soft-fabric exterior design and articulated hands to navigate home environments. According to 1X, the robot is built to handle tasks such as fetching items, opening doors, switching off lights, folding laundry, and tidying up.

However, the company cautions that NEO is not fully autonomous at launch. In many cases, a remote human operator will assist via the robot’s cameras in learning new tasks. The robot’s body is not waterproof, and it is intended strictly for indoor use; cooking, heavy lifting, and outdoor chores remain outside its current capabilities.

Pre-orders are now live in the United States: one option is to buy the unit outright for USD 20,000; alternatively, 1X offers a subscription model at around USD 499 per month with a minimum six-month commitment. The company anticipates shipping to early adopters in 2026, with wider availability planned for 2027.

NEO represents one of the first attempts to bring humanoid robots into everyday private homes rather than industrial or research settings. CEO Bernt Øivind Børnich of 1X stated that humanoid robots have moved “from research to product”.

From a market perspective:

• It highlights a growing push to make consumer-level robots that go beyond fixed-function devices (like robot vacuums) into more general-purpose helpers.
• The price point remains very high, so initial adoption will likely be in affluent households or early-tech-enthusiasts rather than the mass market.
• The reliance on remote tele-operation suggests the technology still has work to do before fully independent robot assistants become commonplace.

Because NEO uses built-in cameras and can be remotely assisted by 1X staff, the company emphasises a “social contract” with users: home data helps the robot improve, but it brings added privacy and security implications.

Some commentators have raised concerns: one review notes that although marketed as autonomous, much of NEO’s functionality initially will depend on human-in-the-loop operation. For potential buyers, key questions include:

• How much access will remote operators have?
• How will home safety, data security, and reliability be managed?
• And will the robot’s cost and limitations justify the value compared to human help or simpler devices?

1X expects NEO to improve over time via software updates and machine learning from its deployment in homes. This means early buyers are not just consumers but part of the product’s ongoing evolution.

Competitors are also entering the space of home-friendly humanoid robots, so NEO’s real test will be how swiftly and reliably it can deliver meaningful help in everyday life, and whether it can move from niche to normal household adoption.

Why You Should Care

For anyone interested in smart homes, automation, or robotics, NEO signals a shift: you’re no longer just buying a smart speaker or self-vacuum, but potentially a humanoid companion that lives in your home. That raises exciting possibilities — and practical questions.

If you’re thinking about investing in advanced home robotics, this is a moment to watch, not just purchase. The price and new-product risks remain significant. If you follow tech trends or want early access to “robot living”, NEO is one to track.