Xiao Mi has captured the spotlight once again with the introduction of CyberDog 2, a remarkable piece of innovation that combines cutting-edge robotics with artificial intelligence. Building on the success of its predecessor, CyberDog, Xiao Mi has taken a giant leap forward in the field of robotics with the release of its newest robotic dog.

Retailing for about $1800 and still not confirmed for release outside China, Xiao Mi’s CyberDog 2 sports a Doberman-like body compared to its counterpart. Standing smaller than its predecessor at 36cm tall, it’s less heavy when it jumps on your lap, weighing around 8.9kg.

This robo-dog comes packed with tricks up its sleeve but no other fluffy dog can replicate its newest feature: Color-changing fur.

The CyberDog 2 employs an E-Ink Prism skin, essentially an external display, which undergoes dynamic color changes in response to its actions. Now, owners can see their robot-doggo change colors when it’s running up and down their couches.

Nothing will be able to replicate your furry friends at home but Xiao Mi equipped the CyberDog with 19 sensors ranging from vision, smell, and touch.

Xiao Mi has also announced that the CyberDog 2 will be as open source as possible, to encourage developer communities dedicated to advancing bio-inspired robots for the betterment of people’s lives in the future.

Your new mechanical pet friend has yet to be issued a release date for retail but keep an eye out as your metalhead dog might just be around the corner.

On the opposite end of the robot dog spectrum is the Aibo by Sony, which is adorable and resembles the man’s best friend we all know and love. Xiao Mi’s first robot dog, aptly named Cyberdog, has been compared to both not long after its grand unveiling.

What Exactly is the CyberDog?

If you’ve seen the adverts for Xiao Mi’s grand foray into the world of robotic pets, you’d think they were building the most formidable, intimidating robot in the history of mankind. In the photo above, the CyberDog is shown standing on what looks like a body of water, its head almost reaching the ceiling where a hole is carved out to let light in what could be a room bathed in darkness.

Xiao Mi is no stranger to building some of the most innovative gadgets and technology. So when they previewed a robotic dog, expectations were high — especially when that robot dog looks like this.

But if you were expecting a military-grade research project from the Chinese powerhouse, think again. The Xiao Mi CyberDog is actually closer to a real dog than the post-apocalyptic machine of our nightmares.

In fact, for its intimidating appearance, all of its best tricks were quite cute. At Xiao Mi’s tech launch, where the dog was unveiled alongside the brand’s latest gadgets, CyberDog was able to sit up on its hind legs and clap, perform a backflip, and simply turn around and look at the audience in a most puppy-like manner.

Whether it’s a relief or mildly anticlimactic is still undecided: the robotic dog has garnered both fans and critics in the short amount of time since its launch.

The robotic dog contains servomotors that allow it to move at up to 7 mph, multiple sensors and cameras for navigation, and uniquely programmable AI. This gives the robot a life (and personality) of its own and lets it form a special bond with its owners.

It’s always tough to gauge how effective new technology like this will be, and sometimes you’ll never know until you actually buy it. Priced at $1,500, it seems like this one is a steal compared to more puppylike robot dogs at around the same price, and just a fraction of its lookalike Spot’s whopping $75,000.

Whether it’ll be a success is still to be seen, but advanced tech like this reminds us that a future where robotic assistants that will go on runs with us or fetch us a drink at home might not be too far off.

Watch: A Real-Life Demo of CyberDog the Quadruped Robot from Xiao Mi