In October 2025, 1X Technologies opened pre-orders for NEO, a humanoid robot designed specifically for household use. This marks a notable shift for the company, which had previously been developing robotics for other applications before pivoting in August 2024 to focus exclusively on the in-home consumer market. The pre-order launch represents what industry observers describe as the beginning of a new phase in the race to bring humanoid robotics into consumer households.
The NEO robot is available in three color options: tan, gray, and dark brown. Customers in the United States can place a pre-order with a $200 deposit. Two purchasing models are being offered. The first is an outright purchase option at $20,000, which the company describes as "Early Access" and includes priority delivery in 2026. The second option is a subscription model at $499 per month. The company has stated that initial deliveries will focus on the U.S. market, with expansion to other markets planned starting in 2027.
The NEO robot has been in development for approximately a decade, according to the company. A beta version of the robot was shown publicly in September of the previous year, and a more refined version appeared in a demonstration video in February 2025, in which the robot was shown carrying laundry and serving coffee. The company's announcement indicates that the robot will arrive in homes next year capable of performing simple automated tasks.
The robot includes a feature called "chores," which allows users to provide the robot with a list of tasks to complete in the home. Users can schedule specific times for these chores to be performed, or they can trigger tasks in real time with the click of a button. The tasks the robot is designed to handle include folding laundry, organizing, and cleaning up designated spaces.
Bernt Bornich, a representative of 1X, commented on the significance of the launch, noting that humanoids were long considered science fiction, then became a subject of research, but with the launch of NEO, humanoid robots become a product. He emphasized that this means consumers can reach out and touch a humanoid robot and ask it for help, with help being granted.
The pre-order announcement was made through a press release distributed via Business Wire, and the news has been covered by multiple technology publications, including The Robot Report and New Atlas. The company's strategy, as outlined in its August 2024 announcement, was to pivot to focus solely on the in-home market for consumer humanoids.
Why it matters for European robot service
For European readers of Robot Service Map, the NEO pre-order launch carries several implications, even though the initial rollout is focused on the United States. The company has stated that expansion to other markets will begin in 2027, which means European consumers and service providers are looking at a timeline of roughly two years before the robot becomes available in their region. This timeline is significant for planning purposes, whether for individual consumers considering a household robot or for service companies that might integrate such robots into their offerings.
The pricing structure is one of the most notable aspects of this announcement. The $20,000 outright purchase price positions NEO as a premium consumer product, comparable to a high-end vehicle or major home renovation. The $499 monthly subscription model is particularly interesting from a service perspective, as it represents a shift toward "robot as a service" thinking in the consumer market. This model has been common in commercial and industrial robotics, where companies pay ongoing fees for equipment, maintenance, and software updates, but it is less common in the consumer space.
For European robot service companies, the subscription model raises questions about how maintenance, repairs, and software updates will be handled. The source material does not disclose specific details about service agreements, warranty terms, or maintenance procedures. What is known is that the subscription model exists as an alternative to outright purchase, but the specific terms of what the subscription includes—beyond the monthly fee—are not disclosed in the available information.
The timing of the announcement is also noteworthy. The pre-order launch in October 2025, with deliveries starting in 2026, suggests that 1X is confident in its production capabilities. However, the source material does not provide specific production volumes, delivery timelines beyond the year-level precision, or details about how many units will be available in the initial batch. European buyers interested in the robot will need to monitor announcements from the company regarding international availability.
The "chores" feature, which allows scheduling of tasks at specific times, is relevant for European service providers who might consider offering robot-assisted household services. The ability to schedule tasks means the robot could potentially be integrated into service offerings where clients want routine tasks performed at specific times. However, the source material does not specify the extent of the robot's capabilities beyond folding laundry, organizing, and cleaning. It does not disclose whether the robot can handle more complex tasks, navigate stairs, or interact with other smart home devices.
The color options—tan, gray, and dark brown—suggest that 1X is treating NEO as a consumer product where aesthetics matter. This is consistent with the company's positioning of the robot as a household appliance rather than an industrial machine. For European markets, where design and aesthetics often play a significant role in consumer purchasing decisions, this approach may be well received.
What buyers and operators should know
For potential buyers in the United States, the pre-order process is straightforward: a $200 deposit secures a place in the delivery queue. The company has stated that the $20,000 outright purchase option includes priority delivery in 2026. The subscription option at $499 per month is the alternative. What is not disclosed in the source material is whether the subscription option includes the same priority delivery, whether there are contractual commitments for the subscription (such as a minimum term), or what happens if a customer wants to switch between purchase and subscription models.
The source material does not specify the robot's physical specifications, such as height, weight, battery life, or charging requirements. It does not disclose the robot's processing power, onboard sensors, or the specific AI models used. It does not state whether the robot requires a Wi-Fi connection, a companion app, or any other infrastructure. Buyers should be aware that these details are not yet public, and they should expect additional information from the company as the delivery date approaches.
The "chores" feature is described as allowing users to provide a list of tasks and schedule specific times for completion. The robot can also perform tasks in real time with a button click. The specific tasks mentioned are folding laundry, organizing, and cleaning up designated spaces. The source material does not disclose how the robot learns new tasks, whether it can be trained to perform custom chores, or how it handles unexpected situations, such as encountering objects in its path or being interrupted mid-task.
For operators considering the subscription model, the $499 monthly fee represents a significant ongoing cost. Over a year, this amounts to approximately $6,000, and over three years, approximately $18,000, which is close to the outright purchase price. The source material does not disclose whether the subscription includes maintenance, repairs, or software updates, nor does it state whether the subscription can be cancelled at any time. These are important considerations for anyone evaluating the total cost of ownership.
The company's focus on the U.S. market for initial deliveries means that international buyers will need to wait. The source material states that expansion to other markets will begin in 2027, but it does not specify which markets will be prioritized or when in 2027 the expansion will occur. European buyers should not expect to receive a NEO robot before 2027 at the earliest, and the actual availability may be later depending on regulatory approvals, localization, and other factors.
The source material does not disclose any safety certifications, regulatory approvals, or compliance standards that the robot meets. For European buyers, this is particularly relevant, as the European Union has specific regulations for consumer products, including those with AI components. The robot will need to comply with relevant EU directives before it can be sold in European markets. The source material does not indicate whether 1X has begun this process.
The robot's capabilities are described as "simple automated tasks" in the company's announcement. This suggests that the initial version of NEO may have limitations compared to what might be expected from a humanoid robot. The source material does not disclose the robot's ability to handle complex or unstructured tasks, its performance in different home environments, or its reliability over extended periods. These are factors that early adopters will likely report on after the robot begins shipping in 2026.
The pre-order launch follows a period of development that the company describes as approximately a decade. The beta version was shown in September of the previous year, and a refined version appeared in February 2025. This development timeline suggests that the company has been iterating on the design, but the source material does not disclose how many beta units were tested, in how many homes, or for how long. The transition from beta to consumer product is often challenging, and the source material does not provide details on how 1X has addressed any issues found during testing.
For those considering the $20,000 outright purchase, it is worth noting that this price point places NEO in a category with other premium consumer robots, though the source material does not provide comparisons with competing products. The humanoid form factor is relatively new in the consumer market, and the source material does not disclose how the robot's performance compares to more established non-humanoid home robots.
The subscription model at $499 per month is notable for its accessibility. It lowers the barrier to entry for consumers who may not want to commit $20,000 upfront. However, the source material does not disclose whether the subscription includes the same hardware as the outright purchase, whether there are differences in features or support, or whether subscribers have the option to purchase the robot at the end of a subscription period.
The company's announcement was made in October 2025, and the source material indicates that the robot will start shipping in 2026. The exact month of first deliveries is not disclosed. The source material also does not disclose the number of units that will be available in the initial production run, which could affect delivery timelines for early pre-orders.
For European readers, the key takeaway is that NEO represents a significant step in the consumer humanoid robot market, but many details remain undisclosed. The company has announced pricing, delivery timing, and basic capabilities, but has not provided detailed specifications, service terms, or international availability dates beyond the year-level precision of 2027. Prospective buyers should monitor official announcements from 1X for additional information as the delivery date approaches.
Sources
NEO humanoid designed for household use, available for preorder
Published by Vigla Media OÜ (Estonia).