The dream of a humanoid robot helper seamlessly integrating into our daily lives has been a staple of science fiction for decades. In 2024, that future feels closer than ever with the opening of US pre-orders for the 1X Neo humanoid home robot. Touted as an intelligent assistant capable of handling mundane household tasks, the Neo enters a nascent but rapidly growing market, competing with high-profile projects like the Figure 03 and Tesla Optimus.
But is this vision of robotic domesticity ready for prime time, or are we witnessing the first stumbling steps of a technological toddler? Following a recent, widely publicized failure of a Russian humanoid robot, a healthy dose of skepticism is understandable. To separate the hype from reality, we turned to a hands-on test by Joanna Stern of the Wall Street Journal, which provided one of the first in-depth looks at the Neo's actual capabilities.
First Impressions: Safety and "Muscles" Over Might
At first glance, the 1X Neo doesn't look like a typical industrial robot. Gone is the exposed metal and wiry frame. Instead, Neo is outfitted with a soft, textile covering that resembles clothing. This isn't just an aesthetic choice; it's a core safety feature designed to make the robot less intimidating and safer to interact with in a home environment.
Underneath its soft exterior lies an innovative engineering approach. Instead of relying on loud, jarring gears, Neo uses a series of powerful yet lightweight motors driven by belts. This system is loosely inspired by human muscles, resulting in surprisingly quiet and smooth movements. This design also contributes to the robot's remarkably low weight of just 30 kg (66 pounds)—a critical factor if it were to ever lose balance and fall in a crowded home.
Don't let its lightweight frame fool you, though. The developers claim the Neo can lift an impressive 68 kg (150 pounds). However, as the real-world test revealed, raw power isn't its primary focus.
A Real-World Test: Cracking Walnuts and Opening Fridges
So, how does the 1X Neo perform outside of a controlled demo? The answer is: like a cautious and deliberate novice. In a revealing test, the robot was unable to crack a walnut by hand. While this might seem like a failure, the developers state this is intentional. The Neo is programmed to prioritize finesse and sensitivity over brute force, a necessary trait for an entity that will handle fragile dishes and interact with people.
The core test involved a seemingly simple sequence: retrieving a water bottle from the refrigerator and handing it to a person a few steps away. This task highlighted both the robot's potential and its current limitations. The entire process took one minute and seven seconds, with the majority of the time spent grappling with the complex motor skills required to open the refrigerator door.
This hands-on demonstration is crucial to understanding the robot's current state. For a more comprehensive visual understanding of these tests, including how the Neo handles loading a dishwasher and even using a vacuum cleaner (a task it reportedly performs well), check out the detailed video from The Wall Street Journal.
The "Expert in the App": Teleoperation and the Road to Autonomy
One of the most critical details for potential buyers to understand is that the model tested was not fully autonomous. It was operating under teleoperation, meaning a human AI operator was remotely controlling its actions. This is a predecessor to the fully autonomous model slated for a 2026 release.
1X refers to this remote control mode as "Expert Mode," where a human operator can connect to the robot to guide it through tasks it cannot yet solve on its own. Initially, the Neo will function less like a fully independent butler and more like a child learning the ropes, requiring instruction and connected to human support via an app.
This learning process, however, raises significant questions about data privacy. To train the AI, visual and acoustic data from the customer's home is sent to 1X's servers via the robot's cameras and microphones. The company assures that faces are pixelated for privacy and that users can always see when a remote operator is active. Despite these assurances, this requirement represents a major compromise that early adopters will have to weigh carefully.
The Verdict and The Future
The 1X Neo is not a finished product. It is the beginning of a ambitious journey. The developers' goal is for Neo to learn from its deployment in thousands of private homes, with the aim of evolving into a fully developed, autonomous assistant within the next five years.
The potential is immense. A fully realized Neo could provide significant assistance not only in standard household chores but also as a support system for people with disabilities and the elderly, offering a new level of independence.
For those intrigued by being on the cutting edge, pre-orders are currently open in the USA with a $200 deposit. The full cost is set at a steep $20,000 as a one-time payment, or a $499 monthly subscription. A European launch is expected by 2027.
The 1X Neo may not be ready to take over all your chores today, but it represents a tangible, if imperfect, step into a future where humanoid robots could become as commonplace as the smartphone. The journey has just begun, and it’s one worth watching closely.