1X NEO: what you must know BEFORE you preorder

The 1X NEO is the first humanoid robot you can reserve for your home, which makes it today's most tempting — and most misunderstood — purchase in robotics. Before you put down your $200, here's what's behind the marketing video.

What NEO truly does today

Autonomously: navigate your home, open doors, pick up and carry simple objects. Everything else — tidying the kitchen, folding laundry, loading the dishwasher — is currently executed by a remote 1X human teleoperator, by appointment and with your approval. The Wall Street Journal verified it: in its test, every household task was piloted by a person.

The real timelines

There are 10,000+ reservations and the factory makes about 10,000 units a year. Translation: reserve today and your NEO may arrive well into 2027. The $200 deposit is refundable until 14 days after the order invitation.

The privacy question

A teleoperator can see your home through the robot. 1X promises face blurring, no-go zones, US-based operators and session indicators — but for now these are company claims without independent audit.

Reserve or wait?

Reserve if being a pioneer excites you, you accept teleoperation as a bridge, and you can park $200. Wait if you want an appliance that works from day one: that, today, doesn't exist at any price.