1X Unveils Highly Dexterous Hands for Neo Home Robot
The dream of a friendly home robot that does laundry, takes out trash, and cleans up is one step closer to reality. 1X, a Norwegian-American robotics company, has revealed details about the five-finger hands attached to its soft, helpful robot companion, Neo. The hands use actuators that mimic how tendons move human hands, giving Neo 25 degrees of freedom of movement—just slightly less than the 27 degrees human hands typically have. Cameras and AI help the robot understand context and grip odd shapes, detect slippage, and even hyperextend fingers in ways humans cannot. The hands also have an IP68 waterproof rating, allowing Neo to wash its own hands.
Engineered for Human-Like Capability
Jonathan Terfurth, 1X’s director of actuators and hands, says the range of motion might even exceed a human’s, enabling Neo to open doors, lift heavy objects, and plug itself in when the battery is low. “You want to be able to operate with a human who has never worked or interfaced with a robot, and you still want it to be safe and compliant and soft,” Terfurth said. “Range of motion can be a bit extreme, but we try to be very close to what humans can do so that we can live in the world.” This focus on dexterity reflects a broader trend in robotics, where bots have evolved from clumsy claws to capable handlers that can gently carry fragile objects and assist with menial daily tasks.
Soft Design and Pricing
Neo is wrapped in a 3D lattice shell, inspired by Baymax from the Disney movie Big Hero 6. Dar Sleeper, 1X’s vice president of product and design, said, “We love this idea that a robot can be this peaceful and fun and goofy safe presence in a life. Something that feels comfortable to be around, something that’s soft from the inside to the outside. If you want something to fit into your life, it can’t feel like it’s from a whole different universe.” Early access pricing is $20,000 for a lump sum with priority delivery in 2026, or $500 per month to have it in your home in limited quantities.
Remote Operation and Privacy Concerns
1X says the goal is full automation, but for now Neo is partly teleoperated. Human operators can take control remotely and view the robot’s surroundings through a camera. A feature called teleoperation allows humans to handle more complicated chores. However, this raises privacy issues: if Neo is in your home, it can see everything. 1X claims human “experts” only enter your home when you specifically request it, and you can monitor video via a mobile app. A blue ring light on Neo’s ear indicates when a person is connected, and you can kick the expert out at any time. 1X did not answer questions about preventing bad actors or hackers from taking over the robot.
Marketing and Demonstration
The marketing for Neo has a sensual tone, with smooth jazz, warm lighting, and shots of fingers gently curling around a wine glass, unzipping a jacket, and fondling grapes. This unusual strategy contrasts with the robot’s potential as a portal for human operators. When asked whether videos were machine-automated or remotely operated, a 1X representative said “some of the videos are machine-articulated while some are operated to show the upper limit of the hardware capabilities.” During a Zoom call, a fully automated Neo demonstrated its finger speed—starting slowly, then accelerating until the fingers blurred together. It later flashed a peace sign.
Meanwhile, the humanoid robot market is often dominated by militaristic designs, but 1X is taking a different approach, aiming for a soft, goofy, and safe presence. The company’s strategy highlights the intersection of advanced robotics, AI, and human interaction, while also raising questions about privacy and the ethics of human-robot relationships.