1X Neo Robot Shows Off Freakishly Fast Fingers and Human-Like Dexterity
Norwegian-American robotics firm 1X has revealed the five-fingered hands of its soft home robot Neo, which can move faster than human digits, hyperextend, and even wash themselves.
The Norwegian-American robotics company 1X today detailed the hands of its soft home robot Neo. The hands use actuators that mimic how tendons move human fingers, giving Neo 25 degrees of freedom – just two less than a human hand. Cameras and AI help the robot understand what it is grasping and adjust its grip.
Neo's hands can grip irregularly shaped objects and detect when something is slipping. The fingers move extremely fast and can hyperextend beyond human range. They also carry an IP68 waterproof rating, allowing the robot to wash its own hands. Engineers aimed to match or slightly exceed human range of motion so Neo can open doors, lift heavy objects, and even plug itself in when its battery is low.
The robot is designed to be soft and safe, inspired by Disney's Baymax from Big Hero 6. It is wrapped in a 3D lattice shell. Early access pricing is limited: $20,000 upfront or $500 per month, with upfront payment prioritizing delivery in 2026.
Currently, Neo is partially teleoperated. Human operators can take control remotely and see through its cameras – a feature called Expert Mode for complex tasks. 1X says operators only enter homes upon request and can be monitored via a mobile app; a blue ring light around Neo's ear indicates a connection. The company has not yet answered how it will prevent malicious actors or hackers from taking over.
1X's marketing has raised eyebrows for its sensual tone – videos show Neo caressing grapes or unzipping a jacket with smooth jazz in the background. A 1X representative stated that some demonstrations are fully autonomous while others are operated to show hardware limits. In a live demo, Neo's fingers started slowly then accelerated until they blurred, stopping only on command.
