UBTech launches hyper-realistic humanoid companion robots U1 in China with emotional AI

The U1 robot can hold conversations and even be customised to resemble loved ones or celebrities. UBTech is targeting single people and those aged over 60, positioning the lifelike android as a companion to help combat loneliness.

The company UBTech says its "U1" robot -- equipped with eye cameras, chest sensors, and listening microphones -- is the world's first full-sized, ultra-realistic humanoid designed for mass production.

UBTech's new Uworld U1 humanoid robots are designed to live alongside people, learning routines, recognizing emotions, and holding natural conversations. The company even envisions customized versions that can recreate a person's face and voice.

The company UBTech says its "U1" robot -- equipped with eye cameras, chest sensors, and listening microphones -- is the world's first full-sized, ultra-realistic humanoid designed for mass production

Chinese robotics maker UBTech has launched the U1 series, a line of full-size humanoid robots built for personal companionship, featuring lifelike silicone skin and an onboard emotional AI system. The model was unveiled in Shenzhen under UBTech's newly created consumer brand, UWORLD, marking the company's expansion from industrial robotics into the home.Design and physical buildAccording to a report by the South China Morning Post, the U1 comes in male and female versions, standing 183 centimetres and 168 centimetres tall respectively. The male model weighs 42 kilograms while the female version weighs 35.2 kilograms. Both variants feature 88 servo joints, a silicone exterior designed to mimic human skin, and realistic hair, enabling coordinated movement across the arms, legs, hands, neck, chest and torso.Is this the robot girlfriend or boyfriend you’ve been waiting for?UBTECH has officially launched UWORLD, its consumer full-size hyper-realistic humanoid robot series.Pricing starts at RMB 119,800, about $17.6K, for the lighter half-body U1 Lite.U1 Pro is RMB 169,800, about… https://t.co/0vZfENgg5j pic.twitter.com/OGgHoShdbk— RoboHub (@XRoboHub) June 30, 2026 Emotional AI and privacyThe robot runs an emotional AI model locally on Rockchip's RK3588 processor, SCMP reported. According to the company, the system can analyse facial expressions, tone of voice and speaking patterns to estimate a user's emotional state and adjust conversations accordingly, offering supportive dialogue when a user appears stressed or unhappy. UBTech said user data, including personal memories and conversation history, is stored locally on the device with encryption rather than uploaded to the cloud, and owners can customise both the robot's appearance and personality traits over time.Robots from China are ready to become your soul companion. Today (June 30), Chinese robotics company UBTech officially launched the U1 Series — a full-size ultra-bionic humanoid robot.Equipped with a nurturing emotional AI model, it features soft synthetic skin, incredibly… pic.twitter.com/EJ2d8mDol5— TechHorn Lab (@ZyvoraXia) June 30, 2026 Pricing and variantsThe U1 is available in Lite, Pro and Ultra variants, priced from 119,800 yuan (approximately Rs. 17 lakhs) up to 990,000 yuan (approximately Rs. 1 crore, 38 lakhs).What the robot can and cannot doThe U1 is designed primarily for conversation and social interaction rather than physical labour. The robots can sit, stand, walk on flat indoor surfaces and engage in conversation, but are not built to navigate stairs or uneven terrain, or to perform household chores. Users also cannot freely programme new behaviours or functions, with UBTech deliberately limiting the platform's capabilities to communication and companionship.UBTech Robotics has officially unveiled its full-size ultra-biomimetic humanoid robot, the U1. The top-tier U1 Ultra starts at 880,000 yuan (US$123,000) for the female version and 990,000 yuan for the male version, with orders already surpassing 11,000 units. pic.twitter.com/vgmGxDcEyZ— Shanghai Daily (@shanghaidaily) June 30, 2026 AvailabilityPre-orders for the U1 opened on JD.com on June 2 with a 3,000 yuan (approximately Rs. 41,000) deposit, and the company had reported more than 2,100 reservations within the first week. Deliveries to early buyers are expected to begin in mid-September, with the presale window running through July 15. The rollout remains domestic to China for now, with UBTech yet to announce a distributor, import timeline or pricing for Western markets.

UBTech Robotics, the world’s first publicly traded humanoid robot maker, has launched a consumer humanoid designed for personal companionship, featuring lifelike silicone skin and emotional artificial intelligence, as Chinese tech firms increasingly transition robots from the factory floor to the family living room. The U1, unveiled on Tuesday in Shenzhen, comes in male and female versions, standing 183cm and 168cm tall, respectively. The model is available in Lite, Pro and Ultra variants,...