1X Neo robot hands: 25 degrees of freedom, $20,000 early access

1X revealed the five-finger hands on its Neo companion robot, saying the digits provide 25 degrees of freedom, IP68 waterproofing, fast motion and the ability to detect slipping. Early access pricing is $20,000 up front or $500 per month, and lump-sum buyers will be prioritized for delivery in 2026.

What can Neo's hands do?

The hands deliver 25 degrees of freedom, two fewer than the 27 degrees of freedom typical for human hands, and use tendon-like actuators to recreate human motion. Cameras and AI provide contextual sensing for grasping, the fingers can detect when an object is slipping out of a grip, and engineers report the digits can hyperextend and move "extremely quickly." 1X says the hands can handle odd shapes, open doors, lift heavy objects and plug the robot in when its battery runs low. The hands also carry an IP68 waterproof rating so the company says Neo can wash its own hands.

Jonathan Terfurth, 1X’s director of actuators and hands, framed the design goal plainly: "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." That aligns with 1X’s approach to keep range of motion close to human limits while preserving safety and compliance.

How does teleoperation and Expert Mode work?

Neo is not yet fully autonomous; 1X offers a teleoperation feature called Expert Mode that lets human operators take control remotely and view the robot’s camera feed. Experts can enter a home only when requested, users can monitor the video via a mobile app, and a ring light around Neo’s ear turns blue to indicate a person is connected. The app also allows a user to remove the expert at any time.

The company has shown both machine-articulated videos and demonstrations where operators drive the hardware to show the upper limits of the hands. A 1X representative said some footage is automated while some is operated. On a Zoom demonstration with 1X staff, a fully automated Neo raised and lowered a finger increasingly fast until the movement blurred, then stopped when instructed and later flashed a peace sign. The company did not immediately answer questions about how it will prevent bad actors or hackers from taking control of the robot. After early coverage, a 1X representative clarified the company does not view Neo or its marketing material as flirtatious.

Why it matters

Fast, dexterous hands and integrated cameras move household robots closer to handling real-world chores that require nuance: picking up fragile items, manipulating odd shapes and interacting safely with people. The trade-off is privacy and security complexity. Expert Mode gives humans a way into a private space for tasks that automation cannot yet handle, which raises questions about authentication, attacker resistance and what counts as acceptable remote access. Pricing and a 2026 prioritization window will shape who sees these systems first and how quickly public expectations about in-home robotics evolve.

What to watch

Watch for further technical demos that separate fully automated tasks from teleoperated ones, and for 1X to publish concrete security controls for Expert Mode. Also watch delivery updates tied to the 2026 prioritization for lump-sum buyers and any additional performance benchmarks that quantify speed, gripping force or autonomy levels.