Humanoid robots are moving from the prototype stage to real-world use and 2026 looks to be the beginning of a world in which humans and robots coexist.
In 2026 the line between science fiction and reality disappears as humanoid robots are no longer something we only see in movies. This year robots are being integrated into everyday life as companies race to introduce their designs to the people.
NEO is a humanoid home assistant developed by 1X Technologies that is already available for pre-order and said to arrive in homes in 2026. NEO stands at 5 feet 6 inches and was designed to assist with household tasks such as folding laundry, picking up objects, clearing counters, and bringing requested objects to the user on command. The humanoid uses a custom AI model, Redwood AI, to help recognize its home environment and understand natural speech. NEO is set to be one of the very first consumer-ready humanoid robots on the market and you can pre-order one now for $20,000 up front or pre-order the subscription model for $499 a month.
Another robot expected to make big leaps in 2026 is Tesla’s Optimus. The Gen 3 version of Optimus is being perfected to assist households with enhanced mobility that allows for more advanced tasks. While CEO Elon Musk’s Tesla Diner in Los Angeles is powered by Gen 2 models serving popcorn and drinks, Tesla is planning to unveil the Gen 3 prototype early in the year with commercial production aimed to begin in mid-to-late 2026. While there is no official retail price, Musk has talked briefly about his goal to make Optimus more affordable than other humanoid robots with a target price of around $20,000 to $30,000 USD.
LG Electronics has already released a Servebot for restaurants and hotels, but it will reveal its new home robot, CLOiD, at CES 2026, the world’s largest annual tech trade show. CLOiD will have two arms, each with five individual fingers that can handle objects similar to the way humans can. The chipset built into CLOiD includes cameras, sensors, speakers, a display, voice interaction, and more allowing for an intelligent and natural experience with people in the home. LG has not announced a price point yet nor have they released full photos of CLOiD, but those details are expected to be fully disclosed at CES 2026.
This year humanoid robots won’t be a concept anymore and as they continue to evolve humans will have the option to live alongside them. 2026 could very possibly mark the beginning of a world where robotic home assistance becomes as normal as our smartphones.
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