UBTECH's "You World" brand secured over 3,800 pre-orders in 10 days for its new U1 companion robot, generating more than 10 million yuan in refundable deposits. The adult-only robot requires a 3,000 yuan deposit ahead of its official release at the end of June, according to 36 Kr. UBTECH has not yet announced the final purchase price.
This pre-sale volume more than triples UBTECH's total humanoid robot sales from last year, which stood at 1,079 units. Following the announcement, the company's stock price rose by 6%.
The U1 comes in male (183 cm, 42 kg) and female (168 cm, 35 kg) models. UBTECH states the robot features 88 joints, conversation memory, and supports appearance customization and IP co-branding. Consumers have questioned its 2-to-4-hour battery life. Official promotional videos currently only show the robot blinking and turning its head, lacking demonstrations of walking or grasping objects.
Other domestic robotics firms are targeting the companion market. Shouxing Technology, backed by investors including Lei Jun and Zhiyuan Robotics, produces the Elf series featuring three-layer bionic skin. Shanghai Zhuoyide's Moya robot, which the company claims can simulate body temperature and climb stairs, is limited to an initial run of 50 units priced between 1.2 and 1.5 million yuan.
The hardware push coincides with data and psychological concerns. A 2024 Mozilla Foundation analysis of 11 AI companion apps found 90% failed minimum security standards. Furthermore, research cited by 36 Kr indicates that 37% of users who interact with emotional robots for over two years show a regression in social skills, with a 52% decrease in tolerance for interpersonal conflicts.
Why it matters: The rapid accumulation of deposits for the U1 shows strong consumer demand for physical AI companions, even when hardware capabilities remain unproven and final prices are unknown. To sustain this market, manufacturers must bridge the gap between static display units and functional robotics while navigating severe privacy vulnerabilities and the psychological impacts of long-term machine dependence.