Chinese robotics firm UBTECH started delivering units known on social media as cyber boyfriends and cyber girlfriends. The enterprise began shipping its U1 companion humanoid robots in September, and dealership sales expanded this month across China and South Korea.
Standing 183 cm and 168 cm tall, the U1 is available in male and female models. Its silicone skin displays visible pores, fingerprints, and blood vessels for a hyper-realistic appearance. The manufacturer reports that the machine features 88 servo joints capable of executing 90% of standard human movements, alongside the ability to maintain eye contact, converse, and react to more than 20 human emotions with over 90% accuracy.
UBTECH provides three distinct variants at varying price levels. The U1 Lite begins at 119,800 yuan, translating to around PKR 4.7 million, while the U1 Pro carries a price tag of 169,800 yuan, or about PKR 6.7 million. The premium U1 Ultra costs 990,000 yuan, roughly PKR 39 million, for the male variant and 880,000 yuan, approximately PKR 34.6 million, for the female option. Sales of all models are restricted to adults by the company.
Powered by a Rockchip RK3588 processor, the robot executes its emotional AI model locally. This ensures user information remains stored on the hardware instead of uploading to the cloud. UBTECH also notes that the artificial intelligence fosters long-term companionship through ongoing emotional engagement.
Since the June 30 launch, orders have exceeded 13,000 units, with the manufacturer establishing a delivery goal of 1,500 to 2,000 units for 2026. In Seoul's Gangdong district, South Korea's Galaxy Robot Park opened a specialized U1 World showroom this month. Beijing's Bosch Group has also began selling U1 units via Hyundai and Mercedes-Benz car dealerships.
Holding the top position in China's humanoid robot sector, UBTECH shipped 16,123 units overall during the first half of 2026. First-half revenue hit 1.269 billion yuan, marking a 104.2% increase compared to the previous year. Tan Min, the chief branding officer, stated that the companion robot industry will expand from tens of billions of yuan to trillions of yuan between 2026 and 2036.
