UBTech starts U1 companion humanoid deliveries at RMB 119,800 to 990,000

UBTech began delivering its U1 companion humanoid to Chinese buyers on September 16, 2026, under its UWorld consumer brand. Prices run from RMB 119,800 (about $16,500) for the half-body U1 Lite to RMB 990,000 (about $135,000) for the full-body U1 Ultra, and the company says it had 13,361 orders by its June 30 launch.

Why it matters: the U1 is one of the first full-size humanoids sold to households with orders in the thousands, and it is sold for company, not chores. Early buyer reports of “stiff and jerky” movement show how far consumer expectations sit from what the hardware does today.

How much does the UBTech U1 cost?

The UBTech U1 costs from RMB 119,800 to RMB 990,000, depending on version. There are three: the U1 Lite, a half-body “semi-torso” edition; and the full-body U1 Pro and U1 Ultra. Startup Fortune converts the range to about $16,500 to $135,000. Korean outlet AI Matters reports that one Beijing buyer paid RMB 159,800 for a female Pro model. Buyers paid a RMB 3,000 deposit to reserve a unit.

At the entry price the Lite sits in the same range as Unitree’s G1 research humanoid, but the two are different products: the U1 is sold as a companion with a face, voice and skin, not as a mobile manipulator. Our humanoid robot price guide sets the U1 against other listed humanoids.

What can the UBTech U1 do?

The U1 is built for conversation and company, not housework. UBTech markets it as an emotional-companionship robot that makes facial expressions and holds AI voice conversations. TechNode reported at launch that it runs an emotional AI model designed for long-term interaction and encrypts user data locally by default. UBTech says the robot is not built for romantic relationships, according to Startup Fortune.

The full-body Pro and Ultra come in a 1.68-metre female and a 1.83-metre male version, with medical-grade silicone skin and 88 joints that let them blink, smile, hug and hold hands. TechNode said UBTech showed more than 50 body types at launch, spanning heights of 1.60 to 1.85 metres.

How many UBTech U1 robots have been ordered?

UBTech says it had 13,361 orders by its June 30 launch event in Shenzhen. That is a company-reported figure. The company has not said how many orders are paid in full, refundable or binding, a gap Humanoid Guide flagged at launch. TechNode’s July 1 report quoted a lower figure of more than 11,000 orders across all channels since pre-orders opened on June 2.

Deposits are small relative to the price, so the conversion rate from reservation to delivery matters more than the headline. UBTech has not said how many units shipped in the first batch. For context on its production capacity and revenue, see our coverage of UBTech’s Liuzhou factory plans and its first-half 2026 humanoid revenue.

What are early UBTech U1 owners saying?

Early reports are mixed. Startup Fortune, summarising first owner feedback, says the robot’s dancing looks “stiff and jerky”, its walking mechanical, and its movement closer to “a marionette” than the launch videos: “The robot in the ad and the robot in your living room are not quite the same machine.”

These are anecdotal reports from the first weeks, not a survey. They matter because companion robots are judged on how natural they feel, and a realistic face on a body that moves stiffly can make that worse, not better. The next useful data point is the refund and cancellation rate on the reservations still waiting for delivery.