As the race to develop humanoid robots intensifies, two names are standing out: Tesla with its Optimus bot, and 1X Technologies with the NEO robot. But is Elon Musk right when he claims Tesla is far ahead of the competition? Let’s dive deep into this head-to-head comparison to find out who’s really in the lead.
1. Overview of 1X Technologies and the NEO Robot
1X Technologies, formerly known as Halodi Robotics, is a Norwegian company with headquarters in Norway and San Francisco. After launching their first wheeled robot, EVE, which had grasping abilities, they recently introduced NEO — a full-sized bipedal humanoid robot capable of interacting through gestures and voice.
NEO is powered by NVIDIA’s robotics AI platform and is developed in collaboration with OpenAI. While much of its movement is still teleoperated by humans, NEO has demonstrated the ability to grab items from a fridge, tell jokes, and respond to verbal cues.
2. Tesla Optimus: Designed for Mass Production
Tesla’s Optimus, on the other hand, is part of Elon Musk’s long-term vision to replace manual labor with general-purpose humanoid robots. Built in-house using Tesla’s own hardware, including custom-designed actuators, Optimus emphasizes efficiency, durability, and scalable manufacturing.
Tesla plans to deploy thousands of Optimus units in its own factories in 2025, before rolling them out to the public by 2026.
3. Side-by-Side Comparison: Optimus vs NEO
| Feature | Tesla Optimus | 1X NEO |
|---|---|---|
| Walking Speed | Smooth, fast (1.3 – 5 mph) | Slow, unsteady (<1 mph) |
| Controller Platform | Tesla’s in-house HW4 | NVIDIA Jetson Thor |
| AI & Sensors | 4 cameras, no voice or gesture interaction yet | 2 cameras, supports voice & gesture interaction |
| Battery Life | ~8 hours | 2–4 hours |
| Hand Dexterity | 11 DoF (soon 22) | 20 DoF |
| Weight | Heavier, metal frame | Lighter (about half of Optimus), wears a suit |
| Production Forecast (2025) | Thousands of units | A few thousand units |
| Estimated Price | $10,000 – $20,000 | Not disclosed |
4. Strengths & Weaknesses
Tesla Optimus:
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✅ Strong edge in hardware design and mass production.
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✅ Already being used in real-world factory environments.
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❌ No speech or gesture interface (yet).
1X NEO:
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✅ Innovative tendon-like actuators offer smooth, organic motion.
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✅ Demonstrated voice and gesture interaction.
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❌ Still reliant on teleoperation — not fully autonomous.
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❌ Lacks stable walking performance.
5. Verdict: Who’s Ahead?
In terms of hardware quality and production readiness, Tesla Optimus clearly leads the way. However, 1X NEO shows great promise with its bio-inspired approach and interactive capabilities.
The humanoid robot race is far from over. Optimus may dominate the present, but NEO is a challenger to watch in the future.
