1X's NEO robot hand is waterproof, so it can wash itself

A home robot washed its own hands on camera, because its new hand is built to go under a tap.

What 1X showed

1X unveiled a new hand for its NEO humanoid on July 17, 2026. It has 25 degrees of freedom, pressure sensing that adjusts grip strength, and an IP68 waterproof, food-safe build.

The demo is a list of small household tasks rather than a single stunt. The hand picks up coins, uses tools, zips a jacket, pours tea, plugs in a USB-C cable, wipes surfaces and rinses itself under a running tap. NEO is on pre-order at $20,000, or $499 a month.

Why a wet hand is the point

Most humanoid demos show robots walking or lifting boxes. The hard part of a household robot is fine manipulation in wet, messy kitchens, where water, grease and food are the normal operating environment. A hand that is rated to go under the faucet is a prerequisite for a robot that does the dishes rather than carrying them to the sink.

Grip-strength control matters for the same reason. Coins, zippers and USB-C connectors each need a different amount of force, and a hand that senses pressure can adjust instead of crushing or dropping.

What to watch

The demo shows capability, not reliability over weeks of use. The question for NEO buyers is how the hand holds up to daily water exposure and how much of the demo runs autonomously in a home rather than in a controlled shoot.