NEO Home Robot vs 4NE-1 Mini: Home vs Education Humanoids

NEO is full adult height at 167.6 cm yet weighs only 29.94 kg thanks to its tendon-driven design and soft covers. 4NE-1 Mini is child-sized at 132 cm and 36 kg, with a Studio F.A. Porsche design and soft skin materials. NEO can reach counters and shelves in a home, while 4NE-1 Mini is easier to handle in a classroom.

NEO walks at 1.4 m/s and can run at up to 6.2 m/s, navigating with visual SLAM fused with depth sensing. 4NE-1 Mini walks at 0.83 m/s with visual SLAM for indoor spaces. NEO is the faster and more capable walker, while 4NE-1 Mini's slower pace suits supervised demonstrations.

NEO carries up to 25 kg, lifts up to 70 kg and handles 8 kg in each arm. 4NE-1 Mini handles 3 kg per arm with a 10 kg maximum lift. NEO is the much stronger robot for real household loads such as laundry baskets and groceries.

NEO has 75 degrees of freedom across its body and hands, giving it fine control for household objects. 4NE-1 Mini has 25 degrees of freedom, enough for natural gestures and simple manipulation in teaching scenarios. NEO is better for complex manipulation, while 4NE-1 Mini keeps things simple for learners.

NEO runs proprietary AI models and uses teleoperation-backed autonomy, where a remote operator can guide new chores while it learns. 4NE-1 Mini runs Neuraverse OS, which is ROS2 compatible and shares learned skills across NEURA robots, with multi-language voice interaction. 4NE-1 Mini is the more open platform for students, while NEO is tuned for getting chores done.

NEO runs for about four hours on its 842 Wh battery and charges fully in two hours. 4NE-1 Mini runs for about 2.5 hours on a 1 kWh pack and also charges in two hours. NEO lasts longer per charge, which matters for a robot working through a household routine.

NEO targets household chores, object retrieval, elder assistance and telepresence. 4NE-1 Mini targets educational demonstrations, lab research, human-robot interaction training and STEM skills development. Choose NEO for help at home and 4NE-1 Mini for schools, universities and labs.

NEO costs $20,000 or $499 a month. 4NE-1 Mini costs €19,999 for the Standard model and €29,999 for the Pro. The prices are similar, so the right choice depends on whether you need a capable home helper or a compact teaching platform.