UBTECH reportedly receives about 3,000 reservations for companion humanoid U1

humanoid.guide reported on November 15, 2026, that about 3,000 units of UBTECH’s companion humanoid U1 were sold in presales. According to the report, reservations opened on June 2, with a refundable deposit of 3,000 yuan required; the product’s retail price has not been announced. The report said the sales figure was based on Sixth Tone.

The reported figure of about 3,000 units represents reservations made with a refundable deposit of 3,000 yuan, and should be distinguished from the product’s price or confirmed purchases. For a product UBTECH describes as offering customization for adults and encrypted memory storage, evaluating sales also requires examining how user information is handled and whether customers continue using the product.

For now, the figure of about 3,000 units should be read as an indicator of interest in the U1 through presales. According to the report, the 3,000-yuan payment required at signup is a refundable deposit, not the full product price. The figure alone therefore cannot establish the number of confirmed purchases or final demand. Because the retail price has not been announced, the product’s price range and the share of reservation holders who proceed to purchase also cannot be assessed. The distinction between the U1 and UBTECH’s Walker series is central to how the products are positioned. humanoid.guide describes Walker as aimed mainly at industrial applications and presents the U1 as a companion robot. Meanwhile, in an introduction to UBTECH’s humanoid robot “Walker Tienkung”, this newspaper described the robot as a full-body platform for research, education and robot development. Although both are humanoid robots from the same company, reports describe them as serving different purposes. The U1’s actual intended uses need to be assessed alongside its sales terms and operating record. The U1 is said to come in models measuring 168 centimeters or 183 centimeters tall and to offer customization for adult buyers. Its emphasis on emotional AI and encrypted memory storage also suggests a product design involving conversation and the storage of personal information, unlike robots focused on mobility or work. However, the reports provided do not specify the encryption method, what information is stored or whether users can manage or delete that information. A related article from this newspaper, humanoid.guide introduces the E1, covers a product introduction, but that alone does not substantiate real demand for companion robots or continued use. Points to watch include the rate at which deposits convert to purchases, the retail price, the shipping schedule and operating conditions such as actual runtime. It is also important to understand what functions conversation and emotional AI serve, and how the product handles memory involving personal information. The reported figure of about 3,000 units should be examined separately from the number of units actually used over time and how they are used. See the original source for details.