On June 30, UBTech Robotics hosted its 2026 global launch event in Shenzhen, where it unveiled the UWorld U1 Series of full-size humanoid robots. The lineup includes three models: the U1 Lite semi-torso edition, the high-performance full-body U1 Pro, and the high-dynamic full-body U1 Ultra. Prices range between RMB 119,800–990,000 (USD 17,613–145,549.7).
UBTech said cumulative orders for the UWorld U1 Series had surpassed 13,361 units as of the day of the launch event.
The significance of that number may lie less in sales volume itself than in the structural shift it points to: humanoid robots are moving out of factories and into homes. The key variables in industry competition are also changing, from motion control precision and payload capacity to a more basic question: how can robots enter everyday life and build long-term emotional connections with users?
Photo source: UBTech Robotics.
A research report by Guotai Junan Securities estimates that potential demand for companion robots among China’s elderly population stands at about RMB 420 billion (USD 61.7 billion), while demand among younger consumers is around RMB 500 billion (USD 73.5 billion), putting the combined potential market at close to RMB 1 trillion (USD 147 billion). The same report estimates that China’s overall smart companion robot market reached RMB 12.86 billion (USD 1.9 billion) in 2025, up 24.3% year-on-year.
