'Can't last a night': China's idol-lookalike companion robot draws consumer backlash over battery life

by Chae Sang-woo

Published : July 7, 2026 - 10:39:44

A companion humanoid robot released by Chinese robotics company Ubtech. [AFP/Yonhap]

A Chinese humanoid robot that drew comparisons to K-pop idols and sold more than 13,000 units is facing a consumer backlash over its battery performance.

Chinese robotics company Ubtech recently unveiled its U1 series of consumer-grade humanoid robots.

The robots' near-human appearance made them an instant hit, quickly earning the label of "companion robots." Prices start at 19,800 yuan ($2,920) and reach as high as 990,000 yuan, or about 200 million won, for the top-tier model — yet pre-orders have already surpassed 13,000 units.

The company had hoped the robots would provide emotional comfort to buyers. "If a robot can handle household chores, meet emotional needs and look beautiful on top of that, 100,000 to 200,000 yuan would not be considered expensive," said Zhou Jian, Ubtech's founder.

Consumers who have used the robots said the battery problem is serious. Some higher-end models run for only two to four hours on a single charge, prompting buyers to complain that the robots "can't even last a night" and offer poor value for the price.

Ubtech defended the performance, saying the two-to-four-hour battery life is typical of full-body humanoid robots currently in mass production worldwide. "This is a limitation of current technology, not a problem unique to any one company," it said.

The company added that its top-priced U1 Ultra, at 990,000 yuan, targets the commercial services market rather than general consumers, with the half-body U1 Lite and full-body U1 Pro serving as its main offerings for home use.

Industry observers say that as the humanoid robot market begins to take off in earnest, battery life is emerging as the single biggest obstacle to widespread commercialization.

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