Buyer's guide

Fun robots

Robots you buy for company and fun, not chores: soft robot pets, desk companions, playful floor robots for kids and the home humanoids now taking preorders. Every price comes from a brand store with the date we saw it, and abilities like emotions or release dates are labeled as company claims.

Updated Oct 29, 2026

1X NEO humanoid robot hanging up a sweater in a sunny living room while a man stands by the garden doors (1X company photo) — Photo: Courtesy of 1X

Which fun robot should I get?

Robot pets and companions are ranked by who they suit. Home humanoids are still preorders, so we track release dates instead.

Top list · 6 picksBest robot pets and companion robots of 2026Moflin, Loona, KAMOMO, EMO, Eilik and aibo: subscriptions, cameras and owner complaints.TrackerHome humanoid release tracker: what you can order, and when it ships1X NEO, Figure and Tesla Optimus: what each company says about home release dates and prices.Gift guideRobot gift guide 2026: gifts under $300, $500, $1,000 and splurgesRobot gifts by budget, with the price we saw and who each gift suits.

Which robot pet or companion robot is worth it in 2026?

See the full top list

Best robot pet for most people

Casio Moflin

$429 at casio.com, seen Oct 29, 2026Silver PE-M10SR shown; Casio also lists pink and gold versions.

Our pick. Moflin is a furry, palm-sized robot that moves, makes soft sounds and responds to how you hold and stroke it, and Casio says its personality develops over time. It has no camera listed, and Casio says the data it uses is processed on the device and it does not understand or record speech. At $429 it is pricey for its size, and owners say it takes patience to bond with.

Photo: Casio

Best for kids and families

KEYi Loona Petbot

$429 at keyirobot.com, seen Oct 29, 2026Loona Petbot Premium; KEYi lists it at $429, down from $529.

The most playful pet here. Loona drives around the house, follows people, plays games and chats, and KEYi says it recognizes faces and objects with its camera and supports Google Blockly coding. $429 is $100 off its $529 list. Owners' kids love it, but owners also report voice wake-up misses, docking trouble and gear failures, so buy where returns are easy.

Photo: KEYi Tech

Ropet KAMOMO plush AI companion robot (Ropet company image)

Best plush AI companion

Ropet KAMOMO Pro

$279.99 at ropetai.com, seen Oct 29, 2026KAMOMO Pro with charging base; regular price $349. Ships to the 48 contiguous states and DC.

A soft, round plush companion with a camera and screen eyes that Ropet says recognizes you and reacts to touch, with the basic behaviors running offline. Ropet says GPT conversations unlock after 7 days of care and are free with no usage limit (company claim). At $279.99 (regular $349) with the charging base it costs less than Moflin, but it is newer and owner reports are thin.

Photo: Ropet

Top lists and comparisons

Top list · 6 picksBest robot pets and companion robots of 2026Six robot pets and companion robots compared: Casio Moflin, KEYi Loona, Ropet KAMOMO, EMO, Eilik and Sony aibo. Brand-store prices seen Oct. 29, 2026, subscriptions, cameras and owner complaints.

Buyer's guides and tools

GuideHome humanoid release tracker: what you can order, and when it shipsStatus, price, ship-date claims and US availability for 1X NEO, Unitree R1 and G1, Figure 03, Tesla Optimus and Sunday Memo, checked October 29, 2026. Price trackerRobot price trackerEvery price on the site, with the store, the date we saw it and a history line.

Which kind of fun robot fits you

Type	Examples	Price range (brand stores, Oct. 29, 2026)	Good for
Soft lap companion	Casio Moflin, Ropet KAMOMO	$279.99 to $429	Holding and stroking; no floor space needed
Floor robot that plays	KEYi Loona, Sony aibo	$429 to $3,199.99	Kids and dog lovers who want a pet that follows them
Desk pet	Living AI EMO, Energize Lab Eilik	$139.99 to $279	A desk or bedside buddy and an easy gift
Home humanoid	1X NEO, Unitree R1	From $4,900, or $499 a month	Early adopters; most homes should wait

Our verdict: start with a soft companion or a desk pet if you want something fun this year. A home humanoid is still a preorder bet. Check our release tracker before you put down a deposit.