NEO’s hand update: what the 25-degree figure actually counts

Michael Cruz · Published 2026-10-19 · Event 2026-07-09

In its July 9 update, 1X described a tendon-driven hand-and-wrist system for NEO with 25 degrees of freedom. The breakdown is 22 in the fingers and palm, plus three at the wrist. That makes the definition as important as the headline number.

The company describes force-controlled, backdrivable joints intended to respond to contact. It also presents examples of handling small objects and tools. Those are manufacturer descriptions and demonstrations; this guide has not tested the hands or verified their performance in customers’ homes.

For comparison shopping, a larger joint count alone cannot establish better household performance. Useful evidence would also show grasp reliability, contact behavior, wear, cleaning and recovery when an object slips. Compare like-for-like definitions before treating two specification numbers as a hardware advantage.

This article records the July update without assuming every existing NEO unit has that configuration. A buyer should confirm the hardware revision included in the specific offer.