The race to put a humanoid robot in every home just got a serious, and shockingly affordable, new contender. Beijing-based startup Noetix Robotics has unveiled Bumi, a 94 cm tall humanoid priced at a mere ¥9,998 (approximately $1,400). This makes it the first high-performance humanoid in China to crash through the psychologically important ¥10,000 barrier, signaling a potential shift from expensive lab projects to genuine consumer electronics.
Don’t let the price tag fool you into thinking it’s just a glorified toy. The 12 kg Bumi packs a 48V battery good for one to two hours of runtime and can walk, run, and, of course, dance. Noetix is targeting the bot for education and companionship, equipping it with voice interaction and a drag-and-drop programming interface for kids. While details on its specific AI hardware are sparse, the company’s other models have utilized NVIDIA Jetson platforms, and Bumi features a camera for object and face detection. It seems capable enough for basic household shuffling and keeping the children entertained (or terrified).
Why is this important?
The significance of Bumi isn’t in its raw power or parkour abilities, but its price. By dropping to a smartphone-level cost, Noetix Robotics is making a bold play to democratize humanoid robotics, at least in the Chinese market. This move could dramatically accelerate adoption in schools, homes, and research labs that were previously priced out. While the profit margins on a $1,400 humanoid are likely razor-thin or non-existent, the goal here is clearly market penetration. Bumi represents a calculated gamble that getting robots into homes now will build an ecosystem that pays off later, turning a futuristic dream into a mass-market reality.
