Realbotix Series 1: check AI subscription and privacy before reserving

What the new name means

On 4 November, Realbotix renamed its Echo humanoid range Series 1, as also reported by RobotsBeat. This is a branding change, not evidence that customers have received a final robot. Four characters and tabletop or full-body versions are shown. The official Echo launch video depicts the line before the name change. It is promotional footage, not an independent performance test; Realbotix says some product visuals are AI-made illustrations.

Hardware plus a required AI plan

Realbotix lists Tabletop at $11,950 and Full-body at $59,950. Its AI plan is required to run Series 1. Base is $19.99/month for 10 conversation hours; Plus is $39.99/month for 40 hours. These are conversation hours, not powered-on hours. The company says that after the allowance runs out, the machine is limited to basic functions. Ask what those functions are before budgeting for the device.

Vinci Vision costs an additional $24,950 and requires Enterprise with Vision at $199/month. The maker describes eye contact, recognition and behavioural cues; those claims have not been independently tested in a home. Shipping, taxes and any future country-specific terms must be checked separately. The company currently indicates US-only availability with estimated delivery in the second half of 2027.

Privacy claims need a precise scope

Realbotix says Vinci visual data stays on the robot and phone and says conversations are not recorded or stored. Its pricing page also describes optional integrations with other AI models. We have no independent technical audit of audio, images, app memory or external services. Ask for a written map of what stays on-device, what reaches the app or another provider, retention periods, deletion controls and the differences between Base, Plus and Vision. Do not assume a claim about one module applies to every configuration.

The $199 reservation deposit is applied to the purchase price; it is not the price of the robot. Our separate ROBOLERO coverage deals with the deposit. Here the practical issue is total running cost and data handling. Confirm exact configuration, monthly hours, subscription cancellation, shipping, warranty and local support before paying. Compare the category through our robot catalogue and robot chooser. Independent tests of delivered units are still needed before treating the launch film as proof of everyday performance.

Sources: Realbotix announcement; Series 1 product; pricing and plans; RobotsBeat report; official Echo launch video.