"Expected an Idol Look, but Why Is This 200 Million Won Robot Like This?" Flood of Complaints Leads to Discount Coupons

Concerns Rise Over Poor Quality and Ethical Issues
Online Discount Promotions Add Fuel to the Fire
Voices of Discontent Grow on Social Media

A humanoid robot, promoted in China as customizable in appearance and personality, has sparked controversy immediately after its unveiling, despite its high price exceeding 200 million won and having already received over 10,000 pre-orders. Consumers' dissatisfaction is rising due to the poor quality of the actual product, ethical concerns such as portrait rights, and even online discount promotions.

On July 2, the Hongxing News reported that the 'U1 Series' humanoid robot from UBTECH was unveiled at a global launch event held in Shenzhen on June 30, and that pre-orders had surpassed 13,000 units.

A humanoid robot, promoted in China as customizable according to desired appearance and personality, has sparked controversy immediately after its unveiling despite its high price exceeding 200 million won and over 10,000 pre-orders. Baidu, China.

Despite Dancing and Conversation, Disappointment Grows

On this day, UBTECH announced that the U1 Series humanoid robots are available in three versions: Lite (119,800 yuan, about 27.15 million won), Pro (169,800 yuan, about 38.49 million won), and the top-tier Ultra model, which costs 990,000 yuan (about 225 million won) for the male version and 880,000 yuan (about 199.6 million won) for the female version. The U1 Series is produced in both male and female appearances and is equipped with 88 joints, allowing its arms, legs, and neck to move naturally like a human. Dozens of joints are also found in the head and neck, and features such as eyebrows and eyelashes are crafted by hand.

Regarding the pricing, UBTECH founder and chairman Zhou Jian stated, "If we move to mass production in the future, the cost will decrease," adding, "If it enables emotional interaction and can be customized in appearance and personality as desired, 100,000 to 200,000 yuan is by no means an expensive price."

On this day, the U1 Series danced to the soundtrack of the movie 'La La Land,' walked a runway, and interacted with humans. However, delays occurred during live interactions with customers, as the robots stuttered and hesitated. The media pointed out, "Although the company emphasized emotional connection, the simple Q&A demonstrated today did not reveal the core strategic value of the U1 Series."

Hongxing News reported, "The robots, which were designed to resemble humans, moved in a noticeably mechanical way, and their appearance was very different from the images released online," adding that many voices at the event expressed that the product was nothing like the advertisements.

Promoted as Custom-Made, But Critical Limitations Exposed

Although the company promoted its custom appearance feature, there has not been any discussion about collaboration with intellectual property (IP) holders or any progress in this area, dampening fans' interest. Consumers who had imagined idols or favorite actors as their robots expressed disappointment at the revealed products. Social networking services (SNS) are flooded with complaints about the robot's appearance, which differs from what was shown in promotional videos. Comments include, "They need to hire a makeup artist or expert," "They said it would look like a real person, but it does not at all," and "It’s completely different from what I imagined."

Wu Zhewei, a special researcher at Jiangsu Commercial Bank, said, "Without collaboration with well-known intellectual property (IP) holders, it will be difficult to meet or satisfy consumer expectations," but also predicted, "Collaboration with IP holders is not easy due to complex copyright licensing and cooperation costs."

The customization features are also limited. Only the hairstyle, clothing, and makeup can be changed, while facial features cannot be modified. In addition, the after-sales policy is strict, making returns or exchanges impossible without legitimate reasons.

Concerns Over Portrait Rights and Ethics, Plus Discount Sales

Humanoid robots on sale at a discount on China's JD.com. China JD.com,

There are also voices expressing concern that 'custom-made faces' raise risks of violating the rights of minors, infringing portrait rights, and fueling the growth of an illegal black market. Researcher Wu warned, "To prevent legal and ethical risks, a strict management system must be established."

Amid these concerns and widespread dissatisfaction, JD.com, one of China’s leading e-commerce platforms, launched a promotion offering a 10,000 yuan discount on the U1 Pro. The promotion runs until August 20, allowing customers to pre-order the 169,800 yuan (about 38.49 million won) model for 159,800 yuan (about 36.24 million won).

Industry insiders agree that it will be necessary to assess the actual delivery rates, user retention, repeat purchases, and referral data over the next 6 to 12 months to determine whether the launch of this series marks a genuine leap forward for the robotics industry or is simply a fleeting trend. Hongxing News concluded, "Rather than marketing it as a 'cyber emotional companion robot' or focusing on its human-like form, the company must overcome public controversy and prove its technological capabilities to achieve long-term, sustainable development."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.