Blurring the Boundaries of Home Appliances... Fierce Robot Competition Between China and Europe [IFA 2025]

Blurring the Line Between Home Appliances and Robots...A Surge of Humanoids
Many Chinese Companies Unveil Robots, but Effectiveness Remains in Question
Samsung Delays 'Ballie' Launch..."Improvements Will Be Made Quickly"

At the 'International Consumer Electronics Fair (IFA) 2025,' held in Berlin, Germany from September 5 to 9 (local time), there was a clear sense of anticipation that robots may soon become a part of everyday home life. A wide range of devices were showcased, from adorable companion robots to humanoids with human-like forms. This is the result of the boundaries between home appliances, the Internet of Things (IoT), and robots becoming increasingly blurred in the age of artificial intelligence (AI).

Chinese companies, in particular, focused on demonstrating their technological capabilities by showcasing various robots. However, some products fell short of expectations, offering only simple operations rather than active interaction. Since the home appliance sector places a premium on stability and detail, industry insiders point out that it may take considerable time before these robots are commercialized.

Robots Enter the Realm of Home Appliances... Dominating the IFA Stage

3rd Generation Humanoid '4NE1' by German Company Nura Robotics. Photo by Heejoon Jang

Chinese robotics company Booster Robotics unveiled two recently launched humanoid models. The 1.2-meter-tall 'Booster T1' is designed for secondary development by developers and boasts strong durability, resistant to impacts and falls. Notably, it won the championship at this year's RoboCup, the world robot soccer competition, and reportedly sold hundreds of units worldwide.

The smaller 0.9-meter 'Booster K1' highlighted its portability, powerful computing performance, and diverse sensor configurations as key strengths. On-site, visitors could even test the robot by pushing it. When the upper body of the K1 robot was pushed by hand, it rolled its feet backward to maintain balance. The T1 is priced at 30,000 US dollars (about 42 million won), and the K1 at 13,000 US dollars (about 18 million won).

At the IFA venue on September 6 (local time), a RoboCup tournament in a 'mini game' format was also held. The K1 robot, though slow, accurately kicked the ball toward the goal. When a person blocked or took the ball away, the robot automatically moved in the direction the ball rolled. A representative from Booster Robotics said, "We are discussing collaborations with various academic institutions and companies, including Seoul National University in Korea," adding, "We plan to launch a human-sized robot as early as within this year."

The humanoid K1 robot from Chinese company Booster Robotics is walking toward a person and waving its hand. Photo by Heejoon Jang

German company Nura Robotics presented its third-generation humanoid '4NE1,' which drew attention when Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia, brought it on stage during his keynote speech at CES 2025 in January. This time, Nura Robotics unveiled a new wheel-based version called '4NE1 Wheel,' emphasizing enhanced mobility efficiency, safety, and energy optimization. A company representative explained, "It is suitable for environments where speed and stability are crucial, such as hospitals, restaurants, and care facilities."

Unitree, considered a leading humanoid robotics company in China, also introduced its human-shaped 'G1' and dog-shaped 'Go2.' To highlight its cost-effectiveness strategy, the booth displayed a sign stating, "From 16,000 US dollars." A Unitree representative said, "The price of the Go2 robot dog is 2,200 euros," which is only about 3.58 million won, making it very affordable.

Another Chinese robotics startup, MagicLab, showcased a robot dog specialized for educational and entertainment functions.

Too Hasty? Chinese Companies Expose Clumsy Performance

Chinese company Hisense launched a marketing strategy featuring a robot named "Haibot," painted in red, green, and blue colors, to promote the release of its RGB mini LED TV. Photo by Heejoon Jang

Chinese home appliance company Hisense also drew visitors' attention by featuring its 'HiBot' at the exhibition hall. This was part of its effort to promote the launch of its 'RGB mini LED TV,' currently competing with Korean companies. The HiBot, painted in red, green, and blue, danced and performed a robot show, walking around the exhibition hall with staff members. On the opening day of IFA 2025, September 5, HiBot even appeared on stage during a media conference where Denis Lee, President of Hisense Visual Technology, was delivering a speech.

The use of robots appears to be aimed at highlighting Hisense's next-generation technological capabilities. However, questions remain regarding actual performance. On stage, a 'conversation' was staged between HiBot and the new TV product, but instead of generating active responses, the robot merely played back information stored in its database.

Even in the core areas of humanoids-natural sensing and operation-the robots showed clumsy behavior. During a dance performance at the booth, HiBot dropped a cheering tool but failed to recognize it until a staff member hurried over and placed it back in its hand.

Hisense China unveiled the 'HiBot' and held a robot show to promote the launch of a new TV product, but it showed clumsy behavior such as dropping cheering tools and failing to detect them properly. Photo by Heejoon Jang

Security concerns were also evident. Chinese company TCL showcased its companion robot AiME, which received an enthusiastic response for its doll-like, adorable appearance. Every time AiME followed people around, children everywhere reacted with excitement. A TCL representative explained, "Since AiME's core function is caregiving, it has been designed to appeal to young children," adding, "It is AI-based, so it can converse with children or tell them stories."

European customers, who are sensitive about personal data protection, had mixed reactions. While children were captivated by AiME's cute appearance, parents expressed concerns about security. For example, cameras installed for object recognition or video recording could potentially collect video and audio of children or the inside of the home. In fact, the German government banned the sale of internet-connected dolls in 2017 by classifying them as 'illegal surveillance devices,' highlighting how sensitive security issues are in Europe.

Samsung Working to Improve 'Ballie'..."Details Are Everything in Home Appliances"

China's TCL companion robot AiME received enthusiastic attention from young children at IFA 2025, but concerns were raised regarding security issues. Photo by Heejun Jang

Local media were divided on whether it is better to showcase rapid technological progress or to ensure stable performance before releasing products to the market. Leading German regional newspaper Berliner Zeitung and others diagnosed, "Chinese AI technology and robots dominated the IFA exhibition, but Europe is falling behind." Australian outlet 9News and other media offered a more cautious assessment, stating, "Since robots can collect video and audio information from the home, a robust security system is essential."

Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics, which dominate the home appliance market, focused on 'AI Home' solutions but did not introduce any robot-related products. Samsung Electronics had initially aimed to launch its autonomous AI home robot 'Ballie' within this year, but the release has been delayed indefinitely. Similarly, LG Electronics began offering a robot subscription service for hotels and restaurants with its 'CLOi' series, first introduced in 2018, but it appears that more time is needed before a household robot is launched.

An official from the domestic home appliance industry commented, "It's true that Chinese companies are advancing rapidly in terms of technology," but added, "Since convenience and stability are crucial in home appliances, attention to detail is essential, and there are still many areas that need improvement."

Yong Seokwoo, President and Head of the Visual Display Business Division at Samsung Electronics, responded to questions about Ballie at a press conference, stating, "The launch has been delayed due to various issues discovered during field testing," and added, "We will overcome these quickly and announce a new release schedule."