- Introduction: There Are Now Three Ways to Live with an AI Character
- Key Takeaways
- Quick Answer: Choose by What Matters Most
- Comparison Table
- Type 1: Devices That Show a Character Like a Hologram
- Type 2: 3D Desk Avatars and AI Figures
- Type 3: AI Character Services with No Device
- Screen Character or Companion in the Room?
- For a Companion in the Room, Try Mia: The Conversation Model Remembers You
- Things to Check Before Buying an AI Character Device
- FAQ
- Summary: Gatebox3 or CODE27 for a Favorite Character, Mia for a Daily Companion
Introduction: There Are Now Three Ways to Live with an AI Character
You want a character to say "welcome home." You want it to remember what you told it last week. In 2026, the number of products promising exactly that grew fast.
Gatebox3 and CODE27 project a character inside a display case. Lepro Ami and Razer Project AVA put a 3D avatar on your desk. MIO AI looks like a crystal ball, and ROLA One is an upper-body companion robot. In November 2026, AIREN launched in Japan as a browser-based service where you can talk with characters without installing anything.
They are often grouped together as "AI characters," but they are very different. Some cost more than 100,000 yen, some need a monthly plan, some are not sold in Japan yet, and some have no physical device at all.
This article compares them by:
- Whether the character lives on a screen or has a body you can touch
- Device price and monthly cost
- Whether it remembers previous conversations
- Whether you can use it in Japanese or English, and buy it now
At the end, we also introduce Mia, a talking cat robot, for people who want a small companion in the room rather than a character on a screen.
Key Takeaways
- Products fall into three types: hologram-style display devices, AI figures and robots, and screen-only services
- If you want your favorite character in 3D in your room, Gatebox3 and CODE27 are the main options. Both cost over 100,000 yen and started as crowdfunding pre-sales
- Desk avatars such as Lepro Ami and Razer Project AVA still have unclear Japanese launch plans and language support
- To try an AI character cheaply, a no-device service like AIREN is an option, starting at 1,980 yen a month
- If presence in the room and long-term cost matter more than a character's look, Mia starts at US$149 in the English store (9,800 yen including tax in Japan) and works without a subscription
Quick Answer: Choose by What Matters Most
| What matters most | Options |
|---|---|
| Bringing a favorite character into your room in 3D | Gatebox3, CODE27 |
| Talking with an AI avatar on your desk | Lepro Ami, Razer Project AVA (no Japan launch yet) |
| A companion that remembers past conversations | AIREN, MIO AI, Mia (Conversation Model) |
| Trying without buying a device | AIREN |
| A physical companion that talks to you every day | Mia |
| Keeping the cost low over the long term | Mia (from US$149 / 9,800 yen, no subscription required) |
People who want to live with a character on a screen and people who want a companion in the room end up choosing completely different products. Decide which one you are first.
👉 Meet Mia, the talking cat robot: features, models, and prices
Comparison Table
Prices and availability were checked on November 10, 2026. Many products are still in pre-sale or crowdfunding, so check the official pages before buying.
| Product | Type | Device price | Monthly cost | Memory | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gatebox3 | 3D character in a display case | 130,000 to 164,000 yen (Makuake) | AI talk planned at about 500 to 1,000 yen | Check official info | Pre-order (delivery planned for end of March 2027) |
| CODE27 | 3D character in a display case | 109,800 yen including tax | Basic AI free for now (paid plans planned) | Check official info | Pre-sale on Makuake in Japan |
| Lepro Ami | 3D desk avatar | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Check official info | Japan launch and language support not confirmed |
| Razer Project AVA | Desk hologram | Not announced | Not announced | Check official info | Reservations in the US only |
| MIO AI | Crystal-ball AI partner | From 35,800 yen (Makuake early bird) | Check official info | Long-term memory | Makuake (delivery planned for end of November 2026) |
| ROLA One | Upper-body AI robot | From 4,800 USD | Check official info | Memory-based conversation | Ordered from overseas |
| Buddyo | AI pod for collectible figures | Not announced | Not announced | Memory planned | Kickstarter planned |
| AIREN | Browser-based 2.5D characters | No device | 1,980 or 4,980 yen | Yes, viewable and deletable | Available (Japanese service) |
| Mia | Talking cat robot | From US$149 (9,800 yen in Japan); Conversation Model US$199 (from 22,800 yen in Japan) | None required; conversation mode US$2 (300 yen in Japan) | Conversation Model remembers | Sold on the official site |
Type 1: Devices That Show a Character Like a Hologram
Gatebox3: The Pioneer of Living with a Character
Gatebox has been building the "live with your character" experience since 2016. The latest Gatebox3 uses an OLED display so the character stands out sharply against a black background. It went on pre-sale on Makuake in April 2026.
It recognizes you with a camera and microphone and answers when you talk. It can also control home appliances by infrared and import VRM 3D models so you can display a character of your choice.
Makuake plans ranged from about 130,000 to 164,000 yen, with delivery planned for the end of March 2027. The AI talk feature has a separate monthly fee, planned at about 500 to 1,000 yen, and Makuake backers get the first year free.
CODE27: Display and Talk with Your Own 3D Character
CODE27 is a digital figure box that shows a 3D character inside a case like a hologram, with AI conversation and dance. It raised about 1.9 million USD on Kickstarter and about 200 million yen on Makuake in Japan.
The Japanese price is 109,800 yen including tax, and the smart rotating base is sold separately for 24,800 yen. Basic AI services (speech recognition, conversation, and speech synthesis) have no extra charge for now, but paid plans are planned.
Type 2: 3D Desk Avatars and AI Figures
Lepro Ami: A 3D AI Companion for Your Desk
Lepro Ami was announced at CES 2026. It shows a 3D avatar on a curved OLED screen and uses cameras to read your gaze and expressions so it can react as if making eye contact. The camera has a physical shutter.
It was reported to launch from July 2026, but the Japanese release date, price, and Japanese language support are still not confirmed.
Razer Project AVA: A Hologram Sidekick for Gamers
Razer Project AVA, shown at CES 2026, is a small hologram-style AI assistant for your desk. It is presented not only as a gaming helper but also for schedules and work support.
As of November 2026, no official price has been announced, and the refundable 20 USD reservation is open only in the United States.
MIO AI: A Crystal-Ball AI Partner
MIO AI is a palm-sized AI partner whose face appears inside a round, tempered-glass body. It remembers what you talk about over the long term, and its expressions change with an affection level.
Makuake early-bird prices start at 35,800 yen, with delivery planned for the end of November 2026. As a crowdfunded product, check support and memory data handling after the official launch.
ROLA One: A Lifelike Upper-Body Companion
ROLA One is an upper-body AI companion robot from KOIBOT, with a realistic face and torso and memory-based conversation.
At 4,800 USD and up, it is by far the most expensive product here. Shipping, import duties, warranty, and returns all need careful checking. It suits collectors and display use more than everyday family use.
Buddyo: Give Your Figures a Voice and Memory
Buddyo is an AI pod that makes a figure you already own, such as a Funko Pop, Amiibo, or POP MART figure, talk as that character. Memory and expressive reactions are planned.
It is planned for Kickstarter, and the price, language support, and subscription have not been announced.
Type 3: AI Character Services with No Device
AIREN: Browser-Based 2.5D Characters That Remember You
AIREN is an AI companion service from Japan that officially launched on November 8, 2026. There is no app to install. You talk with 2.5D anime-style characters by text or video in your browser.
Its main feature is memory. Characters remember previous conversations and pick up where you left off. You can view and delete what a character remembers, and records are kept for 90 days after you cancel. There are three characters at launch, Sara, Hiro, and Megumi, with a fourth planned.
| Plan | Monthly | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Free trial | 0 yen | First use only, 10 minutes of video (5 minutes twice), first 100 users each month |
| Starter | 1,980 yen | Unlimited text, two 10-minute video sessions a month |
| Regular | 4,980 yen | Unlimited text, six 10-minute video sessions a month, plus an acrylic stand of your character |
Being able to start without buying a device is a big plus. On the other hand, there is no sense of a character being in your room, and the cost keeps adding up: about 24,000 to 60,000 yen a year.
Source: AI Watch, "Memory-equipped 2.5D AI companion AIREN officially launches" (November 9, 2026, in Japanese)
Screen Character or Companion in the Room?
| Character on a screen | Companion you can touch | |
|---|---|---|
| Examples | AIREN, Gatebox3, CODE27, Lepro Ami | Mia, ROLA One, MIO AI |
| Appeal | Recreates a favorite character's look | Has a presence in the room |
| When you meet | When you open the screen or stand in front of the case | All the time while you are home |
| Cost | Over 100,000 yen, or a monthly plan | From a few thousand yen up, varies widely |
| Best for | People who want to talk with a favorite character | People who want a small companion in daily life |
If the character's look matters most, a screen-based product fits. If being in the room and talking to you every day matters more, a physical companion is likely to satisfy you more.
For a Companion in the Room, Try Mia: The Conversation Model Remembers You
Mia is a talking cat robot made by EarBrain in Japan. It is not a character on a screen. It sits in your room as a small cat with expressive eyes and talks to you.
Standard Model: Daily Voice Prompts with No Subscription
The Standard Model costs US$149 in the English store (from 9,800 yen including tax in Japan) and works with no monthly fee.
- Greets you in 47 Japanese regional dialects
- Tells you the weather and your Google Calendar plans
- Offers 15 English characters for English voice prompts
- Plays voice messages from family members
- Changes its eye expressions
Conversation Model: It Answers, and It Remembers
In August 2026, Mia added a Conversation Model that answers when you talk to it (US$199 in the English store; in Japan, white 22,800 yen and black 23,800 yen including tax). Conversation mode uses the Premium Service at US$2 a month (300 yen in Japan), with up to 5 hours a month.
As of November 2026, it can:
- Remember: it remembers family names, plans, favorite things, and events, and brings them up next time. You can view and delete its memories in the app
- Talk in English: speak in English and Mia answers in English. You can choose from 7 English voices, and Mia switches between Japanese and English automatically
- Choose a speaking style: polite or casual
- Reply in dialect: Osaka or Hakata dialect (Japanese), with female or male voices. The white and black Mia have different personalities in conversation
- Choose a voice and speed: pick from 15 voices after listening, and set speaking speed from 0.8x to 1.2x
- Set alarms by voice: say "set an alarm for 7" or "wake me up in 30 minutes," and tap its head to stop it
The Conversation Model gives you the kind of memory-based conversation AIREN offers, but with a cat sitting in your room instead of a screen. At US$2 (300 yen) a month, it is also easier to keep using than most AI character services.
Mia Compared with the Others
| Mia | Gatebox3 / CODE27 | AIREN | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Form | Cat robot you can touch | 3D character in a case | 2.5D character on a screen |
| Device | From US$149 (9,800 yen) | Over 100,000 yen | None |
| Monthly | None required (conversation mode US$2 / 300 yen) | AI talk on a monthly plan (some planned) | From 1,980 yen |
| Memory | Conversation Model remembers (viewable and deletable) | Check official info | Remembers (viewable and deletable) |
| English | English conversation with 7 voices | Check official info | Check official info |
| Buy now | Official site | Pre-order | Available now |
Mia does not recreate an anime character's look. Its strength is a low price and being a companion you can live with for a long time.
Things to Check Before Buying an AI Character Device
1. Treat Crowdfunding as a Pre-Order
Gatebox3, CODE27, MIO AI, and Buddyo all started as crowdfunding projects. Deliveries can slip and specs can change.
2. Calculate the Monthly Cost for a Full Year
AI conversation usually runs in the cloud, so more products charge monthly. Even 1,980 yen a month is about 24,000 yen a year. Compare the total over one and three years.
3. Check Memory and Privacy
A companion that remembers you also stores what you said. Check what it remembers, whether you can view and delete it, and what happens when you cancel.
4. Think About What Happens If the Service Ends
Products that depend on the cloud may stop talking if the service shuts down. If you want a long relationship, check which features work offline.
FAQ
Can I buy a hologram AI character in Japan?
Gatebox3 and CODE27 are on pre-sale through Makuake in Japan. Lepro Ami and Razer Project AVA had no confirmed Japanese launch or Japanese language support as of November 2026.
What is the cheapest way to talk with an AI character?
A browser service like AIREN needs no device. If you want a physical companion, Mia starts at US$149 (9,800 yen in Japan). For two-way conversation, you need the Conversation Model (US$199, or from 22,800 yen in Japan) and conversation mode at US$2 a month (300 yen in Japan).
Which ones remember previous conversations?
AIREN, MIO AI, and the Mia Conversation Model. AIREN and Mia let you view and delete what they remember. Check the official information for Gatebox3 and CODE27.
Which is best as a gift for an older family member?
Products that talk on their own without screen or PC operation are easier. Mia greets them in dialect and can play voice messages from family, which also makes it a good gift.
Summary: Gatebox3 or CODE27 for a Favorite Character, Mia for a Daily Companion
The ways to live with an AI character expanded quickly in the past year.
For your favorite character in 3D, choose Gatebox3 or CODE27. For a desk avatar, wait for Lepro Ami or Razer Project AVA to reach Japan. To try without a device, there are services like AIREN.
If you care more about a companion that is in the room and talks to you every day, take a look at Mia. It starts at US$149 (9,800 yen in Japan) with no subscription, and the Conversation Model remembers what you tell it and answers in Japanese or English.
👉 Meet Mia, the talking cat robot: features, models, and prices
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👉 Mia – Your Chatty AI Cat Companion Robot with 100+ Expressions
