Introduction
Home communication robots are devices designed to interact with people through words and movement. Beyond easing loneliness as a pet alternative, they are also used as conversation partners for older adults and as a small source of daily support. With newer AI, robots with a wide range of designs and features are now on the market.
This article introduces eight recommended home communication robots and explains what each one does well.
One update to note: in August 2026, the cat-shaped robot Mia gained a Conversation Model that answers when you talk to it. By November 2026 it also remembers what you told it and lets you choose its voice and tone, and it can chat in English. See the Mia section below for details.
8 Home Communication Robots
BOCCO emo
Features: BOCCO emo is a robot built to strengthen connections between family members. It makes sending and receiving voice messages simple and is designed with older users in mind.
- Strength: Makes everyday family communication smoother.
- Example use: Checking in on and sending messages to family members who live apart.
- Price: 52,800 yen (tax included)
Qoobo
Features: Qoobo is a cushion-shaped robot with a tail that wags when you stroke it. It offers simple comfort through sight and touch, and is popular with people who have pet allergies.
- Strength: A simple, comforting pet alternative.
- Example use: Relaxing at a desk or on the sofa.
Musio X
Features: Musio X is an AI-powered English learning robot designed so that practicing English feels like talking with a friend. It can hold natural conversations and remember users’ faces and voices.
- Strength: Face recognition with a built-in camera and voice recognition with a built-in microphone. Conversation mode supports natural English chat, and there are also grammar-correction and dictionary modes.
- Example use: A design that children and adults can both enjoy, so the whole family can practice English.
- Price: 107,800 yen (tax included); 128,000 yen with the learning materials set
aibo
Features: Sony’s robot dog aibo has learning features and develops through daily life with its owner. Voice recognition and a wide range of movements create an experience close to living with a real dog.
- Strength: A pet-like experience.
- Example use: A comforting companion for children and older adults.
- Price: 272,800 yen
Eilik
Features: Eilik is a desktop companion robot with expressive emotional reactions. It responds to your movements and words for playful interaction.
- Strength: Compact but full of features.
- Example use: A small break or mood boost during desk work.
- Price: 24,100 yen (tax included)
Mia
Features: Mia is a palm-sized cat-shaped robot that talks to you in all 47 Japanese prefectural dialects. With 100+ facial expressions, weather updates, Google Calendar reminders, and family voice messages, it supports communication with older adults and children. The Conversation Model, launched in August 2026, also answers when you talk to it.
- Strength: Its dialect voices make it unusually approachable.
- Example use: A daily conversation partner and schedule reminder for someone living alone.
- Price: US$149 for the Standard Model and US$199 for the Conversation Model on the English store (conversation mode is $2/month). In Japan, from 9,800 yen.
👉 Meet Mia, the talking cat robot: features, models, and prices
What the Conversation Model can do (November 2026)
The Conversation Model keeps gaining conversation features through app and firmware updates. As of November 2026, it can:
- Talk in English: speak English and Mia answers in English, with 7 English voices to choose from. She switches between Japanese and English automatically. (English conversation voices)
- Remember what you told her: family names, plans, favorite things, and things that happened, brought up in later conversations. After a plan’s date passes, she asks how it went. You can review and delete these memories in the app, and she does not keep health, money, or address details. (What Mia remembers)
- Choose her voice and speed: 15 voices you can preview, and speaking speed from 0.8x to 1.2x. (Voice and speed)
- Polite or casual, and two personalities: a gentle polite tone or a casual, friend-like tone. White Mia is easygoing and Black Mia is the reliable one. In Japanese, replies can also be in the Osaka or Hakata dialect. (Tone, dialect, and personality)
- Alarms by voice: say “Set an alarm for 7” or “Wake me up in 30 minutes,” and tap her head to stop it. (Using the alarm)
- A weekly letter for family: every Sunday at 6 p.m., family members get a short note with the days Mia was petted and how many times and minutes she chatted. What was said is never sent. (Mia’s weekly letter)
On the English store, the Conversation Model is US$199 (the Standard Model is US$149), and conversation mode needs the $2/month Premium plan, with up to 5 hours of conversation per month. In Japan, the Conversation Model is 22,800 yen (white) or 23,800 yen (black) including tax at the current sale price, with conversation mode at 300 yen per month. Dialect voice prompts, weather, Google Calendar reminders, and family voice messages all work as before.
Get the Conversation Model: Mia Conversation Model (White) / Mia Conversation Model (Black) (official store)
Charpy
Features: Charpy is a robot for learning English with native American pronunciation, suitable for beginners through advanced learners. It is designed as a partner for practicing English conversation at home.
- Strength: A Home mode that works offline, and a Rainbow mode that connects to the cloud over Wi-Fi. Rainbow mode stores learning data for more personalized conversation.
- Example use: English practice the whole family can enjoy.
- Price: 29,700 yen for the device plus 880 yen per month (tax included)
unibo
Features: unibo is a robot with emotion-recognition features that estimates the user’s mood and responds accordingly. It also handles schedule management and home-appliance control.
- Strength: Works as a hub for the household.
- Example use: Managing the family’s schedules and controlling appliances by voice.
- Price: 170,640 yen (tax included)
Pet Robot Prices and Costs
Prices vary by features and brand. Use the figures below as a guide:
- BOCCO emo: 52,800 yen (tax included)
- Musio X: 107,800 yen (tax included); 128,000 yen with the learning materials set
- aibo: 272,800 yen
- Eilik: 24,100 yen (tax included)
- Mia: US$149 (Standard Model), US$199 (Conversation Model, conversation mode $2/month). In Japan, from 9,800 yen
- Charpy: 29,700 yen plus 880 yen per month (tax included)
- unibo: 170,640 yen (tax included)
When buying, look beyond the device price and factor in monthly fees and optional features.
Summary
Home communication robots are drawing attention not just as gadgets but as something that connects people. Each robot has its own personality and strengths, and can bring comfort and support to a household.
Whether you want a pet alternative, a conversation partner for an older parent or a child, or a tool that makes home life a little easier, choose the robot that fits that purpose.
Pick a home communication robot that matches your lifestyle and needs, and let it add a little more to everyday life.
You may also like:
