Research verdict
A lively desk character with more awareness and upkeep than Eilik.
EMO is a 248 g desktop robot pet that walks within a small surface, reacts through animated expressions and body movement, recognizes faces, responds to voice commands, takes photos, plays games, and connects to LivingAI's app and online services.
EMO is compelling when independent walking, voice response, face recognition, and surprise behaviors are central to the appeal. Its walking adds a need for clear desk space, while the camera, microphones, Wi-Fi, app, battery, and connected services create more ownership decisions than a stationary base Eilik.
Best fit
- People who want a desk robot that walks and initiates expressive behavior
- Buyers who value voice commands, face recognition, games, and visual personality
- Owners comfortable managing a connected app, firmware updates, and camera permissions
Probably not for
- People who want an offline-first companion without a camera
- Developers looking for an open robotics programming platform
- Anyone who expects household chores, room-to-room mobility, or reliable unattended supervision
Price and key facts
A normalized snapshot with evidence attached.
These fields use the same structure across every HomeRobotHQ profile. Each value is linked to its evidence, classified transparently, or marked as not published.
- Cloud dependence
- App, firmware, and connected services HomeRobotHQ classification · Checked Open evidence ↗
- Charging
- Skateboard charger; optional Home Station adds automatic return Official source · Checked Open evidence ↗
Additional documented facts
Price, delivery timing, taxes, shipping, and regional availability can change. Verify the current official listing or status source before making a purchase decision. View the reviewed price history →
Capabilities and limits
What can EMO actually do?
LivingAI documents a mix of autonomous desk movement, expressive behavior, recognition, voice commands, games, photos, smart-light control, and app-managed features.
- 01Walk around a desktop, turn, dance, explore, and react through animated expressions and body language
- 02Use a wide-angle camera, face recognition, a four-microphone array, speaker, touch sensor, ToF sensor, and four foot drop sensors
- 03Recognize up to ten people and respond to names, faces, sound direction, touch, light, and movement
- 04Set alarms and timers, answer supported questions, report weather, take photos, play games, and control the included smart light
- 05Return to charge automatically when paired with the optional Home Station or purchased as EMO Go Home
Important limitations
- The standard $279 package uses the skateboard charger; automatic return requires the $369 Go Home package or separate $99 Home Station.
- Initial setup documentation specifies a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network and says 5 GHz is not supported.
- Foot sensors reduce risk but do not make an elevated desk safe for unsupervised movement. Use a stable bounded surface.
- LivingAI presents EMO as a packaged companion, not an open developer platform for custom robotics software.
Software and setup
The character depends on firmware, Wi-Fi, and the EMO Pet app.
The EMO Pet app configures the robot, manages information, plays games, and supports photo, face, preference, smart-light, and update workflows.
LivingAI documents free over-the-air firmware updates delivered through the robot or app.
The official command catalog covers movement, alarms, games, photos, lights, music, weather, updates, and everyday interaction, but available behavior can change with firmware and service updates.
Power EMO from the included skateboard charger and keep it near the phone.
Install EMO Pet and connect through Bluetooth.
Join a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network, then set the city, time zone, and preferences.
Install current firmware and review photo, face-recognition, location, storage, and app permissions.
Projects worth exploring
- Learn the movement, game, alarm, timer, weather, and light commands
- Manage recognized faces and the robot's stored photos
- Build a safe bounded desk area and observe autonomous behavior
- Compare skateboard charging with the optional Home Station workflow
Privacy and connectivity
A face-recognizing desk pet is also a connected camera and microphone array.
EMO combines a wide-angle camera, face recognition, four microphones, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, photos, an app, and online features. Decide where it may operate and who may be recorded.
LivingAI's EMO Pet privacy notice says the app may request geolocation, Bluetooth, storage, and other device access, and describes processing needed for service operation, troubleshooting, analytics, and reporting.
Review mobile permissions, delete unneeded photos and face records, keep firmware current, and use LivingAI's documented request process if you need access, correction, or deletion of account data.
Alternatives
Compare the role before the specification.
Smaller portable companion with a documented offline-command subset
Phone-powered wheeled desk companion with a larger screen face
Lower-cost stationary companion without internet in its base form
Larger mobile companion designed for family play
Sources and provenance
Primary sources reviewed.
Follow the sources for the specifications, software requirements, and policies discussed above. Our editorial approach explains how evidence is used.
- Official storeEMO store listingOpen source ↗
LivingAI · Checked 2026-09-01
- Official product pageEMO product overviewOpen source ↗
LivingAI · Checked 2026-09-01
- Official specificationsEMO product specificationsOpen source ↗
LivingAI · Checked 2026-09-01
- Official app directoryEMO Pet app downloadsOpen source ↗
LivingAI · Checked 2026-09-01
- Official supportEMO support and contactOpen source ↗
LivingAI · Checked 2026-09-14
- Official documentationEMO tutorials and update directoryOpen source ↗
LivingAI · Checked 2026-09-14
- Official documentationEMO voice command catalogOpen source ↗
LivingAI · Checked 2026-09-14
- Official privacy policyEMO Pet privacy noticeOpen source ↗
LivingAI · Checked 2026-09-01
- Official storeEMO Go Home listingOpen source ↗
LivingAI · Checked 2026-09-01