Our take
Intuition Robotics ElliQ
One of the few companion robots with a clear real-world purpose. For an older person who is isolated and comfortable talking to technology, it can genuinely encourage activity and conversation; the subscription cost and occasional patronising tone are the main drawbacks.
Reviewers report proactive conversation, wellness prompts, exercises, caregiver communication and genuine emotional engagement for some older users.
The monthly subscription is expensive, some interactions can feel infantilising, and bugs plus limited media/music options reduce the polish.
Households looking for proactive older-adult companionship.
Buyers expecting useful physical household work rather than interaction, entertainment or monitoring.
- Proactive older-adult companionship
- Wellness, reminders and family connection
What reviewers found
ElliQ’s distinctive feature is starting interaction itself. That can make it feel more companionable than a device waiting for a command, but the same behaviour can feel intrusive or patronising.
A friendly presence, with interruptions
WIRED found setup straightforward and the proactive interaction engaging over several weeks, while also reporting slow answers and occasional patronising behaviour. The physical silence control and touchscreen were useful when voice interaction was inconvenient.
[1]The ongoing service is part of the product
ElliQ is leased with a membership, rather than simply bought outright. The current official page offers different billing commitments and lists hardware coverage, updates and support within the membership. Compare the total commitment and cancellation or trial conditions, not just the smallest monthly equivalent.
[2]Family contact is a practical strength
The official service includes a caregiver app and communication with trusted contacts. It ships within the US and requires Wi-Fi. That makes the family’s setup and willingness to participate relevant to how useful it will be.
[2]Companionship has limits
ElliQ explicitly says it is neither a medical device nor an emergency alert system. We would assess it as an additional source of conversation and activities, with the intended user involved in the choice. A positive reviewer experience does not establish that it will suit every older person.
[2]Sources (2)
- WIRED review ↗Hands-on review
- ElliQ membership and service conditions ↗Manufacturer information
Full specifications
- Ownership model
- Leased device with ongoing membership
- Billing options
- Monthly, annual or 24-month membership
- Upfront fee
- Separate one-time lease initiation fee
- Family connection
- Caregiver app included with membership
- Support
- Hardware cover and customer support while membership is active
Sources
Videos
- GearBrain: GearBrain meets Intuition Robotics' ElliQ ↗
- PCMag: CES 2018: ElliQ by Intuition Robotics ↗
- Search YouTube for Intuition Robotics ElliQ ↗Search results may include similar models; check the model name.



