NICOBO
Limited evidenceRead the findings →Panasonic's round, knitted table robot that babbles, wags its tail and slowly picks up Japanese words. It suits someone after a quiet, comforting presence, not a helper. It's sold only in Japan and needs home Wi-Fi and a monthly plan.
See the alternatives below, or switch market.
Where it sits in Panasonic’s range
- NICOBOThis model
- NICOBO Stone GreyThe same robot in a grey knitted cover
- NICOBO Smoke NavyThe same robot in a navy knitted cover
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What we know
Rentio PRESS tried one briefly and was charmed, though Rentio rents NICOBO out. An owner, Noaris Life, blogged about three weeks with hers, and buyers on Panasonic's Rakuten buyer reviews store share longer experiences. They agree it's soothing and funny, that it replies slowly or not at all, and that it needs Wi-Fi and a monthly plan. None of them report on how it holds up over years.
Rentio PRESS, hands-on (Short hands-on; Published by Rentio, which rents NICOBO out) · Noaris Life, hands-on, 3 weeks, Jan 2026 (An owner's blog with affiliate links and no test method)
Company in small moments
Noaris Life found NICOBO settled the evenings: it gets sleepy around the bedtime the owner set, gives a cheery greeting in the morning, and sulks and turns away after too long staring at a computer. It also insisted on calling itself by the wrong name. One of the Rakuten buyer reviews buyers gave it to parents aged over 75, where it picks up words from TV adverts and makes them laugh. Another, who travels for work, says it made coming home more enjoyable. Buy it for these small moments.
Slow, simple conversation
NICOBO mostly speaks its own babbling language and learns a little broken Japanese over time. Rentio PRESS hadn't heard it say any Japanese by the time of writing. Noaris Life says it answers at its own pace and sometimes replies only with its eyes or tail, so if you want a brisk chat you may be disappointed. One of the Rakuten buyer reviews buyers says simple exchanges like "good morning" work sometimes, but it's moody and doesn't always answer.
Wi-Fi, a phone and a plan
Panasonic requires home Wi-Fi, a smartphone with the NICOBO app and a monthly Basic Plan paid by credit card the specifications. Noaris Life describes setup: sign in with a Panasonic ID, choose a plan, then hold up a QR code for NICOBO's nose camera, which took some fiddling. One of the Rakuten buyer reviews buyers found their parents had no home Wi-Fi, and Panasonic said a pocket router wasn't intended. It worked for them, using about 1.5GB a month, but that's no guarantee.
Battery and knitted fur need care
Rentio PRESS lists about 3.5 to 4.5 hours of running time and up to seven hours to recharge on its bed. Noaris Life found it asks to go back to bed after a few hours off it, so charge it fully before a long cuddle. The knitted cover picks up dust and hair and needs a regular brush. The owner also warns against putting its bed on a high shelf, where an earthquake could knock it off, and against leaving it somewhere hot in summer.
Pets may need time
One of the Rakuten buyer reviews buyers had a rough first day: the dog barked whenever NICOBO babbled and the rabbit got cross when the owner talked to it. The pets soon settled, and a month later the owner said they'd grown to love it. Rentio PRESS notes it feels gently warm, like a pet. If you have animals, introduce it slowly and expect a few days of jealousy.
NICOBO is sold only in Japan. Rentio's hands-on piece comes from a company that rents NICOBO out, so we don't count it as independent.
Our take
Should you buy the NICOBO?
Best for: People in Japan wanting a quiet, playful presence at home. Skip it if: You want a robot that holds a conversation.
NICOBO suits someone in Japan who wants a quiet, low-effort presence that makes them smile, such as a person living alone or an older parent with a family member to set it up. Skip it if you want a robot to talk with properly; MIXI's Romi Lacatan and Sharp's Poketomo both hold real conversations. If you just want something soft that responds to touch, Casio's Moflin wriggles and squeaks in your hands without saying a word.
NICOBO is Panasonic's deliberately "weak" robot, designed to be looked after rather than to help. It's a knitted ball about 23cm across with screen eyes, a tail and a camera in its nose. It doesn't drive around; it turns, nods, sulks and wags its tail on the table. It mostly speaks its own babbling language and picks up simple Japanese phrases over time. It sleeps and recharges on a little bed, and Panasonic's app lets you set its name, volume and bedtime. It's sold in Japan in three knitted colours.
The trade-off is that it does very little on purpose. Replies come slowly or not at all, and conversation stays simple. You'll need home Wi-Fi, a smartphone and a compulsory monthly plan. The charm is real for the owners who wrote about it, and it's sold only in Japan.
Before you buy
The questions people ask about this one
Does it need a subscription to keep working?
Yes. Panasonic requires a monthly Basic Plan, paid by credit card the specifications. Noaris Life explains that the Basic Plan covers its everyday behaviour, communication and updates, and an optional care plan adds cover for repairs. Budget for the plan for as long as you keep it.
What does it record, and where does that go?
NICOBO has a camera in its nose and three microphones, according to the specification table in Rentio PRESS's write-up. It needs home Wi-Fi to work the specifications, and one of the Rakuten buyer reviews buyers saw it use about 1.5GB of data a month. We couldn't read Panasonic's own explanation of what it stores.
Does it work offline?
No. Panasonic lists internet-connected Wi-Fi and a smartphone app as requirements the specifications. One of the Rakuten buyer reviews buyers was told a pocket Wi-Fi router wasn't intended, though it worked in their parents' home. Plan on a proper home connection.
Would it suit an older relative?
It can. One of the Rakuten buyer reviews buyers says it brought more smiles to parents aged over 75, and another says it keeps a mother living alone company. Someone has to handle the phone app, Wi-Fi and plan the specifications, so it works best when family can set it up.
How long does the battery last?
About 3.5 to 4.5 hours of running time, and four to seven hours to recharge on its bed, according to Rentio PRESS's specification table. Noaris Life found it asks to go back to bed after a few hours away from it.
Alternatives
Other companion robots to compare.
Romi Lacatan
Why consider it: A Japanese tabletop robot that holds real conversations and remembers what you tell it.
The compromise: People who rented one often found its replies slow, and it also needs a paid plan.
Poketomo
Why consider it: A chatty pocket-sized robot that Japanese reviewers found friendly and quick to remember.
The compromise: It needs a paid monthly plan, and one reviewer found it talked over them.
Moflin
Why consider it: A soft, furry pet that wriggles and squeaks when you handle it, with no talking.
The compromise: Testers found it soothing but wouldn't buy one, and its chirps can wake you at night.
Qoobo
Why consider it: A furry cushion with a robotic tail that wags when you stroke it, which reviewers found oddly calming.
The compromise: It does nothing else, and the tail motor is audible.
Specs
Full specifications
Each specification names its source. Manufacturer claims are not independent test results; unconfirmed figures are labelled.
Owner reviews
Do you own the NICOBO?
Tell people how it’s held up: cleaning, maintenance, faults and support. Owner accounts are shown separately from independent reviews.
Sources
Where this page’s findings come from
Editorial reviews
- Rentio PRESS: パナソニックのロボットNICOBO(ニコボ)実機レビュー！ ↗Hands-on · Short hands-on · Published by Rentio, which rents NICOBO out (not counted towards our two-review minimum)
- Noaris Life: ニコボ（Nicobo）レビュー｜3週間使って分かったメリットとかわいい弱点 ↗Hands-on, 3 weeks · An owner's blog with affiliate links and no test method (not counted towards our two-review minimum)
Sources
- Rakuten buyer reviews: パナソニック NICOBO（ニコボ）みんなのレビュー ↗Owner thread
- Panasonic: NICOBO RW-NC1 product page ↗Manufacturer
Videos
- Science online: Nicobo Companion Office Robot for Panasonic - Leobotics ↗
- Panasonic Japan（パナソニック公式）: NICOBO（ニコボ）と暮らす毎日 Short Ver.【パナソニック公式】 ↗
- Search YouTube for Panasonic NICOBO ↗Search results may include company demonstrations or similar models. Check the source and model name; a demonstration is not an independent performance test.