Jennie
Limited evidenceRead the findings →A lifelike robot puppy that lies in your lap and responds to stroking and its name. It's designed for older people who can't keep a real dog. It isn't shipping yet, and Tombot hasn't published a price.
Updated
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What we know
Tom's Guide handled an alpha prototype at CES 2025: its writer, a nurse, loved its lifelike reactions but saw it freeze during a show-floor encounter. WTOP reported on care-home demonstrations Tombot ran during CES 2026, written by contributors from a PR agency. Tombot itself says the first litter has sold out and is being prepared for delivery. So what we have is a prototype on a show floor and PR-written coverage, not a finished puppy in someone's home.
Tom's Guide, hands-on, Jan 2025 (Alpha prototype handled at CES 2025; A short show-floor meeting with an alpha prototype, not a test of a finished Jennie.)
Lifelike in a short meeting
Tom's Guide found the prototype's reactions convincing: scratch its cheek and it nuzzles in, and it answers to whatever name you give it with a sound or a movement. Its sounds are based on real 12-week-old puppies. At the care-home demonstrations WTOP describes, one resident said she could feel its heartbeat speed up when she stroked it. These were short meetings, though.
Built for dementia and loneliness
Tombot designed Jennie for people who can't safely care for a live pet, especially older people with dementia Tombot. WTOP says it stays in your lap rather than roaming the floor. It also says Tombot is seeking medical-device recognition, which is an aim, not an approval or proof that it helps. Tom's Guide points out it lacks a real dog's unpredictability and depth, which may limit it in some therapy settings.
A prototype freeze and app worries
Tom's Guide saw the alpha prototype freeze and restart while the show-floor connection was poor, though it wasn't clear why, and the writer noted it was unfinished. The same reviewer worried that needing a smartphone app for settings and updates could shut out users who aren't comfortable with technology. Tombot hasn't yet said what the finished version will need to connect, or what setup help it will offer.
Ordered, not delivered, not checked
Tombot's site says the first litter has sold out and it's preparing those puppies for their homes, with a waitlist for everyone else and pricing to come later Tombot. WTOP reported more than 18,000 preorders worldwide in January 2026 and shipments expected later that year. We couldn't find a report of a finished Jennie in someone's home yet, so the open questions are whether the charm lasts once the novelty wears off, whether staying in your lap really removes the trip risk, and how reliably the finished version connects.
Our take
Should you buy the Jennie?
Best for: People following a product that is not ready to buy. Skip it if: You need a finished robot you can buy and use now.
Jennie is a product to follow, rather than rely on for a current care need. The public route is a waitlist, with price and delivery details still pending; finished-unit performance and ongoing benefit are not established. Joy for All pets are available now, but they interact in a simpler, different way, and that doesn't tell you whether one will suit a particular person.
Jennie is Tombot's only product, a soft, realistic puppy built with help from Jim Henson's Creature Shop. It does not walk. It lies in your lap, lifts its head, wags its tail and makes sounds recorded from real dogs, and touch sensors let it nuzzle into a scratch. You can give it a name it answers to, and it is aimed at older people, including those with dementia.
Tombot says its first production run has sold out and there is a waitlist, with no public price or date. What is known comes from show-floor meetings at CES and demonstrations Tombot arranged in care homes, and Tom's Guide handled an alpha prototype. A prototype froze during a show-floor encounter with poor connectivity; the cause was not established. It needs a smartphone app for settings and updates, and Tombot does not say whether there is a subscription.
Before you buy
The questions people ask about this one
Can I actually get one?
Not straight away. Tombot says its first litter has sold out, and you can join a waitlist; it will contact you with pricing and availability closer to shipping Tombot. WTOP reported shipments expected during 2026 to more than 18,000 preorder customers. Tombot doesn't say which countries it will ship to.
How long does the battery last?
All day, according to Tombot's claims reported by Tom's Guide and WTOP. It's rechargeable, but none of the sources we use timed a finished unit. Tombot hasn't published a charging time.
Does it need a subscription to keep working?
Tombot hasn't said Tombot. The prototype Tom's Guide handled used a phone app to rename it and install software updates, so it relies on Tombot's app staying available. Ask about ongoing costs and support before paying.
Is it suitable for someone with dementia?
It's one of the people Tombot designed it for Tombot, but that doesn't mean it will suit a particular person. Short prototype meetings and demos arranged by the company don't show lasting benefit, how much looking after it needs or how easy it is to clean. The prototype used an app for setup, so check what the finished one needs once Tombot says.
Alternatives
Other companion robots to compare.
Companion Cat / Pup
Why consider it: A soft robotic cat or puppy made for older people, on sale now and needing no app.
The compromise: Its reactions are simpler, without the same range of interactive puppy behaviour.
Moflin
Why consider it: A small furry robot pet that testers found soothing and lifelike over weeks of use.
The compromise: It's palm-sized and squeaks rather than barks, and its chirps can wake you at night.
Qoobo
Why consider it: A furry cushion whose tail wags when you stroke it; reviewers found it 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 Jennie?
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
- Tom's Guide: Jennie, the robot puppy, is the one piece of tech I wish I had stolen from CES 2025 ↗Hands-on · Alpha prototype handled at CES 2025 · A short show-floor meeting with an alpha prototype, not a test of a finished Jennie. (not counted towards our two-review minimum)
Sources
Videos
- Robotix with Sina: Is this a Real Dog? "Jennie" by Tombot ↗
- Tombot: Introducing Jennie by Tombot ↗
- Search YouTube for Tombot Jennie ↗Search results may include company demonstrations or similar models. Check the source and model name; a demonstration is not an independent performance test.