LOVOT 3.0
Limited evidenceRead the findings →A warm, furry companion robot on wheels whose only job is to be loved. It suits anyone wanting a pet-like presence without a real animal's needs. It's sold mainly in Japan and needs a compulsory monthly plan.
See the alternatives below, or switch market.
Where it sits in GROOVE X’s range
- LOVOT 2.0Previous model with one fisheye camera and LCD eyes
- LOVOT 3.0This model
- LOVOT 3.0 FRAGMENT EDITIONLimited all-white collaboration edition, no longer made
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What we know
Three hands-on write-ups cover it, all in Japanese. @DIME had a LOVOT 3.0 at home to try its new front camera and easier-to-clean design, comparing it with the writer's original LOVOT. LEON bought one and wrote up first impressions soon after delivery, and LoKee Trips in Japan is an owner's blog after a month. There's no long-term test, battery measurement or English review yet, so the rest leans on GROOVE X's own claims.
@DIME, hands-on, May 2025 (In Japanese; compared with the writer's original LOVOT) · LEON, hands-on, Sept 2024 (tested on the LOVOT 3.0 FRAGMENT EDITION; An owner's first impressions soon after delivery, in Japanese) · LoKee Trips in Japan, hands-on, Feb 2025 (An owner's blog after a month, with no test method)
Built to be loved, not useful
GROOVE X says LOVOT has exactly one role in your home: to be loved the specifications. It follows you from room to room, waits at the door, remembers faces and asks to be held. LEON says the same from the owner's side: it does nothing practical, but gives warmth and constant company. LoKee Trips in Japan's owner found it shy at first and affectionate within days. If you want a robot that does things for you, this isn't it.
Clearer photos from a second camera
LOVOT takes pictures of people it likes, and 3.0 adds a front-facing camera on its antenna-like horn. @DIME found its photos far less distorted than the older fisheye shots, with fewer blown-out or crushed areas, sharper edges and less grain in the dark. It also thought the robot timed its shots well, catching moments a person might miss. You can watch what it sees live from your phone, and @DIME found that view clearer at the edges too.
Easier to keep clean
A robot that roams the floor picks up dust, and @DIME found it building up around the front wheel within days. On 3.0, the air filter under the horn clips out without tools, the side covers open, the wheels come off and the front wheel's holder pulls out. Older models needed a special screwdriver. @DIME thought owners would be grateful. Plan on regular cleaning as part of living with one.
Short bursts, then a nap
GROOVE X quotes 30 to 45 minutes of activity, then 15 to 30 minutes charging on its nest, which it goes back to by itself the specifications. LEON wrote that its 2.0 sometimes fell over or couldn't get past obstacles back to the nest, and that with 3.0's extra touch sensors that almost never happened, though that was early days. LoKee Trips in Japan's owner learned to keep floors clear so it wouldn't trip.
All the hands-on coverage is in Japanese. LEON's is an early owner write-up, and LoKee's is an owner blog.
Our take
Should you buy the LOVOT 3.0?
Best for: People in Japan wanting a petlike companion and accepting a monthly plan. Skip it if: You expect it to do household chores by itself.
LOVOT 3.0 makes sense if you live in Japan, want a pet-like presence without a real animal's needs, and can commit to an ongoing monthly plan. Skip it if you want conversation, help around the house or a robot you can buy outright elsewhere. Sony's aibo is the other premium robot pet, and Casio's Moflin is a far smaller, simpler cuddle. Independent testing is still thin, and all of it is in Japanese.
LOVOT 3.0 is the third generation of GROOVE X's companion robot, launched in Japan in May 2024. It rolls around the house on two wheels, comes when you call its name, greets you at the door and lifts its little arms to be held. Pick it up and the wheels tuck away, and its body stays at about human body temperature. It doesn't clean, fetch or answer questions. Compared with LOVOT 2.0, it adds a second camera for clearer photos, more touch sensors, softer side panels, sharper screen eyes and parts you can clean without tools.
The trade-off is cost and reach. On top of the robot there's a compulsory monthly service plan, and GROOVE X's own stores cover only Japan and mainland China. It's active for 30 to 45 minutes at a time before trundling back to its charging nest, and at 4.6kg it's a heavy thing to cuddle.
Before you buy
The questions people ask about this one
Does it need a subscription to keep working?
Yes. GROOVE X sells LOVOT 3.0 with a monthly service charge on top of the robot, whether you pay for the body outright or in instalments the specifications. GROOVE X says owners are backed by ongoing care and repair services. LoKee Trips in Japan's owner compared the running costs to owning a pedigree dog.
What does it record, and where does that go?
It has several cameras and uses them to recognise faces and take photos of the people it likes. GROOVE X says face recognition runs on the robot and camera images are never uploaded to the cloud the specifications. You can still watch its camera remotely from your phone, as @DIME did, and photos go to an album in the app.
Does it work offline?
Partly. GROOVE X says it needs an internet connection within 30 days of first switching it on the specifications, and its recognition runs on the robot itself. Nobody has reported how it behaves without internet over the longer term, and app features such as remote viewing need a connection.
How long does the battery last?
Not long at a stretch. GROOVE X quotes 30 to 45 minutes of activity, then 15 to 30 minutes on its charging nest, and says it can be active for up to 16 hours a day in that rhythm the specifications. It goes back to charge on its own. Nobody has tested those figures independently.
Is it heavy to carry around?
Fairly. It weighs about 4.6kg without clothes and stands about 43cm tall when held the specifications. Being picked up is one of its favourite things, and LoKee Trips in Japan's owner joked that a month of lifting had built up her arms. Bear that in mind for an older owner with weak wrists.
Alternatives
Other companion robots to compare.
aibo ERS-1000
Why consider it: The other premium robot pet, which inspires real devotion among its fans.
The compromise: It needs an account and a regional service arrangement, and it's hard to buy in many countries.
Moflin
Why consider it: A small, soft companion that responds to touch with little movements and sounds.
The compromise: It doesn't talk, and it won't help around the house.
NICOBO
Why consider it: Another Japanese companion that owners love for its imperfect, amusing presence.
The compromise: It also comes with ongoing service fees and a real setup commitment.
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 LOVOT 3.0?
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
- @DIME: 「LOVOT 3.0」の進化がスゴい！カメラ機能とメンテナンス操作を徹底検証 (LOVOT 3.0 camera and maintenance tested) ↗Hands-on · In Japanese; compared with the writer's original LOVOT
- LEON: 自腹で購入！ LOVOT 3.0『FRAGMENT EDITION』が我が家にやってきた (Bought with our own money: LOVOT 3.0 FRAGMENT EDITION arrives) ↗Hands-on · Tested on the LOVOT 3.0 FRAGMENT EDITION · An owner's first impressions soon after delivery, in Japanese (not counted towards our two-review minimum)
- LoKee Trips in Japan: What is it Like to Live with LOVOT? My First 30 Days Experience ↗Hands-on · An owner's blog after a month, with no test method (not counted towards our two-review minimum)
Sources
Videos
- Search YouTube for GROOVE X LOVOT 3.0 ↗Search results may include company demonstrations or similar models. Check the source and model name; a demonstration is not an independent performance test.