Qoobo
4 independent reviewsRead the findings →Yukai Engineering's furry cushion with a robotic tail that wags when you stroke it. It suits anyone who wants something calming to stroke but can't have a cat. It does nothing else, though, and the tail motor is audible.
Updated
Check the manufacturer’s site for current availability.
Where it sits in Yukai Engineering’s range
- QooboThis model
- Petit QooboSmaller, with a heartbeat and a tail that hears sounds
- MirumiYukai's furry bag-charm robot that turns to look around
Feedback
What reviewers found
Three reviewers lived with Qoobo. Digital Trends kept one, alongside a Petit Qoobo, during lockdown, and SoraNews24's reporter rented one for a month. Gizmodo spent a week with a pre-production prototype, and GIGAZINE's staff tried a pre-release unit. They all found it calming to stroke and agreed it's no substitute for a real animal. They differ on how much the motor noise matters. TechCrunch tested only the Petit Qoobo.
Digital Trends, hands-on, Jan 2021 (Lived with both Qoobo and Petit Qoobo) · SoraNews24, hands-on, 1 month (rented unit), Jul 2021 · Gizmodo, hands-on, 1 week at home, Jan 2018 (Tested a pre-production prototype) · GIGAZINE, hands-on, Nov 2017 (Tested before launch) · TechCrunch, hands-on, Dec 2020 (tested on the Petit Qoobo; Reviews the smaller Petit Qoobo, not this model)
What it really does
Reviewers rate it highlyIt does what it says: a cushion whose tail answers your stroking. SoraNews24 and GIGAZINE saw the tail speed up and slow down with their petting, and Digital Trends found stroking it reliably calming. Gizmodo stresses it's no substitute for a real cat.
Staying engaging
Not enough evidenceOnly Digital Trends clearly judged it over time, finding evening stroking became a habit he'd miss. SoraNews24 rented one for a month without saying whether it held her interest, and Gizmodo tested for a week.
Who it suits
Reviewers rate it highlyIt suits people who can't keep pets. Digital Trends lived where pets weren't allowed and SoraNews24's reporter is allergic to cats; both got real comfort from it. Gizmodo notes that's the intended audience, though it can't replace a pet's companionship.
App, subscription and running costs
Not enough evidenceThere's no app or subscription to judge: Qoobo has no wireless connection the specifications. None of the reviews we use reported running costs beyond charging.
Privacy
Not enough evidenceNone of the reviews we use tested privacy. The maker lists no camera, microphone or internet connection the specifications.
Build quality and battery life
Mixed resultsDigital Trends got about a week from a charge using it each evening, and its fur covers come off to wash. But the tail motor whirs, which SoraNews24 found startling at night, and SoraNews24 reports a design life of roughly two years of wagging.
Support and longevity
Not enough evidenceNone of the reviews we use judged Yukai's support or ran Qoobo long enough to report on reliability.
Value
Not enough evidenceOnly Digital Trends judged value, finding it surprisingly cheap compared with most robots. No other review we use weighed up the price.
Verdicts come from independent, hands-on, finished reviews. An area needs at least two of them before we say more than “Not enough evidence”. We don't score robots ourselves. How this works
Calming, but not a pet
Everyone who tried it found stroking Qoobo relaxing. Digital Trends said stroking it while watching TV became a habit that never failed to make him smile. GIGAZINE's staff kept petting it while reading or working at a computer. But Gizmodo's reviewer kept coming back to one point: it isn't a cat, and it can't give you the relationship a real animal does. Digital Trends called its personality more hamster than dog. Treat it as a comfort object, not a friend.
The tail follows your touch
The tail is the whole show, and reviewers thought it was well done. SoraNews24's reporter found slow strokes brought lazy swishes and faster petting sped it up. GIGAZINE saw the angle, speed and rhythm change with how hard and fast they stroked. Digital Trends found Qoobo lazier than the Petit until patted, and liked that it wags on its own now and then to remind you it's there.
You'll hear the motor
Qoobo makes no sounds of its own, but the motor does. Digital Trends described a distinct motor sound that made him smile when the tail wagged by itself. SoraNews24's reporter barely noticed the gentle whirring during the day but found it could be startling at night. GIGAZINE heard small mechanical noises too. If you're a light sleeper, switch it off before bed.
Battery and upkeep
Yukai claims about eight hours of use per charge the specifications. Digital Trends got about a week when switching it on each evening only. SoraNews24's reporter sometimes forgot to charge it, leaving it lifeless. The fur covers come off and can be washed, according to Digital Trends, and SoraNews24 reported a design life of about 700,000 wags, roughly two years. The prototype Gizmodo tested ran on replaceable batteries, so its battery findings don't apply.
Who it suits best
Reviewers who couldn't have pets got the most out of it. Digital Trends lived alone during lockdown in a home where pets weren't allowed. SoraNews24's reporter is allergic to cats. Gizmodo notes it's aimed at allergy sufferers and people in flats who can't keep pets. At about a kilogram and the size of a big cushion the specifications, it sits comfortably on a lap and is easy to cuddle.
Covers the full-size Qoobo. The Gizmodo and GIGAZINE tests used units made before retail launch. TechCrunch tested only the Petit Qoobo, a smaller sibling with a heartbeat and sound-reactive tail.
Our take
Should you buy the Qoobo?
Best for: People wanting something soft to hold and stroke. Skip it if: You want a robot that holds a conversation.
buy it if you'd like something furry to stroke on the sofa and can't have a real cat. If you want a companion that responds to your voice, Casio's Moflin reacts with movements and sounds, and Joy for All's pets purr or bark when stroked.
Qoobo is a round, lap-sized cushion with a cat-like tail. Stroke it gently and the tail sways lazily, pat it harder and it swishes, and now and then it wags by itself. There's no face, no voice, no app and no wireless connection, just fur, a tail and a battery. It comes from Yukai Engineering in Tokyo, which also makes the smaller Petit Qoobo and the Mirumi bag charm.
Everyone who tried it found stroking it calming. Digital Trends kept one during lockdown and said evening stroking became a habit he'd miss, and SoraNews24's reporter, who is allergic to cats, rented one for a month and got real comfort from it. GIGAZINE saw the tail's angle, speed and rhythm change with how hard and fast staff stroked it. Gizmodo, which spent a week with a prototype, stresses it's no substitute for a real cat. You'll hear the motor: SoraNews24 found the whirring startling at night, and Digital Trends and GIGAZINE heard it too. Digital Trends got about a week from a charge with evening use, and SoraNews24 reports a design life of roughly two years of wagging.
Where to buy
Where to buy the Qoobo in United Kingdom
No United Kingdom price checked in the last 21 days. We re-check daily.
We’re still looking for more United Kingdom retailers for this model.
Price-drop alert
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Before you buy
The questions people ask about this one
Does it need a subscription to keep working?
No. Qoobo has no app and no internet connection listed in its specifications the specifications. You switch it on, stroke it and charge it with the included adaptor. None of the reviewers, from Digital Trends to SoraNews24, mention any account or setup.
What does it record, and where does that go?
Nothing, as far as the maker's specifications show. There's no camera, microphone or wireless connection listed the specifications. It senses how you stroke it and moves its tail in response, which is all GIGAZINE and SoraNews24 describe it doing.
Is it suitable for young children?
Yukai says it's for all ages except babies, and that children shouldn't be left alone with it the specifications. It's soft and weighs about a kilogram. Don't let anyone sit on it, as the maker warns against that. SoraNews24 notes the tail mechanism has a finite life, so rough play may shorten it.
How long does the battery last?
The maker claims about eight hours of use and four to eight hours to recharge the specifications. Digital Trends found a charge lasted about a week when he only switched it on in the evenings. SoraNews24's reporter occasionally forgot to charge it and found it motionless.
Is it noisy?
A little. The tail motor makes a whirring sound. SoraNews24's reporter found it unnoticeable in the daytime but startling at night, and Digital Trends said the sound is distinct. If it will sit by your bed, you may want to switch it off at night.
Alternatives
Other companion robots to compare.
Companion Cat / Pup
Why consider it: A soft robotic cat or puppy that purrs or barks when stroked and needs no app.
The compromise: It won't fool anyone into thinking it's a real animal.
Moflin
Why consider it: A soft companion that reacts to touch with small movements and sounds, and develops moods you follow in an app.
The compromise: It doesn't understand your words, and one tester noticed its sounds at night.
PARO
Why consider it: A therapeutic seal robot with far more research behind it than most companion robots.
The compromise: Studies show stronger evidence for engagement than for a consistent therapeutic effect.
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 Qoobo?
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
- Digital Trends: Meet Qoobo, the cute, robotic tailed cushion that cured my pandemic blues ↗Hands-on · Lived with both Qoobo and Petit Qoobo
- SoraNews24: We adopted a furry, cuddly, tailed cat cushion to keep us company at home ↗Hands-on, 1 month (rented unit)
- Gizmodo: I Snuggled With This Robot Cat and It Didn't Scratch Me Once ↗Hands-on, 1 week at home · Tested a pre-production prototype
- GIGAZINE: Qoobo review ↗Hands-on · Tested before launch
- TechCrunch: An earnest review of a robotic cat pillow ↗Hands-on · Tested on the Petit Qoobo · Reviews the smaller Petit Qoobo, not this model (not counted towards our two-review minimum)
Sources
Videos
- Search YouTube for Yukai Engineering Qoobo ↗Search results may include company demonstrations or similar models. Check the source and model name; a demonstration is not an independent performance test.