Nubia’s iMoochi puts OLED eyes on a 4G pet robot

Nubia has started selling iMoochi, a pet robot designed around attachment rather than assistant features. It is now on sale in China from 1,699 yuan, while a version bundled with a cloud charging dock costs 1,778 yuan. The device was previously shown at MWC 2026 under the ZTE brand, and has now arrived on shelves as a standalone consumer gadget.

Instead of competing with smart speakers on usefulness, iMoochi leans on behavior, expressions, and the habit of “interacting” with its owner almost like a living creature. AI toys are already a crowded category, but Nubia appears to be targeting the segment with a more premium and feature-heavy take on the digital pet.

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The body is soft and furry, while the face is covered by a durable silicone mask. In place of conventional eyes, Nubia uses two OLED displays that show emotions and adjust brightness to the surrounding light. Inside are stepper motors, allowing the robot to nod, shake its head, and wag its tail.

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Its reactions are driven by more than motors. The robot includes five touch sensors, a six-axis inertial sensor, and multiple microphones that can detect the direction of sound. If someone picks it up, shakes it, or simply speaks nearby, iMoochi changes its behavior and responds with movement.

Key specs include:

• Price: 1,699 yuan, or 1,778 yuan with dock
• Display eyes: two OLED panels with dynamic expressions
• Connectivity: Wi-Fi, 4G, and NFC for linking with other iMoochi units
• Battery life: 8 to 10 hours on a single charge
• Colors: Brown, Pink, and White

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On the software side, Nubia says iMoochi is built around owner recognition and conversation context. It remembers interaction history, tracks a “closeness level,” and mimics a daily rhythm by yawning, asking for attention, reacting to temperature, and starting games on its own. For voice, Nubia used a separate language model with the involvement of voice actors, aiming to make the pet sound like a pet rather than an FAQ-driven assistant.

The box includes a cable, protective case, comb, eye mask, and a “birth” certificate card. Through the iMoochi Life app, owners can track how long the robot has “communicated” with them, check its emotional state, and save interaction history. Nubia also sells optional clothing that unlocks additional visual effects and expressions for the OLED eyes.

At 1,699 yuan, iMoochi is not a cheap toy for the Chinese market. But it is entering a category that is already attracting attention, with AI gadgets aimed at children, pets, and solitary users looking less for an assistant than for a companion with personality.