- Changes
- 4
- Tracking since
- Aug 2025
- Latest
- Jul 1, 2026
- Net movement
- Classification stable
- 2026
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Sharp launches Poketomo in Taiwan on July 1, 2026, its first market outside Japan
Sharp launched Poketomo in Taiwan on July 1, 2026, after pre-orders opened May 20, making Taiwan the first market outside Japan.
Full assessment3 claims · 4 technical notes · 2 sources
Where it standsAutonomy LadderIIIIIIIVVLevel IIAssisted AutonomyHuman ReadinessReady NowNew to MarketWaitKnown IssuesRobovations Score04055708554LimitedWhat happenedThe version speaks Traditional Chinese and is sold through carriers and retailers.
WatchingWhether further markets follow, since the maker had earlier said it had no plans beyond Japan.
Bottom lineA regional rollout of the existing product; capabilities are unchanged from the Japanese version.
ImpactOn autonomy
- Conversation is delivered in Traditional Chinese with a locally tuned voice.
- Core features carry over from the Japanese version, including memory and gestures.
- A diary-style recap of conversations is part of the Taiwan feature set.
On readiness
- The robot is on sale at carriers and electronics and online retailers in Taiwan.
- Pre-orders opened May 20, 2026, six weeks before the July 1 start.
- The app is billed monthly, from NT$128, with trial conversation credits on first use.
Claim check3 maker claims checked against the record. Open one to read the finding.
The first launch outside Japan
Documented findingConfirmed by the maker: Taiwan went on sale July 1, 2026, with Traditional Chinese support.A character that stays close and empathizes with the user
Documented findingThe maker's description; no independent evaluation of the Chinese-language experience was found at launch.Zero-cost device through carrier plans
Documented findingLocal coverage reports carrier plans with NT$0 device cost; the monthly service plan still applies.Evidence2 sources · all linked
12May 2026Jul 2026filed 1 Jul 2026- 1Sharp Corporation Press Release20 May 2026
- 2JazzNews1 Jul 2026
Technical notes4 sectionsRegional Version
The Taiwan model supports Traditional Chinese conversation. The robot stands about 12 centimeters tall and weighs about 194 grams, matching the Japanese unit as described by the maker.
Pricing
Local coverage lists the suggested retail price at NT$12,990 for the robot. The companion app is offered in tiers from NT$128 per month, with 200 conversation credits on first download.
Channels
The robot is sold through telecom carriers, electronics retailers and online stores. Pre-orders opened May 20, 2026 and sales began July 1, 2026.
Context
The maker introduced official Taiwan social media accounts alongside the launch to share serialized comics and instructional videos.
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Sharp shows Poketomo at CES 2026 with its first free-form English conversation demo
Sharp exhibited Poketomo at CES 2026, January 6 to 9, and for the first time let visitors hold free-form conversations with it in English.
Full assessment3 claims · 4 technical notes · 2 sources
Where it standsAutonomy LadderIIIIIIIVVLevel IIAssisted AutonomyHuman ReadinessReady NowNew to MarketWaitKnown IssuesRobovations Score04055708554LimitedWhat happenedAt the time, the maker said it had no plans to sell outside Japan, so the demo showed capability rather than availability.
WatchingFor any overseas sales plan.
Bottom lineThe show demonstrated an English conversation mode; it did not announce overseas sales.
ImpactOn autonomy
- Free-form English conversation was demonstrated for the first time on the robot.
- A small camera in the mouth area lets the robot recognize its owner.
- Four motors move the arms and head to add nonverbal cues.
On readiness
- The demo was an exhibition, not a launch of an English-language product.
- The maker said at the show it had no current plans to sell beyond Japan.
- Carrying accessories and a desktop stand were displayed alongside the robot.
Claim check3 maker claims checked against the record. Open one to read the finding.
Visitors can enjoy free-form English conversation
Documented findingThe maker presented it as a first-time demonstration; show coverage describes short-form conversation for encouragement and mood tracking.A companion that recognizes its owner
Documented findingCoverage describes a small camera used for owner recognition and personalized updates.International exposure at a major trade show
Documented findingThe maker told show press it had no current plans to sell outside Japan.Evidence2 sources · all linked
125 Jan 202610 Jan 2026filed 6 Jan 2026- 1Sharp Corporation Press Release5 Jan 2026
- 2Engadget10 Jan 2026
Technical notes4 sectionsExhibit
Sharp showed Poketomo in the Japan Tech area of CES 2026, Las Vegas, January 6 to 9, 2026. The maker announced the exhibit on January 5.
Demonstration
The new element was free-form English conversation. The maker frames the product around short-form conversation for reflection, encouragement and mood tracking, rather than task automation.
Hardware Shown
Coverage of the show describes a camera in the mouth area for recognizing the owner and four motors moving the arms and head. A carrying case, accessories and a tabletop charging stand were on display.
Market Scope
The robot had launched in Japan in December 2025. Show coverage reports the maker had no current plans for other markets at that time.
- 2025
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Sharp delays Poketomo release from November 21 to December 5, 2025, citing production circumstances
On November 17, 2025, Sharp moved the Poketomo release from November 21 to December 5, citing production circumstances and giving no further detail.
Full assessment3 claims · 4 technical notes · 2 sources
Where it standsAutonomy LadderIIIIIIIVVLevel IIAssisted AutonomyHuman ReadinessReady NowNew to MarketWaitKnown IssuesRobovations Score04055708554LimitedWhat happenedThe robot, the app and the desktop charging holder were all affected. Whether the new date held, and what the production issue was, are the items to watch.
Bottom lineA two-week postponement announced four days before launch; the cause remains unstated.
ImpactOn autonomy
- No change to conversation or memory features; the delay affected sale timing only.
- The robot's capabilities stay as described at the August 2025 announcement.
On readiness
- Release moved two weeks later, from November 21 to December 5, 2025.
- The robot, its app and the desktop charging holder all shifted together.
- The maker gave only production circumstances as the reason, with no detail.
- The launch event was renamed a countdown event and still ran November 21.
Claim check3 maker claims checked against the record. Open one to read the finding.
Release set for November 21, 2025
Documented findingThe maker postponed it on November 17 to December 5, 2025.Delay reason
Documented findingThe maker cited production circumstances only; news coverage notes no further explanation was given.Launch celebration for buyers
Documented findingThe event went ahead on its original date, renamed a countdown event, with the pop-up cafe also unchanged.Evidence2 sources · all linked
- 1Sharp Corporation Press Release (PR TIMES)17 Nov 2025
- 2Mynavi News17 Nov 2025
Technical notes4 sectionsAffected Products
The postponement covered the Poketomo robot (model SR-C01M-W), the Poketomo smartphone app and the desktop charging holder (model SR-CDH01-C).
Dates
The original release date was November 21, 2025. The maker announced the change on November 17, 2025 and set the new date at December 5, 2025. The maker apologized to customers awaiting the product.
Events
The buyer event planned for November 21 was renamed a countdown event and kept its date. The limited-time pop-up cafe ran from November 22 through December 5, 2025 as scheduled.
Cause
The maker’s notice gives production circumstances as the reason and names no component, supplier or quality issue. No recall or safety finding is associated with the postponement.
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Sharp introduces Poketomo, a 12 cm pocket companion robot with a paired smartphone app
Sharp announced Poketomo on August 20, 2025, a palm-sized meerkat robot that holds spoken conversations and remembers past exchanges through the maker's CE-LLM technology.
Full assessment3 claims · 3 technical notes · 2 sources
Where it standsAutonomy LadderIIIIIIIVVLevel IIAssisted AutonomyHuman ReadinessReady NowNew to MarketWaitKnown IssuesRobovations Score04055708554LimitedWhat happenedPre-orders opened in stages for a November release, with the app billed monthly. How well the memory holds up in daily use is the open item to watch.
Bottom lineThe announcement describes design intent; owner-reported behavior was not yet available.
ImpactOn autonomy
- The robot holds personalized voice conversations that adapt to the owner over time.
- It recalls earlier conversations, places visited and shared experiences, according to the maker.
- Gestures and a color-changing belly light accompany speech to signal mood.
On readiness
- Pre-orders began in stages on the announcement date for a November 2025 release.
- The robot and the smartphone app are sold as a pair, with the app billed monthly.
- Robot pricing was listed as open at announcement; retail price came later.
Claim check3 maker claims checked against the record. Open one to read the finding.
The robot remembers conversations, visited places and shared experiences
Documented findingLaunch coverage repeats the maker's description; no independent evaluation of memory accuracy existed at announcement.A friend that makes every day more fun
Documented findingPositioning language from the maker; the product is a conversation companion with no household task function.Available as a robot and as a smartphone app
Documented findingBoth formats were confirmed by the maker, with the app carrying a monthly fee of 495 yen.Evidence2 sources · all linked
1220 Aug 202523 Aug 2025filed 20 Aug 2025- 1Sharp Corporation Press Release20 Aug 2025
- 2Gizmochina23 Aug 2025
Technical notes3 sections
Hardware
The robot model SR-C01M-W stands about 12 centimeters tall and weighs roughly 200 grams. It expresses reactions through gestures and a rainbow-colored light in its belly. It is a different product from the same maker’s RoBoHoN phone-style robot.
Software
Conversation runs on the maker’s proprietary CE-LLM technology, which the maker says personalizes responses and builds familiarity over repeated use. A companion smartphone app continues the character when the robot is not at hand.
Availability
The maker listed a November 2025 release, with pre-orders opening in stages from August 20, 2025. Robot pricing was open at announcement. The app was priced at 495 yen per month. A manga series featuring the character began on the maker’s official social account on August 1, 2025.