World’s first humanoid robot app store lets users control droids by phone

Humanoid robots may soon be as easy to customize as smartphones. On December 13, China’s Unitree Robotics revealed what it describes as the world’s first humanoid robot app store, a move that signals a major shift in how people interact with intelligent machines.

Announced through videos shared on YouTube, X, and the Chinese platform RedNote, the platform allows users to access, control, and expand the functions of humanoid robots directly from their phones.

The Hangzhou-based robotics company introduced the Unitree Robotics Developer Platform as a centralized hub for software, datasets, and remote-control tools. The firm says the system is designed to bring embodied intelligence closer to everyday life by opening robot capabilities to developers and ordinary users alike.

A phone-first approach to humanoid control

At the core of the new platform is a smartphone-based interface that lets users control humanoid robots remotely. Using a phone camera, operators can guide movements and trigger preloaded demonstrations. These include eye-catching routines such as a martial arts-inspired “Bruce Lee” performance, the classic 1960s dance move “The Twist,” and carefully choreographed ballet sequences.

Beyond entertainment, the app store concept focuses on sharing and reuse. Users can upload, download, and adapt training datasets and action sequences. These can then be integrated into the company’s humanoid robots, allowing skills to spread quickly across machines. The firm has encouraged participation from the wider community, calling on users to “develop and share together”.

This open structure mirrors the logic of mobile app ecosystems, where third-party developers play a key role in innovation. For humanoid robots, it could significantly shorten the time between research breakthroughs and real-world use.

Unitree’s growing influence in China’s robotics push

The robotics startup has become one of the most visible symbols of China’s ambitions in advanced robotics. The company is often described as one of Hangzhou’s “Six Little Dragons,” a group of firms credited with reshaping the country’s technology landscape.

It first gained attention through its quadruped robots before moving aggressively into humanoid designs.

In November, Unitree founder and chief technology officer Wang Xingxing was appointed to a national robotics committee by China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

Alongside AgiBot co-founder Peng Zhihui, Wang is widely referred to as one of China’s “twin stars” of robotics. The appointment highlighted Unitree’s growing role in shaping national strategy around intelligent machines.

From viral demos to everyday tasks

Unitree’s humanoid robots have repeatedly gone viral online. In October, its G1 humanoid briefly appeared for sale on Walmart’s website before the listing was removed.

Later the same month, the company teased its H2 humanoid robot, featuring a highly realistic human face. The robot was shown performing kickboxing moves, ballet pirouettes, and even modeling a parka on a catwalk.

These demonstrations are not just for show. Speaking at a Qualcomm event in September, Wang explained that martial arts and ballet routines are part of a broader, multi-step plan.

The next phase involves robots generating actions in real time based on given instructions, rather than relying on pre-programmed sequences.

A fast track toward commercial scale

Wang has said the final stage would see humanoid robots following voice commands to complete practical tasks such as fetching water or tidying a table. He suggested this level of capability could arrive as soon as next year, underscoring the rapid pace of development.

At the same time, Unitree is preparing for a major financial milestone. The company recently completed a four-month pre-initial public offering tutoring process and is aiming for a valuation of up to US$7 billion.

It plans to list on Shanghai’s Nasdaq-style Star Market and has indicated it would file a formal IPO application between October and December.