As I walked into ZTE's booth here at MWC 2026, I was greeted by a display with tiny, cuddly, big-eyed furry creatures called iMoochi. But this isn't your typical Labubu (or ripoff). It's an AI smart pet that responds to people with movements, sounds and expressions.
Each iMoochi has multiple sensors to detect if you pet it, for example. It also has a microphone and uses generative AI to respond to your voice. When I asked one for $10, its OLED screen eyes winked. I'm not sure exactly what that meant, but I took it as a good sign, despite the iMoochi not actually giving me any money.
Each iMoochi has OLED screens for its eyes, which can blink, wink and be expressive. But when being charged, the eye displays a battery charging icon. Patrick Holland/CNET
Companion robots or pets like the iMoochi are nothing new, having been used for years in therapy and wellness to combat illness and loneliness. It's amazing to see this technology go more mainstream beyond therapeutic use. ZTE says the iMoochi is aimed at people seeking stress relief, particularly young professionals and animal lovers who can't have pets.
There are five different iMoochis: Cynomi, Hopami, Mimiu, Mogogo and Morin. Each has its own distinct personality and yawns when tired, reacts to "hunger" and temperature changes. ZTE says they even respond to "the feeling of weightlessness when playfully tossed in the air." The word "playfully" is doing a lot of heavy lifting in that statement.
If none of this has melted your heart yet, look out: ZTE even has tiny clothes and accessories tailored for each iMoochi. The showfloor display I saw featured petite attire hanging from tiny hangers. One iMoochi even had a tiny sweatband and trendy eyewear.
A tiny clothes rack for petite iMoochi apparel. Patrick Holland/CNET
The iMoochi will only be available in Japan. Each one costs 300 euros, which converts roughly to $350. I guess I'll just have to stick with my cats then.