Microduck robot preorders have reportedly surpassed 20,000 following a viral demonstration by Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang at the company’s GTC Berlin conference. The small, duck-shaped robots captured attention with their playful movements and ability to perform tricks on command.
During the presentation, Huang interacted with several Microducks that walked, sat, tumbled and performed somersaults. The robots also produced electronic sounds resembling those of R2-D2 from Star Wars.
Hugging Face CEO Clem Delangue highlighted the surge in demand in an Oct. 22 post on X, saying preorders were approaching 20,000. He suggested Microduck could become one of the year’s best-selling consumer robots, although independently verified sales figures are unavailable.
Microduck Robot Preorders Rise Ahead of Christmas
Pollen Robotics developed Microduck, which costs $399 before taxes and shipping. The company initially targeted deliveries before Christmas 2026, but availability depends on when you order.
The 25-centimeter-tall robot weighs approximately 800 grams and features 15 motors, a camera and sensors. It can walk, sit, stand, recover from falls and even roller skate with additional accessories.
Microduck is designed for developers, robotics enthusiasts, and people interested in interactive machines. Its compact design and playful behavior have helped attract attention beyond traditional robotics audiences.
How Nvidia Technology Helps Microduck Learn New Tricks
Microduck uses reinforcement learning to develop movements in simulated environments before applying them to physical hardware. Its preprogrammed behaviors include walking, sitting and recovering from falls.
Owners can also train additional movements and share them with other users. The official Microduck website provides information about its open-source software, simulation tools and available accessories.
Pollen Robotics joined Hugging Face in 2025 and previously developed the Reachy Mini desktop robot. TechAmerica.ai covered the original Microduck launch in August, when the company introduced its $399 programmable robot.
Nvidia agreed to acquire Hugging Face in September 2026, although the transaction remains subject to closing conditions and regulatory approval.
The strong preorder interest underscores Microduck’s appeal as both an educational robotics platform and an interactive device. Whether that demand translates into sustained sales will depend partly on manufacturing capacity and delivery schedules.
