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Most power wheelchairs are designed for flat, smooth surfaces. Stairs and rough ground usually require a ramp, a lift, or a second person. A small category of stair-climbing chairs has existed for years, mostly from specialty makers in Europe, and typically at prices between roughly $9,500 and $35,000.

The X12 is XSTO's entry into that category. The company markets it as an "embodied mobile robot" rather than a wheelchair, reflecting its mix of wheels, tank-style tracks, and terrain sensors.

The X12 has three drive modes. Quad-wheel mode uses four independently suspended wheels for indoor floors, ramps, grass, and gravel. Hybrid wheel-track mode combines tracks and wheels for stairs and curbs. Dual-track mode runs on tracks alone for wider gaps and steeper surfaces.

According to XSTO, the chair uses multi-sensor fusion, including LiDAR, to adjust its angle, mode, and power output in real time. The listed stair-climbing speed is 25 steps per minute going up and 30 going down, on steps under 200 mm tall and inclines under 35 degrees.

The seat includes 360-degree auto-leveling, a rocking function, and boarding from the front or side. The frame folds for transport, though the chair weighs 115 kg without its batteries, so folding makes it more compact rather than easily portable. Stair use also requires a landing platform of at least 1400 x 1400 mm, which not every staircase has.

Stair-climbing chairs are moving from specialty prototypes into direct-to-consumer products, and the X12 is one data point in that shift. It pairs sensing hardware from the robotics world, like LiDAR, with a mobility device sold through a standard online store.

The limits are just as much of the story. At $27,999 the X12 costs more than many used cars. Whether machines like this reach most of the people who could use them will depend on price, durability, and coverage, not just capability. However, the popularity and ability of the specialty products like the X12 seem to be pointing toward a future where this type of device is widely available.

XSTO sells a step-up version, the X12 Pro, at $29,999, which is $2,000 more than the standard X12. Based on the company's own spec table, the two chairs are nearly identical. Same 136 kg capacity, same 0–12 km/h speed, same 35 km range, same batteries, same three drive modes, and the same stair-climbing figures.

The only listed differences are that the Pro's leg-rest adjusts electrically instead of by hand, and it weighs 1 kg more (116 vs 115 kg without batteries). So the $2,000 gap buys a powered leg-rest. If the Pro has other upgrades, they are not reflected in the published specs, and a buyer would need to confirm them with XSTO before assuming the Pro is a more capable machine.

(Subject to Change By Manufacturer)

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