Nevertheless, your use of a robot vacuum will be far easier with access to Wi-Fi, letting you take advantage of software updates and use accompanying smartphone apps to the full. Depending on your vacuum cleaner model and capabilities, these apps can let you set intensity, create floor maps for different rooms, initiate zone/spot cleaning and command your cleaner. All robot vacuums will try to pick up pet hair but, as with other types of dirt, models with higher suction will generally do a better job. There’s also quite a disparity in how easily hair gets tangled in a vacuum’s rollers and sweepers, which will eventually cause a drop in performance as a whole. There’s no doubt that Dyson is planning a return to the arena of robot vacuum cleaners. But how will its next robot vac – which seems to be known as the RBO3 at the moment – improve on previous models?
The self-emptying bin is our favourite feature for sheer convenience, but its smart maps come a close second. You know which rooms need cleaning and which are too cluttered. shark cordless Simply tell it where to clean as you go out, then leave it to do the housework. Katie looks after everything homes-related, from kitchen appliances to gardening tools.
It can be unscrewed and removed from the side, but I found I never actually needed to do that, even for shoe laces it had eaten. Just press the release button on top, pull it out, lift the lid and shake into the bin. It cleans until it is obstructed and then proceeds to fill in the square before moving onto the next square. If the space doesn’t allow, such as the length of galley kitchen for instance, it will switch to what looks like a more logical zig-zag pattern. The Dyson Link app for Android and iOS allows remote control, scheduling and diagnosis of faults, in an easy-to-use manner.
It comes with two battery-powered digital fencing devices that prevent the Roomba going where it shouldn’t. We can attest to them working well, but in truth, if the floors are clutter-free and there are no trailing wires, the 980 didn’t need the help, and cleaned reliably well day after day. The product blurb suggests it can detect and avoid objects as small as 5x3cm, so trainers (assuming the laces aren’t trailing), toys, and general clutter can be smoothly navigated. Along with the Auto function, you can manually add boundaries yourself via the app—once a room has been mapped. The mapping technology can store multiple maps, meaning you can set it down in your bedroom or kitchen, select the room and let it get to work.
It also automatically detects the type of floor surface it’s on, ramping up or lowering the suction accordingly. The 3,300mAh battery, meanwhile, keeps the bot running for up to an impressive 120 minutes at a time. Its mapping system is also one of the best we’ve seen and the app that accompanies it is a joy to use.
Once you learn the process, you can complete the cleaning and maintenance in about 15 minutes. The Roomba 980 uses the iHome mobile app on any Android or iOS device. The app is a free download and is not essential for using the vacuum; however, it is a lot easier. Once downloaded you just need to sync your robot to the network and then your network to the app. It’s a smart device too, with a variety of different cleaning modes and 10 infrared sensors to detect its surroundings in your home. To empty the bin during a clean press the power button to pause the robot.
The Eufy X8 Hybrid (£380) is a great pick if you’re a bit anxious about letting a robovac loose in your home—with clever tech on the inside to keep it in check. Dyson has built up a reputation for its unusual designs and rightly so when you consider how iconic some of its products have become. From air purification to hair care and, of course, vacuum cleaners, Dyson has slowly and successfully branched out into new sectors and now commands a presence in each market.
Without it you will need to empty its tiny 470ml bin yourself – a messy job – and on a very regular basis if you have any hairy pets. But other than that, we shark cordless can’t think of a better hybrid robot vac-cum-mop on the market right now. Another handy thing with this robovac is that it’s pretty good at negotiating rugs.