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Eufy Clean X8 Pro review: powerful robotic vacuum with a great app
9:00 am | July 9, 2024

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Home Robot Vacuums Smart Home | Comments: Off

Eufy Clean X8 Pro robot vacuum: two-minute review

The Eufy Clean X8 Pro is a powerful robotic vacuum cleaner and mop with LiDAR for smart navigation and a self-emptying bin for hands-free cleaning. The setup process is seamless, with quick and accurate mapping. The app works very well indeed; it is quick, intuitive and makes it easy to adjust your maps and tweak settings, as well as create cleaning schedules and adjust the suction strength.

The vacuum performs well, with very high suction strength, intelligent navigation and the ability to drive over relatively high door thresholds and through medium-thickness carpets and rugs without getting stuck. However, the anti-tangle roller brush can’t handle human hair, and requires frequent manual cleaning.

We also encountered an issue where the robot got confused and added phantom rooms to the map, which required a factory reset. The mopping function is rather basic, since it requires manual fitting and doesn’t move or self-clean. It’s fine for frequent, low-intensity wipes of hard floors, but isn’t suitable for removing dried-on stains.

Overall, the X8 Clean is a compact but powerful robotic vacuum with a top-drawer smartphone app and impressive cleaning abilities, but it falls short compared to today's best robot vacuums when it comes to dealing with human hair. 

Eufy Clean X8 Pro

The Eufy cleaning a wooden floor (Image credit: Future)

Eufy Clean X8 Pro review: price & availability

  • List price: $649.99 / £599 / AU$999.95
  • Availability: US, UK, Australia

The Eufy X8 Pro hit the market with a US retail price of $649.99, but at the time of writing (July 2024) Eufy’s own website has $250 off, taking the price down to a far more affordable $399.99. At that lower price it feels like excellent value for money.

Elsewhere, the vacuum is priced at a rather steep £599 from Eufy’s own UK website, but at the time of writing it’s just £290 from Amazon. Eufy’s Australia website has it priced at AU$999.95.

As with other robotic vacuum cleaners – and non-robotic ones too – there are some ongoing costs to consider. This includes the dust bags used by the self-emptying system, as well as consumable components like the robot's side brush and roller brush.

In a world where four-figure robotic vacuums aren't uncommon, some of the deals we've seen make the X8 Pro feel like very good value for money.

  • Value for money score: 4 out of 5

Eufy Clean X8 Pro review: design

  • Self-emptying charge dock
  • Mop attachment fitted manually
  • 4.5-inches / 11.4cm tall

The Eufy Clean X8 Pro is a circular robotic vacuum cleaner with an attachable mop. It can be bought on its own or, as reviewed here, with a self-emptying station for an even more hands-off experience.

As with many other robotic vacuums, the X8 Pro has a circular vision system on top. In this case the system is called iPath and it uses lidar and infrared technology to view its environment and work its way around your home. The top panel is also home to buttons for starting/pausing the robot, activating the spot cleaning function, and instructing it to return to base and charge its battery.

Eufy Clean X8 Pro

(Image credit: Future)

The robot measures 13.5 in (34.3 cm) in diameter and is 4.5 in (11.4 cm) tall, including the top-mounted sensor module. This makes it slightly taller than some other robotic vacuums, especially those with their vision system on the front instead of on top, so you’ll want to bear this in mind if you have any particularly low furniture. Eufy recommends creating no-go zones in the app to prevent the robot driving under furniture that is lower than 12cm. You'll also need to set no-mop zones in carpeted areas.

The hinged top cover lifts up to reveal access to the dust bin, which lifts out for manual emptying and filter replacement. Handily, the robot says 'dust bin removed' and 'dust bin inserted' to let you know what you’re doing.

Turn the robot over and you’re greeted by the centrally-mounted roller brush, single spinning brush for flicking debris out of the corner of your rooms, and two wheels.

Eufy Clean X8 Pro

The underside of the Eufy, showing the mop and debris collector (Image credit: Future)

Since this X9 Pro also works as a mop, the water tank is removed by sliding it out from the rear. You’ll need to fill and empty this manually, and also attach the included mopping pad when you want to use that mode.

The charging and self-emptying station measures approximately 15in (38cm) tall, and is 7.5in (19cm) wide and 6.5in (16.5cm) deep. It is designed to be placed up against a wall, and although not compulsory, it comes with a clear plastic mat onto which the robot and charge station can sit. The mat has sticky pads for fixing it to hard floors, or it can help protect carpets from the damp mop.

Eufy Clean X8 Pro

The robot comes with a mat for protecting your floor from the damp map (Image credit: Future)

The station is more compact than some other models, not least that of Eufy’s S1 Pro, since that model also houses tanks for clean and dirty water. All you'll find in the X8’s base station is a compartment for the included 2.5-liter dust bag, which Eufy says should need replacing roughly every six weeks, depending on usage.

  • Design score: 4.5 out of 5 

Eufy Clean X8 Pro review: performance

  • Powerful but quiet suction
  • Solid navigation capabilities, but sometimes fail to spot all debris
  • Mopping is basic

My first task for the X8 Pro was for it to map my apartment. It did this very well, and soon beamed a floor plan back to the Eufy Clean smartphone app (free for iOS and Android). From there it’s easy to split the floor up into rooms and name them accordingly, and you can also have the robot create a map for each floor of your home, if applicable.

After that, it’s easy to either start the robot right away, or create a custom cleaning mode for each room. You can, for example, tell the robot to always use Turbo or Max suction power for the kitchen, pass through the bedroom twice at Standard suction, then clean the lesser-used guest bedroom once with Quiet mode, the least powerful of the four vacuum settings.

A mopping mode can also be assigned to each room, with three options – low, medium and high – on offer. These refer to how much water the robot uses, but since the mop doesn’t actually move (the robot simply drags it around), water quantity is the only variable on offer.

Alternatively, you can draw a specific zone for the robot to clean in, which is useful when you need to vacuum a certain bit of carpet, or when perhaps only the rug needs attention on an otherwise clean hard floor. For the most part, you’ll likely just set the suction power, enable BoostIQ (which increases power depending on debris quantity and floor type) and hit the Auto button. The robot will then vacuum the entire floor plan, before returning to base to empty its bin and recharge.

Eufy Clean X8 Pro

The Eufy X8 Pro has four suction levels for carpet and hard floor (Image credit: Future)

The robot can even be driven manually, using directional buttons in the app, but you’ll likely only use this once for the novelty value.

Before performing specific tests with carefully measured amounts of debris, I used the Eufy X8 Pro as if it were my own for a couple of weeks. This meant setting it up, then having it clean my flat on automatic mode every couple of days – and let me tell you, its vacuum performance was seriously impressive.

Unlike the (much) more expensive Eufy Omni S1 Pro, the X8 never failed to climb up from the floorboards of my hallway onto the bedroom carpet. The S1 was a bit hit-and-miss in this aspect, and would sometimes get stuck in a relatively thick rug, but the X8 just soldiered right on, turning up the suction when it encountered said rug, or clambering onto the bedroom carpet from the bare floorboards of the hallway. It sometimes got stuck among the frankly embarrassing amount of stuff under the sofa, but never failed to eventually free itself and carry on with the job.

I was also impressed with the X8 Pro’s ability to judge tight gaps, as it would pass through a half-opened door with just 0.4in (1cm) of clearance on either side. That said, it likes to gently bump into its surroundings, seemingly feeling its way around. This is mostly fine, and didn’t cause any damage, but it had a habit of squashing shoes under a bookcase in the hallway.

Eufy Clean X8 Pro

The self-cleaning system empties the robot's own bin into a dust bag (Image credit: Future)

At one point it spent several minutes fighting with the power cable of a floor lamp. I can’t decide if it’s smart enough to repeatedly try and break free, or dumb enough to not realize what was going on. I suspect the latter, so while I admire the X8 Pro’s ability to keep on going without calling for help – as the S1 Pro does more frequently – I urge buyers to exercise caution and clear away cables before letting the robot loose. Incidentally, if it gets tangled up and needs your help, it stops cleaning as soon as you pick it up, then resumes when you tap the play icon in the app.

Eufy describes the X8 Pro as offering 'tangle-free cleaning', thanks to a roller brush and comb that 'detangles hair automatically', meaning there’s apparently 'no more need to manually clean the roller brush yourself'. This is not entirely true, however, as even in my pet-free home the brush became tangled with human hair after just a couple of cleans, resulting in the robot stopping and asking for help. This only took me a moment to fix, but had I not been at home it would have aborted its cleaning job and headed back to base.

Just 30 minutes later, and the X8 Pro again asked for its brush to be de-tangled, before failing for 15 minutes to find its way back to the charger. Even after I told it to head home via the app, it pondered around a couple of rooms before eventually finding the base station. I thought all was well, but the next morning realized it hadn’t parked properly, despite there being no obstacles, and therefore failed to charge.

I was disappointed by how the robot became tangled up with just a small amount of hair. It seems most hair manages to pass through the brush and into the bin successfully, but when just a small amount remains on the brush the robot stops and calls for help. Eufy promotes the X8 Pro as a vacuum for dealing with pet hair, but in my experience just a small clump of (admittedly long) human hair is enough to render it disabled. This is a shame, because it otherwise performed very well.

Eufy Clean X8 Pro

The X8 Pro is better at clearing thresholds than the pricier Eufy S1 Pro (Image credit: Future)

Now for the more specific tests, and to see how the X8 Pro’s twin, 4,000Pa turbines get on. My first test was to see how effectively the vacuum sucks up a dry, dusty mixture of flour and biscuit crumbs from a hard floor. The lowest suction mode (recorded at 65 decibels) did a respectable job and picked up most of the debris, but left a few patches. The X8 also managed to flick debris away with its rotating brush, rather than push it into its own path. 

I repeated the test with the next most powerful setting, called Standard and recorded at 68 decibels. It did a better job, but still failed to collect debris from in front of its base station. This is a common theme with the X8 Pro, as it seems unwilling to produce any suction while maneuvering in and out of the charger.

The same thing occurred when using the Turbo (67db) and Max (69db) settings. I found the solution was to set the vacuum to perform each clean twice, which is easy to do thanks to a '2x' icon in the app. That way, any debris flicked around on the first pass is collected the second time around. Smartly, instead of just following the same route twice, the robot covers the majority of the floor by zig-zagging left to right on its first pass, then up and down on its second.

I then tried to repeat this test on carpet but, bizarrely, the robot failed to find its way from the charger in the kitchen to the neighboring bedroom, a journey it had made many times before. Instead it drove around aimlessly for several minutes and began adding new, made-up rooms to the map, compounding the confusion. Since map editing only goes as far as merging, dividing and naming rooms, I had to delete the map for my entire flat and create a new one. There’s a ‘revert’ button in the app, but since this was grayed out it couldn’t be used.

Eufy Clean X8 Pro

The mop is attached manually when needed (Image credit: Future)

I don’t know what went wrong here, as nothing was relocated or otherwise interfered with between tests. I had to perform a factory reset and have asked Eufy for input on what they think went wrong. I’ll update this review if I get a response.

With the flat remapped, the robot did a great job of vacuuming up debris from carpet, with standard suction and the two-pass technique working a charm, even on hair.

Next, I tasked the vacuum with clearing up larger debris, in the form of oats. I repeated this on the same hard floor and carpet as before, and it did a good job. The rotating brush still had a habit of flicking debris around the room, especially on hard floors, but this is a fault of pretty much all robotic vacuums. Perhaps they should only use their rotating brushes when driving along a wall, instead of in open space.

Finally, the mop. Unlike the much pricier Eufy S1 Pro, the X8’s mop feels like a bit of an afterthought. It has to be attached manually and, unlike the S1’s, it doesn’t move or clean itself in any way. You also have to fill and empty the robot’s water tank manually. In my tests it did an acceptable job of keeping hard floors clean, but this robot should not be used to mop up fresh spillages, as it vacuums first, then mops. Also, because the center of the mopping pad is thicker than the outer edges, it doesn’t clean evenly.

Instead, this is a machine for frequent cleaning – a little-and-often approach, instead of being called upon to tackle something more substantial. I imagine most buyers will relegate the mop attachment to a cupboard and accept that that’s a job they’ll have to do manually for best results. If you want a great robotic mop, the Eufy S1 Pro is far better suited.

Eufy claims up to 180 minutes of battery life, but I found half that is more realistic. As an example, 30 minutes of cleaning took the battery from 90 to 62 percent.

  • Performance score: 3.5 out of 5 

Eufy Clean X8 Pro review: app

  • Easy to set up and use
  • Can schedule cleans and target individual rooms
  • Offers lots of configurability

As with the pricier S1, the X8 Pro is controlled via the Eufy Clean app, which is intuitive to use and works really well. It’s easy to control how the robot functions (suction strength, which rooms to clean, etc.) and there are plenty of settings to adjust to help you get the most out of the robot. You can set a daily or weekly schedule, tell it to only clean a specific room, or clean a designated area of your choice. All that’s missing is the option to have the robot mop and not vacuum. Instead, no matter which setting you pick, it’ll first vacuum then mop.

Eufy Clean app with X8 Pro

(Image credit: Future)

The app also acts as a service center for your robot, clearly showing how far through their lifecycle each of its components are, including the dust bag, filter, side brush and rolling brush. The app tells you how many hours of cleaning each item is still good for, and there are links to purchase replacements. There’s even a tool to help find your robot, should it have somehow got itself lost under the sofa.

My only wish is that the phantom rooms plotted by the X8 Pro during my testing could be removed without creating a whole new map.

  • App score: 4.5 out of 5 

Should you buy the Eufy Clean X8 Pro?

Buy it if… 

Don’t buy it if… 

How I tested the Eufy Clean X8 Pro

I set up the Eufy Clean X8 Pro in my apartment and used it as my only vacuum cleaner for a couple of weeks. After this, I conducted several specific tests to see how well it worked in each of its four suction modes. I also tried out the mopping feature and recorded the volume of both the vacuum itself and the self-emptying bin.

I closely observed how the robot tackled different types of debris and how it navigated between rooms with different flooring. 

  • First reviewed: July 2024
Breville the Paradice 16: the food processor that means business
8:19 am | July 8, 2024

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Home Juicers & Blenders Small Appliances | Comments: Off

Breville Paradice 16: Two-minute review

When it comes to premium kitchen appliances, Australian brand Breville (known as Sage in the UK) has become synonymous with quality and innovation (just ask my mother – she’s still using her Breville mixer from circa 1987). And I’m convinced the Paradice 16 food processor is no exception – it’s so solidly built, and with a powerful 900W motor that comes with a 30-year warranty, there’s a good chance one of my kids will inherit it and continue using it.

The Paradice 16 is essentially a brawnier version of the Breville Kitchen Wizz 15 Pro, meaning it can handle a lot more than the older 5 star-rated food processor. It launched alongside the Breville Kitchen Wizz 16 (called the Sage Kitchen Wizz 16 in the UK and Breville Sous Chef 16 in the US), which is practically identical but doesn’t come with what the Aussie brand is calling the Paradice Kit.

And it’s this ‘kit’ that sets the Paradice 16 apart from any other food processor I’ve tried – it uses two attachments to perform precision dicing in two different sizes. It includes an 8mm and a 16mm dicing disc which are paired with their own slicing attachments to perform a 2-in-1 function simultaneously for the perfect dice. The kit also includes a potato peeler, but I found this attachment to be rather superfluous – it might be able to peel 6-7 potatoes at a time, but the peeling isn’t even and the potatoes need to be round and of a specific size.

Other than its peeling and dicing prowess, the Paradice 16 can help with all the other usual food-prep chores – slicing, shredding, pureéing, kneading dough and whipping. It even has a French fry attachment to cut evenly-cut chips.

While its 16-cup / 3.6L capacity bowl is great for large quantities, it inherits the Kitchen Wizz 15 Pro’s smaller 2.5-cup / 1L inner bowl for the smaller jobs. There’s also a smaller chute included that can shrink the 140mm main chute to just 45mm for when you don’t need to shove a large potato into the bowl below.

The Paradice 16 is remarkably easy to use and its 900W motor makes it quite powerful. It's also what makes it rather noisy and heavy too. Breville doesn’t specify how much the base alone weighs, but I suspect it comes close to the 9kg / 19.8 lbs that the Kitchen Wizz 15 Pro weighs with the bowls fitted. And that’s not taking into account the two large boxes filled to rafters with the various attachments and blades. Yes, there are two. So, unlike the Kitchen Wizz 15 Pro, which comes with one box of attachments, you’re going to need a lot of storage space for the Paradice 16.

You’re also going to need a decent amount of spare cash to get your hands on this kitchen pro, but then pros don’t come cheap, do they?

Breville Paradice 16 food processor on a kitchen counter

(Image credit: TechRadar / Gabriella Margerison)

Breville Paradice 16 review: Price and availability

  • Announced late 2023
  • List price of $699.95 / £579.95 / AU$899

There’s no denying the Paradice 16 is an expensive food processor at its $699.95 / £579.95 / AU$899 price point. However, it can be a worthwhile investment if you really put all its functions and abilities to good use. Its performance and durability also justify the expense. It's a case of ‘you get what you pay for’ and, in this instance, you're getting a lot.

If you don’t need all the bells and whistles that the Paradice 16 offers, you can opt for the Kitchen Wizz 16 (Sous Chef 16), which is identical but misses out on the Paradice Kit for dicing. It will set you back $499.95 / £469.95 / AU$729.

If that’s also too high a price, the Kitchen Wizz 15 Pro will set you back £419.95/ $399.95 / AU$699. There are cheaper alternatives available from other brands like KitchenAid and Ninja Kitchen, but none of them do as much as the Breville Paradice 16.

• Value score: 4 / 5

A plate of homemade sausage rolls in front of the Breville Paradice 16 food processor

(Image credit: TechRadar / Gabriella Margerison)

Breville Paradice 16 specs

Breville Paradice 16 review: Design

  • Similar design to older Breville Kitchen Wizz series food processors
  • Heavy base
  • Two large storage boxes for the attachments

Breville is doing well sticking to its design aesthetic – rounded corners on the brushed stainless steel base housing the motor and controls give it a slight vintage look, but that base is heavy as! Not only does it weigh quite a bit, it’s also a bulky appliance, measuring 45 x 28.7 x 23.4 cm (17.7 x 11.3 x 9.2 inches) for the main unit. You also need to factor in two storage boxes for the various blades and attachments – each measuring 21.1 x 32 x 27.7 cm (21.1 x 32 x 27.7 cm).

One of these boxes houses the Paradice Kit, which contains two dicing blades – one 8mm and the other 16mm – each of which has a paired slicing blade that works in tandem. The paired blades are color coded, which is handy. Also in the Kit is the potato peeler. The other box is home to the other attachments – adjustable slicer, reversible shredding disc, French fry disc, Quad blade, dough blade, mini blade and the smaller-capacity 2.5-cup / 1L inner bowl.

So this is an appliance that is best left on the kitchen counter, plus you’ll need the additional storage space for the attachments. While it might be space-saving if you stow the attachments out of their boxes, I wouldn’t recommend it – the blades are ridiculously sharp and accidents can happen.

The Breville Paradice 16 attachments in two boxes

(Image credit: TechRadar / Gabriella Margerison)

No matter what you need the Paradice 16 for, all the parts quickly click together and setting it up is very intuitive. Labels are provided on the bowl and lid to mark which direction they need to be turned to lock into place. The main bowl has a pronounced lip for pouring and a chute that can be configured to fit different-sized foods – going from a wide 140mm to a narrow 45mm.

The magic happens in that heavy base, which has three large buttons – power, start/stop and pulse. There are also up and down buttons to set a timer, which is displayed on a small screen in the middle of the base.

Given the large number of attachments that ship with the Paradice 16, I would suggest you take a look at the user manual. While there are no recipes on there, it is helpful in figuring out what blade you can use for what purpose and, handily, how to get the best results with the peeler.

• Design score: 4.5 / 5

Breville Paradice 16 review: Performance

  • Simple to assemble
  • Powerful and noisy
  • Very versatile

I’m a busy mum, so as soon as I got the Breville Paradice 16, I began experimenting with all the attachments to see which would best streamline my cooking process, so I got familiar with them rather quickly.

While I didn’t find myself reaching for the dicing kits too often, I found the others quite useful, particularly the S-blade (what Breville calls the Quad blade). It’s the go-to for a lot of chopping, mixing and pureéing. The Paradice 16 fitted with the Quad blade effortlessly blitzed right through cooked chunky vegetables to create a smooth, creamy consistency I wanted for a soup.

The slicing discs, which come in different thicknesses, I found to be incredibly useful for prepping salads – the uniform slices made for some beautiful presentations and also made sure I had even cooking in my gratins. I also used the shredding disc frequently for quick coleslaws and to hide vegetables in my Bolognese sauce – such a breeze to add extra nutrition into my kids’ meals without them noticing.

A hand removing the grater attachment from the bowl of the Breville Paradice 16

(Image credit: TechRadar / Gabriella Margerison)

I found the julienne blade to be a bit of a novelty, but it worked wonders for making carrot-stick snacks and garnishes. The plastic dough blade surprised me with how well it kneaded dough for homemade bread and pizza for the kids, saving me time and effort.

My absolute favorite attachment, however, has to be the French fry cutter – fresh chips are always a hit in my home and the Paradice 16 makes it quick and easy to make fries for impromptu snacks or family meals.

The biggest disappointment was the peeler attachment. While handy, it’s a bit hit and miss. Breville says it’s best for potatoes, but I hoped it would work for other fruit and vegetables too. Unfortunately, the produce you need to peel has to be of consistent size, which isn’t ideal for anyone who shops for the ‘odd bunch’ at farmers’ markets.

Grated mixed vegetables inside the bowl of the Breville Paradice 16

(Image credit: TechRadar / Gabriella Margerison)

Let’s talk about power. The Breville Paradice 16 boasts a 900-watt motor, which is quite powerful. During my tests, this strength translated into incredible speed and efficiency no matter the task at hand. It’s also what makes the appliance quite noisy, clocking up an average of 85dB in most of my sound tests measured using the Decibel X iOS app – that's about how loud heavy traffic would sound, or a noisy bar.

I used the Breville Paradice 16 to make a variety of dishes and each task was completed quickly and with professional-level precision, cutting my prep time in half.

That said, I found that food would occasionally spill out of the small bowl and into the main canister, which annoyingly increased my cleaning-up time when this happened.

• Performance score: 5 / 5

Should I buy the Breville Paradice 16 food processor?

Buy it if...

You want a pro in the kitchen

It’s really fast and efficient, and if you need to prep food for a large family – or you own your own cafe or restaurant – the Breville Paradice 16 can save you a lot of time and effort.

You want a versatile kitchen helper

While most food processors are good at chopping, shredding and pureéing, the Paradice 16 will do a heck of a lot more, including dicing in two different sizes, julienning and cutting fries.

You like storage solutions with your appliances

Like other Breville food processors, the Paradice 16 has all its blades and spindles stowed away in two large boxes. Not only does this reduce the risk of accidents happening on blades left lying on a shelf, but everything is neat and tidy.

Don't buy it if...

You don’t have a lot of storage space

Not only is the unit bulky and heavy, which means it needs to live on your countertop, you’re also going to need more cabinet or cupboard space to tuck the two storage boxes away.

You don’t need so many bells and whistles

If you aren’t going to regularly make use of the dicing kit, you could save a little cash opting for a cheaper Breville food processor if you’re a fan of the brand. If not, and you don’t need to cut fries or julienne, you could save even more by opting for a smaller and cheaper model from other brands like KitchenAid or Ninja Kitchen.

You want dishwasher-safe parts

While Breville claims the bowls can be placed in the dishwasher, the manual suggests this shouldn’t be done too often as the plastic could spoil due repeated exposure to hot water and harsh detergents.

Also consider

If you’re not sure if the Breville Paradice 16 is for you, I’ve listed a couple of other options below for you to consider.

Breville the Kitchen Wizz 15 Pro

If you love what Breville has to offer but want something a little cheaper, then the Kitchen Wizz 15 Pro is on the top of our best food processor list. It’s powerful, just as quick and efficient, but also just as noisy. It shares a lot of similarities with the newer model but doesn’t have as many blades as the Paradice 16 – there’s only one box of attachments that you need to store away.
Read our in-depth Breville/Sage Kitchen Wizz 15 Pro review

Ninja Professional Plus Kitchen System with Auto-iQ (BN801)

This is a food processor and blender in one, providing help with food prep via an 8-cup bowl, plus whipping up your daily smoothie in to-go cups that ship in the box. A 1400W motor blitzes through ice, seeds and nuts easily. While we haven’t tested this specific model, we love the Ninja 3-in-1 Food Processor with Auto-IQ and think the Professional Plus will do just as well, if not better. The BN801 model is not available in Australia, but the Ninja Blender System With Auto-IQ (BL682) is the closest option Down Under.

How I tested the Breville Paradice 16

a bowl of vegetable soup in front of the Breville Paradice 16

(Image credit: TechRadar / Gabriella Margerison)
  • Used over a period of two months for various food-prep tasks
  • Tested the different blades to see how well they perform
  • Different types of raw and cooked produced were used, plus flour was kneaded

As soon as I received the Breville Paradice 16, I first spent some time getting familiar with the different blades and spindles supplied in the box. I read the user manual to get an idea of what the appliance was capable of.

I used it to prep for various other dishes. Over a period of a couple of months, I used the food processor to knead dough for homemade bread and pizza, plus create fillings for quiches and sausage rolls. As I mentioned earlier in the review, I also used it to make Bolognese sauce with hidden vegetables and veggie soup, and also used it to slice fresh salad produce. I also tried the peeler and the grater attachments.

I took note of how easy it was to clean the different parts of the food processor, including the attachments. While Breville claims the bowls are dishwasher safe, the manual recommends not doing so regularly, so I resorted to using the dishwasher once only to clean the smaller bowl, but hand-washed everything else.

Read more about how we test

[First reviewed July 2024]

KitchenAid 3.5 cup / 830ml Mini Food Chopper review: a low-effort chopper for basic tasks
10:00 am | July 6, 2024

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Home Juicers & Blenders Small Appliances | Tags: , , | Comments: Off

KitchenAid Mini Food Chopper: two-minute review

The KitchenAid 3.5 cup Mini Food Chopper (it's called the Mini Food Chopper 830ml in the UK) is the smallest appliance in the KitchenAid food processing range. It’s a sensible purchase if you want to chop, mix, or puree small quantities, and don’t want a full-sized food processor taking up precious countertop or cupboard space. 

The KitchenAid 3.5 cup / 830ml Mini Food Chopper currently has a list price of $54.99 / £89 / AU$129. This is a little on the expensive side considering it only has one accessory and limited functions, especially as KitchenAid also sells a larger-capacity version, the Food Chopper KFC0516,which comes with an added accessory for only $64.99/ £109 / AU$139.

The 3.5 cup / 830ml Mini Food Chopper arrived ready-assembled, and after washing the work bowl, lid, and multipurpose blade, it was simple to put back together, as there are only four parts. As the name suggests, the bowl has a capacity of 3.5 cups / 830ml. The dimensions of the Mini Food Chopper are 6.9 x 5.6 x 8.7 inches / 178 x 143 x 222mm, and it weighs 2.6lbs /1.2 kg.

There are two speeds to choose from which are engaged by moving the lever on the base unit of the processor to the left to chop, or to the right to puree. One element of the design that may not be a concern for some, but which I wasn’t very fond of, is that there's only one button on the processor that operates the chop, puree, and pulse functions. You press and release the button multiple times to pulse, and press and hold it to chop or puree, using the lever to determine which function is performed.

There's a little drizzle basin in the clear plastic inner section of the lid, which works well when you want to drizzle in liquid slowly while the Mini Chopper is in operation. Another convenient design feature is the spout on the work bowl, which enables you to pour out the finished product or drain off excess liquid.

A close up of the KitchenAid Mini Food Chopper lid, showing the drizzle basin.

(Image credit: Future)

The Mini Chopper’s design stays true to the classic KitchenAid aesthetic. The majority of the processor’s body is colored, with a black plastic base section, and a silver KitchenAid band wrapped around. Onyx Black, Empire Red, and Contour Silver models are available in the US, UK, and Australia. There are more colors available – White, Almond Cream, Pistachio, Ice, Blue Velvet, Aqua Sky, and Matte Black – but the availability of these depends on your location. The power cable is on the short side, but due to the chopper's small size and lightweight it isn’t much hassle to move it closer to a plug socket.

The noise level when the Mini Chopper is chopping or pureeing is quite loud. Worse still is the pulse mode. When I chopped some almonds during testing the sound was almost deafening, so this may be one to avoid if you have particularly sensitive ears, or if you plan to chop hard ingredients such as nuts on a regular basis.

Thanks to the minimal number of parts, cleaning up is quick and easy. The work bowl, lid, and blade are easy to hand wash, and they’re top-rack dishwasher safe.

While its functions may be limited compared with larger models like the KitchenAid 7 cup / 1.7L Food Processor, the Mini Chopper does its job well. It was able to turn two slices of wholemeal bread into breadcrumbs in 10 seconds, and made quick work of chopping an onion too, with no oversized pieces remaining. The multipurpose blade had no problems with cutting up carrots and cucumbers either.

A close up of breadcrumbs in the work bowl of the KitchenAid Mini Food Chopper.

(Image credit: Future / Cesci Angell)

Chopping almonds was an unpleasant experience, however. The amount of noise the pulse function makes is already loud, but after adding a bunch of almonds and firing them around a small plastic container, I thoroughly regretted not wearing ear protection. After processing, the sizes of the almond pieces were inconsistent, and there was lots of dust in the bottom of the work bowl, plus a thin layer up the sides of the work bowl and inside the lid. Some dust had found its way inside the fitment ring of the blade as well. 

As per our testing protocols, I attempted to combine a pastry mixture. At one stage when mixing the flour, margarine, and water, the mixture stopped combining; after a while it began to mix again, but there was a layer of unmixed ingredients at the bottom. To be fair to KitchenAid, they don’t claim that the Mini Chopper can mix something as dense as pastry dough, so I couldn’t blame it for struggling a little.

The cost of the KitchenAid 3.5 cup / 830ml Mini Food Chopper in the UK and Australia is a little on the steep side. There are cheaper alternatives from other reputable brands; however, they tend to have a capacity of around 1.5-2.5 cups / 350ml-550ml, so you wouldn’t be able to process as much in one go. This chopper lives up to the standard I would expect from KitchenAid – the materials are high-quality, and it feels solid and dependable in use, but with the larger KitchenAid Food Chopper KFC0516 costing just a little more, perhaps you could be getting better value for money.

KitchenAid Mini Food Chopper: price & availability

  • List price: $54.99 / £89 / AU$129
  • Currently available in the US, UK, and Australia

The KitchenAid 3.5 cup / 830ml Mini Food Chopper retails at $54.99 / £89 / AU$129. Curiously, the price of the US model is just over half the cost of the equivalent UK and Australian models – this might simply be due to the fact that KitchenAid is a US brand.

Although it's a good-quality appliance and chops ingredients well, the price tag is a little steep considering its limited capabilities. This is especially apparent when you compare it to its sibling, the KitchenAid Food Chopper KFC0516, which only costs $64.99/ £109 / AU$139, and has a larger capacity and additional features.

The Mini Food Chopper is available to purchase in the US, UK, and Australia now. Five color options are available in the UK and Australia, while in the US you can choose from nine colors. I’ll go into the colors available in more detail in the design and features section.

  • Value for money score: 3 out of 5

KitchenAid Mini Food Chopper specs

KitchenAid Mini Food Chopper: design & features

  • Compact and lightweight
  • Single button and lever controls
  • Useful spout and drizzle basin

I found that it could be a bit fiddly to mount the work bowl on to the base and put the lid on at times, due to the twist-to-lock mechanism, and on occasion the lid would go past where it’s supposed to stop. To be honest, I prefer the one-click system of some of their larger models, such as the KitchenAid 7 cup / 1.7L Food Processor. At this size and price point, however, you can’t expect everything.

At 6.9 x 5.6 x 8.7 inches / 178 x 143 x 222mm, the Mini Food Chopper is compact enough to leave on the countertop without it being obstructive, and small enough to stash away in a cupboard. It weighs just 2.6lbs /1.2kg, so it's easy to lift and move around. The design is simple, but efficient enough. The base unit has a lever that moves from left to right to go into chop or puree mode, and the single button protrudes out from the lid and sits at the top of the work bowl handle.

A close up of the work bowl and lid of the KitchenAid Mini Food Chopper, showing the spout and drizzle basin.

(Image credit: Future)

One small downside for me is that to chop or puree you need to hold the button down continuously. With this small capacity, I doubt there’s much I’d end up processing that would take long, but I prefer a one-press system over a press-and-hold. The Mini Food Chopper is capable of pulsing too, to use pulse it’s a case of repeatedly pressing and releasing the button until you have the desired result. The two different speed settings and the pulse function mean that it’s possible to chop, mix, or puree ingredients with one small appliance.

The outer edge of the lid is black plastic, with a clear circular middle section that has a built-in drizzle basin. The purpose of the drizzle basin is to allow you to fill it with a liquid, such as oil, so it can slowly incorporate with the ingredients in the work bowl as you continue to process them. Another simple but useful feature is the spout on the work bowl. This allows you to easily pour out what you’ve processed, or remove liquid from the contents of the work bowl.

A close up of the base of the KitchenAid Mini Food Chopper in gloss Onyx Black, showing the control lever.

(Image credit: Future)

There’s no doubt that this Mini Food Chopper is a KitchenAid. There are some attractive color options available, although most of the jazziest colors are only available in the US. Three colors are available whether you’re in the US, UK, or Australia: Onyx Black, Empire Red, and Contour Silver. The other color options are White, Almond Cream, Pistachio, Ice, Blue Velvet, Aqua Sky, and Matte Black, but availability will depend on your region.

I hand-washed the work bowl, lid, and blade multiple times between ingredients while testing, and all of the parts were easy to clean, and they can be placed in the top rack of a dishwasher.

  • Design & features score: 4 out of 5

KitchenAid Mini Food Chopper: performance

  • Processes quickly
  • Made breadcrumbs in seconds
  • Chopping nuts is unpleasant

The KitchenAid Mini Food Chopper’s capabilities may be limited, but what it can do it does well, and fast. It swiftly processed two slices of wholemeal bread, taking only 10 seconds to create fine breadcrumbs. It happily chopped through carrot, cucumber, and onion, producing fairly consistently sized pieces. 

A close up view of chopped onion pieces inside the KitchenAid Mini Food Chopper work bowl.

(Image credit: Future / Cesci Angell)

The Mini Food Chopper could also chop up almonds, but I must admit this was a rather unpleasant experience. I found that the chop and puree settings sounded loud compared to other KitchenAid food processors I’ve tested, but the pulse mode was louder still, and I was very much unprepared for the near-deafening sound of pulsing the almonds. I’d suggest avoiding chopping up hard ingredients like this, or if you have to, wear some ear protection. This may sound like overkill, but as someone who has tinnitus, my ears were still ringing over a week later. You have been warned. 

To make matters worse, the resulting consistency of the chopped almonds was disappointing. The pieces of almond were inconsistent, ranging in size from large pieces down to dust. This dust also crept up inside the fitment ring of the multipurpose blade, which meant that almond dust got everywhere when I removed the blade as it caught me off guard.

A close up view of chopped almonds inside the work bowl of the KitchenAid Mini Food Chopper.

(Image credit: Future / Cesci Angell)

When testing food processors, we use them to perform a variety of tasks, one of which is combining a pastry mixture. This isn’t something that KitchenAid claims the Mini Food Chopper can do, but I thought I’d give it a go. This is not an appliance for pastry-making, but given that fact it didn’t do terribly. At one point, it stopped combining the flour, margarine, and water, as everything stuck to the sides of the work bowl; it began to mix again after a while, but there was a layer of ingredients left at the bottom. It did okay though, all things considered – the motor showed no signs of struggleing, and there were no signs of it overheating, so despite the less-than-perfect results.

If you like the sound of the KitchenAid 3.5 cup / 830ml Mini Food Chopper but would like a slightly bigger capacity, or a bit more versatility, then the 5-cup / 1.19-litre KitchenAid Mini Food Chopper KFC0516 may be more up your street.

  • Performance score: 4 out of 5

Should I buy the KitchenAid Mini Food Chopper?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

KitchenAid Mini Food Chopper: also consider

How I tested the KitchenAid Mini Food Chopper

  • I assessed the setup and performance
  • I processed a variety of ingredients
  • I checked how easy it was to clean

To put the KitchenAid 3.5 cup / 830ml Mini Food Chopper through its paces, I used the chopping blade and different speed settings to chop carrot, cucumber, onion, and almonds. I also used it to process bread to make breadcrumbs and combine flour, margarine, and water to make pastry. These are the same tests we run for all food processors, making it easy to see how different models compare. 

I tested how easy it was to clean the processor parts by hand-washing, and using the dishwasher to establish how well you can clean the parts with either method. 

Read more about how we test

First reviewed June 2024

Nutribullet Magic Bullet Portable Blender​ review
10:00 am | July 3, 2024

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Home Small Appliances | Tags: , , , | Comments: Off

Nutribullet Magic Bullet Portable Blender: two-minute review

Product info

This model has slightly different names and product codes in different territories:

US: Magic Bullet Portable Blender MBPB50100
UK: Nutribullet Portable Blender​ NBPBCONFIG
AU: NutriBullet Portable Blender

For this review, I tested the UK version. There may be minor differences between different countries' models.

The Nutribullet Magic Bullet Portable Blender (known as just the Nutribullet Portable Blender in the UK and Australia) is a compact and convenient blender if you want or need to make drinks on the go. It weighs just 1.5lbs / 710g and measures 10.7 x 3.2 x 3.7" / 27.2 x 8 x 9.5cm, which means it fits easily inside a backpack or gym bag. It has a 0.5qt / 475ml cup, which comes with a leak-proof flip and sip lid and carry handle. 

The blender is compatible with any USB-C charger, and ships with a USB-C cable as standard. Nutribullet claims you can get around 15 cycles per charge of the Portable Blender but I averaged between 18-20 and a single charge lasted me almost two weeks. 

Despite its smaller size and lower, 100-watt power compared with other Nutribullet models, as well as the majority of best blenders on the market, the Portable Blender makes smoothies and drinks with speed and ease. It only offers a 60-second blending cycle which, in my experience, is more than adequate for most drink preparations but feels a little restrictive if you're looking to blend tougher ingredients or make more complex recipes. 

Speaking of complex recipes, while the blender’s performance with smoothies was impressive, it struggled with making hummus. It also failed to crush ice evenly. What's more, trying to clean the blender after attempting to make the hummus was tricky. The blade is fixed into the base and you can't wash it under a tap or similar because the base also houses all the electronics. The only way to clean it is to run a cleaning cycle, but then you're using up the already limited battery life. Thankfully, you can remove the cup and lid and put them both on the top-drawer of the dishwasher so at least that's something.

Banana, blueberries and kale in the Nutribullet Magic Bullet portable blender

(Image credit: Future)

Aesthetically, the Portable Blender comes in a great range of vibrant colors: black, light blue, magenta, navy blue, purple and white. I love this variety, but the plastic build of the blender does look a little cheap. 

In summary, the Nutribullet Magic Bullet Portable Blender is ideal for people needing a quick, portable, and efficient way to make smoothies on the go, or for people with limited kitchen space. I wouldn't recommend it if you're looking for more heavy-duty blending or complex recipes, but it excels in its intended use case. Read on for my full Nutribullet Portable Blender review.

Nutribullet Magic Bullet Portable Blender review: price & availability

  • Available in the US, UK and Australia
  • List price: $39.99 / £39.99 / A$79.95

If you hadn't guessed from its relatively low-power, 100-watt motor and its equally low $39.99 / £39.99 / A$79.95 price, the Nutribullet Magic Bullet Portable Blender – known as just the Nutribullet Portable Blender in the UK – is cheap and cheerful. It's the latest entry-level model in a range that also includes:

Nutribullet still sells its portable GO blender but it appears to have been discontinued because stocks are low and the blender is no longer available across a majority of retailers. 

Aside from the extra power you get the further up the range you go, little separates the blenders themselves. They all look and work in a similar way. The 600 Series has a 0.75qt / 700ml tall cup, and a 0.56qt / 550ml short cup; the Pro 900 comes with a tall, and 1qt / 909ml oversized cup. The 1200 Pro+ and Ultra both ship with two cups – 0.75qt / 700ml, and 0.94qt / 900ml. By comparison, the Magic Bullet Portable Blender's cup holds 0.5qt / 475ml. 

While it lacks the power of its siblings, the Nutribullet Magic Bullet Portable Blender does come in the widest range of colors of any Nutribullet blender, past and present. This includes: black, light blue, magenta, navy blue, purple and white. What's more, the whole blender is portable, not just the cup, and it comes with a carry handle and charging. This vastly adds to its appeal and versatility. 

The closest like-for-like portable blender to the Nutribullet is the Ninja Blast. It launched in 2023, costs $59.99 / £49.99 / AU$99.99 and comes with the same sippy cup lid, carry handle and battery-powered, portable design. It’s available in Denim Blue, Black, Cranberry, Forest Green, Passion Fruit and White colors. The biggest differences between the two are that the Ninja model is a lot less powerful – 14.4-watts vs the Nutribullet's 100-watts – and it comes with a 30-second cycle, versus Nutribullet's 60-second one. The cup is larger on the Ninja, at 0.56qt / 550ml however you can only fill to the maximum 0.5qt / 475ml line, which gives the two blenders the same capacity. 

Nutribullet suggests you replace the extractor blades on all of its blenders every six months. These cost around $15 / £10 / AU$20 but even with this additional price factored in, the Magic Bullet Personal Blender is still great value for money.      

  • Value for money score: 5 out of 5

Nutribullet Portable Blender review: design

  • Simple press-to-blend design  
  • Wide range of brightly colored finishes
  • Carry handle and USB-C charging point
  • Dishwasher safe BPA-free cup 

Until the launch of its Magic Bullet Portable Blender, the majority of personal blenders in the Nutribullet range looked largely the same. They all have a slightly industrial aesthetic, usually consisting of a silver and black finish. Their bases have curved edges, and you attach the cups upside down. In almost stark comparison, the Portable Blender looks more like a Bluetooth speaker or water bottle, than a blender. Its tall and thin, measuring 10.7 x 3.2 x 3.7" / 27.2 x 8 x 9.5cm, and is made of plastic. It weighs 1.5lb / 710g. 

The blender is designed to be used and stored as a single appliance. It has a compact motor base with a power button and USB-C charging port on the front. The blade assembly sits on top of this detachable base. The power button is fitted with an LED status light that indicates when the blender is running, when it's fully charged and when it's running low on battery. Nutribullet promises around 15 blending cycles per battery charge and the Portable Blender only offers a single, 60-second cycle. It automatically stops blending after the 60 seconds are up. 

The base of the Nutribullet Magic Bullet portable blender showing its power button and USB-C port

(Image credit: Future)

The cylindrical, 0.5qt / 475ml cup screws into the base, and has a leakproof flip and sip lid with a carry handle at the top. This lip is secured into place using a locking latch, and removed via a release button. 

I reviewed the navy blue model and the color is vibrant and eye-catching, if slightly childish. This blender certainly doesn't have the premium aesthetic of Nutribullet's champagne-colored or metallic models. It looks as you'd expect, given its cheap price. The plastic is easy to clean, though, and it's incredibly easy to store in a cupboard or carry in a bag.  

While the blender ships with a USB-C cable, it's only 1.6ft / 0.5m long and doesn't have a plug. This makes the cable easy to pack or store, but means you will need a spare plug to use it. Fortunately, because USB-C is increasingly the standard for appliances and gadgets, you can charge the Portable Blender with any of your existing chargers.

On the wider Nutribullet range, the blade is fitted inside a lid that attaches to the cup before screwing into the base. This makes it easy to remove and clean. Due to the fact the blade is built into the Magic Bullet Portable Blender's base, and this base contains all of the electrics, it's a pain to wash. You can, of course, run a blending cycle using soapy water but as every cycle drains the battery slightly, this isn't an ideal design. At least the cup and lip are detachable and dishwasher-safe, although you do need to make sure they're on the top shelf of your dishwasher to avoid damage. 

  • Design score: 4 out of 5

Nutribullet Magic Bullet Portable Blender review: performance

  • Great for smoothies, poor for everything else
  • Only offers a 60-second blending cycle
  • Fantastic portability 

I always use the same methodology and recipes when testing blenders. That way I can make like-for-like comparisons between the various models I review. These tests include making a kale and blueberry smoothie, making hummus and crushing ice cubes. It became immediately clear, however, that the Magic Bullet Portable Blender is simply not built for this range of tests. 

The hummus barely blended. The ingredients were flung to the edges of the cup and I had to repeatedly stop the cycle to push them back down towards the blades. Even then, it never fully blended the chickpeas or garlic and I had to abandon the whole thing.

Image 1 of 2

Chick peas and garlic in the Nutribullet Magic Bullet portable blender for making hummus

Chickpeas and garlic in the Nutribullet Magic Bullet portable blender for making hummus (Image credit: Future)
Image 2 of 2

Poorly-made hummus in the Nutribullet Magic Bullet portable blender

Poorly-made hummus in the Nutribullet Magic Bullet portable blender (Image credit: Future)

If I'd persevered with multiple cycles, the results may have improved but Nutribullet doesn't advise using the blender for more than 60 seconds. (It also warns about not using hot ingredients in the blender, too). What's more, the thick hummus clung to the inside of the blender and because you can't put the blades in the wash, it took a while to get it properly clean.  

The blender's performance during the ice test was better, but not brilliant. There were still a few lumps of ice left in the bottom of the blender, and the ice that was crushed wasn't uniform in size of texture. 

Image 1 of 2

Ice cubes in the Nutribullet Magic Bullet portable blender

Ice cubes in the Nutribullet Magic Bullet portable blender (Image credit: Future)
Image 2 of 2

Result of using the Nutribullet Magic Bullet portable blender to crush ice cubes

Result of using the Nutribullet Magic Bullet portable blender to crush ice cubes (Image credit: Future)

Finally, the smoothie was the best performing test. During the blender's 60-second cycle, it created a smooth and thick drink that tasted great. There were flecks of kale and blueberry skin left in the liquid, but they were so small you couldn't taste them and they didn't interfere with the texture. 

It feels a little unfair to judge such a low-power, affordable blender on tasks that are designed for more complex machines. It's clear – given its marketing and design –that the Portable Blender is for drinks and drinks only. And this was where the blender came into its own. Making drinks and smoothies is likely how the majority of people shopping for a portable blender will use it. 

The limited, 60-second blending time is a little restrictive but is more than adequate for making smoothies and drinks. It makes the blender incredibly easy to use, too. I like the fact you get a warning, in the form of an LED indicator, when the battery is running low and in my experience, you still get two to three additional blending cycles even when this light comes on. 

Banana, blueberries and kale in the Nutribullet Magic Bullet portable blender

(Image credit: Future)

Speaking of blending cycles, the promises made by Nutribullet regarding ~15 cycles per charge sell the blender a little short. I got an average of 18 cycles per charge during my review period, although a frustrating number of those were cleaning cycles. It also only takes around an hour and a half to get the blender back to full charge again. 

The Nutribullet Portable Blender is almost whisper-quiet, running at an average of just 65dB when making a smoothie. It did soar to 106dB when I first added the ice during the ice crush test but it almost immediately dropped back to a level in which I could have a conversation with my partner easily.

Given its price, the Portable Blender performed as I'd expected. It didn't blow me away, and it's not ideal for anything other than smoothies and drinks but it does do what you need it to do. And it does that very well. I've used it to make my protein shakes at the gym, and to make smoothies for a quick breakfast and I'm willing to lose some power and versatility for its increased portability and lower price. 

  • Performance score: 3.5 out of 5

Nutribullet Magic Bullet Portable Blender review: comparison table

Keen on the Nutribullet brand, but not sure which model is right for your needs? Here's a quick run-down of the differences between them...

Should I buy the Nutribullet Magic Bullet Portable Blender?

There's a lot going for the Magic Bullet Portable Blender. If you're looking for a blender you can take to the gym for protein shakes, or for making smoothies on the go, I can barely fault it. It's an excellent choice in terms of convenience, and for space-saving. Its also quick and simple to use and comes with a budget-friendly price, adding to its appeal. 

However, it does have some limitations. Its lower power means it may struggle with tougher ingredients, and its smaller cup size may not meet the needs of people who want to blend larger quantities. The short blending cycle can be restrictive, and the plastic construction, while lightweight, lacks the premium feel of other blenders. 

Additionally, the blender is primarily designed for making drinks and smoothies, so it may not be versatile enough for more complex recipes or food preparation tasks. If you need a portable and affordable blender for simple tasks, the Magic Bullet Portable Blender will be a great choice. If you require a more powerful and versatile appliance, you might want to consider investing in a higher-end model.

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Should I buy the Nutribullet Magic Bullet Portable Blender?

For the duration of the review period, the NutriBullet Portable blender replaced my favorite Braun TriForce blender. I used the portable blender to make a range of smoothies, hummus, and crushed ice as well as making protein shakes for going to the gym. It was a great substitute for the shop-bought shakes and drinks I buy throughout the week and I was able to use it to make protein shakes on the go, and quick smoothies for breakfast. For these smoothies I experimented with green, fibrous veg as well as soft fruit to see how well the blender’s single setting handled each. 

Eufy Omni S1 Pro review: outstanding mopping and an excellent app
12:00 pm | June 30, 2024

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Home Robot Vacuums Smart Home | Comments: Off

Eufy S1 Pro robot vacuum: two-minute review

The Eufy Omni S1 Pro (or just Eufy S1 Pro if you're not in the US) is a robotic vacuum cleaner and mop with a docking station that automatically empties the dust bin, replenishes the water tank with clean, ozonated water, dries the mop and charges the battery after each clean. It uses lidar to help with navigation around your home, creates accurate maps of every room (even across multiple floors) and employs the Eufy Clean smartphone app to let you set schedules and customize how you want the S1 to clean. I tested one out to see how it performs in practice, how it compares to the rest of today's best robot vacuums, and if it justifies its premium price tag.

On test, I found the S1 to mop hard floors incredibly well, thanks to its rotating mop that spins at high speed and pushes down onto the floor with 2.2lbs (1kg) of force. The S1 also does a good job of vacuuming, with four suction strengths available and two rotating brushes for getting into the corners of every room. The Eufy Clean app works very well, and so too does the docking station, which adds a cleaning solution to water before it’s pumped into the robot.

The S1 navigates effectively, driving close to walls without crashing into them and avoiding steps, while automatically raising its mop when driving over rugs and carpets. Its ability to clear raised room thresholds can be inconsistent, however, with the robot sometimes failing to enter rooms it has previously driven into without a problem. This can be fixed by turning off an anti-drop function. It also struggled a little when tasked with vacuuming up fine, engrained debris, and it sometimes failed to spot obvious, medium-sized debris.

The lower suction modes are quiet, the app is quick and responsive, and the battery life is excellent. Eufy insists that only its own cleaning solution is used with the mopping system, adding to the ongoing costs. It also sits in the premium price bracket – 

Eufy Omni S1 Pro

The Eufy in its base (Image credit: Future)

Eufy Omni S1 Pro review: price & availability

  • List price: $1,499 / £1,499
  • Launch date: June 2024
  • Availability: US, UK, 

Eufy took the unusual move of launching this robotic vacuum and mop as a crowd-funded Kickstarter project. It raised a whopping $3.5m from almost 3,200 backers at the time of writing, with many backers paying $999 for their S1 Pro. The actual retail price is significantly higher, at $1,499 / £1,499 (it's not currently available in Australia, but that's equivalent to AU$2,699) from when the vacuum robot went on sale on 19 June 2024.

Being a vacuum cleaner and mopping system, there are several parts that can be replaced over time. Eufy includes several spares in the box – more on which later – but buyers should bear in mind that they’ll need to pay for replacement dust bags, filters, mops and brushes when the included ones wear out. Eufy also insists S1 Pro owners buy the company’s own hard floor cleaner, which comes in a $19.99 bottle specifically shaped to fit the S1 Pro. Other cleaners, Eufy says, may cause 'irreversible damage' to the machine.

The idea of a four-figure vacuum might be shocking to some readers (and it does sit in TechRadar's premium price bracket), but it's not so unusual these days, at least when looking at flagship models. The Roomba Combo j9+ by iRobot costs a similar amount, while the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra isn’t far off $2,000.

  • Value for money score: 4 out of 5

Eufy Omni S1 Pro review: design

  • Self-emptying charge dock handles dust and water
  • Rotating mop applies pressure and self-cleans as it goes
  • 3.78-inch / 9.6cm tall

With the S1 Pro, Eufy has gone against the trend for robotic vacuums with smaller, more compact docking stations. Instead, this is a robot with a large, imposing base station that houses the dust bin, as well as tanks for clean and dirty water, and a cleaning solution.

The base station is 67 cm tall and has a footprint of 38 x 47cm. I was able to tuck it into a corner of my small flat for a few weeks to conduct this review, but had to move a table to make sure the base station had the required 50cm of clear space either side. It’ll function without this clearance, but the robot won’t be able to clean between its charger and the nearby wall.

The control panel and water tanks of the Euro's charge base

(Image credit: Future)

The robot itself is broadly similar to most other automated vacuums, albeit slightly taller than the Roomba Combo J9 Plus. The Eufy measures 9.6cm tall, 32cm wide and 34cm long. Turn it over and you’ll find a pair of heavy-duty wheels, a 290 mm rotating mop, a pair of spinning brushes for clearing dust and debris from the corners of your floor, and a rubber roller brush for scooping dust and debris into the suction system. This is all easily accessible without tools, by simply removing the top cover (which is held in place magnetically) then lifting out the robot’s dust bin.

Handily, the robot speaks aloud when items have been removed and installed. It’ll say things like 'dirty water tank removed' and 'dust bin installed' to help you quickly identify each component.

Eufy Omni S1 Pro

The underside of the Eufy, showing the mop and debris collector (Image credit: Future)

The charge base has a control panel on the top, complete with buttons for operating the robot and a display that shows animations to help with maintenance, such as how to replace the water tanks. It also says when filters and other components need cleaning. This means you can use the robot without even touching the smartphone app (once it has been set up, anyway). Printed instructions make the setup process very simple, and you’ll be up and running in just a few minutes.

The S1 Pro's design means it empties its dust bin into a larger bag in the base station at the end of each cleaning session. It also fills its onboard tank with clean, ozonated water from the base station’s larger tank before each session, then empties itself into the base’s dirty water tank when finished. Eufy says the dust bag should only need replacing every couple of months, while the water tank managed half a dozen mopping sessions before running dry. Naturally, this will depend on your floor space and how much is mopped.

Eufy Omni S1 Pro

A demonstration of how much space the Eufy requires at either side (Image credit: Future)

I was impressed with the quality of the Eufy’s hardware. It all feels very sturdy, but takes up plenty of space. I would have liked to see storage space in the dock for spare parts, as with the iRobot Roomba Combo J9 Plus, but that isn't the case here. To its credit, Eufy suggests the taller base station makes it easy to pick up and replace the water tanks, since smaller base stations mean stooping over.

Lastly, there's no option to plumb the base station into your home’s water supply, but Eufy says 'water accessories' for the S1 Pro are currently under development.

  • Design score: 4.5 out of 5 

Eufy Omni S1 Pro review: performance

  • Superb mopping abilities
  • Solid navigation capabilities, but could fail to spot even larger debris
  • Vacuuming is good but not great

As with any robot vacuum, its first task was to map my apartment. Our property has a lounge, hallway, kitchen and bedroom, plus a bathroom with a step, so the robot has access to every corner of the property, except for part of the bathroom. If I wanted to map that small section, I could have, since the app lets you save maps of multiple floors.

The S1 Pro quickly plowed into a relatively thick rug and got stuck, before calling for help. My bad. I’d not reviewed a robotic vacuum in this property before and, while the style of rug isn’t uncommon, it’s a little higher than the 25mm maximum carpet height Eufy says the S1 Pro can cope with.

Lesson learnt, rug rolled up and robot restarted, it quickly mapped the entire flat and returned to base, having not slipped down the bathroom step.

The Eufy Clean app now shows a very accurate map of my home, and it takes just a few seconds to separate the rooms into different zones and give them each a name. That way, you can tell the robot to go clean one room, or vacuum all rooms but one.

Eufy claims 8,000 Pa of suction power, which is the same as some of the brand’s cheaper robotic vacuums, like the Eufy X10. There are four suction levels to pick from, called Quiet, Standard, Turbo and Max, plus mopping settings of Soft, Standard and Deep, and the option to clean an area once or twice in each session.

You can also tell the robot to vacuum and mop an area, or just vacuum – since you won’t want it to mop your carpets. And on that note, the robot automatically detects carpet, then lifts the mop to keep it clear of the floor. There’s no option to mop only, so it shouldn’t be used to clear up large liquid spills, since it’ll try to vacuum the floor first.

Eufy Omni S1 Pro

The Eufy S1 Pro has four suction levels for carpet and hard floor (Image credit: Future)

Before giving the S1 Pro a set of specific challenges, I used it for a week as a normal robotic vacuum and mop. I found it very easy to use and the mopping results were fantastic. It really does a great job of cleaning wooden floors, administering just the right amount of water to not leave puddles or streaks, and cleaning the mop as it goes. Eufy says the mopping roller spins at 170 rpm and pushes down onto the floor with a force of 2.2lbs.

My varnished floors shone clean and, if more proof were needed, the murky contents of the waste water tank looked like it had been scooped out of the River Thames.

After vacuuming and mopping, the S1 Pro returns to its charger and empties its dust bin and water tank, then dries the mop. The emptying takes just a few seconds (but is rather loud, peaking at 79dB, compared to just 62dB when vacuuming on the quietest mode and 76dB on max suction), then the mop is cleaned and dried over a period of about 4.5 hours. There’s a quiet humming during this time, but at just 50dB it isn’t really noticeable.

As for intelligence, the S1 Pro’s ability to drive around obstacles is good. It uses what Eufy calls its 3D MatrixEye Depth Perception System to understand its environment. This comprises a camera with a 120-degree lens and a lidar system. I found the Eufy does a great job of driving close to walls and furniture while very rarely crashing into anything. It even uses a set of icons on the map to indicate where it has avoided some common items, like shoes and cables.

Moving to more specific tests, and the results were mixed. First up, I tested the S1 Pro on a mix of biscuit crumbs and flour. It had no trouble picking this up from a hard floor, even with the lowest and quietest suction mode, but had a habit of flicking debris into the corners of the room with its spinning brushes, which it then failed to collect. It also struggled to clear a floor threshold strip that had previously caused it no problems; I noticed how the robot tried a few times to drive over it, then drove more quickly and succeeded.

I repeated this test on carpet but the higher Turbo and Max suction settings were needed, and even then some of the flour and crumb mix was left behind.

During these tests the robot sometimes failed to enter one room. There’s a small, ~2cm threshold to clear between the wooden hallway and carpeted bedroom, and the Eufy managed this just fine on numerous previous cleans, but failed on this occasion, before succeeding on a subsequent clean.

I later learnt this hesitancy is solved by digging into the settings pages of the Eufy Clean app and disabling a function called Visual Anti-Drop. After that, the robot drove over thresholds with more confidence.Pictured below, this must be right on the threshold, so to speak, of what it’s capable of clearing.

Eufy Omni S1 Pro

The S1 Pro can, just about, clear this roof threshold (Image credit: Future)

I expected a little more from its vacuuming abilities during this test, and was left with the impression that, while good at performing a daily clean of an otherwise tidy home, the S1 Pro can’t be relied upon to clean a specific area of dirt, or a recent spill of food or other debris. I instead reached for my Dyson V10 and had the carpet spotless in just a few seconds.

Next up, I tasked the Eufy with clearing larger dry debris from the same wooden floor and carpet as the previous test. For this I used oats, and thankfully the Standard mode was enough to pick up almost every single piece from a wooden floor. The rotary brushes still flung some dirt into the corners, but it was mostly a success.

It performed similarly well on carpet, with most of the oats picked up and just a few left behind. Frustratingly, the robot declared the clean complete and shut down the vacuum with a bunch of oats right in front of it.

The large oats also highlighted a problem with the S1 Pro’s self-emptying system. It appeared to have done everything correctly, but when I picked it up a couple of hours later a load of oats, dust and fluff fell out from under the robot. I couldn’t see an obvious blockage and the dust bag in the base station was only around 20 percent full, but contained only half the oats it should have. The rest were caught up in the rotor, having not made it to the bin, and fell out.

Eufy Omni S1 Pro

How the Roomba Combo J9 Plus empties and refills itself (Image credit: Future)

I’ve now realized you need to set the robot to empty its dustbin every time it returns to the charger (an option in the app), instead of less frequently. Otherwise, debris will spill out when you pick it up, for example to move it to a different floor.

All that said, I need to reiterate just how good the mop function is, and how thoroughly it cleans both the floor and itself. I hope a future software update will suggest owners turn off the Visual Anti-Drop function if the robot struggles with thresholds.

Finally, the battery life seems very good indeed. On one particular clean, the charge level fell from 100 percent to 94 percent after 22 minutes of vacuuming an area of 140 square feet. Eufy says the robot can run for 3.6 hours and cover a space of up to 1,976 square feet on one charge.

  • Performance score: 4 out of 5 

Eufy Omni S1 Pro review: app

  • Easy to set up and use
  • Can schedule cleans and target individual rooms
  • Offers lots of configurability

The Eufy Clean app is impressive and makes it easy to control the vacuum, create schedules and split your home into zones. The latter works especially well, with the robot quickly mapping our flat and correctly splitting up the rooms and hallway. Once that’s done, it’s easy to tell the robot to clean an individual room, or draw a box over a specific area that needs vacuuming or mopping.

Eufy Omni S1 Pro

(Image credit: Future)

The app gives access to all four suction modes, both mopping modes, and lets you tell the robot how you’d like each room cleaning. For example, you could ask it to do an extra thorough job of the kitchen and hallway, while going easy on the spare bedroom. There are lots of settings to fiddle with, but it’s all intuitively laid out and neatly explained. The app is also used to create virtual walls and set up no-go zones to stop the robot entering certain areas of your home.

  • App score: 5 out of 5 

Should you buy the Eufy Omni S1 Pro?

Buy it if… 

Don’t buy it if… 

How I tested the Eufy S1 Pro

I lived with the S1 Pro for a few weeks before writing this review. I let it map my home, then used it to keep on top of the vacuuming and mopping, leaving to clean every room on the standard setting every few days. After this, I carried out several specific tests to see how well it picks up different types of dry debris from both hard floors and carpet.

I observed how the robot navigated, how it avoided objects and steps, and how it managed with raised thresholds. I also kept tabs on battery usage and used an app to test how loud it is in all of its various cleaning modes. 

  • First reviewed: June 2024
KitchenAid 7 cup / 1.7L Food Processor review: convenient but costly
11:00 am |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Home Juicers & Blenders Small Appliances | Tags: , , , | Comments: Off

KitchenAid 7-cup Food Processor: two-minute review

Product info

This model has slightly different names and product codes in different territories:

US: KitchenAid 7 Cup Food Processor KFP0718
UK: KitchenAid Food Processor 1.7L 5KFP0719
AU: KitchenAid 7 Cup Food Processor KFP0719

The products with 719 in their codes have extra accessories, specifically a thick-slice disc, and a plastic dough blade. For this review, I tested the UK model. There may be minor differences between different countries' models.

The KitchenAid 7 cup Food Processor (known as the KitchenAid Food Processor 1.7L in the UK) is compact, thoughtfully designed and has proven to be a great time saver when meal prepping.

Something to mention straight off the bat is that the UK and Australian models have a couple more accessories than the US model, which is reflected in the price. At the time of writing, the 7 cup / 1.7L Food Processor is on sale for $84.99 / £143.65 / AU$219, while the list price is $99.99 / £169 / AU$299. The US model KFP0718 is essentially the same as the UK and Australian KFP0719 models, with all models coming with a multipurpose stainless steel blade and a reversible slicing and shredding disc, but only the UK and Australian models coming with a thick-slice disc and a plastic dough blade. For this review, I tested the UK version of the KitchenAid Food Processor 1.7L.

A matte black KitchenAid 7 cup food processor is pictured against a pink background. It is sitting on a grey stone-effect surface on which also sites the reversible slicing and grating disc on the left, with the plastic dough hook positioned just in front, and to the right, the thick slice disc that is only available with the KFP0719 configuration.

(Image credit: Future)

Setting up the KitchenAid 7 cup / 1.7L Food Processor was straightforward. All of the accessories were neatly stored inside the work bowl, which is a convenient feature, saving you from cupboard-diving each time you want to process something. And the accessories fit into place with ease: there are markers on the top of the disc and the drive shaft to ensure you place it in the correct position for either processing or storing. 

The 7 cup / 1.7L Food Processor is available in a range of colors that will fit in with most kitchen decors. It doesn’t take up unnecessary space, measuring 9.7 x 7.7 x 15.4 inches / 245 x 195 x 390mm and weighing just 6.6lb / 3kg. The work bowl easily clicked into place every time thanks to its convenient twist-free design, and although I had the occasional issue putting enough pressure on the lid to get the latch to shut, the lift-out design of the hinge made it simple to remove. One downside with the design, however, is that the work bowl handle can only be positioned on the right-hand side, which could prove inconvenient for some users. 

A closeup of the KitchenAid 7 cup food processor feed tube, showing that a larger-diameter cucumber is too large to fit inside.

(Image credit: Future / Cesci Angell)

Using the two feed tubes and pushers was easy, but the bigger feed tube still isn’t big enough for larger-diameter fruit and veg, so if you want large, neat circles of sliced cucumber, you may be out of luck. If you get into the habit of buying slimmer cucumbers though, you’ll probably be fine. 

There are two speed settings labeled 1 and 2 on the easy-to-press buttons, with one being low speed, and two being high. There is also a Pulse button. Speed one and two aren’t overly noisy, but the noise level was uncomfortably loud when using the Pulse function, especially when chopping almonds.

Everything but the base unit is top-rack dishwasher-safe, which proved to be a great time saver. These parts were easy to hand wash too, although removing pastry from tight areas proved difficult. At the end of the testing, I put the work bowl, lid, and accessories in the dishwasher. Everything came out fine, although the work bowl did show some water marks.

A closeup of the KitchenAid 7 cup food processor food bowl with breadcrumbs inside.

(Image credit: Future / Cesci Angell)

The performance of the KitchenAid 7 cup / 1.7L Food Processor was adequate. For my tests, I used it to slice or chop carrots, onion and cucumber, as well as whizzing bread into breadcrumbs, finely chopping almonds and combining the ingredients for pastry. It managed all these tasks quickly and with no trouble. 

However, the consistency of the processed foods wasn’t the best. There is only one grade of shredding, which seems to be somewhere between fine and medium. For example, the processed carrot looked somewhat unappealing; it certainly wouldn’t have fared well if subjected to a Rate My Plate jury. A fair amount of carrot also ended up inside the lid, which wasn’t ideal. When chopping the almonds the results were inconsistent, with pieces that ranged in size from large to dust. There were also occasions where ingredients such as breadcrumbs, almond dust, and pastry mixture migrated inside the fitment ring of the chopping blade, which proved tricky to remove when hand washing.

A closeup of shredded carrot inside the clear work bowl of the KitchenAid 7 cup food processor.

(Image credit: Future)

Overall, there are a few issues with the KitchenAid 7 cup / 1.7L Food Processor, like that smaller feed tube and the uneven shredding, which may mean it doesn't quite stand up against the best food processors on the market. However, if you want something that is compact for the capacity available, has convenient accessory storage, and has a no-twist design, then this is a food processor to consider. The consistency of the processed food may not be Instagramable, but it’s the taste that counts, right?

KitchenAid 7 Cup Food Processor: price & availability

  • List price: $99.99 / £169 / AU$299
  • Often available for cheaper
  • Currently available in the US, UK, and Australia

The KitchenAid 7 cup / 1.7L Food Processor is currently on sale at $84.99 / £143.65 / AU$219, (usually $99.99 / £169 / AU$299). If you’re querying why the US model is cheaper than the UK and Australian models, it is because it comes with fewer accessories. I will elaborate further on the accessories in the Design and features section below. 

The 7 cup / 1.7L Food Processor isn’t the cheapest. There are similar products on offer from our pick of the best food processors. These include the Cuisinart Easy Prep Pro FP8 food processor, which is slightly lower in price and comes with two reversible shredding and slicing discs, plus a small bowl add-on to use when the large work bowl feels excessive for the task. Or, you could spend just a little extra for more versatility with the Ninja 3-in-1 Food Processor with Auto-IQ, which is currently on sale for $179.99 / £169. The KitchenAid 7 cup / 1.7L Food Processor has some innovative design features and performed adequately during testing though, so it’s still worth considering.

The KitchenAid 7 cup / 1.7L Food Processor is available now, on the US, UK, and Australian KitchenAid websites as well as various third party retailers.

  • Value for money score: 3.5 out of 5

KitchenAid 7 Cup Food Processor specs

KitchenAid 7 Cup Food Processor: design & features

  • Feed tube could be larger
  • Fixed handle position
  • Different accessories per region

Setting up the food processor was quick and easy. All the parts and accessories were stored inside the work bowl, so it was a simple case of removing them, before washing them along with the work bowl, lid, and food pushers. After this step was completed, I had to place the drive adapter on the drive pin in the center of the work bowl. Installing the different cutting accessories was also a straightforward process, which I was thankful for, as it avoided any unnecessary delays when I was working through lots of different types of food.

The food processor doesn’t take up a load of unnecessary worktop space, the cable length is adequate at 35 inch / 90 cm, and the work bowl easily attaches to the base (a useful design feature that I much prefer to the twist-to-secure designs that are often used with some other food processors). Additionally, the lid catch is easy to unclip, and once the lid is in an upright position, the hinge design means that you can easily lift it off. 

On replacing the lid, slotting it into the hinge side was no issue, although sometimes I needed to put a fair amount of pressure on the lid to get the latch to close again.

A closeup of the KitchenAid 7 cup processor food bowl and lid clearly showing the feed tube, and the handle placement.

(Image credit: Future)

Due to the way the work bowl sits on the base, the handle placement is somewhat limiting, as it can only be on the right-hand side. This was frustrating enough for me, as I like to hold the handle in my left hand while using a utensil to get the ingredients out with my right – but it could really make this product less accessible for people who aren’t able to use their right hand.

KitchenAid is known for having some enticing color options. In the 7 cup / 1.7L Food Processor’s case though, the color range is somewhat basic, with glossy-finished Onyx Black, and Empire Red available in the UK, US, and Australia, plus additional color variants including Contour Silver, Almond Cream, White, and Matte Black, depending on your region.

There is a 2-in-1 feed tube on the top of the work bowl lid, with a two-piece plastic food pusher. Together, they can be used to push in wider ingredients, or the inside section of the pusher can be removed to enable you to accurately feed in slimmer food items such as celery. Unfortunately, the bigger feed tube was not wide enough for a larger-diameter cucumber, so it needed to be cut down. Therefore if you want neat, round slices of cucumber this may not be the processor you’re looking for.

A closeup of the control buttons on the front of the KitchenAid 7 cup food processor.

(Image credit: Future)

There are three operational buttons on the front of the 7 cup / 1.7L Food Processor’s base: setting one (lower speed), setting two (higher speed), and a pulse mode. You don’t need to worry about getting tired fingers with the two speed settings, as you don’t need to hold the button down for the processor to operate. It takes one press to set them off, and a second press or a press on the O/Pulse button to stop the processing.

There are two design features that I found particularly useful. Firstly, the lid, work bowl, and accessories are all dishwasher-safe when washed on the top rack. 

I also hand-washed all of these components repeatedly in-between ingredients during testing. All parts were easy to clean and dry; however, I did find that small amounts of the ingredients would easily end up inside the fitment ring of the multipurpose blade, so I had to pay particular attention to this area. 

Secondly, the accessories can easily be stored inside the work bowl when the food processor isn’t in use, saving cupboard space and preventing you from wasting time trying to find the desired accessory.

Three of the KitchenAid 7 cup processor accessories, the plastic dough blade, reversible slicing and shredding disc, and the thick slice disc.

(Image credit: Future)

The 7 cup / 1.7L Food Processor doesn’t come with as many accessories as larger models such as the KitchenAid1319, but it is perfectly adequate for day-to-day food prep. Please note that some accessories are not included with the KFP0718 model, which is sold in the US. This model comes with a multipurpose stainless steel blade and a reversible slicing and shredding disc. The KFP0719 models, sold in the UK and Australia, include these accessories, along with a thick-slice disc and a plastic dough blade.

  • Design & features score: 4.5 out of 5

KitchenAid 7 Cup Food Processor: performance

  • Shredded and chopped effortlessly
  • Some waste carrot from shredding
  • Consistency of processed food varied

The KitchenAid 7 cup / 1.7L Food Processor performed well during testing. I tested its ability to slice, chop, mix, and grate a variety of foods. I used the shredding side of the reversible slicing and shredding disc to grate some carrots, running it on speed setting two as per the user manual. While it managed the job in a matter of seconds, the result was finer than I would have liked – some other models, such as the KitchenAid 13 cup / 3.1L Food Processor, have dedicated grating discs with fine and coarse options that give a more desirable result. Due to how fine the shredding was, the results were a little on the wet side, and a lot of carrot shot into the lid during processing.

The underneath of the reversible shredding and slicing disc with a small amount of carrot on it, the lid of the KitchenAid 7 cup food processor is visible in the background, with grated carrot around the inside edge.

(Image credit: Future / Cesci Angell)

Next I used the slicing side of the reversible slicing and shredding disc to slice a cucumber on speed setting one. Because the diameter of the cucumber was too large even for the larger feed tube, I had to manually cut a slice off of the side of it to enable it to be fed into the processor. The machine sliced the cucumber quickly, with next-to-no remnants left on the disc or in the lid. The slices were fairly even, although some were slightly wedge-shaped, thicker at the rind, and thinner where the cucumber was sliced down to fit.

A close up of sliced cucumber inside the KitchenAid 7 cup food processor work bowl.

(Image credit: Future / Cesci Angell)

I used the multipurpose stainless steel blade to chop onions, almonds, and to make breadcrumbs from slightly stale wholemeal bread. The onions and almonds were chopped using speed setting one. The food processor had no issues chopping up a large onion that I’d cut into quarters: it quickly chopped it into fine pieces and while the pieces weren’t that even, none of them were overly large. When I pulsed the almonds for 10 seconds, the result was again pretty uneven, with larger pieces, smaller pieces, and a fair amount of almond dust. Upon removing the accessories, I found that some of this dust had made its way inside the plastic cutting blade ring. 

A close up of the unevenly chopped almonds in the KitchenAid 7 cup processor work bowl.

(Image credit: Future / Cesci Angell)

When making the breadcrumbs, I used speed setting two to blitz two slices of bread. In just 45 seconds the processor had turned them into fine breadcrumbs with an even consistency, and no bread was left under the blades.

I also used the multipurpose stainless steel blade, using the lowest speed setting to combine flour, margarine, and water for pastry. At first, the ingredients didn’t mix evenly – a layer of flour remained at the bottom and didn’t begin to mix in until water was added and the mixture started to form a proper dough. Apart from that detail, the processor combined the pastry ingredients easily, it didn’t rock about on the work surface, or overheat, both of which can happen with food processors that don’t have strong enough motors for pastry making.

A close up of the inside of the multipurpose blade which has a coating of pastry around the inside of the ring.

(Image credit: Future)

While conducting the tests, I found that settings one and two were not overly loud; however, the pulse mode may make your ears ache if you need to use it for a long period of time. At no point during testing did I encounter issues with ingredients getting stuck under the blade or disc inside of the work bowl – I did however find that ingredients would end up on the inside of the fitment ring of the multipurpose stainless steel blade that sits on the drive adapter. This was particularly evident when chopping the almonds, and combining the pastry ingredients. There was a layer of pastry mixture coating the inside of the blade's plastic ring, which was tricky to clean out.

  • Performance score: 3.5 out of 5

Should I buy the KitchenAid 7 Cup Food Processor?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

KitchenAid 7 Cup Food Processor review: also consider

How I tested the KitchenAid 7 Cup Food Processor

  • I assessed the setup and performance
  • I ran our usual series of chopping, grating, and combining tests
  • I checked how easy it was to clean

I spent time getting the KitchenAid 7 cup / 1.7L Food Processor setup, read the instruction manual, and assessed the design and accessories.

To put the KitchenAid 7 cup / 1.7L Food Processor through its paces, I used the chopping blade and reversible slicing/shredding disc to shred carrot, slice cucumber, chop onion, and almonds. I also used it to process bread to make breadcrumbs and combine flour, margarine, and water to make pastry. These are the same tests we run for all food processors, making it easy to see how different models compare. 

I tested how easy it was to clean the processor parts by hand-washing, and using the dishwasher to establish how well you can clean the parts with either method.

I didn’t get it at first, but Nanoleaf’s Umbra Cono Portable Smart Lamp has won me over with its design-first approach
4:30 pm | June 29, 2024

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Home Smart Home Smart Lights | Comments: Off

One-minute review

If you’re in the market for a smart lamp with a bit of personality, look no further than the Nanoleaf x Umbra Cono Portable Smart Lamp. With interest in smart bulbs growing, many of the brands behind some of the best smart lights are moving towards different form factors, but such lamps have, thus far, been broadly uninspiring. 

The Cono Portable Smart Lamp, on the other hand, not only offers some decent specs and lots of different software applications for immersive gaming, film and audio to help you make the most out of your smart lighting, but its unique design also makes it stand out from the competition.

Still, it’s not for everyone; when I first saw the Cono at CES 2024, I wasn’t quite sure what the fuss was about. However, seeing it ‘in the flesh’ and using it around my home has completely won me over. Available in both grey and orange (listed as Sierra), the Cono features cross-shaped feet that support the cone-shaped light casing, topped off with a beautiful, curved surface through which the light shines. Above the stem of the feet are its USB-C charging port and a simple, discreet, and touch-sensitive button, which you can use to control the light if you don’t fancy using its smart controls. These touch controls are a little disappointing, sadly, with a cheap finish that belies the lofty list price of $95 / £110. 

Nanoleaf Umbra Cono

(Image credit: Future)

Like other smart lights in Nanoleaf’s sprawling range, the Cono offers 16+ million colors, tunable whites, and 0-100% brightness control, and can be operated either with its physical controls, by using the Nanoleaf app or by using voice assistants in one of the best smart speakers or best smart displays. Out of the box, the device is compatible with Apple Home, Google Home, and Razer Chroma, but also plays nice with Matter, meaning it’ll work in tandem with most of the best smart home devices. It’s super easy to pair the Cono in Nanoleaf’s app, and just as easy to add it to any compatible smart home ecosystem. In the app, you can change the color with a color wheel or with one of eight customizable presets, create your own scenes, or select one from Nanoleaf’s sprawling library.

Nanoleaf Umbra Cono

(Image credit: Future)

It’s not the kind of lamp that will entirely illuminate an unlit room; nor would I expect it to be at its size and price point, but it throws a decent spray of vibrant color into the room when turned on. However, the fact that you can angle it in so many directions (or even hang it off of things!) makes it excellent for setting the mood, highlighting a design accent in your room, or just for using it as an objet d’art lamp that you can control with your voice or phone. I’d like for it to be a little brighter, though, as the output lumen sits at just 130 lumens. 

Image 1 of 4

Nanoleaf Umbra Cono

(Image credit: Future)
Image 2 of 4

Nanoleaf Umbra Cono

(Image credit: Future)
Image 3 of 4

Nanoleaf Umbra Cono

(Image credit: Future)
Image 4 of 4

Nanoleaf Umbra Cono

(Image credit: Future)

My only real qualm is its battery life. Depending on the brightness and color, the lamp lasts roughly four hours when unplugged, and only comes with a cable, meaning you might have to buy a USB plug if you were planning on having the lamp on regularly. Compared to something like the Philips Hue Go portable table lamp which offers up to 48 hours of battery life, or even the Philips Hue Go 2 which offers up to 24 hours, its marketed four-hour battery is measly. Thankfully, however, I found during my testing that it regularly exceeded this by a couple of hours. Still, I’d love to see it at least hit the 10-hour mark like the Wiz Luminaire portable lamp can for the price. 

Overall, the Nanoleaf Umbra Cono Portable Smart Lamp is easily my favorite smart light in my setup right now. During my three weeks of testing, I found myself reaching for it instinctively rather than as a necessity for this review, and it’s one of my most commented-upon fixtures when I have guests. However, would I pay $95 / £110 for it? No, I would not. As much as I appreciate its design, performance, and ease of use, this is the kind of light I’d be keeping an eye out for during seasonal sales. 

Nanoleaf Umbra Cono

(Image credit: Future)

Nanoleaf Umbra Cono: Price and availability

  • List price: $95 / £110

As mentioned above, the Nanoleaf Umbra Cono Portable Smart Lamp will set you back $95 / £110, and is available directly from Nanoleaf as well as third-party retailers. 

That’s a lofty price point for what is broadly speaking an aesthetically pleasing albeit middling portable smart light. If you adore the design and want it for exactly its intended use (being good-looking and as an additive light), it might just be worth it. However, considering there are plenty of (admittedly blander) smart lamps out there for far less that offer more brightness and additional features, I’d wait for seasonal sales before jumping on the cone-shaped bandwagon.

Out of the box, it comes with the lamp itself and a USB-A to USB-C charging cable, and there is no power supply included. Its lifetime is 25,000 hours.

Nanoleaf Umbra Cono

(Image credit: Future)

Should I buy?

Buy it if...

You want something simple and sweet for your setup

Not only is pairing super simple and easy, but the Cono portable smart lamp itself is easy to use even for smart home beginners.

Don't buy it if... 

Nanoleaf Umbra Cono review: Also consider

How I tested the Nanoleaf Umbra Cono

  •  I tested the Nanoleaf Umbra Cono for a month 
  •  I used it as part of my smart lighting setup  
  •  I paired it via Bluetooth and Alexa via. Matter

I used the Nanoleaf Umbra Cono portable smart lamp for three weeks, using it throughout my home for mood lighting, spotlighting, and general use. I tried positioning it in various locations, leveraging the full potential of its versatile design and used the full range of its brightness, color, and tunable white settings to test how well it performed in different situations.

I paired the Cono in my Nanoleaf app as well as my Alexa-based smart home (possibly thanks to the light’s Matter compatibility) and found the device worked as expected and was easy to control.

I’ve been testing smart home tech for a living for two years now, but I’ve been passionately writing about all things smart and the Internet of Things for over five years. I’ve spent hours learning the ins and outs of Alexa, throwing shade on smart lights, and reading up on new technologies that matter, all of which helps to inform my review approach and buying advice. 

Earzz review: AI-powered gadget alerts you to doorbells, alarms, crying babies and more
12:58 pm | June 27, 2024

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Home Smart Home | Comments: Off

Earzz: One-minute review

Smart Home Week

This is review is part of TechRadar's Smart Home Week 2024, where we're giving you all the latest news, tips and tricks to help you make the smart home of your dreams. 

The Earzz sensor uses a microphone, smartphone app and AI to alert you to specific sounds, from a baby crying or a dog barking, to a doorbell, the beep of an appliance or broken glass. The result of a successful Kickstarter crowd-funding campaign, the Earzz is designed as much for the smart home (with IFTTT integration) as it is for helping carers respond to dependants and their needs in a reliable but anonymous way.

It offers around eight hours of battery life, so for most use cases you’re best leaving it plugged in with the included USB-C cable. You can set the Earzz to listen out for up to six of the 20-or-so available sounds. Phone notifications come through quickly, often in just a couple of seconds, and the app keeps a record of every time the device is triggered.

Earzz

(Image credit: Future)

Imagination is key to getting the most out of Earzz. It can buzz your phone when there’s someone at the door, or let a care home worker know when a resident might have fallen. Add IFTTT integration and the Earzz could flash a smart light when your washing machine is finished.

The hardware is pretty basic, but it feels well made. It’s simple to set up and use, and there’s plenty of functionality to be explored. However, it doesn’t always perform as well as I'd hoped, and cannot always be relied upon to deliver accurate alerts promptly. A work-in-progress for now, but the AI will surely improve with training.

Earzz app

(Image credit: Future)

Earzz: Price and availability

  • How much is it? £79.99 (about $100), plus subscription
  • When is it available? Available now
  • Where is it available? In the UK, with shipping to US available

At £79.99, or about $100, the Earzz isn't cheap, especially when you factor in the subscription; the company advertises this as £7.99 a month but it's billed at £95.88 annually (about $120). The high costs means this perhaps isn't the sort of gadget you'd buy on a whim to experiment with in your smart home.

Instead, it's aimed at people who are perhaps hard of hearing and need a way of being notified about things such as knocks at the door or a smoke alarm. Naturally, there's a lot of value in such a product, but the high price means casual smart home fans might think twice.

Earzz: Specs

Should I buy Earzz?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

How I tested Earzz

  • I lived with Earzz for a couple of weeks
  • I tried out almost all of the 20 different sound alerts
  • I connected the Earzz to my IFTTT account

I created an Earzz account and connected the device to my Wi-Fi network. I then went about testing the Earzz using a variety of real and recorded sounds. This included my intercom buzzer and washing machine; but, unfortunately, the Earzz failed to recognise either. To help things along, I sent a recording of my buzzer to the Earzz team, which added it to their sound catalog. It now works perfectly, but I appreciate this isn't the sort of service a regular customer can expect.

In better news, it responded quickly to two different smoke alarms and a carbon monoxide monitor. It also worked well with IFTTT, and it was easy to create a routine where my Hue lights turn on when the door buzzer is rung.

The app lets users provide feedback for every sound the Earzz hears. I dutifully did this, telling the app what it got right and, more importantly, when it got things wrong, and what the sound should have been. This should help the AI improve over time.

I also played a range of doorbell sounds and dog barks from a computer. These were mostly recognised – but, sometimes, the notifications arrived slowly. I’m told Wi-Fi strength is a factor here, but since the app claimed the Earzz never had more than around 65% signal strength, even when right next to a router or network extender, I couldn’t improve this.

Smart Home Week

This is article is part of TechRadar's Smart Home Week 2024, where we're giving you all the latest news, tips and tricks to help you make the smart home of your dreams. 

Ring Spotlight Cam Pro Solar review
5:50 pm | June 26, 2024

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Home Home Security Smart Home | Tags: , | Comments: Off

Ring Spotlight Cam Pro Solar review: One-minute review

The Ring Spotlight Cam Pro Solar takes some of the best features from its range of video doorbells, and combines them into a device that can keep watch over more than just your front door.

I've been reviewing it for the past couple of months. At first I was dubious about how effective the solar panel is; would it actually keep the Cam charged? And it absolutely did. Not once did I need to remove the single battery for recharging, even after a rainy week. I am also a fan of the wide-angle, 140-degree horizontal, 80-degree vertical field of view because it consistently monitored the entire width of my front lawn. This is much the same as the top-of-the-range Ring Video Doorbell Pro, formerly known as the Video Doorbell Pro 2.

Another familiar feature to this doorbell is that the Cam also boasts the two-way talk and siren. Thankfully I didn't need to use either of these to scare away intruders, but I did have some fun communicating with my husband from inside the house.

Ring Spotlight Cam Pro with solar panel above on roof

Ring Spotlight Cam Pro with solar panel above on roof (Image credit: Future / Jennifer Oksien)

It's these advanced features that make the Ring Spotlight Cam Pro Solar a candidate for one of the best home security cameras but also the most expensive security camera in Ring's range. The security camera can either be bought bundled with the solar panel as the power source, or as a battery, plug-in or hardwired option.

While I did find the solar-panel to be bulky and the loss of footage in the app after 30-days annoying (because I didn't fancy paying $4.99/£4.99/AU$4.95 every month), having rolling surveillance where and when I wanted it was extremely helpful. I could watch live footage in the app, and I received notifications each time motion was detected – even it was just a spider on its way across the lens to build a web.

motion notification from the Ring app while using the Ring Spotlight Cam Pro Spotlight

Notification banner (Image credit: Future / Jennifer Oksien)

Ring Spotlight Cam Pro Solar review: Price and availability

  • List price: $249.99 / £249.98 / AU$418

The Ring Spotlight Cam Pro Solar is available from Ring for $249.99 / £249.98 / AU$418 and is available directly from both Amazon and the Ring website. 

The best comparison is to the Ring Spotlight Cam Plus Solar, which will save you $80 / £50 / AU$99 when it's not in the sale. The key points of difference is that the Plus Solar lacks 3D Motion Detection (which enables more accurate detection), Bird's Eye View, and Audio+ and Noise Cancellation. Aesthetically the Plus Cam Solar looks a little less bulky than the Cam Pro Solar, measuring 3.01 x 3.2 x 4.96 inches rather than 3.1x 3.2 x 5.7 inches, although I'd still personally take the upgrade for better specs. 

You can opt to receive the Ring Spotlight Cam Pro with one of four power sources, not just solar – including battery powered, wired and plug-in – giving you more freedom to choose the best fit for your household.

If you already own the battery-powered Cam Pro and don't fancy having to keep recharging it, then you can always add a Solar Panel USB-C for $59.99 / £34.99 / AU$59.99 at a later date. This is also compatible with the Stick Up Cam, Stick Up Cam Pro and Spotlight Cam Plus.

Price score: 4 out of 5

Ring Spotlight Cam Pro Solar review: Specs

Ring Spotlight Cam Pro Solar review: Design

  • Two-part set
  • Compact cam, bulky solar panel
  • Weather-resistant

Spec-wise, the Ring Spotlight Cam Pro Solar is at the top of its game. However, it's not the most refined to look at

It's a two part set with the cam being one half, and the solar panel being the other. The cam measures 7.8 x 8.1 x 14.4cm (3.1 x 3.2 x 5.7 inches) and the solar panel measures 17.5 x 11.1 x 1.2cm. The two are connected via a 2-meter, USB-C cable that discreetly plugs in to the backend of each part, but when mounted in position and in use the cable is visible.

The Cam is relatively compact with a centrally positioned lens, light strips either side of it and what looks like an upside-down mic on the base. This lookalike mic unclips to reveal two available slots for a battery – only one is supplied, but a back-up can be purchased for $34.99/£24.99/AU$49 direct from Ring.com if you feel you need.

Ring Spotlight Cam Pro underside

(Image credit: Future / Jennifer Oksien)

Comparatively, the solar panel is bulky. This is a case of function-over-style, though, because the panel needs to be broad and flat enough in order to capture enough daylight to keep the Ring Spotlight Cam Pro fully charged. It needs to be positioned in direct sunlight for at least a couple of hours. I'd suggest thinking about the mounting position carefully because it'll be a nuisance having to keep moving the panel around; secure the Cam and the panel in the same space, where there's enough sunlight throughout the day. I secured the panel to a hefty stone and positioned it on an unobscured, flat roof of the garage.

Ring Solar Panel on flat roof

(Image credit: Future / Jennifer Oksien)

Both the Spotlight Cam Pro and panel are well protected against the elements; the former has an IP65 rating, while the latter is just listed as 'weather resistant'. Either way, on testing, they withstood snow, frost, heavy rain and a couple of storms and remain unscathed. 

At checkout when buying the Ring Spotlight Cam Pro Solar, you can select your preferred choice of color: black or white. I tested it in white. When you receive it, you'll get the following inside the box; Spotlight Cam Pro (Battery), Solar Panel (2nd Generation), a camera mount, quick release battery pack, installation accessories and screws and a USB charging cable.

Design score: 4/5

Ring Spotlight Cam Plus Solar review: Performance

  • Consistently clear HDR 1080p Video, with occasional color night vision
  • Security siren, two-way talk and LED spotlights
  • No need to charge the battery, ever again

There are few key things that one would expect from a security camera, and the Ring Spotlight Cam Plus Solar has them all – and more.

The footage, day and night, is crystal clear. It's captured in 1080p with HDR, which meant I could work out what caused a motion notification easily, and clearly watch "live view". Its lens has a 140-degree horizontal, 80-degree vertical field of view, and is super sensitive – I watched a spider that was hanging around the right-hand side and under-side of the Cam build its web for brief spell . 

The color night vision is not always a given, though. It can only be activated when you turn on the spotlights of the camera, which will only be for 30 seconds before automatically switching off. I'd find it helpful to have this color night vision without having to switch on the Cam lights. Recorded footage is only in black and white during the night, too.

Image 1 of 2

Ring Spotlight Cam Pro solar at night

Black and White night vision (Image credit: Future / Jennifer Oksien)
Image 2 of 2

Ring Spotlight Cam Pro at night with light switched on

Color night vision activated (Image credit: Future / Jennifer Oksien)

For the purpose of this Ring Spotlight Cam Plus Solar review, I tried out the security siren and two-way talk; without any security incidents, I fortunately had no other need to use them. That said, if the Cam does alert you to a trespasser, or you want to quickly communicate to a friend, family or neighbor, then don't hold back using these features. The siren is piercing and has a sound meter reading of 92dB, equivalent to a high-pitched food blender, and the two-way talk enables you to have a conversation, wherever you are.

And as for the battery, I set up the Cam with 80% charge and, with the solar panel plugged in, it maintained a battery reading of between 98 - 100%. However, I do note that on the Ring website it says that "with maximum sunlight, the device’s battery will not exceed 80%" in order to extend the battery life. Other Ring devices I've either owned or tested have achieved 100% battery charge, too, so this statement is surprising.

Regardless, this means that the solar panel is positioned perfectly and charges my Cam adequately. Unlike other battery-powered Ring devices I've used, there will be no need for me to (ever) remove this security camera to recharge it, which will save me some hassle.

Performance score: 4.5/5

Ring Spotlight Cam Plus Solar review: App

  • Easy to use and follow
  • Free plan expires after 30 days, and you lose all recorded footage
  • Share device access, and add other devices to the same app

The Ring app is the hub of activity for the Ring Spotlight Cam Pro Solar. It's where you set up the device, check the battery status, monitor and record footage as well as engage the siren and two-way talk.

By following the instructions, the set up is super easy. You will just need to ensure that you are connected on a 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi connection at 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz, and a stable one. Any Wi-Fi drop-outs can delay the set-up process, and hinder the overall performance of the Cam should the connectivity issues continue.

Ring app

(Image credit: Future / Jennifer Oksien)

All the main functions, such as activating the siren, two-way talk and lights, only appear when you "tap to go live" in the app. When you end "live view", these functions become hidden again.

It is here in the Ring app that you can review recorded footage, too. All new Ring devices come with a free 30-day / 1 month trial to Ring Protect, which grants access to that recorded footage, as well as enabling you to share and save videos and claim an extended warranty. When this free trial period ends you either have to pay a starting price of $4.99/£4.99/$4.95, or you lose all event history. For security purposes you may feel more comfortable to pay this monthly fee, but remember that it is an ongoing cost.

Additional Ring devices can also be used in the app, and you can share access to devices with other members in your household. When sharing access, users won't get all the settings as the main user, such as the ability to share access, access event history and tweak mode settings, but you will have everything you need for day-to-day surveillance. To share, just follow the on-screen instructions in the app for the additional user to review an email notification inviting them to join. It's that easy.

App score: 4.5/5

Ring Spotlight Cam Pro Solar review: Should I buy?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Also consider

If the Ring Spotlight Cam Pro Solar isn't for you, below we've listed some alternatives to consider.

Want to expand your Ring network? Try adding a Ring doorbell so you can keep a look out for deliveries making their way to your door...

Ring Spotlight Cam Pro Solar review: How I tested

  • I directly used the Ring Spotlight Cam Pro Solar
  • I viewed live footage and historic footage, and used the Ring app
  • I used it as our main security camera for two months

I installed the Ring Spotlight Cam Pro to the side of our adjoined garage, and securely positioned the solar panel on the top of garage roof. The positioning meant that we had the best view of the wrap-around yard, while keeping the battery sufficiently topped up with charge – even on cloudy days.

I also used the Ring app to control the Cam Pro. It was here that I tweaked settings such as the spotlight and two-way talk, and watched live or historic footage (before the free trial period expired). I shared access to the camera with my husband who although didn't have all the functions as I did, such as event history, power settings, shared accesses and mode settings, was still able to get notifications and view footage.

The Cam Pro was used in the same app I used for the Ring Pro 2 Wired Video Doorbell.

Remington One Dry & Style Hair Dryer review
10:00 am | June 24, 2024

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Hair Care Home Small Appliances | Tags: | Comments: Off

Remington One Dry & Style Hair Dryer two-minute review

The Remington One Dry & Style Hair Dryer D6077 is great value for what you get in the set. The hair dryer comes with four tools to suit a range of hair types – be it short and curly or long and straight. It has a wide head and one slim but wide concentrator nozzle to fit. I found that the hair dryer’s wide opening helped ensure fast-drying results, and when used at the highest speed and temperature, it left my hair feeling smooth and not over-dried like some hair dryers can make hair feel.

There’s a unique flyaway attachment in the set too. This can be used on dry and straightened hair to tame flyaways and help create a sleeker finish on straight hair. For curly hair, there are two diffuser attachments to choose from, which neatly click on the head of the hair dryer. You can choose the gentle drying diffuser to dry waves and curls without disturbing the shape and texture of hair. Alternatively, the more traditional style curl defining diffuser is great for drying natural curls and waves.

Box for the Remington One Dry & Style Hair Dryer

(Image credit: Future)

I found this hair dryer comfortable to use, although it took me a while to get used to the shape of the angled handle. There are two speeds to choose from and three heat settings, although the difference in temperature is subtle between the three temperatures. There’s also a cool shot that provides a constant cool stream of air that’s great for setting styles. 

The hair dryer feels well-made and durable and comes with a hanging hook for convenience. There’s also a storage bag in the kit to house the hair dryer and all its attachments. Overall, I think that while this hair dryer is a little too bulky for use when travelling, it’s a good all-rounder for all hair types from poker straight to curly and coily hair types.

Remington One Dry & Style Hair Dryer review: price & availability

  • RRP: £99.99
  • Available: UK/EU

Established in New York in 1937, Remington is a well-respected brand in the haircare industry. The company sells a range of hair dryers, flat irons, curling tongs, rollers and grooming tools for both men and women.

I tested the UK version of the Remington One Dry & Style Hair Dryer D6077, which is reasonably priced at £99.99. At time of writing, this is on sale for £66.66 direct on the Remington website and at Amazon for £64.35. I think this is an excellent price for a very versatile design.

The hair dryer comes in a grey, black and rose gold finish. This hair dryer is part of the ‘One’ collection that also features the Remington One Straight & Curl Styler, the Remington One Head & Body Multi Groomer and the Remington One Total Body Multi Groomer.

A very similar hair dryer is also available in the USA, although the name and colorway are slightly different. In the states, you’ll find the almost identical Remington ONE Multi-Style Hair Dryer in a black and rose gold finish. At the time of writing, it costs $54.99 at Remington.

  • Value for money score: 4.5 out of 5

Remington One Dry & Style Hair Dryer review: design

  • Wide 9cm concentrator nozzle for fast styling
  • Flyaway attachment plus two diffusers
  • Comes with storage bag and hanging hook

Designed with versatility in mind, the Remington One Dry & Style Hair Dryer is solidly built and comes in a glossy grey and rose gold finish. Its attachments are finished in black, which is a bit of a contrast from the hair dryer's finish, but they do fit on effortlessly. The hair dryer measures H21.9 x W8.7 x D29cm and weighs 930g, which feels solid in hand, but a little heavy after extended use. The design is built to be fast and comes with a 2000-watt motor, which generates air speeds of up to 120km/h. This, says Remington, is 25% faster than its standard hair dryers.

There are three heat settings on board, two speed settings and one cool shot. It also comes fitted with a ‘Thermacare sensor’ for peace of mind that prevents the hair dryer from overheating.

Remington One Dry & Style Hair Dryer with concentrator, diffuser and flyaway tamer attachments

(Image credit: Future)

The hair dryer comes with a range of useful attachments to suit both straight, wavy and curly hair. In the kit there’s a slim concentrator nozzle that measures 3.5" / 9cm long. This is above average compared to a standard hair dryer and makes things faster – the Dyson Supersonic’s largest nozzle measures 2.7" / 7cm wide, for example. There’s also a flyaway tamer attachment that can be used on dry hair to tame wispy flyaways that can sometimes appear after drying or hair straightening. A gentle drying diffuser is also included in the set, as is a curl defining diffuser, which makes the hair dryer a really versatile option.

There’s also a small Remington branded drawstring bag in the box. It is just about big enough to store the hair dryer and its four attachments. Alternatively, you can make use of the hanging loop to store your hair dryer on a hook.

  • Design score: 4.5 out of 5

Remington One Dry & Style Hair Dryer review: performance

  • Powerful 2000-watt motor
  • 3 speeds, 2 heat settings and one cool shot
  • Accommodates all hair types

While it does have a few flaws, I feel that this hair dryer does well to cater for use on all hair types as it promises. On first use, I was pleased with the fast results of this hair dryer, but it took some time to get used to the design. 

I was pleased with how much cord you get on this design, which at 2.55m, makes it easy to move around at the dressing table. I did find the head of the hair dryer quite heavy in comparison to the handle, however, and it weighed a little on my hand. This is fine for general use, but I can imagine it might start to feel cumbersome after extended use – in a salon perhaps, or if you have a few kids who’ve just had bath and hair wash time.

While the finish of the Remington One is smooth, there isn’t a defined area to grip. That said, the controls are positioned in such a way that makes them easy to reach and ensures they don’t get accidentally knocked while drying hair. The handle of the hair dryer is positioned at a slight angle from the head. It took me a while to get used to holding it as I had previously been using the Dyson Supersonic, which has a handle that is a lot straighter and at a right angle from the main head. 

As I began to use the attachments, I started to appreciate the angled handle, however, as it allowed me to hold the hair dryer in a comfortable position for blow drying the sides of my hair. I also found it very easy to switch between the four attachments. They can simply be clicked on and off the head of the hair dryer. I did need to wait for the hair dryer to cool down before changing them, though,  as the tip of the hair dryer can get very hot in use.

Remington One Dry & Style Hair Dryer with concentrator, diffuser and flyaway tamer attachments

(Image credit: Future)

With its 2000-watt motor, this Remington hair dryer is powerful. This means that it’s not the quietest hair dryer I’ve tried, measuring around 86.1dB in use. By comparison, I measured the 1600-watt Panasonic Nanoe Moisture+ and Mineral hair dryer at 88.3dB.

There are three heat settings on the Remington One hair dryer that can easily be adjusted via controls on the handle. While the highest setting is hot, I didn’t notice that much difference in heat when flicking from one to three. The two speed settings come in useful if you need a blast of power or if you don’t want to use too much force and heat on your hair. The lowest settings also work well for kids. A cool shot that can be clicked on and off and cools down in under five seconds also works well. I found it particularly beneficial when things were getting a bit too hot and I wanted to cool things down on a lower heat. It’s also great for setting styles or giving hair a little  shine at the end of a drying session.

With its four attachments, two speed settings, three heat settings and a cool shot, I think it’s a great piece of kit to get creative with your styling or for simply achieving dry hair, fast. Having used the hair dryer over the course of a month, I was impressed at just how quickly it dried my hair each time I used it, in fact. I used the concentrator nozzle regularly, which at 9cm manages to dry a good chunk of hair quickly in one go. I managed to blow dry my hair in an average of six minutes, which I felt was fast compared to some less powerful hair dryers I’ve tried in the past that take a while to get up to speed.

Remington One Dry & Style Hair Dryer next to Panasonic Panasonic Nanoe Moisture+ and Mineral hair dryer

Remington One Dry & Style Hair Dryer next to a Panasonic NA0J (Image credit: Future)

The attachments provide a good range of options for all hair types too. While I mainly used the concentrator nozzle, the flyaway tamer came in useful after straightening my hair. It took a while to figure out how to direct the airflow, but I managed to flatten a few flyaways when needed. Meanwhile, the gentle drying diffuser is ideal for curly and coily hair (or any child who hates a hair dryer) as it gently dries from a distance without damaging your hair style. While I didn’t have much need for that attachment, I did use the curl defining diffuser when I wanted to dry my hair wavy. The diffuser isn’t that big but it was large enough to fit a good section of my hair in one go and left my hair feeling soft in the process.

  • Performance score: 4.5 out of 5

Should you buy the Remington One Dry & Style Hair Dryer?

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it if….

How I tested the Remington One Dry & Style Hair Dryer

I have tested a wide collection of hair dryers in recent years from brands such as Laifen Swift to Dyson. This means that I know what makes for a good design and a top performing hair dryer. A design that is easy to hold with simple controls that give you a lot of flexibility is key. I was keen to see just how well the Remington One Dry & Style Hair Dryer compared to other popular hair dryers. 

To find out, I used the Remington One Dry & Style Hair Dryer for four weeks to see how best it could suit my family of four. I have medium length wavy hair that is prone to frizz, so I wanted to see how well it could blow dry my hair smooth. I also used the diffuser attachment to see how well it could enhance the waves in my hair.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed June 2024

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