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Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 robot vacuum review
9:00 am | September 16, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Home Robot Vacuums Smart Home | Tags: , | Comments: Off

Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 two-minute review

Product info

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

In the US:

Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum and Mop with XL HEPA Self-Empty Base RV2610WA

More basic model: Shark Matrix Self-Empty Robot Vacuum RV2310AE


In the UK: 

Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum & Mop RV2620WDUK

Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 Self-Empty Robot Vacuum & Mop RV2620WAUK

For this review, I tested the RV2620WAUK. There may be minor differences between different countries' models.

I’ve been testing robot vacuums for several years and, while I’ve long accepted that no robot will ever allow me to retire from manual vacuuming altogether, I’m forever hopeful one will come close! Shark has an excellent reputation in the vacuuming world, so I was cautiously optimistic when the Shark Matrix Plus Robot 2-in-1 landed on my doorstep.

Some might say the popular tech brand was late to the robot party, at least in the UK. Shark has had success with robot vacuums in the US for a while now, but only added them to its UK lineup in spring 2024. I tested the Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 Self-Empty, which can vacuum, mop and empty its own bin. Happy days.

As you might expect from Shark, this smart little robot packs plenty of techy features. A major highlight is its 360-degree LiDAR sensors. This light detecting and ranging technology is aimed at quickly and accurately mapping your home and navigating around obstacles and I can confirm the Shark’s works very well. It also has a special air blasting feature, which I haven’t encountered before, that blows out air to push debris away from edges and corners and into the path of the suction channel. Again, I was impressed.

Although it didn’t blow my mind, the mopping results were better than I’ve experienced from a robot in the past. Rather than just dragging a vaguely damp mop pad along the floor, the Shark Matrix Plus Plus’ mop pad oscillates as it goes (100 times a minute, allegedly), to mimic a scrubbing motion. Many people will also love that the bin unit the self-emptying vacuum discharges into doesn’t need to be emptied for 60 days. Unless you have two hairy kids and two hairy dogs that is – I didn't make it past two weeks. 

I tested the Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 on the ground floor of my four-bed home for a month. Although it wasn’t perfect and the app wasn’t as slick as I’m used to, I really did rate this robot, especially for those who are tight on money as well as time. I'd have no qualms about giving it a place on our best robot vacuum list. Read on for the full low down on my time testing the Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 robot vacuum.

Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 specs

Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 review: price & availability

  • List price: $699.99 / £449.99 
  • Available: US and UK

The Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 sells in the US for $699.99 on Shark’s own website. At time of writing, there are seven robots in the range, with the Matrix Plus being the third most expensive, behind two PowerDetect models that come with self-refill water reservoirs in the base and cost up to $999.99. The cheapest Shark robot you can get in the US is the Shark ION, which is just $279.99 but unappealingly basic.

There are just three robot models available in the UK, and the Matrix Plus 2-in-1 I tested boasts the most diverse spec. In the world of robot vacuuming, I’d say its £449.99 price tag is more than reasonable (even allowing for exchange rates, it’s a better deal than in the US), but you can save yourself £100 if you empty the bin manually and get the entry-level model that still mops but doesn’t self-empty. Or, if you mostly have carpets so want a robot that’s more focused on vacuuming, invest £50 more and go for the top spec Shark PowerDetect.  

Whichever side of the pond you are shopping for a Shark Matrix Plus, I’d say the brand has priced it very reasonably, especially when you consider most robots that include mopping capabilities, for example iRobot’s Roomba, cost $1k plus. It’s not entirely flawless, but the Matrix Plus 2-in-1 represents excellent value in terms of build quality, features and cleaning prowess.

  • Value for money score: 4 out of 5

Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 review: design

  • Low-key looks
  • Compact base station
  • Tricky mop insert

The Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 won’t blow your mind with its futuristic looks or striking shape, but it won’t scare the horses either. It’s black and round with a neat little base and sat under the table in our hallway just fine. It arrived nicely packaged, with a great deal of cardboard and other eco-friendly packaging and precious little plastic. 

Shark Matrix Plus vacuum test

(Image credit: Future)

Underneath, the design is also fairly innocuous, but I was a tad worried by the corner brush, which has just one brush arm, instead of the usual three-to-five I am used to seeing. The roller head had rubber fins – which tend to be good on solid floors – as well as carpet-friendly brushes, but there was only one roller, and some of the better robots I have tested have two. 

Shark Matrix Plus vacuum test

(Image credit: Future)

The base station (which measures H14 x W12 x D9 inches) only caters for dirt; there’s no water reservoir. But the bin capacity is generous and it’s easy to see when it’s getting full due to the vertical strip of transparent Perspex. It also clips in and out easily, as does the filter in the other side of the base station – a large, foam creation that needs cleaning under the tap once a month. I appreciated that the base station has a plastic disc the size of the robot, which is to protect wood floors from getting soggy when the mop attachment is in place.

Shark Matrix Plus vacuum test

(Image credit: Future)

On the top of the Shark Matrix Plus are just two buttons, one to power on/off and the other to start/stop, everything else is done by the app, which I will cover in depth lower down this review. 

Shark Matrix Plus vacuum test

(Image credit: Future)
  • Design score: 4 out of 5

Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 review: app

  • Good mapping skills
  • Scheduling and spot cleaning
  • No multi-maps 

To get started, I just had to pop on the side brush, plug in the base (then charge the robot for six hours) and download and connect the app. Do make sure you only connect it to a 2.4 GHz wi-fi network, I wasted about half an hour trying to connect it to my 5 GHz but that was my fault for not reading the instructions. In my defense, the instructions that come with the Shark Matrix Plus are not particularly enlightening, but are enough to get you set up (if you read them properly). 

Shark Matrix Plus vacuum test

(Image credit: Future)

Compared to other robots I have tested, the SharkClean app is pretty basic and rather annoying. Hopefully there will be upgrades as Shark gets its head around robot life. It is basic in that it doesn’t allow you to schedule specific rooms or more than one clean per day, it doesn’t let you choose how the robot cleans (perimeter-first works best for our pet-filled home), and you can’t change the power levels once it’s working.

The annoyances generally iron out, but they can be frustrating. Mainly I found it slow to connect, which is annoying when you’ve decided to pop a clean going before you jump in the car. The cleaning reports didn’t always record/save, and I found it hard to move between actions. For example, if it was returning to base, I couldn’t get the app to show me the maps so I could plan the next job. Sometimes the map disappeared completely, or the app froze, and once or twice it wouldn’t acknowledge that we had a robot in the house at all! 

The other downer that didn’t bother me, but might you, is that it will only map one floor. I am happy to use my cordless vacuum upstairs (where it lives) and have never been one for carrying robots up and down levels but if you want to use the robot on multiple floors, you’ll only be able to map one of them. 

It's not all bad news though. The actual map the Shark Matrix Plus created was perfect first time and was created really quickly – in less than 10 minutes. I also found it very easy to add rooms, as well as rugs (to prevent wet carpets in mopping mode) and create a schedule for each day (to coincide with the school run). 

  • App score: 3 out of 5

Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 review: performance

  • Good at corners and edges
  • Quieter than advertised
  • Mopping a bit basic

Using in vacuum mode

The Shark Matrix Plus comes with the regular vacuum cleaning insert installed, which has a small bin and filter inside and automatically empties its payload back at the mother base. I needn’t have worried about the measly single-arm corner brush, as it did an excellent job of getting dog dander and dust bunnies out from along the skirting boards and corners of cabinets etc. 

Shark Matrix Plus vacuum test

(Image credit: Future)

Shallow enough to get under all our freestanding furniture, including the sofas and the kitchen kickboards, the Shark Matrix Plus also had no problem climbing onto chunky rugs or over the wooden thresholds between rooms, many of which have thwarted less agile robots.

Being largely open view with level flooring throughout the ground floor, our home is the perfect setup for robotic cleaning. But I was also hugely relieved to discover the Shark Matrix Plus could hoist itself over the legs of the lounge chairs in our kitchen, which have grounded every other robot I’ve ever hosted. This meant I’d have to lift the heavy chairs onto the sofa out of the way or go and rescue the robot and restart it mid-clean. I was delighted the Shark Matrix Plus glided over them with barely a grunt.

Shark Matrix Plus vacuum test

(Image credit: Future)

Another genius benefit of the Shark Matrix Plus is its ‘Matrix’ cleaning system, which essentially means it cleans back and forth and then up and down, in a grid-like pattern. The difference between that and a simple back and forth clean was significant. You can only use Matrix if you’re doing one room, presumably because it takes more time and power, but I liked to use it on the living room because that’s our only carpeted room and the results were much better.

You can also Matrix Clean a 5’ x 5’ area without the app, which is great for random spills. You need to carry the robot to the spot, then press and hold the start button for five-to-seven seconds until it says, ‘starting spot clean’. 

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Shark Matrix Plus vacuum test

(Image credit: Future)
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Shark Matrix Plus vacuum test

(Image credit: Future)
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Shark Matrix Plus vacuum test

(Image credit: Future)
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Shark Matrix Plus vacuum test

(Image credit: Future)
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Shark Matrix Plus vacuum test

(Image credit: Future)

I used this spot cleaning function to test the Shark Matrix Plus on an area of flour and oats. As you can see from the photo gallery above, the results were average. It cleared most of the flour, except in the grooves between the wood planks, and left just a few crumbs of oats. I still had to get out my cordless to finish the job, and I only used the low power setting to get the flour out of the grooves, suggesting that my cordless is better than the Shark Matrix Plus, even on its lowest power setting. Annoyingly, there was quite a lot of flour and oats left around the base station when it returned to empty the bin, and I had to get the cordless to clear that up, too. 

Shark Matrix Plus vacuum test

(Image credit: Future)

As I work from home, I really appreciated how quiet the Shark Matrix Plus was, my decibel meter recorded just 46 dB in the low power mode, which is the one I mostly used on our hard flooring. This is similar to the sound of bird calls or in a library and was much lower than Shark’s official rating, which presumably has to include the bin emptying sound level. Being so quiet meant I could have it running around in the background when working, except during Zoom meetings, without feeling distracted or annoyed. It is indeed much louder when emptying the bin into the base station, but it’s very short-lived.

On the point of bins, I did love having the extra capacity of the base station as my usual robot requires daily emptying. However, it fell far short of the 60-day emptying schedule advertised – I found two weeks was about the longest I could leave it. 

Our carpets and rugs are all low pile (upstairs, too), so I can’t tell you how well the Shark Matrix Plus might manage on a thick pile rug, but it did well on our wool carpet in the living room and the jute rug in the kitchen. I mean, it’s hard to say how deep down the clean was, but I didn’t feel the need to get another vacuum out afterwards. 

Shark Matrix Plus vacuum test

(Image credit: Future)

Using in mop mode

Before mopping, I first had to add rug zones to my map, so it didn’t soak the rugs or carpets. This was pretty easy to do, until it got to the exploration run, which you’re meant to do to make sure you have got the rug placements right. The Shark Matrix Plus wandered close to where I’d marked the kitchen rug, and then went a bit mad, zig-zagging all over it. I decided I didn’t have the patience to worry about it and sent it back to base.

Shark Matrix Plus testing

(Image credit: Future)

Once the module is in, the Shark Matrix Plus automatically recognizes it is mopping and – this bit is amazing – it will vacuum and mop at the same time. I’ve only tested one robot vacuum that claimed to mop and was disappointed to discover that it really couldn’t. That other model barely made my floors damp, let alone cleaning them, and because it had to go round and vacuum first, it also took a lifetime to do a terrible job.

By contrast, the Shark Matrix Plus did a much more thorough job and you could see trail marks where it had been, which showed decent coverage. The pad oscillates over the surface, which presumably picks up more dirt than just sliding along. The mop pad was reassuringly dirty when it was done, too. As most of our ground floors are real engineered wood flooring, I also appreciated that the Shark Matrix Plus didn’t flood them in water as that would almost certainly damage them. Oh, and it also managed to find, and skip past, the rugs. 

Shark Matrix Plus vacuum test

(Image credit: Future)

In truth, the results didn’t compare with what can be achieved with an actual mop, and it didn’t get very close into the corners or skirtings, but it was good enough for a mid-week freshen up before getting the mop and bucket out on Saturday morning. 

  • Performance score: 4 out of 5

Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 review: battery life

  • Plenty of power
  • Charges quickly

The battery life ranges from about 85-110 minutes, depending on what power mode you have it on. This isn't anything to rave about, but it only needed one quick recharge when covering our ground floor in max power, which took around 131 minutes (including charging time) to do all six rooms and the hallway (which the Shark app says is 112sq m worth of cleaning). Once recharged, it would return to the spot it left off and merrily resume cleaning. 

The official Shark stats say the battery takes six hours to fully recharge, but I found it only took about three so perhaps it wasn’t completely empty whenever it went back to base. Either way, I had no complaints about the battery life. 

  • Battery score: 5 out of 5

Should you buy the Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1?

Buy it if…

You hate emptying bins

As I own a robot that requires emptying every single day, I can assure you that you need a self-emptying base station.

You have hairy housemates

The roller is anti-hair-trapping and it works well. There were a few hairs around the middle after a month’s testing but nothing like what I’m used to seeing wrapped around my robot’s rollers. It also has proper HEPA dust filtration.

You want zero drama

Of all the robots I have tried, this was the least needy. It never once got stuck or lost, nor sent me a distress message to say it had ‘fallen off a cliff’ (when in reality it was just straddling the doormat). 

Don’t buy it if…

Tech stresses you out

The app is glitchy and unreliable and not terribly informative, either. There may have been swearing…

You want to clean upstairs, too

The mapping currently only covers one floor level, so choose wisely.

You’re OCD about dirt

Like most (possibly all) robots, the suction power isn’t comparable to manually operated vacuum cleaners – use it for daily maintenance cleaning, then do a ‘proper’ vacuum on the weekend. 

Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 review: also consider

Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1

The Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 and Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 are both powerful robot vacuums with mopping capabilities, but they differ in key areas. The AI Ultra excels in smart navigation and AI-powered obstacle avoidance, while the Matrix Plus offers a better clean thanks to its multi-surface brushroll and Matrix Clean

Read our full Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 review

Narwal Freo X Ultra

The Narwal Freo X Ultra and Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 both offer advanced vacuuming and mopping, but they've very differently priced. For the extra loot, the Narwal Freo X Ultra offers self-cleaning mop pads and autonomous water management, ideal for hands-free maintenance. 

Read our full Narwal Freo X Ultra review

How I tested the Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1

  • I used this vacuum in my own home for a month
  • I vacuumed carpets and vacuumed and mopped hard floors
  • I recorded the sound levels using a Decibel Meter App

I used the Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 to clean the ground floor of our four-bed, Victorian family home for a month, using it every day on all our downstairs floors, which include terracotta and porcelain tiles, engineered timber, wool carpet and three rugs. The total area is around 120sq m.

I checked out every feature on the app, and did Spot cleans, Matrix cleans and mopping runs. I liked being able to pick specific rooms, so I could just get the main kitchen and hallway done quickly, but mostly I scheduled the robot to work while I was out of the house, so I could arrive home to nice clean floors throughout.

During testing, I used the decibel meter on my iPhone to monitor noise levels and conducted a test to see how the vacuum coped with flour and oats on hard flooring. 

As part of my job as a journalist specialising in kitchens and bathrooms, I’ve been reviewing vacuum cleaners for publication both online and in print for several years now. I’ve tested lots of robot vacuums, and currently own an Anker by Eufy Hybrid X8, which I like well enough, but I liked the Shark Matrix Plus more. 

Read more about how we test

First reviewed September 2024

Twinkly Strings review: striking smart string lights that aren’t just for Christmas
12:30 pm | September 15, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Home Smart Home Smart Lights | Comments: Off

Twinkly Strings: two-minute review

The Twinkly Strings are smart LED string lights that you can use to decorate your Christmas tree or drape anywhere else in your home that's in need of a little festive cheer. Once you've mapped their position using the Twinkly app, you can set them to a solid color, take your pick from dozens of animations, or even use them to create a picture (either a preset from the app, or one of your own).

They come in four lengths: 26.2ft (100 LEDs), 65.6ft (250 LEDs), 105ft (400 LEDs), and 157.5ft (600 LEDs). I tested the 400 LED set, but 250 LEDs would have been ample for my 4ft tall Christmas tree. The LEDs arrive divided in two bundles as shown in the images below, so I hung one set around the tree and the other across the room.

I tested the Twinkly Strings RGB lights, but there's also an RGB+W version, which could be a good choice if you're planning to have the lights up all year round and would therefore enjoy more subtle white lighting at different color temperatures outside the festive period. The RGB lights are available with black or green cables, and if you opt for the RGB+W version, then you can also opt for clear cables that will be less obtrusive when installed more permanently.

The lights are positioned on springy, zig-zag-shaped wires, which are easy to hang and position. They don't become tangled as easily as conventional string lights; the shape of the wire makes them easy to bundle up once you're done, then secure each bundle with the Velcro tie included in the box. Although I had the black version, the wires weren't very visible when tucked among the tree branches. 

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Twinkly Strings smart lights with packaging

I tested the 105ft Twinkly Strings with RGB LEDs (Image credit: Future)
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Two bundles of Twinkly Strings lights

The strings are divided into two bundles connected by a length of cable, which allows you to spread them out more easily (Image credit: Future)
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Twinkly Strings lights stretched out, switched off

The zig-zag shape of the cable allows it to stretch (Image credit: Future)

Once you've draped the Strings to your liking, open the Twinkly app on your phone (you'll need to create an account if you haven't used it before), switch on the lights and hold the button on the controller until the light turns turquoise. The app will then be able to find the lights, and you can connect them to your home Wi-Fi network. This worked perfectly during my tests, as it did with the Twinkly Line LED strip that I also tested recently.

When that's done and you've installed any necessary firmware updates as prompted, you'll be asked to use your camera to map their layout so that the software can assign the correct color to each bulb to create gradients, patterns and pictures. There are two ways to do this: Easy Mapping, which requires a simple straight-on view of your lights, works fine if they'll mostly be viewed from one angle; and Advanced Mapping, which uses images from multiple angles, and would be useful if you've positioned your Christmas tree in the center of the room or wrapped the lights around something outdoors.

Two screengrabs showing process of setting up Twinkly Strings smart lights

There are two ways to map the Twinkly Strings: Easy, which only requires a front-on view of the lights, and Advanced, which uses images from various different angles (Image credit: Future)

Simple mapping worked just fine for my tree, which was against a wall. Interestingly, the software was able to deduce where the lights on the back were positioned well enough to project a smooth gradient onto the wall, as you can see in this review's main image.

The various preset animations work well, and you can create a playlist that will store them on the Strings' in-line controller, so you don't have to open the app each time you want to change them. Pressing the button on the controller will cycle through your saved options, and holding it will switch them off.

Hand holding Twinkly Strings controller

You can save your favorite light settings to the Twinkly Strings' controller as playlists (Image credit: Future)

Some of the preset animations can be synced to music, as indicated by a musical note beside its name. This uses input from your phone, or from the Twinkly Music sound sensor dongle, which is available to buy separately. It would be nice if there was a microphone integrated into the controller, particularly since the Music dongle requires a USB power supply and the lights will already be using one of your electrical outlets.

I also experimented with using the Twinkly Strings to display a picture, but my tree was too small for this to work well. You could get the general idea, but there weren't enough lights visible at once to create a "canvas" with a sufficiently high resolution. It would be much more effective on a larger tree using the full complement of lights.

The Twinkly Strings work with all the major smart home platforms, and I had no issues at all connecting them to Google Home. The app found them immediately and added them to my living room. I was then able to use them like any other smart lights, and create automations that would turn on all the lights in the room at once with a voice command (such as "Merry Christmas"), or at a particular time.

Twinkly Strings colors mapped in mobile app (left) and on Christmas tree (right)

Once you've chosen an animation in the Twinkly app, you can see how it will be mapped to your lights and make changes (Image credit: Future)

If you only have room for a smaller tree (under 4ft) then you may find that the smallest size (26.2ft) is too long, so you might prefer to opt for the shorter Twinkly Dots.

Covering extra large areas isn't a problem, though. While you can't add extensions to the Twinkly Strings, you can group multiple Twinkly products via the app and use them all together as a massive "canvas". 

Twinkly Strings: price and availability

The Twinkly Strings are available globally direct from Twinkly, or from third-party retailers such as Amazon. The price depends on the length of the string, and whether you opt for the RGB or RGB+W lights.

These prices are around a third less than the equivalent Philips Hue White and Color Ambiance Festavia string lights.

Govee (Twinkly's main rival for the best smart lights on a budget) doesn't have a product that's an exact equivalent – its Christmas String Lights are more like the Twinkly Dots, with LED beads inside a flexible tube that can be wrapped around objects.

Animated GIF showing Twinkly Strings lights on Christmas tree

The lights are very attractive in use, and the various sparkling animations are particularly festive (Image credit: Future)

Twinkly Strings: specs

Should you buy the Twinkly Strings?

Buy it if

You want lights you can use all year round

The Twinkly Strings can be used indoors or out, and the RGB+W version have clear cables that will blend into your decor when not in use – they'll be practically invisible until you're ready to get in the party mood.

You like to go all-out at Christmas

One of the biggest advantages of Twinkly's smart lights is the ability to connect multiple devices together via the app and use them all together to create a massive display. 

Don't buy it if

You only want to liven up a small area

Even the shortest Twinkly Strings is 26.2ft long, with 100 bulbs, and it can't be cut to length. If you want to jazz up a smaller area, the Twinkly Dots may be a better choice. They come in a 9.8ft version with 60 LEDs.

You want to keep it classic

The Twinkly Strings offer so many fun options, it would be a shame not to make the most of them by experimenting with colors, animations, and sound reactivity. They can do a classic twinkling effect, but if that's all you want then the smart Strings will be overkill.

Twinkly Strings: also consider

Still not sold on the Twinkly Strings? Here are two other options you might want to consider.

Nanoleaf Smart Holiday String Lights

Like the Twinkly Strings, these festive lights are a more affordable alternative to the Philips Hue Festavia strings. They only come in one length, but it should be suitable for a typical 6ft Christmas tree. Unlike many smart string lights, these are Matter-compatible to help future-proof your festive setup.

Read our full Nanoleaf Smart Holiday String Lights review

Govee Christmas String Lights

These lights take the form of LED "beads" encased in a clear, flexible cable. They're easier to drape than conventional string lights – but the cable is quite noticeable, particularly on a small tree. They're bright and vibrant, though, and make a fun display.

Read our full Govee Christmas String Lights review

How I tested the Twinkly Strings

To test the Twinkly Strings, I wound one half of the 105ft length around a 4ft artificial Christmas tree, and strung the other half across the length of my living room. I used the Twinkly app for Android to connect them to my home Wi-Fi network. and tested both the simple and advanced mapping options to address the LEDs.

I used them together with the Twinkly Line LED strip, connecting the two devices in the Twinkly app, where I could control them as a single device. I also connected them to my Google Home setup and created custom automations to control them.

Read more about how we test.

First reviewed September 2024

Narwal Freo X Plus robot vacuum review
6:00 pm | September 14, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Home Robot Vacuums Smart Home | Comments: Off

Narwal Freo X Plus two-minute review

The Narwal Freo X Plus is a budget-friendly robot vacuum and mop that does many things well, but a few things fairly badly. If you're just looking at the pros and cons list, the score of this review might not make sense as there are plenty more positives than negatives – but those few negatives can make for a frustrating experience. 

If you're willing to put in the time to understand this model, it could potentially be one of the best robot vacuums for you, especially if you're on a budget. After all, most of the best vacuums that include mopping ability are not going to be this cheap, unless you get something manual like the Bissell CrossWave OmniForce. When it comes to robot vacuums specifically, the price tag for great performance, feature set, and overall functionality goes way up.

The vacuuming performance of the Narwal Freo X Plus is very solid. However, like most budget models that just pull a single stationary pad across the floor, its mopping capability is just passable. Still, you'll generally end up with clean floors. 

However, the Narwal Freo X Plus seems to have a mind of its own. Unless you just set it to clean your whole space in the most thorough way possible, you'll end up with incomplete cleaning cycles. Or it might decide to head off on a different, unassigned job.

At least it has a tiny base station, so that the Narwal Freo X Plus is easier to place than most robot vacuums. Another added benefit is that it's possible to pair and use through a voice assistant like Alexa. All in all, the Narwal Freo X Plus is a somewhat capable robot vacuum that comes with some frustrating aspects, such as its erratic cleaning behavior. But they may be worth dealing with if you're on a budget, or just want to be able to do a basic, whole-home clean.

All components of Narwal Freo X Plus robot vacuum and mop laid out in reviewer's home

Everything you'll find in the box (Image credit: Future)

Narwal Freo X Plus robovac review: price & availability

  • List price: $399.99 / AU$899 (about £310)
  • Launch date: March 2024
  • Available: US and Australia

The Narwal Freo X Plus is available in the US and Australia, with a list form of $399.99 / AU$899. That puts it in TechRadar's budget price bracket, which is particularly significant when you consider it offers mopping as well as vacuuming functionality. Of course, whether it's a good value buy or not will depend on whether you're okay dealing with its navigational quirks. It will still deliver fairly clean floors, but can be a pain to deal with.

This is not necessarily unique to the Narwal Freo X Plus, as the recently reviewed Ecovacs Deebot N10 Plus came with its own quirky frustrations, not to mention weaker suction power than the Narwal, and it comes with a higher $649.99 / £499 / AU$999 price tag. It is, however, available in the UK unlike the Narwal, and comes with better mopping ability.

One of the strange things about the Narwal Freo X Plus is the fact that the company's flagship, Narwal Freo X Ultra, offers much better cleaning performance along with a range of other bells and whistles. Granted, that one is far more expensive (the Ultra costs $1,399.99 / AU$2,299 – about £1,110), but it's strange to see issues with the software given that it's coming from the same company.

  • Value for money score: 4 out of 5

Narwal Freo X Plus specs

Narwal Freo X Plus robovac review: design

  • Compact base station
  • Two side brushes and an anti-tangling brush roll
  • Single, stationary mop pad

When taking a look at the Narwal Freo X Plus' design, the first thing that jumps out is in regards to its teeny, tiny base station. Since its only function is to charge the robot vacuum and give it a place to rest, it doesn't need to do a lot. Still, it's cute in its own way, not to mention makes it easier to find a good place in your space for the robot vacuum. Bigger models with self-emptying dustbins and water reservoirs, such as the flagship Narwal mentioned earlier, need a lot more space (although, of course, there are benefits of having these capabilities built-in).

Dock for Narwal Freo X Plus robot vacuum and mop

Because it doesn't have self-empty capabilities, the dock is compact (Image credit: Future)

As far as the robot vacuum itself, it has the typical rounded shape. There are two side brushes instead of one, giving it a leg up on the vacuuming front compared to models that only have one side brush. The main brush roll is of the anti-tangling kind so you won't find it wrapped with hair, something that's not always considered on budget robot vacuums.

Narwal Freo X Plus robot vacuum and mop flipped over to show underside

The underside of the Freo X Plus, with side brushes unclipped (Image credit: Future)

The mop pad is of the single, flat variety that sits along the bottom back half of the unit. While it does apply some downward pressure, it doesn't do much in the way of scrubbing. I'll talk a little more about how this affects its performance below, but just know that this is normal for budget models and that more expensive ones seem to completely abandon this approach in favor of dual spinning mop pads.

Regarding the manual controls, there are just two buttons – a power button and a home button, each with a secondary function (start/pause/resume cleaning and child lock, respectively).

Narwal Freo X Plus robot vacuum with magnetic cover removed

Remove the magnetic cover to reveal water reservoir and dust cup (Image credit: Future)

The Narwal Freo X Plus is a fairly sleek looking robot vacuum in its all-white aesthetic. That's partially because it covers its small water reservoir and dustbin with a glossy white top that stays in place due to some cleverly placed magnets. Both the reservoir and dustbin are easily removable and easy to fill up or empty, respectively.

  • Design score: 4 out of 5

Narwal Freo X Plus robovac review: performance

  • Very good vacuuming
  • Mopping is just okay
  • Erratic behavior in how it cleans

There are a couple different factors to consider with a robot vacuum's performance, but the core one is vacuuming. Luckily, the Narwal Freo X Plus does a very good job here. Thanks to having two side brushes, it's able to get debris on either side of it. Since it has an anti-tangle brushroll, it's able to tackle aside from charge cords (the kryptonite of all robot vacuums).

Narwal Freo X Plus robot vacuum and mop in reviewer's home

The dustbin is easy to empty (Image credit: Future)

I ran this robot vacuum in a house with two French Bulldogs as well as four adult humans, two of whom have long hair, and it did a great job keeping the floor clean, picking up everything from smaller dust-like particles to debris the size of a leaf. It also picked up hair without issue and without any tangling. I even tested it with a pile of sugar and cereal and it took one pass to suck it all up. 

Narwal Freo X Plus robot vacuum and mop about to clean a pile of cereal from a rug

The Freo X sucked up both fine debris and chunkier spillages with ease (Image credit: Future)

I used it on tile, hardwood floors, and a small but thick bath mat. In terms of just vacuuming, this robot vacuum has the goods regardless of the surface. The Narwal Freo X Plus has 7800 Pa of suction power, which isn't the highest on the market, but based on my tests is still enough to deal with most household cleaning requirements. 

Narwal Freo X Plus robot vacuum and mop cleaning near a dog food bowl in reviewer's home

Mopping performance is a little weaker (Image credit: Future)

Its mopping capability is a little less stellar. I would actually describe it as okay. Since it has the one pad, it's only applying downward pressure. So, somewhat dried pieces of mud in the foyer that a robot vacuum with spinning mop pads would pick up are unaffected. More frustratingly, unless I used the highest mopping humidity setting, it didn't always wet the entire area it mopped, leaving slightly streaky results. If you are going to use this robot vacuum for mopping, my recommendation is to use the highest settings and be prepared to regularly refill the water reservoir.

As far as getting to the edges, it does well with vacuuming, thanks to those two side brushes, but doesn't really get all that close when mopping.

Narwal Freo X Plus robot vacuuming next to baseboards

It gets nice and close to the edges of rooms when vacuuming (Image credit: Future)

The object avoidance, on the other hand, is pretty good. It won't necessarily give a wide berth to any randomly placed object but it will brush up against it. When I placed the bath mat down, the Narwal Freo X Plus vacuumed right up to it on all sides before deciding it could tackle it. Only then did it vacuum it.

Narwal Freo X Plus robot vacuum and mop in reviewer's home

It took a little time, but the Freo X eventually realized it could vacuum my bathmat (Image credit: Future)

Where the Narwal Freo X Plus falls short is in how it decides to clean. When I use the Freo Advice setting in the app, it will take the strangest path. Maybe it's only picking up certain debris on its sensor, but it will clean up maybe 20% of the area that it should. Also concerning, when I run to only clean a particular room, it will decide to move onto another room after finishing its initial job and start vacuuming there instead of returning to the base station. It's frustrating enough that I would rather have it clean the entire space instead of attempting to do any kind of spot cleaning.

  • Performance score: 3.5 out of 5

Narwal Freo X Plus robovac review: app

  • Easy-to-use app
  • Mapping has some shortcomings
  • Works well with third-party voice support

The Narwal Freo app is pretty straightforward to use, from setup to choosing the kind of cleaning you want to accomplish (vacuum only, vacuum and mop, and vacuum then mop). It's also a fairly attractive looking app. I didn't ever feel lost navigating to various settings, whether it's adjusting the specific cleaning settings such as suction power or mopping humidity or opening up the schedule to plan a cleaning.

Image 1 of 2

Screenshots from Narwal Freo X Plus robot vacuum and mop app

(Image credit: Future)
Image 2 of 2

Screenshots from Narwal Freo X Plus robot vacuum and mop app

(Image credit: Future)

The map is pretty easy to use, and you can even see a 3D representation of your mapped space. Of course, it suffers from the same editing shortfalls of a lot of robot vacuum apps, where you're limited on how you partition your space. If you have an open or semi-open floor plan like the space that I often test in, you'll only be able to partition once as you can't section a partitioned space in half.

Screenshots from Narwal Freo X Plus robot vacuum and mop app

Erratic route-planning in action (left) and issues with open-plan spaces (right) (Image credit: Future)

On the bright side, setting it up with third-party control – I tested it with Amazon Alexa – was fairly easy to do. The only quirk is knowing the very specific phrases that it can understand. “Alexa, run the robot vacuum” doesn't work, while “Alexa, ask my robot to start cleaning” does.

  • App score: 4 out of 5

Narwal Freo X Plus robovac review: battery

  • Very long battery life
  • Will return to base when getting low

Possibly because the Narwal Freo X Plus is a bit lighter on features than more expensive units or possibly because it doesn't have spinning mop pads, its battery life of up to 254 minutes is quite a bit longer than what I usually see with robot vacuums. For reference, most units these days have up to 210 minutes of use.

While that's more than enough battery life for even fairly large spaces, the robot vacuum will return to its base when necessary for an extra charge before continuing on with its task if it's running out of juice.

  • Battery score: 5 out of 5

Should you buy the Narwal Freo X Plus robot vacuum?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Narwal Freo X Plus robovac review: also consider

Narwal Freo X Ultra
If you want the full-fat version of what Narwal has to offer, the Freo X Ultra is a much more robust cleaning experience with spinning mop pads that self-clean, a self-emptying base station with clean and dirty water reservoirs, and a whole host of features. It's also much, much more expensive.

Read our full Narwal Freo X Ultra review

How I tested the Narwal Freo X Plus

To test the Narwal Freo X Plus, I used it for a couple weeks to vacuum and mop the hardwood floors and a bath mat (to simulate carpeting) in my house. I also tested all the features listed in the app, from mapping to scheduling. I took note of how well the vacuum cleaned the edges of a room as well as around obstacles, not to mention running how the handheld vacuum performed.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed September 2024

Dreo MC710S Air Purifier Tower Fan review
6:00 pm | September 13, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Air Quality Computers Gadgets Home Small Appliances | Tags: | Comments: Off

Dreo MC710S air purifier: two-minute review

The Dreo MC710S is part tower fan, part air purifier. It promises both cleaner air and a cooler room with a host of smart features thrown in for good measure. It’s definitely on the larger, heavier side, and its industrial grey/silver plastic finish may not win any beauty contests. But, its height and build are practical and deliberate to make sure it offers the range of features and power needed. 

One such feature is its dual DC motors. These motors push air at a speed of up to 27 feet per second, meaning you can put it at one end of a large-to-medium-sized room and still feel a breeze at the other. The oscillation option, which covers up to 120 degrees, then makes sure this air reaches into the corners of the room (albeit at an oscillating speed that's much slower than I'd like). 

The fan operates in four modes: Normal, Sleep, Auto, and Breeze. The Sleep mode lowers the fan speed and noise, making it barely noticeable at night. The Auto mode adjusts the fan speed based on the room's temperature. As its name suggests, Breeze mode creates a gentle flow of air; this is the default setting for when the purifier is running. Note that you can run the fan without the purifier, but not the purifier without the fan. This is a little annoying when you just want to clear, and not cool the air, but it's a minor complaint. Overall, it compares well to the rest of the best fans on the market.

Dreo MC710S air purifier and fan

(Image credit: Future)

Speaking of the purifier, the MC710S' dual filtration system includes a pre-filter and a True HEPA filter. This combo captures 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 microns, making it great for reducing allergens, dust, and other pollutants. During my review, I noticed a significant drop in dust and pollen, and my hayfever was noticeably more manageable. 

There are three purification settings – Low (1), Medium (2) and High (3) – plus an Auto mode that automatically adjusts the power based on the air quality. In tests, the low setting was pretty slow and poor at clearing particulates from the air, yet the high setting was fantastic, clearing dirty air in minutes. The purifier is not as great at getting rid of smells as other, cheaper purifiers I've used like the Levoit 300S, though, so if you’re cooking or have pets, you might still notice some lingering odors.

One of my favorite things about the MC710S is its smart features and remote controls. You can change the settings on the MC710S using the Dreo app, remote control, or through voice commands with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. Setting this up is straightforward, and I loved the convenience of being able to adjust settings without getting up. The app shows near-live air quality data and lets you set schedules, which is a nice touch.

The LED touch display on the fan itself is also intuitive, showing all your selected settings at a glance. The unit also features a color-coded light strip that indicates air quality: blue for Excellent, green for Good, orange for Moderate, and red for Poor. This visual cue is handy for quickly seeing the air quality in your room but I'd like the option to enable alerts that warn me when levels are higher than they should be in case I'm not in the room. 

If you’re looking for a multi-purpose appliance that improves your home's air quality and keeps you cool, the MC710S is definitely worth considering. While it's not the most aesthetically pleasing of appliances and lacks some finesse, its performance, smart features, and ease of use make it a worthwhile investment. 

Dreo MC710S air purifier tower fan review: price and availability

  • List price: $299.99
  • Available in the US

The MC710S is available in the US from Dreo, Amazon and Walmart.

At first glance, the Dreo MC710S's $300 price looks to be on the expensive side. Especially when no other Dreo tower fans exceed $150, and its standalone purifiers top out at $210, for the Macro Max S . In fact, the MC701S is the most expensive product across Dreo's product range.  

However, this price looks more reasonable when you consider that you effectively get two appliances in one; rival products such as Dyson's $649.99 TP07 Purifier Cool or the $550 LG AeroTower Air Purifying Fan are around twice the price; and the MC710S is full of the latest motor and smart tech. 

The most like-for-like alternatives to the Dreo MC710S are the $299.99 Shark HC450, and the $239.99 Hunter HPF500. The Shark model offers a heater function, but lacks Dreo's dual-motor, while the Hunter fan is cheaper because it has fewer speed settings – 9 versus 12 –  and lacks Dreo's smart features, but offers the same HEPA protection.

While $299.99 is far from cheap, it represents good value for money in terms of features, protection, versatility and tech. The smart controls elevate it above many competitors, and with its multi-function design, you don't have to buy or store multiple products.

  • Value for money score: 4 out of 5  

Dreo MC710S Air Purifier Tower Fan specs

Dreo MC710S Air Purifier Tower Fan review: design

  • Bulky, industrial design 
  • Digital, color-coded controls

No matter how you look at it, the Dreo MC710S is large, bulky and bordering on ugly with its industrial-looking grey/silver plastic finish. Measuring 46.46 inches x 118cm tall, it's much taller than I was expecting and looks like a tower fan balanced on top of a purifier... which it technically is. The top half of the appliance is where you'll find the controls, LED display and the tower fan portion of the MC710S. Below the tower fan section is a transparent cylinder where the MC710S' dual-motors can be seen spinning, and this cylinder sits on top of the purifier element. 

The touch control icons, and the corresponding remote control buttons, are relatively self-explanatory and (moving anti-clockwise) represent:

  • Timer: This button lets you set a timer. Once the allotted time has passed, the fan will automatically turn off. 
  • Info: This button get you access to the fan's settings.
  • Minus symbol: Used to reduce the fan speed. 
  • Power button
  • Plus symbol: Used to increase fan speed. 
  • Purification mode: This button is used to select what level of purification you need, ranging from Auto up to Level 3. 
  • Oscillation: Used to set the oscillation range of the tower fan, from 0° to 120° 

Dreo MC710S air purifier and fan

(Image credit: Future)

All of your selected settings are then shown on the LED display located at the top of the tower fan, below the touch panel. This display lets you see, at a glance, the room temperature, which purifying and fan modes are enabled, the lifespan of your filter, and the fan speed (when adjusted manually). 

It also features a thin strip of light that changes color based on your room's air quality. A blue light means the air quality is Excellent; green means it's Good; orange warns you when particulate levels are Moderate and higher than they should be; while a red light is an indication that your air quality is Poor.

Dreo MC710S air purifier and fan

(Image credit: Future)

The remote control features the same icons found on the touch panel. Alternatively, you can control the MC710S using the Dreo app, or via your voice by connecting the air purifier tower fan to your Amazon Alexa, or Google Assistant. 

Setup of these smart features is quick and easy. In fact, setup of the appliance generally takes less than five minutes, including getting it out of the box and removing the plastic cover from the filter. The only slightly lengthy task in the whole process is setting up a Dreo account, but even this is painless.

Dreo MC710S air purifier and fan

(Image credit: Future)

Elsewhere, there is a carry handle on the rear of the appliance to make it easy to move around, but the bulky shape and hefty, 17.8lbs / 8.1kg weight don't lend themselves well to portability so you're unlikely to move the fan after you've got it in place. 

I typically like to move my purifier into different rooms, depending on my needs i.e I put it in the kitchen when I'm cooking steak or fajitas, or I put it in my youngest son's room at night when the pollen count is high. This is nigh-on impossible with the MC710S. To put this weight into perspective, the Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool Formaldehyde HP09 which is often seen as one of the bulkiest on the market weighs less, at 12.6lbs / 5.5kg. 

With the MC710S, it's clear Dreo has prioritized function over form. It doesn't win any points for subtlety, nor does it blend seamlessly into the background, but it is incredibly easy to set up and use and the extra height and weight helps maximize its performance.

  • Design score: 3 out of 5

Dreo MC710S Air Purifier Tower Fan review: performance

  • Powerful airflow 
  • Doesn't reduce odors as well as expected
  • Purification speeds vary 

The Dreo MC710S aims to hit the sweet spot between being a powerful fan and an effective air purifier and it almost manages it.

As a fan, the Dreo MC710S works well. It's powered by dual DC motors and pushes air at a speed of up 27 feet per second. This means that if you place it at one end of a large-to-medium-sized room, you’ll feel a breeze all the way across the room, even on the lower speeds. The oscillation feature, which swings up to 120 degrees, then helps make sure the cool air reaches the corners of the room. The fan comes with four modes – Normal, Sleep, Auto and Breeze. 

The Sleep setting lowers the fan speed, and noise. The Breeze setting reduces the power of the air flow, and the Auto setting sees the fan automatically adjusting its speed setting based on the room's ambient temperature. The fan isn't as powerful or effective as an air conditioner, and the oscillation speed is slower than I'd like, but it does a decent job of making a room feel cooler by moving the air around efficiently.

Dreo MC710S air purifier and fan

(Image credit: Future)

The downside is that the blast of air is almost icy and this can feel a little uncomfortable if you get the angle, speed or distance slightly wrong. It took a fair amount of tweaking and experimenting to find the optimum settings. Talking of settings, the fan can be on without the purifier, but the purifier can't be on without the fan. As soon as your turn the purifier on, the fan runs gently on 'Breeze' mode and oscillates at a default 30 degrees. You can't disable these features. 

I assume that this helps to improve the effectiveness of the purifier, because I don't know why else this would be the case, but it's not always needed and meant that I had to be particular about where I placed the unit so I wasn't cold while the purifier was running. On Breeze mode, as well as on the lower fan settings the fan is whisper quiet. I barely even realised it was on. The noise does increase considerably on higher settings – as high as 69dB on the top speed, which is around the sound of a car running – and this makes it difficult to have on when you're watching TV or similar. Especially if you're the one sat closest to it.

Dreo MC710S air purifier and fan

(Image credit: Future)

When it comes to air purification, the Dreo MC710S uses a dual filtration system that includes a pre-filter, which traps larger particles like dust and hair, as well as a True HEPA filter. The MC710S promises to captures 99.97% of tiny particles as small as 0.3 microns and this means it can reduce allergens, dust, and other pollutants in the air. My son and I both suffer from hayfever and even on days when there were so-called 'pollen bombs' in my local area, neither of us experienced symptoms to the extent we normally would. This makes it great for people with asthma, allergies or other respiratory problems.

What's more, my kitchen was undergoing a renovation during my review period and the purifier helped remove a noticeable amount of the dust in the air. Even though it wasn't in the kitchen itself, and was in the living room on the other side of the house. It performed less admirably in removing odors, compared to some other air purifiers I've tested such as the Levoit 300S.

Dreo MC710S air purifier and fan

(Image credit: Future)

There are three purification settings – Low (1), Medium (2) and High (3) – plus an Auto mode that automatically adjusts the power based on the air quality. To test these purifying capabilities, I sprayed deodorant directly at the purifier for five seconds and timed how long it took for the air quality to return to normal on the lowest, and highest settings.  

During the first test, on the lowest setting, the particulate level rose to 880ug/m3. It then took an hour and 15 minutes to return the air quality to normal/excellent. By comparison, on the highest setting it took just 15 minutes to go from Poor (960ug/m3) to Excellent. Interestingly, the purifier continues to take air quality readings even when it's not on, and this is useful for identifying trends and tracking air-quality changes based on certain events. 

I just wish that it would alert me when air quality reached dangerous levels so I could turn the purifier on and clear the room. Or even better, it turned on automatically – from being plugged in but switched off – cleared the particulates and turned off again. I found myself regularly asking "Alexa, what is the PM2.5 of Tower Fan" and becoming almost obsessive about it. A little more automation would give me peace of mind. 

Dreo MC710S air purifier and fan

(Image credit: Future)

Speaking of voice controls, this soon became my favorite way to control the fan. If I heard a lot of drilling going on downstairs, I could ask Alexa to turn the purifier on and off while upstairs. It let me set timers and adjust the fan remotely, so the room was cool for when my sons got home from school, and I could then track all of these settings on the Dreo app. This convenience goes a long way towards mitigating some of the minor complaints I have about the unit.  

I didn't have the purifier on constantly during the four-week review period. I would use it twice a day – once in the morning and once in the evening – to clear the room, occasionally turning it on at other times, when we had friends over or when the building work was particularly busy. The filter only dropped to 98% during this time. A replacement filter costs $39.99 and Dreo recommends replacing it at least every six months so you need to factor this cost in. 

Overall, the Dreo Air Purifier Tower Fan MC710S does a decent job as both a fan and a purifier. It has its flaws, and there are features that could elevate it from decent to good, or even great, but it works as you'd expect and does what you need it to do.

  • Performance score: 4 out of 5  

Dreo MC710S Air Purifier Tower Fan review: voice control

  • Easy to set up 
  • Adds an extra level of control and personalization
  • Perfect when juggling work or the kids 

One of the standout features of the Dreo MC710S is the ability to control it using voice commands via your smart speaker. I have Amazon Echos in a number of rooms across my house and being able to check on the air quality, and control the purifier and fan no matter where I was in my home, was great. 

Once the purifier is connected to your home Wi-Fi, it can connect to any Amazon Echo or Google Home device on the same network at the press of a button through the Dreo app. This app also gives you voice command prompts to get you started, which can be found via Settings and clicking the voice assistant you've connected it to – either Amazon Alexa, or Google Assistant.

You can ask Google or Alexa to turn the purifier on and off and adjust the fan speed – either by asking it to select a specific speed, increasing or decreasing the speed, or setting it to maximum/minimum. You can also ask your smart speaker to set the MC710S to a specific mode – Normal, Auto, Sleep, or Breeze.  By connecting to Alexa, you can also access basic controls via the Alexa app – on/off, fan speed, mode, and display options.

Dreo MC710S Air Purifier Tower Fan review: app

  • Offers a range of control options
  • Color-coded design is intuitive and simple to use
  • Near-live air quality data

The app, as well as using voice commands, is one of my favorite features of the Dreo MC710S. It's intuitive, and everything is well-labelled and clear. An image of the fan sits in the center of the app's home page. If you have multiple Dreo devices you can swipe left and right to access each. Below this image on the left is a clock icon, where you can quickly set the fan to turn on after a set amount of time, plus the on/off button on the right. 

Below the clock icon is the Climate widget that shows the live air-quality levels above the ambient temperature, next to a Schedules widget. In the next row is your current filter life, and the settings menu. 

When the device is on, you can see which mode it's on and whether both the fan and purifier are enabled, or just the fan. Clicking either of these icons takes you to detailed controls page which shows: 

  • Mode
  • Temperature
  • A live air quality reading with corresponding color
  • Purification on/off button
  • Fan on/off button
  • Fan mode controls and speed slider
  • Oscillation controls 
  • Preferences 

Clicking the Climate widget shows you air quality and temperature readings for the past 24 hours, and 30 days. These readings are shown on a color-coded chart – red for Poor, orange for Moderate, green for Good, and blue for Excellent. As the air quality changes, so does this number and the screen's color. 

Despite the fact these charts deal with some complex information and could be confusing, Dreo makes them easy to navigate and read by carrying through its color-coded system and keeping details to a minimum.

There's a delay of around five minutes in this chart being updated following an air quality change, so it's not hugely useful in the moment, but it's interesting and useful to check after the fact. It's also reassuring to see how the levels change over the day and how well the purifier responds.

  • App score: 5 out of 5

Should I buy the Dreo MC710S Air Purifier Tower Fan?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

You're on a budget
At $299.99, the Dreo MC710S is pricey compared to other standalone fans and purifiers on the market.

How I tested the Dreo MC710S Air Purifier Tower Fan

  • I used the Dreo MC710S Air Purifier Tower Fan and its partner app for 4 weeks
  • Stress testing different substances
  • Experimented with different speeds, modes and settings

I used the Dreo MC710S Air Purifier Tower Fan in the living room of my home for four weeks in peak hayfever season. During which time my kitchen was also being renovated and builders were in the house every day. 

Every morning and evening I used the device to track and manage the air quality, and used the fan on a range of speeds and settings in different scenarios, including when I had friends over. I also experimented with controlling the device using the Dreo app, the physical remote control, and via my Amazon Alexa speaker. 

To test the air purification monitoring and speed, I sprayed a heavy particulate aerosol (deodorant) on the purifier for five seconds while it was in different purification modes and timed how long it took for the air to clear. I also measured the volume with a mobile phone decibel meter. 

Read more about how we test.

First reviewed July 2024

Doro Hemma Doorbell review: security and safety don’t get much simpler than this
10:00 pm | September 8, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Home Home Security Smart Home | Comments: Off

Two-minute review

The Doro Hemma is a beginner-friendly video doorbell that can transform that knock on the door into something you can respond to, wherever you are. It comes packed with both an adhesive sticker and a wall mount that can be screwed beside your front door, and you can have it up and running within 10 minutes.

The doorbell also comes with a USB-C cable for recharging it, which is necessary after about 10 days of use. The 1080P camera resolution is clear, and it can detect movement, letting you know thanks to notifications sent to your device. The camera also has night vision, so you can have a clear feed when someone visits at night.

After testing the Hemma doorbell for several weeks, I’ve found it to be a great option for those just getting started with using smart home devices. The Doro Hemma app, available to download for free from Apple's App Store and Google’s Play Store, is very straightforward and makes the main features of the doorbell easily accessible in seconds. The Doro Hemma Chime, which can plug into any UK power socket, can ring loudly to alert you that someone has arrived while you're at home.

Doro Hemma app on iPhone

The Doro Hemma app is available for iOS and Android, and makes it easy to set up and operate your doorbell (Image credit: Future)

However, there are a few drawbacks. The doorbell detects any movement. This can be a hassle if you live in an apartment block and people walk past your door frequently, so be prepared for a bunch of notifications to alert you if 'movement' is enabled. Additionally, the lack of support for HomeKit, Apple’s smart home framework, is disappointing. This means you can’t check someone at the door while managing your smart lights or Apple TV in the Home app, nor can you use Siri to view the video feed.

That said, Doro’s Hemma Doorbell is still a great entry-level device if you’re new to smart home appliances, especially for £150 (about $200/AU$300) with no monthly subscription fee. Combine that with an easy-to-use app that lets you respond to someone at the door at any time, anywhere, the Hemma is an easy contender to be featured in our guide to the best video doorbells.

Doro Hemma Doorbell and adhesive

The Doro Hemma can be attached to your doorframe with an adhesive strip if you don't want to drill holes (Image credit: Future)

Doro Hemma Doorbell: price and availability

  • List price: £150 (about $200 / AU$300)

The Doro Hemma Doorbell is available for £150 on Doro's UK website, which is a fair price for what it offers, and about average for a battery-operated video doorbell. Inside the box, you'll find the doorbell, a plug to amplify the bell chime, an adhesive to stick the doorbell to a wall, a mount if you prefer to screw it to a wall, and an instruction manual. 

There are no extra accessories for the Hemma Doorbell - it’s a straightforward smart home appliance that focuses on one job to respond to those knocking on your front door - but that's what makes this doorbell so appealing. There's also no monthly subscription fee to access its full features, unlike many other video doorbells.

The Doro Hemma isn't available outside the UK at the time of writing.

  • Value score: 4.5/5

Doro Hemma Doorbell: specs

DORO Hemma Doorbell USB-C port

The bottom cover releases to reveal the USB-C charging port, but doesn't detach completely so it can't get lost (Image credit: Future)

Doro Hemma Doorbell review: Design

  • Easy to set up
  • Great app to check video footage
  • Rechargeable battery 

The Doro Hemma is a video doorbell and nothing more. It's designed for people who don’t own a variety of smart home products, and don't necessarily choose to keep up to date with the latest smartphones. Instead, Doro has made a doorbell that simply shows you who's at the door through a video feed and respond accordingly. 

The Hemma Doorbell delivers on that with a clear HD camera and a responsive button that produces a clear chime and a flashing green light when pressed. Its white casing may clash with certain doors, but perhaps that’s the point. This doorbell must be seen, otherwise visitors may end up knocking on the door, wondering why no one is answering.

The battery isn’t removable, so expect to charge the Hemma Doorbell through its USB-C port about once every 10 days. Thankfully, you’ll get a helpful notification sent to your device that it needs charging, so it won't run our of juice unexpectedly.

Doro Hemma app notification

You'll receive a notification when someone rings the Doro Hemma doorbell (Image credit: Future)

The Doro Hemma app, available on Apple’s App Store and Google’s Play Store, is well made for someone who doesn’t use their smartphone often. Its clean layout means that every option and toggle is a press away, as well as offering the ability to watch the live video feed from the doorbell at any time. A couple of features stand out, safety-wise. The 'Assist' function can divert the video feed to a friend or relative, so they can answer the stranger at the door if needed. There's also a 'Siren' button in the app that will generate a loud noise from the doorbell, alerting anyone nearby if you feel unsafe.

Overall, the Hemma app is intuitively designed that empowers the most inexperienced tech user, enabling them to manage a video feed or call someone for help if needed.

  • Design score: 4.5

Doro Hemma Doorbell: performance

  • Good wireless connectivity
  • Virtually no delay when speaking with visitors via mobile app
  • Motion detection slightly too sensitive

Once the Doro Hemma Doorbell is installed near your front door and set up using the instructions in the mobile app, it’s time to put it through its paces.

As long as there’s an active internet connection, you can reach the doorbell through the Hemma app on an iPhone, iPad, or Android phone to glance at the video feed. During testing the feed always displayed perfectly, whether I was using a Wi-Fi network or mobile data. I could easily see the outside of my apartment while listening to anything in the area if I wanted to, without any issues.

When someone presses the doorbell button, a chime will play thanks to the plug that will be nearby, and your phone will receive a notification that someone is at the door. The chime is loud and hard to miss, and if you’re away from home, pressing on the notification will open the Hemma app lets you respond to the person at the door by speaking to them.

The delay on the video feed was minimal - it was similar to having a chat through FaceTime or Google Meet. The audio was impressively clear too, whether I used my iPhone's speaker or wireless earbuds, making it easy to speak with visitors.

DORO Hemma Doorbell beside door

There's minimal delay on the video feed, which makes it easy to hold a conversation with visitors through the app when you're away from home (Image credit: Future)

However, I recommend switching off the motion detection feature. I found it to be very sensitive, sending constant notifications to my iPhone whenever something went by my front door. Whether it was someone who lives in an apartment adjacent to me, or kids running by, the notifications would pile up. If you don't live in a detached house, consider deactivating it.

Overall, Doro’s Hemma Doorbell is a straightforward product that does its job well, especially for those new to smart home appliances. The doorbell easily alerts users that someone is at the door via a great app, as well as the great quality of the video and audio that it provides.

  • Performance score: 4/5 

Should you buy the Doro Hemma Doorbell?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Also consider

We’ve got lots of tips on how to buy a video doorbell, but the best comparisons are below.  

Doro Hemma Doorbell not for you? Try out one of these alternatives...

Doro Hemma Doorbell review: How I tested

  • I tested the Doro Hemma Doorbell for several weeks, using the Hemma app on my iPhone 15 Pro Max and Pixel 4a handsets.

I attached the Doro Hemma Doorbell to the side of my front door with the supplied adhesive with the ‘detect movement’ setting enabled to make sure it worked. After a while, I turned it off once it was proven to be the case.

I used the Hemma app to open the video feed on a Wi-Fi, public Wi-Fi, and 5G Cellular connection to test the quality of the feed. I also tested the audio when family knocked on to see how clear my wife and I sounded across the different internet connections.

The video was captured thanks to the storage in the Doro Hemma Doorbell and replayed on my iPhone and Apple TV to see how it looked.

First reviewed September 2024

Dreame Pocket Hair Dryer review
4:00 pm |
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Hair Care Home Small Appliances | Comments: Off

Dreame Pocket Hair Dryer two-minute review

The Dreame Pocket Hair Dryer is a petite styler that performs surprisingly well considering its small size. In my hunt for the best hair dryer, I've yet to come across a compact styler that truly delivers full power and perfect performance, but the Dreame Pocket comes tantalizingly close. 

Despite weighing just 10.5oz / 300g and measuring a tiny 1.97 x 5.71 x 7.91in /  5 x 14.5 x 20.1cm, it has all the power and versatility of a full-sized styler. Its high-speed motor operates at 110,000 RPM and generates a powerful airflow of 70 m/s, all while keeping noise levels below 80dB. It provides five modes to suit different hair types and needs, ranging from Cold, Warm and Hot to the Instant Cold Air cool shot, and Hot & Cold Cycling mode designed to reduce potential heat damage. It comes with two attachments: the Unfrizz nozzle for sleek, straight hair, and the Curling nozzle for creating curls or waves.

In my tests, it took 3 minutes and 45 seconds on average to rough dry my long, thin hair using the dryer's Warm mode, on Low speed. This dropped to just 2 minutes and 35 seconds on Warm mode at High speed. The drying time increased slightly to 4 minutes and 5 seconds, on average, when using the Cycling Mode on High speed but the improvement in hair quality was worth this small time sacrifice. 

The Dreame Pocket Hair Dryer in its storage bag

(Image credit: Future)

And all this is before we even get to the fact the Dreame Pocker dryer is foldable. This not only only means it can be easily stored inside its Dreame-branded storage bag ready for travelling, but it also allows you to adjust how the dryer is used. For example, when the dryer is in the "7" shape, it can be used on its own, or with the Unfrizz nozzle attached. You can then extend the barrel up into a "1" shape before attaching the Curling nozzle and turning the dryer into a curling wand. This hinged design additionally allows you to change the angle of the barrel mid-style, to help you dry hard-to-reach areas and bring a high-level of precision and control. 

The dryer isn't perfect, though. The performance of the Curling nozzle lets it down, and the attachments themselves are so clunky that they detract from the effort that has been made to pack a whole load of power into such a compact shape. That doesn't mean the Dreame Pocket isn't a good investment. Whether you need a quick touch-up on the go, or a full styling session at home, this hair dryer delivers professional results in a compact package. Just don't expect miracles.

Dreame Pocket Hair Dryer review: price & availability

  • List price: $159.99
  • Available: US/EU

The $159.99 / €159 Dreame Pocket hair dryer is the latest launch in Dreame's growing hair care range, joining the $99 / €79 Dreame Gleam, and $129 / €129 Dreame Glory.

It's sold in the US as well as in a select number of countries in continental Europe from the Dreame website, and Amazon. The folding dryer is available in a Titanium Gold color and ships with two attachments – the Unfrizz Nozzle, and Curling Nozzle – as standard.

Its price and power puts the Pocket dryer in the mid-range bracket, sandwiched between the likes of the $129 T3 Featherweight and the $149.99 BaByliss Pro Portofino. Its folding design and compact, lightweight shape also position it in the travel dryer category, where its rivals include the $139 Drybar Baby Buttercup and the $199 GHD Flight+, while the attachments even draw comparisons with the Shark FlexStyle and even the Dyson Airwrap. 

As a result, the Dreame Pocket stands largely in a category of its own and this enhances its value for money and versatility. It's not cheap but these features go a long way towards justifying its price tag.

  • Value for money score: 4.5 out of 5

Dreame Pocket Hair Dryer specs

Dreame Pocket Hair Dryer review: design

  • 3-in-1 folding design
  • 5 modes and 2 airflow speeds
  • Curling and Unfrizz attachments
  • Comes with storage bag

The first thing I noticed about the Dreame Pocket hair dryer, other than just how light and compact it is at 10oz / 300g, was its folding design. Other foldable dryers tend to mask or disguise the folding mechanism. Dreame instead makes a feature of it by not only designing the hinge in chrome, while the rest of the dryer is a brushed gold color, but also in showing almost the full hinge itself. 

The Dreame Pocket Hair Dryer folded

(Image credit: Future)

The mechanism is incredibly smooth and the barrel locks securely into place, whether you're using it as a standard dryer, in the so-called "7" shape; extending the barrel upwards into a "1" shape with the Curling nozzle attached; or when you're folding it in half, into an "N" shape, ready to pack into a bag. The Pocket dryer measures 1.97 × 5.71 × 7.91in / 5 × 14 × 20.1cm. 

Rear of the Dreame Pocket Hair Dryer

(Image credit: Future)

On the rear of the cylindrical barrel is a curved filter, and there are just two controls on the dryer's handle – the Airflow switch, and a Mode selection button. This buttons are used to control Pocket's two airflow speeds, Low and High, and its five temperature modes:

  • Cold 
  • Warm
  • Hot
  • Instant Cold Air Mode 
  • Hot & Cold Cycling Mode

The Cold, Warm and Hot modes are relatively self-explanatory. The Instant Cold Air mode is effectively a Cool Shot that allows you to blast your hair with cold air instantly, without having to re-cycle through the modes to reach the dedicated Cold setting. As the name suggests, the Hot and Cold Cycling Mode then cycles between hot and cold air as you style your hair, in a bid to reduce potential heat damage. I first used this feature on the BaByliss Air Wand and while it increases the styling time slightly, it makes a noticeable difference to the finish and feel of your hair. 

Controls on the Dreame Pocket Hair Dryer

(Image credit: Future)

It's easy to see at a glance which mode you're using on the Dreame Pocket, thanks to color-coded LEDs on the Mode selection button. A solid blue light represents Cold mode. Press the button again and you'll see a solid orange light which represents Warm mode. A solid red light represents Hot mode, and the lights will repeatedly flash between red and blue on the Cycling Mode. To enable the Instant Cold Air mode, just press and hold the button until the light turns blue. Note that once you stop pressing and holding the button, the dryer will return to whichever mode was previously selected. 

The hair dryer comes with two attachments, designed to create and set a range of straight, wavy and curly styles, and which both lock in to place on the Pocket's barrel using magnets. The Curling Nozzle looks almost identical to the curling wand attachment on the Shark FlexStyle, and it uses the same coanda effect found on both the FlexStyle and Dyson Airwrap to pull the hair and wrap it around the barrel. This dries the hair and sets it into a curl or wave, depending on how tight you wrap the hair, and how long you hold it in place. 

The Dreame Pocket Hair Dryer with its attachments

(Image credit: Future)

Dreame's Unfrizz Nozzle reminds me of the Flyaway attachment found on the Dyson Supersonic. It uses the Coanda effect to draw the hair towards the attachment, before using the so-called Bernoulli effect to reduce frizz and flyaways. The Bernoulli effect means that the faster the air, the lower the pressure. When used on the Pocket dryer, this effect helps calm flyaway hairs, causing them to lie flat. 

Both attachments are large compared to the compact dryer, and look almost out of place when attached. The Curling nozzle alone is the same height as the entire dryer and this detracts slightly from the travel-friendly nature of the whole setup. To put this into perspective, the dryer ships with a small Dreame-branded, waterproof storage bag which is only just big enough to store the dryer and its 5ft / 1.5m cord. You need to do some clever packing in order to get the zip to do up with the attachments inside, and even then, it's tight.

To truly appeal to all hair types, I would have liked to see the Dreame Pocket ship with a diffuser, but this is a minor point. Also, the Pocket is not dual voltage, unlike the GHD Flight+, which may limit its usability in regions with different electrical standards.

  • Design score: 4.5 out of 5

Dreame Pocket Hair Dryer review: performance

  • 1000-watt motor
  • High-speed motor operates at 110,000RPM 
  • 79dB average noise

There is very often a trade-off in power and performance when you buy a travel hair dryer, or even a compact dryer for that fact. This is not the case with the Dreame Pocket. I was amazed – and I don't use that word lightly – with how well this dryer performed on my longer, fine hair. 

The airflow speed, even on Low, does a fantastic job of drying the hair quickly without blasting it into submission. Despite the small barrel and grille, the hair dryer manages to cover a large amount of hair as it dries, and being able to grip the handle completely provides a high level of precision and control, as does the fact you can subtly alter the angle of the barrel to direct the airflow. I had worried that the location of the buttons would cause me to knock them mid-style by accident, but this wasn't the case. They're perfectly positioned to be able to apply enough pressure to change the mode, without ever getting in the way. 

A hand holding the Dreame Pocket Hair Dryer

(Image credit: Future)

In my tests, it took 3 minutes and 45 seconds on average to rough dry my hair using the Warm mode, on Low speed. This dropped to just 2 minutes and 35 seconds on Warm mode at High speed. The drying time increased slightly to 4 minutes and 5 seconds, on average, when using the Cycling Mode on High speed. 

I experimented with all of the various combinations of airflow speeds versus modes and the best results I achieved were using the Pocket Dryer on Cycling mode at High speed. The smooth and sleek finish it creates is worth the slightly longer drying times, plus after four weeks of use, my hair felt and looked healthier. Adding the Unfrizz nozzle to the mix then further enhanced just how smooth and healthy my hair looked. This nozzle takes a little getting used to as you run it along the shaft of the hair but it makes a noticeable difference. It also helps bring second-day and even bed-hair under control. 

The Dreame Pocket Hair Dryer with its Unfrizz Nozzle attached

(Image credit: Future)

I had less success with the Curling nozzle, however. I've never rated the Airwrap all that highly because I find its curling wands to be poor, and I had the same issue with the Pocket dryer. To get the best results, your hair can't be too dry or too wet and getting this balance right is an art in itself. The Pocket's Curling nozzle does a better job, in my opinion, of pulling the hair into place than the Dyson, but it's still too unwieldy and temperamental for my liking. I get much quicker, better, long-lasting results with my curling tong. I also found the weight distribution to be a little unbalanced when using the Pocket in the "1" shape and this added to my frustrations. This is a major flaw in an otherwise fantastic dryer. 

Dreame Pocket Hair Dryer on its side

(Image credit: Future)

On the plus side, the magnets do a great job of keeping the attachments locked in place when you need them to, while allowing you to swap the nozzles in and out easily and safely while styling. And the final positive feature of note on the Pocket dryer is how quiet it is. There is little difference, noise-wise, between the Low and High speed settings with both averaging just 79dB during my review period. It is easy to have a conversation, or hear your music or TV while using this dryer.  

  • Performance score: 4.5 out of 5

Should you buy the Dreame Pocket Hair Dryer?

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it if….

How I tested the Dreame Pocket Hair Dryer

I used the Dreame Pocket as my go-to styler over the course of four weeks at home and during a weekend trip away. I used it most mornings as a replacement for my usual hair dryer – the Revlon One Step – to dry and style my long, thin hair. For travel testing, I packed the dryer in its storage bag and included it in my carry-on luggage for a weekend trip. 

To thoroughly test the dryer, I experimented with the full range of speed and temperature combinations, and nozzles. I paid close attention to the dryer’s features, how fast and effectively each of the modes and attachments worked, and how easy it was to use. I measured the decibel levels of the dryer on Low and High speeds throughout the testing period to achieve an average noise score. 

Read more about how we test

First reviewed July 2024

EZVIZ EP3x Pro Doorbell review: once you try this dual-lens doorbell, it’s hard to use any other
1:00 am |
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Home Home Security Smart Home | Comments: Off

Two-minute review

EZVIZ’s EP3x Pro Doorbell is a smart device that allows you to view and respond to those knocking at your front door at any time. This doorbell has two cameras - one at a 2K resolution to see the person at the door, and another at 1080P that’s angled to display any parcels on your doorstep. The video from these cameras is super clear, especially at night. The doorbell also emits a bright light when it’s dark, providing a colorful night vision video, allowing you to see who was at your front door while you were fast asleep.

Granted, the EP3x Pro looks like a bigger, chunkier cousin of the Ring Video Doorbell Pro, but when you start looking at what EZVIZ’s doorbell offers, you can forgive the bigger size. First off, it’s battery powered, which lasted around four weeks during our tests. You can recharge the doorbell via a USB-C port, but it also comes with a solar charger that you can place beside it to keep it charged. This also means that you can place the doorbell anywhere you want, without having to worry about connecting it to a power cable.

The built-in 32GB storage is another standout feature, allowing the doorbell to record video straight away without a subscription. It’s a breath of fresh air compared to many of the best video doorbells, which often lock cloud services and exclusive features such as recording behind a paywall. It's a welcome approach, especially for users who may be buying a smart doorbell for the first time.

Installing EP3x Pro Doorbell with the app

The EZVIZ app guides you through the process of installing the doorbell, and we had it running within minutes (Image credit: Future)

Throughout our time with the EP3x Pro, we used the EZVIZ app, available on both Apple’s App Store and Google's Play Store. The app was required for setting up the smart doorbell, which was a seamless affair. We had it up and running within minutes. The app provides a guided tour of its features, as well as how to maintain the doorbell with software updates and manage the video and audio settings.

One feature worth mentioning is the record list, which lets you play back video clips showing anyone who knocked at your door over the last 30 days. This can be very handy if you need to check on a missed delivery.

EZVIZ EP3x Pro Doorbell cameras

The EP3x Pro has two cameras, one of which is angled down to record packages left by your door (Image credit: Future)

EZVIZ EP3x Pro: price and availability

  • List price: $149.99 / £129.99 (about AU$220)

You can buy EZVIZ’s EP3x Pro Doorbell from Amazon, or direct from EZVIZ. It’s a great price for what this doorbell offers: dual cameras, night vision, great battery life, 32GB internal storage, and the ability to save video clips without a subscription.

The EP3x Pro is a particularly good option if you’re looking for a video doorbell that doesn’t need to be connected to the mains in order to work. Its price tag of $149.99 / £129.99 (about AU$220) and lack of membership fee mean it's also one of the more affordable battery-operated options around.

  • Value score: 5/5

EZVIZ EP3x Pro: specs

EZVIZ EP3x Pro USB-C port

The doorbell can be charged using its USB-C port (Image credit: Future)

EZVIZ EP3x Pro review: design

  • Dual-lens cameras to get a good view of the person and the package
  • Battery can be recharged via USB-C or solar charger
  • Very easy to install

The EZVIZ’s EP3x Pro has a minimalist design that reflects its main purpose: to show you who’s knocking on your door, and let you see packages on your porch.

The dual-lens cameras are very useful when you’re away from home to see who’s visited with a delivery, no matter if it was during the day or the night. Thanks to the EP3x Pro's bright light, visibility was never an issue during my tests.

I also appreciated the solar power attachment, which saves you the hassle of having to charge the EP3x Pro when it’s low on power. Some people may think it's an ugly thing to have beside their front door, but it’s a very useful one.

Installing the EP3x Pro is very straightforward, thanks to the supplied adhesive and mount. Combine that with the very handy dual-lens cameras and you’ve got a smart doorbell that will be a fixture outside any home for years to come.

  • Design score: 4.5/5

EZVIZ EP3x Pro review: performance

Setting up the EP3x Pro is easy enough, from charging the doorbell via USB-C to mounting it near your front door. The EZVIZ app gives you a helpful step-by-step guide to what the doorbell is capable of, with annotated pictures that describe every button and function in detail to prevent you from pressing the wrong setting.

You can use the EZVIZ app to see up to six months of video clips, thanks to the 32GB of storage that’s built into the EP3x Pro. It’s a welcome addition, as many smart doorbells usually require you to buy a microSD card as well as a monthly subscription to use similar features.

EZVIZ app

The EZVIZ app sends you notifications when the doorbell detects motion, and allows you to review videos captured by its two cameras (Image credit: Future)

When the doorbell detects motion, it will send a notification to your phone that you can tap to open the app and play any video that the EP3x Pro has captured. It’s a useful feature, and we were able to respond to visitors in real time. However, notifications were sometimes delayed, meaning that we missed someone who had pressed the doorbell. We experienced this when connected to a public Wi-Fi network or 5G, so we suspect this is a bug that EZVIZ should look into.

The built-in battery with the supplied solar attachment is a standout feature. Unlike many other doorbells, which have to be connected to the mains, you can have the EP3x Pro run on solar power without having to worry about it, especially if there are power cuts.

Overall, the EP3x Pro is a fantastic smart doorbell that doesn't require a monthly subscription. Once you’ve bought it, you can take advantage of everything it offers. From that alone, it’s a smart doorbell that’s worth considering.

  • Performance score: 4.5/5

EZVIZ EP3x Pro Doorbell mounted beside door

The EZVIZ EP3x Pro has a clean, minimalist design (Image credit: Future)

Should you buy the EZVIZ EP3x Pro?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Also consider

We’ve got lots of tips on how to buy a video doorbell, but the best comparisons are below.  

Do you think EZVIZ's EP3x Pro isn't for you? Try out one of these alternatives instead...

EZVIZ’s EP3x Pro review: How I tested

  • I tested the EZVIZ’s EP3x Pro for several weeks, using the EZVIZ app on my iPhone 15 Pro Max on Wi-Fi and cellular connections

I attached the EZVIZ’s EP3x Pro beside my front door with the supplied adhesive. I enabled ‘Intelligent Detection’ to allow the doorbell to spot anyone outside my apartment, so it could send me a notification to my phone if it did.

I used the EZVIZ app to view the video feed on a Wi-Fi, public Wi-Fi, and 5G Cellular connection through my iPhone 15 Pro Max in order to test the quality of the feed. I also tried out the audio when family knocked on to see how clear my wife, son, and I sounded across the different internet connections.

Video was captured thanks to the 32GB built-in storage of the EP3x Pro Doorbell, which was Replayed on my iPhone and Apple TV to see how well it looked.

First reviewed September 2024

Lockly Visage Zeno Series deadbolt smart lock review: a big improvement made even better by Apple
4:05 pm | September 5, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Home Home Security Smart Home | Tags: | Comments: Off

One-minute review

How can you unlock a door? Let me count the ways. That's the ethos of the current generation of best smart locks, including the new Lockly Visage Zeno Series smart deadbolt. It will happily let you gain access with an old-fashioned key, fingerprint, pin code, your face, your smartphone, and even your smartwatch.

This is the second Lockly smart lock I’ve brought into my home and, if I'm being honest, I didn't have high hopes. My last Lockly worked well enough, but it also ate through AA batteries as if they were candy (eight at a time!), needed a dedicated and finicky Wi-Fi hub, and seemed incapable of remembering fingerprints for more than a week. It was also large, loud, and – as my wife often told me – ugly.

The Lockly Visage, though, is a welcome change of pace. Not only is it 35% smaller and more attractive-looking on both sides of the door, it finally uses a rechargeable battery pack, and it even ships with two batteries so that when one drains, you have another fully-charged one ready to go.

It's got built-in Wi-Fi (and Bluetooth), which means you no longer need to have a separate hub and, perhaps best of all, it's Apple Home Key-compatible, which means you can unlock your door with one of the best iPhones.

Unlike my last Lockly, the Visage does not include a video doorbell, but that's fine, since that only worked half the time with my old lock. Instead, there's a camera on the front that lets you use your face (once you've registered it) to unlock the door. While I got so tired of the various quirks of my previous Lockly that I didn’t bother to change out the batteries, so we were basically using it as a dumb deadbolt, the new Lockly Visage feels like its first truly smart lock.

In particular, the integration with Apple Home Key allows us to do proximity unlocking. When we pull into our driveway, the home network sees that we’re there and asks if we want to run the unlock routine before we even set foot on the front porch. I could get used to this.

Lockly Visage Zeno Series review: price and availability

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Lockly Visage Zeno Series

(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
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Lockly Visage Zeno Series

(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
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Lockly Visage Zeno Series

(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
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Lockly Visage Zeno Series

(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
  • List price: $349
  • Available at Home Dept starting September 5
  • Not currently for sale on Amazon
  • US only

At $349, the Lockly Visage Zeno Series smart deadbolt ranks as one of the more expensive smart locks. The August Smart Lock Pro, which lacks features like facial recognition, and fingerprint unlocking (like the Lockly, it does support Apple HomeKit, Alexa, and Google) might run you a hundred less. Such is the price of versatility.

Along with the two control units (for the front and back of the door), the Lockly Visage ships with a pair of rechargeable batteries, the deadbolt, door-open sensors, and two keys.

The smart deadbolt is only available in the US for now. Lockly says: "The Zeno Series of locks will launch in the US first. The company will continue to bring new products to the global audience, including the Zeno Series, at a later date."

  • Value: 4/5

Lockly Visage Zeno Series review: specifications

Lockly Visage Zeno Series review: design and installation

Lockly Visage Zeno Series

(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
  • Helpful video guide
  • Drops the ball on wiring storage
  • Solid construction

Even under the best circumstances, deadbolt installation can be difficult. While much of the hardware is standardized, I’ve found that you often must make small adjustments to compensate for differences in hardware. Sometimes, this involves chipping away a bit of wood to make space for slightly different-shaped deadbolt plates, while other times you might need to carve out space for a sensor.

I was lucky, though. My previous Lockly smart deadbolt installation meant that most of the pieces of the Lockly Visage just fit. I didn’t even have to cut a new space for the magnet side of the deadbolt sensor; I just left the old one in place in my door frame and lined up the new sensor with it on the door side.

This is not to say there were no installation issues. Smartlocks use DC electricity and a bundle of wiring to make their magic and I found that while most of Lockly's installation instructions were clear, when I had to fit a cluster of cables behind the interior side lock and battery pack, they didn’t fit. It took me a bit of trial and error to realize that some of that wiring had to be shoved back inside the lock housing to properly seat the interior lock on my door.

Image 1 of 3

Lockly Visage Zeno Series

(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
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Lockly Visage Zeno Series

(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
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Lockly Visage Zeno Series

(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

Lockly also shipped me an optional smart deadbolt insert that I could've used to get rid of the external door-closed sensors. Unfortunately, the installation would have entailed dismantling a sealed part of the Lockly Visage's interior housing, and I didn‘t feel comfortable doing that (at least not yet).

Once I had everything seated properly, both sides of the lock fit snugly against my door. The exterior plate is smaller and less cluttered than my old Lockly. I like that it no longer has what I saw as an unnecessary metal cover over the keyhole. 

The interior cover now slips off easily to access a battery compartment that takes one palm-sized battery pack. As soon as I put it in and pressed the program key for four seconds, the Lockly Visage began a self-check. I noticed that the battery was only 60% charged. I plugged the other one into a USB-C charger just to make sure it would be ready for when this one died. One of the benefits of using Apple HomeKit is that I can run the Lockly without Wi-Fi access and save a significant amount of battery life. I've left it on to see how quickly the battery drains and, after almost a week of use, its down to 58%, just 2% lower than where it started.

  • Design and installation: 4.5/5

Lockly Visage Zeno Series review: control

  • Decent app with a lot of options (sometimes hidden)
  • The best use of Apple HomeKit
  • Unlock the way you want

The app setup was easy, and integration with Apple HomeKit was a matter of scanning the code on the lock and then adding it to my Home.

Apple HomeKit and the Home app controller turned out to be a highlight of the Lockly Visage experience. The Home app asked me if I wanted to automate unlocking using my iPhone and I said yes. All four of my family members are registered as part of my Apple iCloud Family account, which means that now all of them can unlock the door with their phones.

To unlock, you need to hold your phone near the lock and using FaceID to confirm your identity.

Lockly Visage Zeno Series smart lock on Apple Home

Lockly Visage Zeno Series on Apple Home (Image credit: Future)

My wife, ever the skeptic about all things smart-home, was impressed that the system just worked. And when she found that she could set up the system to unlock when she arrived home she admitted, "That might be useful." And when it actually worked she called it "amazing." That's high praise indeed from someone who expressed outright hatred for our previous Lockly smart lock.

While I was happy to continue using my phone and watch to unlock the door, I did set up fingerprint recognition, which let me register multiple fingers in succession. I like that the fingerprint scanner is now on the front of the external lock instead of the side.

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Lockly Visage Zeno Series

(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
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Lockly Visage Zeno Series

(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

For FaceID unlocking, I registered my face by looking at the lock from different angles as the app on the phone guided me through the process. Such operations require Bluetooth, which means I need to keep my phone close to the lock for face unlock to work.

I am a bit disappointed that Lockly went with Bluetooth 4.2 instead of the longer-range BLE 5.0. Similarly, it's unfortunate that the Lockly Visage only supports 2.4Ghz Wi-Fi and not 5GHz Wi-Fi.

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Lockly Visage Zeno Series smart deadbolt

The smart lock with the deadbolt extended (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
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Lockly Visage Zeno Series smart deadbolt

The magnetic door open/closed sensor (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

To unlock with my face, I need to tap a small circle on the Lockly Visage outside unit’s screen. It worked pretty much instantly. Both Lockly and Apple's Home App will notify me when the door is locked, unlocked, or jammed. I turned off the notifications from Apple's Home app because it was becoming too much.

Another nice but not immediately obvious upgrade is that this smart deadbolt is a lot quieter than my last Lockly. I can still hear the motor locking and unlocking but, it's noticeably quieter.

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Lockly Visage Zeno Series

(Image credit: Future)
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Lockly Visage Zeno Series

(Image credit: Future)

Performance: 4.5/5

Should I buy the Lockly Visage Zeno Series ?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Lockly Visage Zeno Series review: Also consider

Lockly Visage Zeno Series not for you? Try out one of these alternatives...

How I tested the Lockly Visage Zeno Series smart deadbolt

  • I installed it in my home's front door
  • We use it every day

I installed the Lockely Visage Zeno Series smart deadbolt in my home’s front door, which is our primary point of access.

We tested and continue to use all the features of the lock, especially the HomeKit-enabled automation features.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed September 2024

Eureka J20 robot vacuum review: outstanding mopping
6:18 pm | September 2, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Home Robot Vacuums Smart Home | Tags: , , , | Comments: Off

Eureka J20 robot vacuum two-minute review

The Eureka J20 provides the next generation of mopping technology thanks to its RollRenew mopping system. This is one of the best mopping solutions I’ve seen on any robot vacuum. It achieves superior performance by not only mounting the mop pad onto a roller but also spraying fresh water onto it as it rotates around. This helps to ensure the mop is always cleaning the floor with a clean pad. This leaves oscillating mopping solutions in its wake and seems likely to become become the go-to option for customers prepared to pay a premium for the best robot vacuum.

As well as excellent mopping capabilities, the J20 is also very capable when it comes to vacuuming. My tests with crushed digestives biscuits, flour, and oats were adequately dealt with when I increased the suction power to either Turbo or Super Strong. There were times when I needed to carry out a small follow-up sweep, but this was only on larger and more stubborn debris. All in all, the vacuuming performance of the J20 is up there with the best.

LiDAR mapping and AI obstacle detection performed incredibly well, leading to an accurate and reliable map of our house. It handled table legs and other furniture with ease, although this did add to the amount of time required to map the space. Eureka’s app is equally good, with outstanding mapping technology and customizable cleaning schedules.

Eureka J20 robot vacuum in its base station

(Image credit: Future)

The robot vacuum is only half the story, though. The J20 is backed up by an impressive base station that fulfils a range of duties, including charging, self-emptying, and refilling the vacuum water tank. It carries all of these out with very little fuss; all you have to concern yourself with is making sure the base station is filled up with water and the debris receptacle is emptied every so often. The station is a little on the large side, however, so you’ll want to make sure you have enough room for it before investing in this product.

The design of every part of the vacuum and base station is well considered and perfectly engineered. Premium materials are found throughout, helping not only to improve the user experience but also increase the longevity of the device.

There’s little not to love about the J20. This is a premium robot vacuum solution that delivers great vacuuming and mopping performance. The €1,399 price point will put a lot of people off but if you have the money to cover the investment, there aren’t many better alternatives on the market.

Eureka J20 robot vacuum review: price & availability

  • Launched: Summer / fall 2024 
  • Price EU $1,399 / $1,399 (equivalent to £1,100 / AU$2,075)
  • Available in Europe, US and Australia launches to follow, no launch date for UK

At the time of writing the Eureka J20 is available in four European countries: Germany, France, Italy, and Spain. The €1,399 price tag puts it at the higher end of robot vacuum cleaners and TechRadar's premium price bracket, but that's reflected in the feature set. Robot vacuums do tend to attract discounts around major shopping events like the Black Friday sales, though, so there's a chance you might be able to avoid paying that full list price. 

In North America the J20 will be available on eureka.com with a retail price of $1,399, although during the US launch period there will be a $300 coupon, making the final price $1,099. An Australian launch is expected but there's no word on pricing, and so far there's no mention of a UK launch from Eureka.

  • Value score: 4 out of 5

Eureka J20 robot vacuum specs

Eureka J20 robot vacuum review: design & features

  • 8,000 PA vacuum
  • RollRenew mopping system
  • Bagless self-emptying base station

The Eureka J20 vacuum and base station are relatively compact, especially considering the overall functionality and number of features. That doesn’t mean it’s particularly small, though. With dimensions of 423 x 462 x 452.5mm, you’ll need a fairly good amount of space to keep it out of the way. I was fortunate to have a space in my utility room that meant it wasn’t in the way of foot traffic. If you’re tight on space and have a small hallway or kitchen, you’ll need to look for a smaller unit.

Everything was safely packaged, guaranteeing nothing was harmed in transit. After unboxing everything, I plugged the base station in, placed the robot inside, and waited for it to be fully charged. The robot connects to the charging point through two metal plates, which automatically line up without any requirement for human intervention.

In the meantime, I downloaded the Eureka app, which is essential for use as well as for maximizing all the features. Connecting the robot to the app was a breeze, and my phone was able to find it with no problems at all.

While the robot is off mapping your house, the app displays all the progress in a simple and straightforward floor map. It is only after mapping the whole space that rooms can be labelled and zones specified. All in all, the app is incredibly intuitive and easy to navigate. If you’ve never owned a robot vacuum before, then controlling it from a phone will take a bit of getting used to, but you’ll soon get the hang of it.

Controls on the Eureka J20 robot vacuum base station

(Image credit: Future)

All parts look and feel premium, helping to ensure durability when moving around the house. The reality is that at times it might have to interact with children or pets, but there are no concerns that the J20 won’t be able to withstand the test. The units are made from powder-coated dark grey plastic, helping to hide any scuffs and marks that will inevitably come their way. All parts of the robot and base station are easy to wipe clean.

The robot itself is fairly simple in design, with two buttons located on the top of the unit. One is for sending the robot back to its base station for charging, while the other starts and pauses the cleaning process. The same two buttons are also located on the base station for ease of access.

Underside of the Eureka J20 robot vacuum

(Image credit: Future)

Underneath the robot is where all the magic happens. Sensors and brushes help to keep the robot on track as well as pick up dirt. The mop assembly is the crowning feature of the vacuum. Engineering it onto a belt means the mop pad stays cleaner for longer and that fresh water is regularly applied to the surface being cleaned. This sets it apart from a lot of traditional robot vacuums that only vibrate a mop pad across the surface.

Water tank for the Eureka J20 robot vacuum

(Image credit: Future)

One of the best things about the base station design is how easy it is to remove and insert the various tanks, including the clean water and waste water tanks. These fit seamlessly into the casing and are super easy to fill up/empty.

  • Design score: 4 out of 5

Eureka J20 robot vacuum review: performance

  • Great vacuuming capabilities
  • Roller mop picks up spills nicely
  • Fantastic mapping technology

The biggest evolution for Eureka and for the industry as a whole is the proprietary RollRenew mopping system. This did a fantastic job of cleaning up spills, as long as you got the vacuum to work on them pretty quickly; if it was left for a while, the J20 found it harder to take care of them in the time it was gliding over them. More water would have helped but that’s not usually desired, especially on real-wood floors. The J20 performed better than the Eureka E10s, thanks to the roller mop functionality.

Moving onto vacuuming, my tests involved sprinkling a mix of crushed digestives and flour, as well as oats, onto my carpet and hard floor before seeing how the Eureka J20 performed on its Quiet, Standard, Turbo, and Super Strong suction strengths. The lower settings didn't pick up anywhere near enough debris to make them worthwhile, either on carpet or hard floors.

The Turbo and Super Strong settings were much more capable of picking up the flour and biscuits to a satisfactory standard, although you’ll have to be prepared to put up with nearly 70dB of noise while it’s happening.

Eureka J20 robot vacuum on a carpet

(Image credit: Future)

After testing the core elements of vacuuming and mopping, I turned my attention to the amount of noise the device was making. This is important because the quieter the vacuum, the more likely users are going to be able to utilize it at the end of each day without the fear of interrupting a quiet night in.

The audio volume of the J20 increases from 60dB on its lowest suction to 70dB on its highest. This is comparable with Eureka’s other models, such as the E10s, which had an almost identical audio range. The audio levels are not particularly comfortable, especially if you’re trying to relax at the same time. I prefer to put the robot to work either while I’m out during the day or when I’m doing other jobs.

After performing a clean, the J20 will return to its base station and empty its contents. The advertised capacity of the base station receptacle is 75 days, a length of time that is obviously dependent upon your home and how much dirt needs cleaning. In reality, it will need emptying as regularly as any standard upright vacuum would.

Eureka J20 base station opened to show the dust bag

(Image credit: Future)

Eureka has always done a fantastic job of integrating state-of-the-art mapping and navigation technology into its robot vacuums. The same is true for its J20 model. Despite taking a while to map out our home and making a number of wrong turns in the process, the resulting map was incredibly accurate. Our rooms have a lot of table legs, which I thought would confuse the robot, but instead it gradually and methodically worked its way around.

The overall performance of the J20 among the best I have ever seen. It effectively picks up dirt, mops up spills, and requires very little human intervention to finish cleaning tasks.

  • Performance score: 4.5 out of 5

Eureka J20 robot vacuum review: app

  • Intuitive to use
  • Specific room and zone mapping
  • Ability to schedule cleans

Eureka has managed to create an app that is not only remarkably easy to use but also offers a lot of functionality. Having used the app with the Eureka E10s, I continued to be impressed by all that the app offers.

Downloading and installing the app was an absolute breeze. After connecting the vacuum, I proceeded to carry out an initial mapping of the space. The vacuum and app linked seamlessly to provide a usable scan of the house, including a map of scanned rooms. Each of these can be labelled for easier navigation and customization as well as the ability to set no-go or no-mop zones, perfect for carpeted floors.

Eureka E10s App

(Image credit: Future)

Eureka provides a number of different ways to get your space cleaned. The first is to select specific rooms on the map and hit the clean button. This is ideal if you know you have mess in a set number of rooms but don’t want to carry out a full clean. Alternatively, zones can be specified, which is perfect for cleaning those high-use areas.

By far the easiest and most hassle-free option is to set up scheduled cleans and let the vacuum just crack on with doing what it does best. The app lets you specify a time, a repeat schedule, and a number of cleaning cycles. Each scheduled clean can also include the rooms that you want cleaned.

I found all of these features to be incredibly easy to use but I would understand if someone less tech-savvy needed a little bit of help getting everything set up. There were also occasions when troubleshooting was required and if you weren’t able to work through these problems yourself, then I could see how it could become a little frustrating.

  • App score: 4.5 out of 5

Eureka J20 robot vacuum review: battery life

  • Battery lasts up to three hours
  • Takes around three to four hours to recharge

The 6,400mAh battery is advertised as lasting 180 minutes. This running time is only remotely achievable when used with the lowest level of suction power. You can expect this to reduce by as much as half when using the highest power setting.

Given the fact that this level of suction is required almost all the time, you’ll want to weigh up whether you’re happy with this battery performance. Measuring your space is a good start. I found the robot able to cover in the region of 750-850 square feet per charge.

Recharging the robot from empty takes around three to four hours, which is more than easily achieved between cleans. The robot is also intelligent enough to know when it needs a boost and will return to the base station accordingly.

  • Battery life score: 3.5 out of 5

Should you buy the Eureka J20 robot vacuum?

Buy it if...

You want a roller mop

The selling-point of the Eureka J20 is the mop that is mounted to a roller. This helps to ensure that fresh water is applied to each new stain, thereby improving the overall performance of the mop.

You want a self-emptying base

The J20 robot vacuum transfers all of its debris into the base station every time it returns. This reduces the number of times the main dustbin needs to be emptied.

You love great design

The J20 really looks the part. Every individual element has been expertly designed and crafted to provide a beautiful looking unit.

Don't buy it if...

You are on a budget

At €1,399, the Eureka J20 is far from affordable for most people. The benefit of paying this much money is that you’ll get to enjoy a range of premium features that are not available on cheaper alternatives.

You need a long battery life

The J20 provides a reasonable battery life but at the highest suction power, the battery does begin to struggle a little. If you have a particularly large home and want to complete it in one charge, you might run into some problems.

You want a tried and tested model

The J20 is a relatively new entry into the world of robot vacuums and despite the great features, it hasn’t built up a sufficient track record to make it one of the greats.

How I tested the Eureka J20 robot vacuum

  • Tested with several full cleans of my home
  • Used all vacuum and mopping settings
  • All floor types, including carpet and hardwood

My 600-foot home was perfect for testing the Eureka J20. The mix of carpets, hardwood floors, and a low-pile rug meant I could test all the features of this impressive robot vacuum. After setting it up and mapping the space, I endeavored to let the robot get on with its cleaning, independent of my involvement. There’s no use having a robot vacuum if you’re always going to have to intervene.

More specifically, I included a fine dust and larger debris test to check its vacuuming capabilities. The former was made up of crushed digestives and flour, with the latter consisting of oats. These helped me see how well the vacuum was able to handle different types of mess.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed: July 2024

Smeg BCC13 review: perfectly extracted espresso and foamed milk every time
4:00 pm |
Author: admin | Category: Coffee Machines Computers Gadgets Home Small Appliances | Comments: Off

Smeg BCC13: one-minute review

The Smeg BCC13 is a fully automatic bean-to-cup espresso machine with an automatic milk frother, which produces consistently well extracted coffee time after time.

The BCC13 is built to a very high standard, with thoughtful touches like an easy to access dump bucket for grounds; refill, cleaning, and descaling alerts; and smooth interior surfaces that are a piece of cake to keep clean. The machine warns you whenever refilling or cleaning is necessary, and a quick clean cycle of its milk and dispenser system takes just one minute from start to finish.

It has presets for nine different drinks, plus hot water for making tea, and you can tailor the length of lattes, cappuccinos, and americanos to suit the size of your cups. The most popular drinks are available with a single tap of the buttons on top of the machine, and less common options can be accessed by holding a button to access a secondary menu. It's not always immediately obvious which button relates to which drink, so you may find yourself relying on the quick start guide for the first week or so, but you'll soon get the hang of it.

Smeg BCC13 coffee maker with milk system attached

This is the first machine in the BCC series with an automatic milk frothing system (Image credit: Future)

This is the first coffee maker in the BCC series with an automatic milk frother, and it works extremely well. Just pour your milk into the robust container (which has an airtight lid so you can store it in the fridge), immerse one end of the rubber tube, and gently push it into place on the side of the dispenser. The BCC13 produces thick, creamy foam for cappuccinos and lattes, and the milk is heated enough to break down the lactose for a delicious, sweet foam without ever being scalded.

It doesn't work well with plant-based milks (even barista ones), but that's typical for a coffee maker with an automatic frother and Smeg does warn you that results won't be the same as they are with dairy. If you enjoy oat or soya in your lattes and cappuccinos, you might prefer to opt for one of Smeg's coffee makers with a manual steam wand, which give you total control. Our guide to the best espresso machines includes lots more options to check out.

Smeg BCC13: price and availability

  • List price: $1,200 / £799.95 / AU$1,199
  • Launch date: July 2024
  • Availability: global

The Smeg BCC13 launched in July 2024, as a successor to the Bean to Cup BCC02. It has a list price of $1,200 / £799.95 / AU$1,199, and although it was only available in the UK initially, it can now be bought worldwide.

That's more than the BCC02, which retailed at around $1,000 / £680 / AU$970 depending on the retailer, but the price increase isn't huge considering the BCC13 has been upgraded with a fully automatic milk frother.

Bean-to-cup machines always carry a premium price tag, but the BCC13 certainly isn't the most expensive coffee maker of its type. The De'Longhi Dinamica Plus is an excellent machine, but at $1499.95 / £1199.99/ AU$1529 , it's beyond the budget of all but the most serious espresso lovers.

If you're on a tighter budget, I recommend considering a manual espresso machine like the Breville Bambino Plus, which retails at $499.95 / £399.95 / AU$649. There's more of a learning curve and you'll need a separate coffee grinder, but it's half the price and earned four and a half stars from our reviewer.

  • Value score: 4.5/5

Smeg BCC13 coffee maker preparing a cappuccino

The BCC13 heats milk enough to break down lactose for a sweet foam that never tastes scalded (Image credit: Future)

Smeg BCC13: specs

Smeg BCC13: design

  • Sleek, modern look
  • Thoughtful touches for easy cleaning
  • Drink option buttons need a reference guide

The Smeg BCC13 looks almost identical to the BCC02, but instead of a steam wand permanently attached to the front, it has a removeable rubber hose for its automatic milk steaming system. It's a stylish machine, with a smooth black, white, or emerald green case and a brushed aluminum front. 

The dispenser on the front slides up and down with a smooth motion to accommodate different cup sizes, and has a port in the side for the milk hose. You can remove the milk pumping system by opening the front of the dispenser and pulling the unit out for cleaning.

Coffee beans are loaded into a hopper on the top (the BCC13 will warn you when it's empty) and there's a large water reservoir at the back, with a carry handle so you can easily take it to the tap or use a filter jug to refill it. The reservoir has a generous maximum capacity of 47.34oz / 1.4L, so it doesn't need refilling often, and the machine will automatically purge the water line when the reservoir is re-inserted,

Smeg BCC13 coffee maker with full water reservoir removed

The reservoir is generously sized and well designed, with a sturdy carry handle that makes it easy to remove from the back of the BCC13 (Image credit: Future)

A side door in the machine allows you to access the machine's brew group, which will sometimes need cleaning to remove buildup of coffee grounds. Just press the buttons on the side of the group unit, then gently pull to remove it. Once it's out, you can simply rinse it under a tap to get rid of buildup, then give it a dry with a tea towel before replacing it.

You'll receive a warning from the machine when the brew group needs cleaning, and a light will illuminate on top if you've accidentally left the panel off.

Smeg BCC13 coffee maker with side panel removed

The machine has a removable side panel that lets you access the brew group for cleaning (Image credit: Future)

The drip tray slots onto the front of the machine, and you'll receive a warning when it's starting to get full. It has a generous capacity so it doesn't need emptying too often, despite the machine's automatic purging function, and like all parts of the BCC12, it feels robust and durable.

Used grounds are dropped into a convenient waste caddy at the bottom of the machine, which you'll find by removing the drip tray and sliding out a drawer. The caddy holds up to seven pucks of used espresso, and again, the BCC13 will warn you when it needs emptying. The caddy simply lifts out, and you can wash it using dish soap and water.

Smeg BCC13 coffee maker grounds drawer removed from unit

Used grounds drop into a caddy in the bottom of the machine, and the machine will warn you when it needs emptying (Image credit: Future)

A set of five buttons on the top of the machine let you choose the type of drink you'd like to make. When they are illuminated white, you can pick from espresso, coffee, hot water for tea, cappuccino, and latte macchiato. Pressing the slightly larger button underneath them will switch the lights to orange, and let you choose
espresso light (a less extracted shot), long coffee, americano, espresso macchiato, or foamed milk.

It's obvious what some of the buttons will do from the icons alone, but until you've used the machine for a few days, you'll probably need to consult the quick start guides included in the packaging to remind you what each ones does.

The final button, on the right, starts the machine's quick clean cycle. It will flash after you use the BCC13's milk frothing system, prompting you to fill the cleaning container with water, insert the end of the hose, and press the button for three seconds to purge the system. Dirty water will be flushed out, leaving the machine ready to use again next time.

You can carry on making drinks without performing the cycle, but I timed it, and the process only takes one minute from start to finish.

Woman pressing button on top of Smeg BCC13 coffee maker

You have a choice of nine drink types, plus hot water for tea. The button at the bottom serves as a 'shift' button on a keyboard, letting you pick a secondary option (Image credit: Future)

The machine is supplied with a sturdy milk container with a maximum capacity of  500ml / 16oz, which has a rubberized lid so you can store it hygienically in the fridge when it's not in use. It's easy to clean by hand with dish soap and warm water.

  • Design score: 5/5

Smeg BCC13: performance

The appeal of a premium bean-to-cup coffee maker is consistency, and the Smeg BCC13 excels, creating perfect shots of espresso with thick, rich crema every time. You can tinker with the grind size if you like, but I found the default settings produced a well extracted espresso with no adjustment. The entire process of brewing an espresso took 1:04 minutes from pressing the button to completion, and the BCC13 reached a maximum volume of 67dB (though most of the brewing process was much quieter).

I carried out our regular test of an espresso by placing a teaspoonful of demerara sugar on top. It sat for a few seconds before sinking through the crema, which is a sign of a good shot.

Smeg BCC13 coffee maker pulling an espresso shot with thick crema

Espresso has a rich, thick crema every time, and is consistently well extracted (Image credit: Future)

The inclusion of a hot water setting is a welcome addition that we don't see with all fully automatic espresso machines, and means you don't need a kettle for brewing tea. The foamed milk feature is also thoughtful, providing a babyccino on demand (just dust on some cocoa when it's done).

The built-in milk frother is very consistent, producing thick and creamy foam for cappuccinos and lattes. Milk was never overheated either; the BCC13 warms it enough to break down the lactose for a sweet taste, without scalding it. As with the well extracted coffee, the results are the same time after time, with no manual alterations necessary.

Depending on the size of your cups, you may want to adjust the volume of lattes, cappuccinos, and americanos by changing the amount of milk or water dispensed. You can do this by holding down one of the drink selection buttons until you hear a tone, then pressing the button again once the machine has dispensed the right amount. The BCC13 will save this preset for future use.

If you want to stop dispensing the current drink early, you can do so by tapping the drink selection key. This won't affect the presets.

Whole milk latte made using Smeg BCC13 coffee maker, with a teaspoon of foam removed

Scooping out a spoonful lets you see just how much foam the BCC13 can produce for a latte macchiato (Image credit: Future)

The only real downside is that the Smeg BCC13 can't handle plant milks particularly well. Smeg's documentation advises that although you can steam non-dairy alternatives using its machines, you'll get better results with cow milk, and that certainly proved to be the case. A cappuccino made using barista oat milk had barely any foam on top (as shown in the picture below), and the machine overheated the milk rather than incorporating air. Smeg does warn you about this, and it's standard for a machine with an auto milk frother, so the BCC13 doesn't lose marks for it.

If you want to use oat, soy, almond, or coconut milk to make drinks then you may be better served by the Smeg BCC02, which has a manual steam wand so you can adjust the pressure and use your own technique to get the right texture. Alternatively, you could opt for the BCC01 espresso machine, which has no steam feature at all, and pick up a standalone milk frother like the Dreo BaristaMaker, which has presets for plant milks.

Cappuccinos made using Smeg BCC13 coffee maker with oat milk (left) and dairy milk (right)

Smeg warns that plant milks may not froth as well as dairy milk, and it's not wrong - an oat milk cappuccino (left) had barely any foam compared to the same drink made with full-fat dairy (right) (Image credit: Future)

Fully automatic coffee makers are wonderfully convenient when you just want to make a drink with the minimum of fuss, but the moving parts mean they tend to be more of a hassle to clean than a manual machine. Thankfully the BCC13 keeps that to a minimum by prompting you to carry out regular cleanup tasks so things never get too messy.

You will be promoted to purge the dispenser and tubing each time you use the milk frother, which is sensible and prevents buildup of bacteria. When the quick clean button flashes, fill the square cleaning container with plain water, place it under the dispenser, and insert the end of the milk tube. Hold the button for three seconds and the machine will flush its whole dispensing system with hot water and steam, and pump the resulting waste into a reservoir in the cleaning container. It's impressive just how much it cleans out each time. 

Smeg BCC13 coffee maker after running quick cleaning cycle

You'll be prompted to run a quick cleaning cycle after using the automatic milk frother (Image credit: Future)

A few stray coffee grounds inevitably end up falling inside the machine as it works, but not too many, and they're easy to clean up. The bottom of the BCC13 is easy to access with the drawer pulled out, and its smooth interior surface means you can use a brush or a piece of kitchen towel to wipe it out in a few seconds. The whole machine is made and finished to a very high standard, and there's nowhere for stray grounds to get trapped.

  • Performance score: 5/5

Should you buy the Smeg BCC13?

Buy it if

You value ease of use

The Smeg BCC13 is fully automated, and is the easiest way to enjoy freshly ground and brewed coffee from bean to cup. It will deliver consistently good results time after time, with little to no tinkering required on your part (just a little cleaning when prompted).

You make several coffees daily

The BCC13 is a big investment, so you'll need to be frequent coffee drinker to justify the expense. Making a drink can take as little as one minute from start to finish, so it could be a real time-saver if you usually brew up several times during the day.

Don't buy it if

Coffee-making is your hobby

This is a fully automated machine, so there's not too much space for taking things into your own hands. Smeg also produces some great manual espresso makers (like the stylish EMC series, which you should check out if you like the look of the BCC13 but enjoy the full home barista experience.

You enjoy plant-based milk

As Smeg says, the BCC13 works best with dairy milk, and doesn't handle plant-based alternatives nearly as well. If almond, soy, oat, or coconut is more your thing, you could opt for an espresso machine with a manual steam wand that gives you full control, or skip the steamer altogether and opt for a standalone frother like the Dreo BaristaMaker, which has presets for plant milks.

Smeg BCC13: also consider

If you're not sure about the Smeg BCC13, here are a couple of other options to think about:

Smeg BCC02

If you like the sound of the BCC13 but you enjoy plant-based milk, the slightly older BCC02 would be a great option. It has a steam wand rather than an automated frother, putting you in control of the heat and air integration - and it costs a little less as well.

Read our full Smeg BCC02 review

Casabrews 5700Pro

This machine has its own grinder, and will help with weighing and dosing, but you get more of the barista experience by putting you in control of adjusting the grind size, tamping the grounds, and pulling the shot. The biggest downside is that it's only available in the US at the time of writing.

Read our full Casabrews 5700Pro review

How I tested the Smeg BCC13

I had the Smeg BCC13 on loan for two weeks, during which time I used it to make all sorts of drinks using high quality medium roasted Brazilian espresso beans, and compared them to the same drinks made using a manual Gaggia Classic machine.

I tested the BCC13's automatic milk frother using both chilled whole dairy milk and barista-style oat milk, and compared the results with those created by foaming milk with a manual steam wand.

Smeg BCC13 coffee maker with bag of espresso beans

I tested the BCC13 using Brazilian Arabica coffee beans (Image credit: Future)

I measured the volume of the machine throughout the brewing process using a decibel meter app on my phone, and used my phone's timer to see how long it took to brew a drink and complete a quick cleaning cycle.

Read more about how we test.

First reviewed August 2024

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