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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.

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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)

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

Twinkly Line review: fun and affordable smart lights to jazz up small spaces
6:00 pm | September 1, 2024

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

Twinkly Line: two-minute review

The Twinkly Line is a self-adhesive LED strip light, which you can operate using a physical controller built into the power lead, the Twinkly mobile app, or any of the major smart home systems (including Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Apple HomeKit). I tested the Twinkly Line for several weeks in a home office setup, and connected it to Google Home to control it via voice commands. 

Inside the box, you'll find the Line itself (which can be black, shown here, or white to blend with your decor), the power lead, a set of stickers, and two small adhesive pads, in case you want to attach the controller to a wall. There's no separate Wi-Fi hub necessary.

Setup is straightforward. First, decide where you want your Twinkly Line, and stick it in place. Like all LED light strips, the Line shouldn't be bent at sharp angles; the instruction manual explains the best way to handle corners when setting it up.

The Line I tested here was 1.5m long, which fitted nicely around the front of my desk. It's relatively short for an LED light strip (most rivals are at least 2m), but there are extensions available if you need more length. Some strips from other brands can be cut at positions marked along their length, but Twinkly says that manipulating the Line this way is "strongly discouraged".

Twinkly Line smart lights with box, manual and stickers

The Twinkly Line is 1.5m long, and its length can be doubled with an extension strip (Image credit: Future)

The strip was easy to apply, but sometimes the 3M adhesive stuck to the backing paper. Peeling off the paper slowly yielded the best results, so take your time and don't rush during this part of the installation process. I've had the Line installed for several weeks now, and the glue is still holding it firmly in place on the smooth laminate surface of my desk, with no sign of peeling.

Once the Line is in place, clip the power cord onto the end of the strip (the connectors slide into place), plug it into the socket, and you're ready to link it to the mobile app.

The Twinkly app is easy to use – simply create an account using your email address, grant the necessary permissions (including location tracking when using the app), and it will locate the Twinkly Line via Bluetooth so you can connect it to your home Wi-Fi network. I had no issues with this process, and the app located the device first time, before prompting me to map out the position of the lights with my phone's camera. This also worked seamlessly, even though the lights were curved around the edge of my desk.

With that done, you're ready to start playing with the lights themselves. You can choose a solid color for the Twinkly Line lights, take your pick from a selection of preset animations, or create your own design by using Twinkly's editing tool or uploading a GIF. Some of these options work best if you're using multiple strips or something like the Twinkly Curtain, which gives you a large "canvas" to work with. Nevertheless, there are also lots of scrolling effects that are suitable for a single strip. During testing, I found the Waves and Unicorn Sun presets particularly appealing.

Setup screens for Twinkly Line smart lights app on Android phone

The Twinkly app is easy to use, with a wide selection of preset lighting modes and customization tools for creating your own effects (Image credit: Future)

Some of the animations can be synced to sound as well, which is a fun touch for house parties. The Line uses your phone to capture sound for this purpose, or you can buy a separate Twinkly Music Dongle if you're a frequent partier. The Line doesn't have its own microphone.

Linking the lights to Google Home is straightforward, too. Just search for "Twinkly" within the Google Home app, then log into your Twinkly account when prompted. The app will then find your Line and allow you to assign it to a room. During my tests, the Line showed as offline at first, but became available after I briefly unplugged the strip and then plugged it back in.

Using Google Assistant to control Twinkly Line smart lights

Once you've connected the Twinkly Line to Google Home, you can control its brightness and color with voice commands (Image credit: Future)

When that's done, you can use voice commands to control the Twinkly Line like any other smart light, including adjusting the brightness, changing the color, and setting a schedule.

The lights themselves are bright, with good color reproduction. My only real criticism is the quality of the adhesive and its tendency to stick to the backing paper; but you could apply your own mounting tape, if necessary. The strip is magnetic, too, so if you're planning to attach it to a ferromagnetic surface such as your fridge or a metal door frame, there's no need to use the adhesive at all.

Twinkly Line: price and availability

The Twinkly Line starter set, which includes the LED strip and power cable, retails at $49.99 / £59.99 (about AU$75), but can often be found at a discount from third-party retailers such as Amazon. The 1.5m extension kit, which doesn't contain the power cord, is $19.99 / £19.99 (about AU$30). You can use one extension line per starter kit.

The Philips Hue Lightstrip Plus is longer (2m), but the base kit is considerably more expensive at $99.99 / £79.99 / AU$149.95. It also requires a Philips Hue Hub to unlock its full functionality, which is an extra expense for those who don't already own one. A 1m extension strip costs $39.99 / £24.99 / AU$49.95, and a single Lightstrip Plus can be extended up to a maximum of 10m. 

The Govee LED Strip Light M1 is a more affordable option if you need a long strip, costing $99.99 / £119.99 (about AU$150) for a 5m starter pack. 

Twinkly Line smart lights on edge of desk, illuminated with blue and green wave pattern

Some of the Twinkly Line's lighting modes sync to music, using either your phone or the Twinkly Music Dongle (sold separately) as a microphone (Image credit: Future)

Twinkly Line: specs

Should you buy the Twinkly Line?

Buy it if

You want to liven up a small space

The Twinkly Line is extremely easy to use, and you can have it up and twinkling in just five minutes. The starter kit doesn't give you much length, but the lights are bright, colors are vivid, and the app offers lots of fun options to experiment with.

You're on a budget

The Twinkly Line is one of the most affordable smart light strips around, and is often available at a discount, whether you're buying direct from Twinkly or a third party such as Amazon. Extension strips are cheap, too, and there's no need for an additional hub.

Don't buy it if

You want to cover a large room

The Twinkly Line starter pack includes a 1.5m strip, plus you can add a 1.5m extension for a total length of 3m – this won't be enough if you want a strip to run all the way around your room. The Philips Hue Lightstrip Plus can be extended up to 10m if you need something longer.

You want an alternative to Philips Ambilight

Although the Twinkly Line can respond to music, it has no way of monitoring what's on a screen, so it won't be able to extend the colors if mounted on the back of your TV, for example. If that's what you're looking for, take a look at our guide to the best Ambilight alternatives.

Also consider

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

Philips Hue Lightstrip Plus

If you already have a Hue lighting setup, the Lightstrip Plus is a great way to add accent lighting. The Hue ecosystem is excellent and in constant development, and the Lightstrip Plus can be cut to size or extended up to 10m to fit your space perfectly.

Read our full Philips Hue Lightstrip Plus review

Govee LED Strip Light M1

An affordable option for covering a large area, the Govee LED Strip M1 doesn't look the most attractive when turned off, but it's easy to use, and will really brighten an area with RGB and tunable white LEDs – a rare feature for a light strip, which makes it more than just a party piece.

Read our full Govee LED Strip Light M1 review

How I tested the Twinkly Line

To test the Twinkly Line smart light strip, I installed it on the edge of my desk where I used it for two weeks to see how it would work when turned around the edge of a piece of furniture, and attached to a smooth surface that may prove challenging for the glue.

I connected the Line to the Twinkly app, where I experimented with the various customization options, and to Google Home, where I was able to see how it integrated into a larger smart home ecosystem.

Read more about how we test.

First reviewed August 2024

Ecovacs Deebot N10 Plus review: good value but with some compromises
3:00 pm | August 15, 2024

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

Ecovacs Deebot N10 Plus two-minute review

I’ve generally been a fan of Ecovacs robot vacuums, so I was a little nonplussed testing the Ecovacs Deebot N10 Plus. It’s not a bad vacuum by any means – its 4 out of 5 rating here should make that clear. It’s just that it’s much more stripped-down than a lot of other options out there, whether from Ecovacs or otherwise.

Some of the compromises made to keep the price down mean that it's hard to recommend this as one of the best robot vacuums for those working with a limited budget. Now, its cleaning prowess is pretty good as is its mopping capability. And, the fact that you have to remove the mopping pad if you only want to vacuum , then put it back on if you want to both vacuum and mop, is par for the course for something in this price range.

Ecovacs Deebot N10 Plus set up on a carpet

(Image credit: Future)

However, its operation is on the louder side, the robot vacuum gets stuck exiting its base station if it’s too close to any furniture, and its vacuuming prowess is not ideal if you’re trying to clean up an actual mess (I’ll elaborate on that later).

Still, it does share some characteristics of the best vacuum cleaners in this form factor, such as a long battery life and smart home features through Google Assistant or Alexa. It’s not bad for the price, and, being an Ecovacs product, you’re certain to find it with a pretty decent discount sooner or later.

Ecovacs Deebot N10 Plus specs

Ecovacs Deebot N10 Plus review: price & availability

  • List price: $649.99 / £499 / AU$999
  • Available: US, UK, and Australia

If you’re new to the world of robot vacuums with mopping capabilities, the Ecovacs Deebot N10 Plus’ list price of $649.99 / £499 / AU$999 may seem expensive. However, if you look at some of the more fully featured models we’ve reviewed, it becomes clear fairly quickly that this is actually a pretty good price.

Realistically, you’re going to have to pay $500 / £500+ for anything with mopping functionality. For example, the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum and Mop has an almost identical form factor, including a similar clip-on mopping pad, and will set you back just a little more with an MSRP of $699 (about £559 / AU$1,054). That said, the Deebot N10 Plus has a much better battery life, although it runs a little louder.

If you want an example of a more fully-featured model to really get an idea of the Deebot N10 Plus’ value (or you’re considering splurging), take a look at the Narwal Freo X Ultra. It’s much pricier at $1,399.99 / AU$ 2,299 (about £1,110), but it has double the suction power, quieter operation, and a clean and dirty water reservoir in the base station. The base station auto-fills the robot vacuum's water tank as well as self-emptying its dustbin, and it'll also wash and dry the mopping pads. Also worth noting is the fact that the mopping pads retract so that it can just vacuum carpeting areas and then vacuum and mop hard flooring without having to swap anything out, unlike the Ecovacs Deebot N10 Plus.

If you want to stay in the Ecovacs family but want to opt for a more expensive model, the Ecovacs Deebot T30S Combo is an impressive unit for $1,199.99 (about £950 / AU$1,800), but at the time of writing it's only available in the US.

  • Value for money score: 4.5 out of 5

Ecovacs Deebot N10 Plus review: design

  • Has two side brushes and a brush roll that gets tangled in hair
  • Mopping pad clips on
  • Base station needs a good amount of clearance

The Ecovacs Deebot N10 Plus, available only in all white, doesn’t really break any molds. The actual robot vacuum has two side brushes, which makes it much more effective at sweeping up debris at the edges of a room, an obvious improvement over the single side brush that a lot of models come with.

Underside of the Ecovacs Deebot N10 Plus

(Image credit: Future)

The brushroll underneath that actually picks everything up is easily accessible, thankfully, since it does collect hair easily and will need to be untangled regularly. That said, even when wrapped in hair, it still seems to get the job done.

Though this is a robot vacuum with mopping functionality, the Deebot N10 Plus requires a bit of manual labor that you won’t find on more expensive units. Not to make it sound like hard work because it’s not, but you have to clip on the mop pad when you want to utilize that feature, then you have to unclip it whenever you want to use it on carpeting. It will however avoid any kind of carpeting when the mop pad is in use. You also have to fill up the water reservoir in the vacuum itself regularly.

Everything included with the Ecovacs Deebot N10 Plus

(Image credit: Future)

In fact, I learned that lesson the hard way when I originally set up the base station in a room with carpeting and the Deebot N10 Plus would get stuck on the carpet every time it tried to run. While it’s not that much work, this is not the set-it-and-forget-it type of robot vacuum. Of course, that’s to be expected at this price point when you add in mopping.

Speaking of the base station, it’s kind of cute in its petite, somewhat slim design. It has just enough room for a dust bag, since it does have a self-emptying capability. The only other thing worth mentioning is that the bottom plate that the robot vacuum sits on when at rest is at an angle.

Ecovacs Deebot N10 Plus

(Image credit: Future)

And when you have the base station too close to a piece of furniture (a chair in my case), the robot vacuum will try to exit off to the side of that bottom plate instead of going straight back, which results in it getting stuck. It’s frustrating, but easily fixable if you give the base station a good amount of clearance on either side.

  • Design score: 4 out of 5

Ecovacs Deebot N10 Plus review: performance

  • Good for maintenance cleaning
  • Vacuuming gets to the edges, mopping does not
  • Runs a bit on the loud side

Most robot vacuums are great for keeping the daily buildup of dirt at bay, while not providing true deep cleaning. That’s certainly the case with the Ecovacs Deebot N10 Plus. You’re still going to need to deep clean from time to time, and you'll still need to grab a more traditional vacuum when dealing with unforeseen messes.

Ecovacs Deebot N10 Plus jammed up by hair

(Image credit: Future)

When vacuuming, for instance, the Deebot N10 Plus does a great job of keeping the floor clean, picking up dander and hair. As mentioned above, hair does get tangled in the brush roll, so you’ll have to clean that out from time to time. However, I didn’t find that that affected its ability to suction up debris.

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Ecovacs Deebot N10 Plus cleaning up cereal

Ecovacs Deebot N10 Plus cleaning up cereal (Image credit: Future)
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Ecovacs Deebot N10 Plus cleaning up seasoning

Ecovacs Deebot N10 Plus cleaning up seasoning (Image credit: Future)

I did also test this robot vacuum with a bunch of cereal and, while it managed to suck up a good amount of it, it didn’t get it all, seemingly not detecting that there was still debris on the floor. It did, at least, get edges.

Mopping is pretty good with its single mop pad that vibrates on the floor as it moves along, but again, you’re not going to get a deep clean – models I’ve tested with spinning mop pads seem to get a little deeper (they’re also twice the price usually). But it’s good enough. However, the mop pad, being in a static position, isn’t able to get to the edges of rooms the way the side brushes are.

Ecovacs Deebot N10 Plus mopping a hard floor

(Image credit: Future)

Be aware that you’re going to have to wash the mop pad every now and then as there’s no automatic cleaning on hand. Also of note is the fact that it runs a little bit on the loud side, registering around 65dB at full power.

  • Performance score: 4 out of 5

Ecovacs Deebot N10 Plus review: app

  • Straightforward in setup and use
  • Accurately maps and can save maps for multiple floors
  • Limited partitioning can be an issue for open floor plans

Whether it’s going through the setup or just running the Deebot N10 Plus remotely, the Ecovacs app is fairly straightforward to use. There are a small amount of additional settings you can work with, such as adjusting when it self-empties into the base station, or creating a schedule.

It’s worth noting that, unlike most apps I’ve used for robot vacuums, adjusting cleaning modes is hidden behind a “cleaning preference” button instead of being right on the front page. However, once you’ve pulled that page up, it follows the same format.

Ecovacs Deebot N10 Plus app screenshots

(Image credit: Future / Ecovacs)

Since I tend to get stuck on mapping features with these apps, I want to dig into that a little bit. Not only does the robot do a good job of mapping out the space, but the app will automatically break up what’s been mapped into rooms. On top of that, you can save different maps so that you can use the Deebot N10 Plus on different floors without having to remap when you move it.

Merging and dividing rooms in the app is easy, though it suffers from using a line tool for dividing, meaning that you’re limited in how much you can partition what it considers to be a single space. That can be an issue with those with open floor plans.

  • App score: 4.5 out of 5

Ecovacs Deebot N10 Plus review: battery life

  • Can last up to 300 minutes
  • Still plenty of battery life on highest settings

The battery life on hand here is pretty impressive as it lasts between 200 to 300 minutes (or three and a half to five hours) depending on the intensity of the cleaning mode and whether it’s also mopping. Since the Ecovacs Deebot N10 Plus uses a static mop pad for the mopping functionality, it doesn’t even seem to impact the battery life all that much.

Since it does have such a long battery life, it does take a while to charge back up: about six and a half hours. That can be a pain if you find yourself in a similar situation as I have, where the robot vacuum gets stuck on an area rug with tassels and runs down the battery trying to escape / waiting for rescue. That said, when I was faced with that situation, it still had some juice left unlike other robot vacuums that I’ve found in similar situations (and they all get stuck on tassels, too).

  • Battery score: 5 out of 5

Should you buy the Ecovacs Deebot N10 Plus?

Buy it if…

You have limited funds

When it comes to robot vacuums with mopping ability, the Ecovacs Deebot N10 Plus is about as affordable as it gets without going with an older generation model.

You want a robot vacuum that you can use on multiple floors

Since it can save multiple maps, you can use it on multiple floors without having to remap – a nice feature to have on hand.

You want something to just keep the daily dirt at bay

While not quite on par with the best robot vacuums in deep cleaning prowess, it's good for preventing dirt from building up on a day-to-day basis.

Don’t buy it if…

You want to set it and forget it

Yes, you can schedule cleanings and it has auto-empty. But, you have to remove the mop pad if you want it to go over carpeting and add it back on for mopping, not to mention you have to regularly fill the water reservoir on the robot vacuum itself.

You have a cramped space

While the Ecovacs Deebot N10 Plus’ base station is small, it needs a good amount of clearance to operate properly, otherwise you’ll be dealing with a robot vacuum that routinely gets stuck in its own base station.

Ecovacs Deebot N10 Plus review: also consider

Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1

While the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 may have disappointing battery life – it is an older model, after all –  it vacuums and mops very well. Of course, you do have to switch out the backplate when you want to vacuum your carpets. But it is a bit quieter in operation compared with the Deebot N10 Plus.

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

Narwal Freo X Ultra

The Narwal Freo X Ultra is among the pricier robot vacuums out there, but it’s absolutely packed with features including the ability to be used as a remote drone / security camera. It also comes with a fairly striking base station that could be its own conversation piece. It’s not the best at mopping the edges of a room, but it’s pretty powerful in its cleaning performance otherwise.

Read our full Narwal Freo X Ultra review

How I tested the Ecovacs Deebot N10 Plus

To test the Ecovacs Deebot N10 Plus, I used it for a couple of weeks to vacuum and mop the hardwood floors and carpeting in my house. I focused on how well the vacuum cleaned the edges of a room as well as around obstacles, not to mention pick up different sized debris. I also tested the features listed in the app, most notably the mapping.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed August 2024

IMOU Rex 3D review: a versatile, inexpensive security camera
2:08 pm | July 30, 2024

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

IMOU Rex 3D: two-minute review

Chinese manufacturer IMOU offers a wide range of consumer IoT products, including home security cameras. The Rex 3D is slightly unusual in that, unlike most indoor models, it has a camera that can move either manually or automatically from side to side as well as up and down.

As with most home security cameras, setup is relatively straightforward. Simply plug the camera into the mains (a relatively long power lead is provided) and download the IMOU Life app online before syncing the device to your home’s Wi-Fi (2.4GHz only, not 5GHz) and setting a strong password (essential for these devices). Alternatively, there is an ethernet connection for hooking up the camera directly to a broadband router if you prefer. 

Where the IMOU really comes into its own is its dizzying array of features. I’ve been testing the Rex 3D in my kitchen for a couple of weeks now and I’m only just getting to grips with everything it can do. That said, you will need to pay for the IMOU subscription to be able to store footage in the cloud, share the device with up to 20 users, and access some of the AI-based features beyond an initial two-week free trial. 

IMOU Rex security camera

The camera can be tilted manually or automatically (Image credit: Chris Price)

Prices start at around £2 (about $2.50/AU$4) a month for the basic plan if you commit to a one-year subscription, but you can pay up to £6 (about $8/AU$12) a month for the comprehensive plan (IMOU Protect Plus – see below). Alternatively, footage can be stored on a MicroSD card (not supplied). The slot is discreetly located within the camera housing underneath the lens. 

Given the name Rex (a common dog’s name), I’d naively assumed the device was intended purely for pet monitoring. But actually, it can be used for human or pet detection. Footage is captured as soon as the camera senses movement, whether it’s human or animal. Clips are displayed within the app, either by going into the calendar view and clicking on the thumbnails within the live image or scrolling through a timeline. You can also set up the device to sound an alarm when motion is detected, though this is incredibly annoying if it’s an area of the house where there’s a lot of movement, such as the kitchen. 

Captured video can be downloaded to your phone or a screenshot from the footage can be taken by pressing the camera icon. Up to 8x zoom is provided so you can close in on a particular part of a recording or live footage, while ‘smart tracking’ will automatically move the camera to follow, say, a baby crawling across the floor or a dog playing with a ball. 

IMOU Rex security camera

The relatively long lead makes this particularly convenient for a wired camera (Image credit: Chris Price)

Other features include an ‘activity zone’ for excluding motion being captured in certain parts of the frame (for example, a road where it might capture moving cars) and a ‘detection schedule’ for selecting which hours you want the camera to be in operation – such as only at night if you want to monitor a child’s bedroom or external door. 

The IMOU Rex 3D also works with Amazon Alexa, so you can say ‘Alexa, show me the nursery’ and footage from that camera will be displayed. When the device is put in privacy mode, it will place the lens down to deactivate some of the functionality, such as live view. 

IMOU Rex 3D: price and availability

  • Prices start from $64.99/£36.99 (about AU$100)
  • Available now in US and UK

Given everything the IMOU Rex 3D offers, it is quite simply astonishing value for money. It’s even possible to find the model on special offer for even less than the prices displayed above. That said, it’s so cheap because, like most security camera manufacturers, IMOU makes its money from getting people to sign up for its subscription plans.

These enable you to view recordings in the cloud (after the free trial ends) and access additional features, such as enhanced AI detection that can send you an alert if a person, pet, vehicle, or package is detected. Alternatively, for more basic functionality you can simply store recordings on a MicroSD card up to 256GB, which you will have to buy separately. This can be used for streaming up to 24 hours of constant footage (once storage is full it will be overwritten by new footage). 

Value for money score: 5/5

IMOU Rex security camera

You can use the mobile app to define times when the camera should be active (Image credit: Chris Price)

IMOU Rex 3D: subscription options

IMOU Protect Basic: Seven days of storage in the cloud, share devices with 10 users - £26 (about $30/AU$50) per year. 

IMOU Protect Plus: Enhanced AI detection, 30 days of storage in the cloud, share devices with 20 users - £5.99 (about $8/AU$10) per month or £60 (about $80/AU$120) per year.  

IMOU Rex 3D: design

  • Easy DIY setup 
  • Long power cable provided
  • Can be mounted to ceiling  

Given the low price, you might expect the IMOU Rex 3D to feel a bit cheap, but actually, it’s pretty solid and sturdy. It’s also not overly large, about the size and shape of a softball. I’m not a massive fan of the piano black finish but it’s largely a matter of personal taste.

Running the long 3m cable from a power supply in the kitchen, I mounted the camera in the kitchen facing the back door. A bracket and screws are provided for installing the device on the ceiling if you prefer. This is a good way of optimizing the 360-degree camera as well as keeping the device out of reach of sticky-fingered children and thieves.

Design score: 4.5/5

Footage captured with IMOU Rex security camera

Picture quality is excellent, even in low light (Image credit: Chris Price)

IMOU Rex 3D: performance

  • High quality 1080p image resolution 
  • Extremely sensitive movement detection 
  • Stable connection

It’s fair to say that the IMOU Rex 3D is one of the best security cameras I’ve looked at in terms of performance. Many are tricky to set up and don’t always offer a stable connection, especially if they are located some distance from the wireless broadband router. However, even though the router was on the other side of the house, the IMOU connected first time and has been working constantly during the two weeks of testing. 

If I have one complaint, it’s that the IMOU Rex 3D is a little too good in that it seems to record every little movement it detects. Indeed, it’s so sensitive I’ve had to turn detection sensitivity down to 2 out of 5 so it isn’t triggered every time a leaf blows across the lawn or a spider scurries across the floor! Also, while the AI detection is very good for detecting humans, it’s not always reliable for pets. On numerous occasions, it told me it had detected a pet even though my dog wasn’t in the room at the time!

Finally, the picture quality is excellent. As well as offering 1080p resolution for high-quality images during the day, it has a night vision setting which is very accurate for IR recording in low light. If you are mounting the camera on the ceiling, it’s possible to flip the image 180 degrees so it’s the right way round. There’s also an HDR (High Dynamic Range) setting for capturing high-contrast scenes – for example, if the camera is indoors facing a window. 

Performance score: 4.5/5

App controls for IMOU Rex security camera

With an IMOU Protect Plus subscription, you'll get the ability to differentiate between packages, pets, parcels, and vehicles using AI (Image credit: Chris Price)

Should you buy the IMOU Rex 3D?

Buy it if...

You want to regularly track humans and pets
Pan and tilt camera with smart tracking makes it a great choice for capturing movement.

You want two-way audio
Great for communicating with loved ones while you're away.

Don't buy it if...

You only need a simple security solution
The vast array of features and functionality could prove a little overwhelming for some.

You're looking for an outdoor camera
The IMOU Rex 3D is intended for indoor use, and isn't waterproof.

IMOU Rex 3D security camera: also consider

How I tested the IMOU Rex 3D security camera

  • I used the camera every day for two weeks
  • I set it up myself without any assistance
  • The camera was set up to focus on the kitchen

To really put an indoor security camera through its paces you need to put it in a well-trafficked part of a property. That’s why I opted to locate mine in the kitchen. Plus, I made sure it was in motion tracking mode so it followed any movement around the room from either a person or a dog. 

While this may not be ideal in the longer term – it does feel a little intrusive with a camera whirring round the room – it meant that I could see just how good the camera is at capturing movement. Over the last two weeks, it must have recorded more than 1000 clips and while some of these were false positives, I don’t think it ever dropped the connection during the testing period.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed July 2024

Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra robot vacuum review
2:01 pm |

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

Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra: two-minute review

Launched July 2024, the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra is a high-spec, feature-packed robot vacuum and mop with a self-empty base. For this model, Roborock has tweaked both its basic features to offer more efficient and effective cleaning, as well as adding fancier new bonus features. I put it to the test to see how it compares to the rest of today's best robot vacuums, and if it justifies its premium price tag.

Overall, I was impressed. In terms of cleaning, it did a very good job, delivering reliable suction and performing well in my tests with different sized debris. I found the mopping equally effective, with the extra side mop doing a good job of getting right up to the edges of rooms. 

There are a lot of different options to offer precision cleaning, and useful features like the ability to sense carpet and boost suction accordingly, and the fact the mop pad can raise up to 2cm off the ground so you don't end up with damp rugs if you go for for the mop-first option. The rubbery rollers are great at gripping hair and propelling it straight into the dust cup before it has a chance to tangle, although the same cannot be said for the roller axles. 

The base station offers automatic dust emptying and detergent dispensing, and will clean and dry the mop pads after every use, all of which mean less hands-on requirements from you. Mapping is accurate and fast, and the app is intuitive to use, making getting set up pretty speedy and straightforward.

The S8 MaxV Ultra is the first to feature Roborock's smart voice assistant, and while the chance to boss a robovac about is appealing, in practice I found it struggled to understand the most basic of commands. The extending side-brush designed to reach under furniture and into corners was equally unreliable. Like a shy turtle, it refused to emerge, even in scenarios when it was clearly needed.

Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra robot vacuum and mop

(Image credit: Future)

Roborock says that this robovac is able to intelligently identify 73 different common household objects to avoid, and if you ask it to, it'll even send you photos of these objects for you to approve. On test, results were mixed – it correctly identified some objects, although not every time it came across them, and it seemed to have a specific problem with socks. 

Another use for that on-board camera is to enable this robovac to embark on a 'pet patrol' while you're out. It'll find and photograph your pet, and you can even talk directly to it via the two-way mic.

Also in this range is the Roborock S8 Max Ultra (no 'V'). It's a little less powerful in terms of suction (8,000Pa vs 10,000Pa for the MaxV) and loses the intelligent voice assistant (although it does still have third-party voice control) and camera, which might appeal to those concerned about the privacy side of those features. It's also slightly cheaper. 

I'd recommend the S8 MaxV Ultra robovac to someone looking for a high-spec machine that can deliver precise cleaning, and will work equally well on hard floors and carpet. However, if you don't want all those extra features – and especially given some could still do with a little refining – there are cheaper, less fancy options that will work perfectly well for general use. That's the short version; read on for my full Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra review.

Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra review: price & availability

  • List price: $1,799.99 / £1,725 / AU$2,999 
  • Launched: July 2024

At list price, the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra will set you back $1,799.99 in the US or AU$2,999 in Australia. In the UK, it's only available on Amazon at time of writing, at £1,725.63. This was the price provided by our Roborock contact, but it feels much more like a price that will fluctuate rather than an RRP.

While that price tag might make some wince, it's increasingly common for brands' range-topping robovac models to reach into the quadruple figures, and bear in mind too that anything that offers mopping and self-emptying on top of just vacuuming will be at the pricier end of the market, to start with. By way of comparison, the Roomba Combo 10 Max – another high-spec, self-empty robot vacuum and mop, launched in August 2024 – is $1,399 / £1,499. 

You are paying a premium for features like the new smart voice assistant, though. If you don't need such a high-spec model, there are plenty of cheaper options about that will serve most people's needs perfectly well. 

Robot vacuums often attract discounts around major sales events like the Black Friday deals, so it's worth keeping an eye out around then if it suits when you need to buy.

  • Value for money score: 3.5 out of 5

Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra specs

Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra review: design & features

  • Sleek design with matte and shiny plastic
  • On-board voice assistant, mics and camera
  • Chunky but smart-looking dock with water reservoirs and auto-empty

The Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra's body is a combination of matte and shiny plastic. That combination of textures is more noticeable on the black version, rather than the white I tested, but the overall look is still smart and stylish. On top are three multifunctional buttons: a power button, a mop button and a home button. However, more likely you won't use these buttons at all, but instead will use the companion app or your voice to set the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra about its tasks. At the back are your charging contacts, plus ports for water to go in, and dirty water and dust to come out.

At the front of the robovac you'll find an RGB camera, 3D light sensors and an LED headlight for illuminating the way in dark rooms. In the centre, there's a raised puck, protected with a bump sensor, and housing the LiDAR and microphones for the voice assistant. This is Roborock's first voice assistant. You wake it by saying 'Hello Rocky', and it's designed to respond to a wide variety of commands: Start cleaning, Skip here, Empty the dustbin, Pause, Vacuum harder, Mop softer, Clean the living room, and so on. 

Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra robot vacuum and mop

The onboard dust bin is on the smaller side (Image credit: Future)

If you ask it to, the onboard camera will take photos of the objects that it has identified and elected to avoid. You can send it out to find and photograph your pet, and you can also conduct remote conversations with said pet via the microphones. (Sadly, I am lacking a pet to spy on / remotely harass, so wasn't able to test these features for my review.)

The addition of the camera and mics will be welcome to some, but perhaps not the most privacy-conscious of you. Note that while the mics are active by default, they can be switched off. The camera is not switched on as standard, and it's very difficult to activate accidentally as it requires manual pressing of the three buttons on the robot itself (rather than just an in-app toggle), and you also need to set up a password pattern.

If you don't want a robot that has an onboard RGB camera and microphones, the cheaper S8 Max Ultra version lacks the voice assistant and swaps the RGB camera for reactive 3D.

Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra robot vacuum and mop

On the robovac's underside you'll find the mops, rollers and various sensors (Image credit: Future)

The shiny panel on the top can be lifted off (it's magnetic, which feels like an elegant solution) to reveal a Wi-Fi indicator light and reset button, plus a 270ml dustbin and washable paper filter, and a 100ml water tank. You won't need to access this bit too often, because it's all self-emptying, but on occasion you may want to get in there to clean the filter.  

A note for those with bigger homes: the onboard dustbin is on the small side. You can increase empty frequency, but minimum duration is after 30 minutes of cleaning, so if you have high dirt buildup, this might not suffice. The same goes for the onboard water tank. 

Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra robot vacuum and mop

The rubbery rollers are designed to grip hair and dirt (Image credit: Future)

Flip your Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra over and you'll find the dual rollers. These are similar to those on previous Roborocks, made from a rubbery ridged material designed to grip hair and debris efficiently, without getting clogged or tangled. 

Corners and room edges are notoriously tricky for robovacs to tackle, but Roborock's approach is to add a spinning FlexiArm that reaches out, ET-style, when the model senses it's approaching a corner or some low furniture. It's designed to assist the vacuuming process by flicking debris in the corners and edges of rooms into the path of the vacuum. This is listed as being unique to Roborock, but it's actually an approach utilized by Dreame in its X40 Ultra (review in progress).

Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra robot vacuum and mop

This side brush extends to flick dirt from the corners of rooms (Image credit: Future)

The main mop is a little smaller than found on previous Roborocks (another potential down-side for those with bigger homes) and sits on top of two vibrating plates that create the scrubbing motion – these vibrate at 4,000 times per minute, which is quite a difficult metric to visualize, but certainly faster than I could do it manually. The mop pad can lift a generous 2cm off the floor when going over carpeted areas, and if you activate the automatic re-mopping feature in the Roborock app, it'll go over very dirty areas again.

Note: if your priority is mopping, you'd perhaps be better off with the Roborock Qrevo Master, which has dual spinning mops instead.

Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra robot vacuum and mop

The mop pad lifts up but doesn't detach entirely (Image credit: Future)

The mop pad is attached at one side, so while you can pull the Velcro-ed on bit to see the plates beneath, you can't remove it entirely. This seems like an odd decision, because it prevents you from, for example, putting it in the washing machine, if you wanted a more thorough clean. 

There's also a spinning side mop – a new addition with the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra, designed to enable you to mop closer to your baseboards. Within 1.68mm of the edge of your room, to be precise. The mop has its own dedicated water outlet, but it is fixed in place rather than extending when it senses the edges of rooms, like the FlexiArm does. 

Finally, underneath the robovac is a set of cliff sensors to prevent your robovac from throwing itself down the stairs, plus a carpet detection sensor so it knows not to try and mop there.

Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra robot vacuum and mop

The dock is bulky but still looks smart (Image credit: Future)

Moving on to the dock. Note that this needs to sit on a hard, flat floor (the instructions suggest wood, tile or concrete) and obviously it also needs to be near a power outlet, too. Although it's still quite chunky – unavoidable with self-emptying, mop-and-vac models – the design has been streamlined compared to previous Roborock robovacs, with the various reservoirs hidden behind covers. 

The dock houses a 4L clean water reservoir, with a silver ion block designed to discourage the growth of bacteria. New to this model is a separate detergent compartment, which distributes your floor cleaner evenly and removes the need for guesswork when premixing your cleaning solution. There's a 3.5L dirty water tank and a 2.5L dust bag. 

Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra robot vacuum and mop

An in-dock dust bag contains up to 2.5L of debris (Image credit: Future)

Within the dock you'll find a spinning brush roller for cleaning the mop. It uses hot water (Roborock says up to 60C) to sterilize and remove grease from the mop pads, and heated air to dry. While the mop is being washed, there's a sensor to detect how dirty the pad is, and extend cleaning time if required. There are also different cleaning intensity options you can choose manually. 

You will need to refill the water tank manually. If you want to avoid that, there is a version that comes with a refill and drainage system. Be aware that this will require you to plumb in the base station, meaning you won't be able to move it. 

  • Design score: 4.5 out of 5

Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra review: performance

  • Overall, strong mopping and vacuuming performance
  • Decent obstacle avoidance, but did still get tangled in cables
  • Voice commands unreliable

Let's start with vacuuming performance. The MaxV Ultra promises extreme suction. Figuring out how to tell how much suction a vacuum cleaner has is easier said than done, but here it's measured in Pascal, and the MaxV Ultra has 10,000Pa of it – which Roborock says is 'industry leading', but the Deebot T30S Combo actually offers 11,000Pa on max mode. It's still very sucky though. 

Generally, I found this robovac delivered a decent clean. There are sensors to detect when the robovac is on carpet and increase suction accordingly, and I found this feature worked reliably during my review period – I could hear the suction amping up when the robot trundled onto soft flooring in my home. 

Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra robot vacuum and mop

There are lots of options in the app to tweak your cleaning routine (Image credit: Future)

There are quite a few vacuuming options to cater for different cleaning needs and preferences. You can opt for a deep clean, where the carpets are vacuumed twice to form a checkered pattern, or Carpet First Mode if you want the robovac to tackle carpets first, before it does any mopping, so the mop pad will be dry for this part of the clean (the mop pads do lift when the vac is on carpet; it's just as a backup). You can also set it to boost suction power when navigating around pet supplies.

To test fine debris pickup, I sprinkled cornflour on my medium-pile carpet. It picked up the surface dust but nothing more ingrained. I had similar results from my large-debris test – the robovac got most of the oats sprinkled on my carpet, but left a few. So not perfect, but still very acceptable. This was after just one pass – it is possible to instruct the robovac to do a more thorough clean. 

Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra robot vacuum and mop

The results of our oats test (left) and flour test (right) after one pass (Image credit: Future)

The extending side brushes, however, could be improved. I have radiators that sit slightly too low for the robovac to get under them, but the spinning side brush did not extend to clean these areas – particularly unfortunate, as dust often collects here. I saw another review from someone who had the same issue with low-sitting cabinets. I also found that pickup on the corners of rooms wasn't great – the robovac doesn't really linger long enough for the extending brush to do its work, often leaving debris.

Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra robot vacuum and mop

Hair got tangled in the side brush and roller axles (Image credit: Future)

Roborock promises a 99.5% hair pickup rate in carpet mode. I have long hair, and rollers did a great job of tackling this on the carpet; filtering it straight into the dustbin rather than letting it tangle around the rollers. However, I did find hair got tangled on both the axles of the rollers and the extending side brush, the former of which was particularly tricky to remove. 

Looking for the best robot vacuum for pet hair? I think this would be a good shout, with the combination of powerful suction and those grippy rollers. However, the small onboard bin might prove problematic if you have a pet that sheds a lot. 

Moving on to mopping. Again, I was impressed. I found the mopping effective, with the robovac tackling both wet spills (coffee) and sticky spills (dried on honey) effectively. The hot mop cleaning also seems to work well, with minimal stains left on the mop pads even after cleaning the coffee. 

Navigation is excellent, as I'd expect from this brand. The Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra mapped my flat quickly and accurately, making setup nice and straightforward. It's smart enough to recognize which room it's in and promises to be able to identify 73 objects, including pet waste, shoes and mirrors (this last one has consistently been an issue for robovac owners with floor mirrors in the past, so is a welcome addition here).

Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra robot vacuum and mop

This robovac can recognize objects to avoid (Image credit: Future)

On test, I found object avoidance was a little inconsistent. I left a sock (black) and a cable (white) on my light grey carpet. The Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra tried its very best to vacuum up the sock. And while it successfully identified and avoided the cable (providing a snapshot for me to approve in the app – shown above), it then went on to repeatedly got stuck on cables during general cleaning, needing manual rescuing. 

Note that if you activate Pet Mode, the robot will exercise more caution when avoiding obstacles – so it'll be less likely to hoover up your cat, but might also provide a slightly less comprehensive clean as a result (your choice). 

I also found the voice assistant to be unreliable. This robovac frequently failed to understand basic commands, included in the list of approved commands ('Return to dock', 'Mop here'). Not that it should matter, but I don't have what might be considered a 'challenging accent', so I'm a little baffled as to why it struggled to understand me.

Roborock is known to have one of the best robot vacuum apps, and the app for the S8 MaxV Ultra didn't disappoint. It's well-designed, fairly intuitive to use, and does a good job of organizing all the many different controls it needs to offer. However, if you're new to robot vacuums, you may still find it a little overwhelming and confusing. 

  • Performance score: 4 out of 5

Should you buy the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

How I tested the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra

  • I used this as my main vacuum for 3 weeks
  • I tested all the different modes and features
  • I ran specific cleaning tests using different types of spillages

For my Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra review, I used this robovac as my main vacuum cleaner for three weeks to gain an idea of how it performs on a day-to-day basis, including how easy it is to control and how good it is at cleaning in general. I tried out all the different functions I was able to, as well as running a series of specific tests to assess cleaning powers. These included seeing how well the mop coped with wet and dried-on sticky stains, and if the vacuum could handle large and small debris. I scattered common objects like socks and cables on my floor to assess the reliability of its obstacle avoidance features. I measured my findings against our experiences with other robot vacuums, and the Roborock's own claims about this vacuum's performance. 

Read more about how we test

First reviewed July 2024

Eufy X10 Pro Omni review: powerful robotic vacuum with a great app
2:00 pm | July 21, 2024

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

Eufy X10 Pro Omni review: two-minute review

The Eufy X10 Pro Omni is a quality robotic vacuum and mop. It has excellent suction power, while also being pleasantly quiet in all but its most powerful setting, navigates around obstacles very well indeed, and even reports back with photos of objects it has avoided. The mopping system is especially good, with two rotating pads that press down onto the floor with 2.2lbs of pressure and spin at 180rpm. The result is a top-notch clean with no puddles or streaking.

The base station is larger than some others, including that of the Eufy X8 Pro, but is nicely designed and houses tanks for both clean and empty water for the mop. The robot's navigation system uses a camera and LiDAR to precisely map your home and quickly creates a floor plan that can be edited in the Eufy Clean app – it's then easy to name rooms and create no-go or no-mop zones.

Eufy X10 Pro Omni

The Eufy X10 Pro cleaning a wooden floor (Image credit: Future)

As with other Eufy robots, the X10 can struggle to climb over larger doorway thresholds. This in itself isn't a major problem, but the issue is how the robot sometimes manages (more often than not, to be fair), yet sometimes fails. Some adjustments to your thresholds might be required if your floors are particularly uneven.

Overall, the X10 Pro Omni is a high-end robotic vacuum with excellent performance, especially when it comes to mopping hard floors. The base station is large, but offers a complete, hands-off cleaning experience.

Eufy X10 Pro Omni review: price & availability

  • List price: $799.99 / £799 / AU$1,699.95
  • Availability: Available now

The X10 Pro Omni sits above the Eufy X8 Pro but below its new flagship, the Eufy Omni S1 Pro. At $800 / £800 it's a little more expensive than the X9, but falls comfortably below the S1, to the tune of over $500 / £500. The X10 Pro Omni’s list price is also comfortably below that of the four-figure Roomba Combo J9+.

Splashing out a four-figure sum on a robotic vacuum might sound absurd – especially when entry-level models start below $300 – but such figures have quickly become table stakes, and at $800 the X10 Pro Omni feels like fairly good value. Especially when the new S1, which is also a robotic vacuum and mop with self-emptying of both its dustbin and water tank, costs a whopping $1,500.

  • Value for money score: 4.5 out of 5

Eufy X10 Pro Omni review: design

  • D-shaped vacuum with single side brush
  • Two rotating mops
  • Charge station empties bin and water tank

The Eufy X10 Pro Omni is a D-shaped robotic vacuum with a roller brush and two spinning mops underneath, plus a single rotating brush on its side for flicking dirt out from the corners of your room. When in use, the two mops push down with a force of 2.2lbs (1kg) and spin at 180rpm to scrub dirt away from hard floors.

The robot’s vision system includes LiDAR technology, so it can see just as well at night as it can during the day, and the mops automatically lift when it drives onto carpets to avoid getting them wet. A specially designed comb is intended to automatically remove hair from the roller brush, preventing it from getting tangled up.

Eufy X10 Pro Omni

The base station of the Eufy X10 Pro Omni (Image credit: Future)

A base station is included and charges the robot and also empties the dustbin, dries the mops with warm air and swaps out the robot’s dirty water for clean. Eufy says the base station's 2.5-liter dust bag only needs replacing every two months, based on a three-person household without pets, or 45 days with one pet and 30 days with two. It also states that the 3-liter water tank provides enough water to mop a 1,500-2,000sqft home two or three times.

Everything feels well made and it’s easy to get the robot set up and ready for its first clean. The base station isn’t particularly attractive – and it's also quite large. That said, I prefer the X10’s simple design over the transparent, glowing water tanks of the Eufy S1 Pro Omni.

The base station measures 18.1in (460mm) tall, but requires an extra 13.7in (350mm) above that to access the dustbin and water tanks. The station is 14.4in (366mm) wide and 18.9in (480mm) deep, including the ramp used by the robot to drive into its charging dock. The robot itself is 4.47in (113.5mm) tall, including the sensor housing, and has a footprint of 12.87 x 13.9inc (327 x 353mm).

As ever with Eufy robots, the base station needs about 20in (50cm) of free space either side, so it can drive up against the wall, and 59in (150cm) in front, where it needs space to drive out from the charger and orient itself before each clean. In reality, you can get away with placing the charge dock in the corner of a room, right next to a wall. The robot still works just fine, but won’t be able to clean between the station and the wall.

Eufy X10 Pro Omni

The underside of the Eufy, showing the mops and roller brush (Image credit: Future)

Lastly, the robot’s dust bin is easily accessible by opening the lid (which is held closed with magnets) and pulling it out. From there you can retrieve any debris that's got stuck and access the filter, which requires occasional cleaning. Water is automatically fed in and out of the robot when docked at the base station, so there’s no removable tank (as there is with the cheaper Eufy X8), and the mop pads can be removed to be cleaned and eventually replaced.

Eufy X10 Pro Omni

The robot parked and charging in its base station (Image credit: Future)
  • Design score: 4.5 out of 5 

Eufy X10 Pro Omni review: performance

  • Intelligent navigation
  • Scales uneven thresholds (most of the time)
  • Excellent cleaning performance

Before I tested the X10 with a set of specific tasks, I used the robot for a couple of weeks as any regular customer would. This included setting it up in my kitchen and using it to periodically clean individual rooms, along with the occasional whole-home deep clean.

Right away, the X10 impressed. The robot quickly and accurately mapped my apartment during its first exploratory clean, using the LiDAR sensor to work out where all the walls and furniture were, and even splitting the floor plan into rooms. I then used the app to name each room and set a no-go zone under the sofa, since there’s so much stuff back there I’m always worried about robotic vacuums getting stuck. The X10 never did, but I’d rather it doesn’t try picking a fight with the random DIY tools, paints cans and pieces of wood from our recent kitchen installation still lurking under there.

I also initially set no-mop zones for the carpeted bedroom and a large rug in the lounge, but soon learned to trust the X10’s ability to spot the difference between hard floors, carpets and rugs. A couple of weeks later, and it hasn’t once tried to inadvertently mop the carpet.

I’ve also been impressed with the robot’s navigation, and how it stops instantly if something gets in its way. Step in front of it and it stops on a dime, before quickly working out an alternative route. It’s also good at climbing over uneven doorway thresholds. Eufy’s newer and far more expensive S1 Pro Omni really struggled with thresholds and climbing from exposed floorboards to carpet; so much so that it sometimes completely failed to enter certain rooms.

Eufy X10 Pro Omni

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

The X10 is far better in this regard, but was still inconsistent in its ability to clear raised thresholds. When tasked with a whole-home clean it would manage just fine, but when asked to clean only the kitchen it would drive down onto the floorboards of the hallway, then repeatedly fail to climb back over the circa-2cm threshold. Sometimes it would succeed, only to drive back down and get stuck again.

As with the S1, I wouldn’t mind if the robot accepted defeat and admitted failure every time, but instead its ability to clear the threshold is inconsistent.

The vacuuming performance felt about on par with the S1, especially when turned up to Turbo or Max settings. While a fair bit louder than the Quiet and Standard modes, the more powerful settings produced a deep clean, reliably sucking debris, dust, hair and fluff out of carpets. I also found it works best when configured to vacuum each room twice with either the Standard or Deep intensity setting. I would say the X10’s vacuum performance is about on par with my Dyson V10, and I was especially impressed with its ability to pull fluff and hair out of carpet. That said, the Dyson still picked up some extra dust and hair when used right after the X10 had completed a job at maximum suction.

Eufy X10 Pro Omni

The mops press down with a force of 2.2 lbs and spin at 180 rpm (Image credit: Future)

You’ll also still need a manual vacuum for areas that robots like the X10 simply can’t reach, such as tight gaps between furniture and the stairs. As ever, these robots are great for light, frequent cleans – and free up a nice chunk of your time in the process – but can’t replace a manual vacuum entirely.

I found a single pass with the Fast setting is fine for a quick daily clean, and I can see this working great for little-used spare bedrooms. But for my one-bed flat, where every room is used frequently, a more intensive clean works best. I also found it did a great job of avoiding all manner of obstacles. Eufy says the robot can recognize over 100 types of objects, from toys and cables, to clothes and the all-important pet mess. However, during one clean it mistook a small plant pot for a bin and a stray sock for a shoe. It also labeled a fireplace hearth as a "base" and steered well clear of it, missing a patch of carpet in the process.

The X10’s mopping performance is particularly good, thanks to how the mops press down and spin quickly. This is far more effective than the static mopping pad of the Eufy Clean X8 Pro, which is simply dragged around. The X10 gives hard floors a proper clean, and I like how it drives in a pattern that ensures the mops, which are at the rear of the robot, are pushed into corners and up against the walls at every opportunity.

Eufy X10 Pro Omni

The X10's large base station houses a dust bag and tanks for clean and dirty water  (Image credit: Future)

Now for the specific tests, where flour, biscuit crumbs and oats are used to see how robotic vacuums perform in controlled conditions. First, I combine flour with biscuit crumbs and sprinkle the mix on a patch of hard floor, then ask the X10 to clean that area with its least powerful suction setting, which I recorded at about 62 decibels.

The X10 did an okay job, and took just a couple of minutes to vacuum the whole kitchen, but missed a few obvious patches of crumb mix. I tried again, this time using Standard suction (64dB) and with it set to clean the same area twice instead of once. I’ve found from other vacuum reviews that this makes a huge difference, as debris flicked around on the first pass is often collected on the second. The result this time was better, but some debris remained. 

Finally, switching up to Turbo suction (66dB) and enabling deep cleaning, where it drives a more thorough route across each room, completely cleared the crumb mix and left the floor perfectly clean. As for other sounds, the vacuum briefly hit a rather loud 82dB while emptying its bin into the base station, then settled down to 62dB for a minute to clean the mop, and a barely audible 42dB while the mop was dried with hot air.

I then performed the same test on carpet and saw similar results. The less powerful suction modes are best for frequent, light cleans of lesser-used parts of your home (like the spare bedrooms), while the more powerful settings work great in higher-traffic areas or for spills. I was again impressed with how well the X10 sucks debris out of carpet.

Eufy X10 Pro Omni

Three buttons on the top can be used for manual control (Image credit: Future)

I was less impressed by how it handled larger debris. Like other robot vacuums, it had a habit of flicking oats around the room instead of collecting them up. The rotating brush does a decent job at collecting dust and hair, but fails to pull larger debris, like the oats, away from the edges of a floor and into the robot’s path. Instead it often does the opposite, pushing debris into the corners and up against furniture where it is more difficult to reach, especially on floors where the carpet slopes downwards at the edges.

Larger debris like this requires maximum suction, as even Turbo mode struggled to pick everything up – not including the oats flicked to the corners of the room. As ever, the conclusion is that robotic vacuums are great for simple cleaning but can’t match a manual vacuum for clearing up specific spillages.

Finally, I tested the mopping function by spilling a sugary drink and some hot sauce on a wooden floor and leaving the mess to dry. I set the robot to mop the kitchen and it did a fantastic job, completely removing the stains and using just the right amount of water to clean the floor without leaving any streaks or puddles. It then took just a minute or so to clean the mop, and spent a couple of hours drying them. As with the Eufy S1, the X10’s mopping function is flawless, and far better than the static mop of the X8.

  • Performance score: 4 out of 5 

Eufy X10 Pro Omni review: app

  • Easy to use
  • Lots of configuration available
  • Handy pre-set cleaning scenarios

Just like the X8 and S1, the X10 is controlled by the Eufy Clean smartphone app for iOS and Android. It’s one of the better smart home companion apps I’ve used, thanks to it being intuitive and easy to use, but with lots of customization available to those who want it.

Such configurability includes setting the X10 Pro Omni to clean whichever rooms you want, however you like. For example, you can ask it to vacuum and mop the kitchen with deep intensity, Turbo suction and medium water usage, and for it to make two passes on each stage of the clean, then head into the lounge and do a standard vacuum.

I especially like how you can create shortcut icons for specific cleaning scenarios. For example, you can create a scenario called Post-Meal Clean, where the robot will perform a quick, low-intensity clean of your kitchen (or whichever bit of floor space you want) with just a tap. There are also scenarios for deep or daily cleans for the whole home, and you can make your own too.

Eufy Clean app

(Image credit: Future)

It’s also easy to split your home map up into sections and name each room accordingly, and to create no-go or no-mop zones to stop the robot doing anything wrong. The Eufy Labs section includes a couple of experimental features, including one called Smart Track Cleaning, where pressing the robot’s front bumper with your foot for three seconds turns it on and has it follow you, cleaning as it goes.

Lastly, the app can be used to manually control base station functions. This is handy for if you’ve had to pick the robot up and return it to its charger for whatever reason, or if you have disrupted its cleaning routine. With a couple of taps it’s easy to have the station empty the robot’s dustbin and wash then dry the mops – which it does very effectively by blowing them with air heated to 45C for around two hours.

  • App score: 5 out of 5 

Should you buy the Eufy X10 Pro Omni?

Buy it if… 

Don’t buy it if… 

How I tested the Eufy Clean X10 Pro Omni

I set up the X10 Pro Omni and used it as my only vacuum and mop for a couple of weeks. During this time I let it create a map of my own, then named rooms and created no-go and no-mop zones.

I then experimented with all of the various vacuuming and mopping modes, before conducting several specific tests to learn exactly how well each mode performs, and how buyers can get the most out of their robot.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed July 2024

Narwal Freo X Ultra robot vacuum review: almost great but with one big flaw
4:41 pm | July 17, 2024

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

Narwal Freo X Ultra robot vacuum two-minute review

If you have cash to splurge, the Narwal Freo X Ultra is an easy robot vacuum to recommend. That is, if your space isn’t an open floor plan. One of the main issues that I come across with a lot of the up-and-coming competition vying for best robot vacuum status is that they come with all sorts of interesting, cutting edge features and functionalities – and that’s certainly the case here – but somewhere along the line, they drop the ball on something fundamental.

And more often than not, that issue relies on how the app differentiates, or allows you to differentiate, between different rooms. In fact, if you look at most of my recent reviews, they all seem to have an issue with this whereas I didn’t have this issue with the mid-range Shark 2-in-1 robot vacuum I reviewed over a year ago.

Still, I’m not discounting the Narwal Freo X Ultra. I said it was an easy robot to recommend, after all. In fact, the only other real issue with it is that it’s pricey. In fact, if you don’t have an open floor plan, you might find it to be the best vacuum cleaner for your needs. It does a fantastic job of vacuuming and mopping, and, unlike most other models, comes with actual cleaning solution.

The Narwal Freo X Ultra going to work

(Image credit: Future)

On top of that, it has an unusual space-age look that makes it a bit more attractive, or at least striking, compared with many of the other robot vacuums that come with a large base station in tow. So, anyone with an open floor plan, either skip this robot vacuum or be prepared to just run it throughout your whole space every time. Everyone else with the cash for it, you’ll be happy with the Narwal Freo X Ultra.

Narwal Freo X Ultra robot vacuum review: specs

Narwal Freo X Ultra robot vacuum: price & availability

  • List price: $1,399.99 / AU$ 2,299.00 (about £1,110)
  • Available in the US and Australia

The Narwal Freo X Ultra is expensive. There’s no way around that. Sure, it might have some interesting incremental improvements over other models that come with a base station – it has two side brushes instead of one, it comes with cleaning solution, it washes and dries its own mop pads, and so on. But a lot of the models in this price range can do the same. so spending $1,399.99 / AU$ 2,299 (about £1,110) on this robot vacuum doesn’t necessarily offer the best value out there.

The Ecovacs Deebot T30 S Combo I recently reviewed does most of that and comes with a handheld vacuum, though it skips the cleaning solution and the second side brush (more on why that’s important later), and does a slightly better job of mopping. And it’s just a little cheaper at  $1,199.99 (about £950 / AU$1,800), although it’s only available in the US at the moment.

You can spend even less on something like the more price-conscious and almost as fully-featured Yeedi Cube, approximately $699 (about £559 / about AU$1,054). Of course, that robot vacuum can’t manage edges nearly as well as the Narwal Freo X Ultra. If you want to push your deep cleaning as far as possible, that feature alone is worth the extra cost.

  • Value score: 3.5 out of 5

Narwal Freo X Ultra robot vacuum review: design

  • Robot vacuum has two side brushes instead of the usual one
  • Base station comes with LED panel for easy control
  • Comes with cleaning solution

The Narwal Freo X Ultra robot vacuum comes with a few design features that set it apart from the rest. To start, if you’re looking at just the robot vacuum itself, it comes with two side brushes instead of the typical one along with the two mop pads. Both mop pads lift up off the ground when just vacuuming, and the brush roll for sucking everything into its dustbin is made so that hair won’t get tangled around it.

Underside of the Narwal Freo X Ultra

(Image credit: Future)

The base station has a sleeker look than most, offering a deeper cavity for the robot vacuum so that the unit is completely engulfed when at rest. In my opinion, it has a bit of a space-age aesthetic.

But it differs from other high-end base stations in more than just looks. For starters it'll wash and dry mop pads automatically. Then there’s a small, round LED panel on top that offers some control without having to whip out your phone or push a button on the robot vacuum itself. Just a press and off it goes to vacuum or mop. This panel also comes with a child-lock feature, which is nifty.

Everything included with the Narwal Freo X Ultra

(Image credit: Future)

Probably even more important, hidden inside where the clean water tank resides is an area to put cleaning solution, which Narwal has thoughtfully included. If you do buy the Narwal Freo X Ultra, however, note that the cleaning solution container is inside the dirty water reservoir – something that’s not mentioned anywhere in the literature and I don’t make a habit of checking the dirty water reservoir until I need to empty it. 

Narwal Freo X Ultra's water reservoirs

(Image credit: Future)

Regardless, it’s a nice feature that most robot vacuums seem to skip, going with just water to mop your floors. While I’ve had good results with those other robot vacuums with mops, I appreciate the ability to use actual cleaning solution on my floors to clean them.

  • Design score: 4.5 out of 5

Narwal Freo X Ultra robot vacuum review: performance

  • Excellent vacuuming, especially with edges
  • Almost as good mopping, though not as good with edges
  • Can take a long time since it washes its mop pads frequently

I may have come on a bit strong at the beginning of this review about the Narwal Freo X Ultra, but I can’t fault its performance one bit. It has multiple levels of vacuuming and mopping at its disposal, and can handle both hard flooring and carpeting.

When vacuuming, it’s able to get dust and debris just fine, but it’s also able to scoop up larger bits as well. I actually threw a handful of cheerios right in front of it to test. Some of them were scooped by a certain French Bulldog, but everything that was in its path was swept up in a single pass, probably thanks to its 8200 PA of suction power. Likewise, after running this robot vacuum, I don’t see any remnants left.

Narwal Freo X Ultra cleaning edges

(Image credit: Future)

That includes the edges. Since it has side brushes on both sides and they stick out a bit more than I’ve seen on other robot vacuums, it’s able to sweep up debris on the edges of a room.

Its ability to avoid objects is pretty good. I haven’t seen it have any issues with anything other than cables and cords, which is kryptonite for every single robot vacuum I’ve encountered. Essentially, it’s as good as it’s going to get with a robot vacuum – it even avoids the dogs.

Narwal Freo X Ultra mopping a floor, watched by a dog

(Image credit: Future)

The mopping performance is almost as good. While I can’t confirm that it actually uses more pressure with its mop pads than other robot vacuums, it does an efficient job cleaning up stains and anything sticky. Besides using this robot vacuum to clean up after a couple of French Bulldogs who like to track in all sorts of stuff, I also poured a bunch of soy sauce in front of it (not to worry, it was the low-sodium stuff). It took about two passes to completely pick it all up. Plus, the floor didn’t smell like soy sauce after. This might be due to that cleaning solution that Narwal included.

Image 1 of 2

Narwal Freo X Ultra cleaning a soy sauce spill

Narwal Freo X Ultra cleaning a soy sauce spill (Image credit: Future)
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Results of Narwal Freo X Ultra cleaning a soy sauce spill

Narwal Freo X Ultra cleaning a soy sauce spill (Image credit: Future)

Where the mopping is not quite as good is on edges. Since this model doesn’t have one of those mop pads that extends out, it relies on the robot vacuum to angle itself in a way that the mop pad gets to the edges and corners of a room. However, I regularly saw that it didn’t quite get to those edges as it should.

While I was happy with the way the Narwal Freo X Ultra cleaned, it did take a long time as it regularly went back to the base station to wash those mop pads. Not that that’s a bad thing, though; just something to bear in mind.

  • Performance score: 4.5 out of 5

Narwal Freo X Ultra robot vacuum review: app

  • App is intuitive to use
  • Separating rooms in mapping is impossible in certain situations
  • Seems to have a mind of its own when trying to clean only certain areas

My biggest hangup with the Narwal Freo X is going to be here. First, however, I do want to mention that the app in general is intuitive and easy to use. Pulling up the menu to adjust vacuuming or mopping strength is a breeze, and it’s just as easy to create a schedule to have it clean on its own. In fact, adjusting all sorts of settings for the robot vacuum and the base station, such as drying intensity, is straightforward.

Where I have issues is in using the map. The robot vacuum does a fine job actually mapping the necessary space, but Narwal decided to make it so that you have to use a line tool when separating the space into different rooms. Just like every other app that does this, you can’t use one line to go across another, meaning I basically can’t separate the four rooms that make up the accessible space on the ground floor into those four rooms.

Narwal Freo X Ultra app screenshots

(Image credit: Future)

My workaround is to cut the space into two rooms so that I can just clean half if I need a more localized cleaning. My issue here as that, while the Narwal Freo X Ultra did a fine job cleaning that half of the space, or what I designated as “room one,” it decided that after it finished cleaning “room one” that it would continue to clean everything, meaning I and my family had to spend another two hours listening to it slowly mop its way back and forth.

When I run the Narwal Freo X Ultra, as well as the other robot vacuums that suffer similar issues, I end up just running it over my entire space.

  • App score: 3 out of 5

Narwal Freo X Ultra robot vacuum review: battery life

  • 210 minute battery life
  • Due to the way it runs, you won’t see it run out of battery

The battery life on the Narwal Freo X Ultra is advertised as 210 minutes, but I haven't managed to run it for 210 minutes straight as it regularly returns to the base station to empty its contents and wash its mop pads. However I have seen it go for three hours without any issues or needing to stop for a significant time to charge.

Narwal Freo X Ultra at rest in its base station

(Image credit: Future)

The only time I’ve really experienced it running out of battery is just like I have with any other robot vacuum, in that it gets stuck somewhere for a few hours while I’m not around, and needs to be returned to the base station to charge back up.

  • Battery score: 4 out of 5

Should you buy the Narwal Freo X Ultra robot vacuum?

Buy it if…

You want to get to those edges

While it’s not great at mopping the edges, it does a great job of vacuuming them, something that many robot vacuums can’t do.

You want a fully featured robot vacuum

From the mop pad washing and drying to various other quality of life features, particularly that cleaning solution, you’ll get just about everything you could ask for here.

You want something unique-looking

The Narwal Freo X Ultra’s base station looks a little futuristic, giving it some character in comparison to a lot of the robot vacuums out there.

Don’t buy it if…

You don’t have the money

This is an expensive proposition. If it’s outside your budget, there are plenty of cheaper options that you’ll probably be almost as happy with.

You have an open floor plan

The way the Narwal Freo X Ultra deals with separating rooms when interacting with the map means that you basically won’t be able to do just that if you have an open floor plan.

Narwal Freo X Ultra robot vacuum review: also consider

Ecovacs Deebot T30 S Combo

The Ecovacs Deebot T30 S Combo has that extendable mop pad to mop edges, and extra handheld vacuum that auto-empties and stores in the same base station and is just a little cheaper. However, it doesn’t look quite as interesting and doesn’t come with cleaning solution.

Read our full Ecovacs Deebot T30 S Combo review

Yeedi Cube

The Yeedi Cube is not quite as good as the Narwal, but it gets you 90% of the way there for half the price. It still has very good mopping functionality and is one of the first robot vacuum and mops to do the whole mop pad drying thing to avoid mold and bacteria. Also note that it suffers from the exact same issues when it comes to the map.

Read our full Yeedi Cube review

How I tested the Narwal Freo X Ultra robot vacuum

To test the Narwal Freo X Ultra, I used it for a couple of weeks to vacuum and mop the hardwood floors and 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 July 2024

Amazon Echo Spot (2024) review: more smart alarm than speaker
4:51 pm | July 15, 2024

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

Amazon Echo Spot (2024): Two-minute review

Seven years on from the release of the original Echo Spot, Amazon has surprised fans of its smart home ecosystem with a revival of its smart alarm product line, announcing the Echo Spot (2024) just a week ahead of Prime Day 2024.

Amazon is known for making some of the best smart speakers, but the original Echo Spot was discontinued just two years after release with little fanfare from Amazon. The new model differs from its predecessor in a few key ways, and elsewhere we’ve compared the original Echo Spot and the Echo Spot 2024 in detail. 

For one thing, the original had a camera, video-streaming capabilities, and a 3.5mm audio jack, as well as a quirky round screen that really gave the device personality and played cleverly on its clockface inspiration. 

The new model, on the other hand, feels a lot more streamlined, resulting in a lower list price, and offers improved audio quality and some fun customization options for its now-rectangular 2.83-inch display, as well as a more contemporary design and connectivity specs (although annoyingly it doesn’t offer a built-in Eero Wi-Fi extender like other devices in the Echo range).

I really want to love the Echo Spot (2024), and I think I would if its price didn’t feel so inflated for what you’re getting. I’m not upset to see the removal of its built-in camera, which felt out of place in a bedroom-based device, nor am I too bothered by the lack of video-streaming support. 

However, its rethought design, while appealing, is missing the fun and character of the original, and the display is far too limited overall. The viewing angles aren’t great, especially from the side, and the fact that the screen doesn’t fill the top half of the ‘clock face’ makes the whole thing feel cheap and unfinished.

Jabra Elite 10 Gen 2 review: Price and release date

Amazon Echo Spot on a tabletop

(Image credit: Future)
  • List price: $79.99 / £79.99 / AU$149

Launched just ahead of Amazon Prime Day 2024, the newest Echo speaker is priced at $79.99 / £79.99 / AU$149, which makes it considerably cheaper than the original was at launch with its list price of $129.99 / £119.99 / AU$199. It’s available in blue, white and black.

That price drop sounds appealing, given there are plenty of similarities between the 2017 original and the new model; however, that drop does come at the expense of the camera (although that’s arguably a good thing, given it’ll be used mostly in bedrooms), video-streaming capabilities and 3.5mm audio jack, as well as the distinctive and appealing round screen.

Given that Amazon is pitching this more as a smart alarm than a smart speaker, I was unpleasantly surprised by the price of the Echo Spot, much as I was by the price of the Echo Pop when I reviewed it last year. The new Echo Spot is an improvement upon the original in many ways, especially its audio quality and more contemporary design. Still, its features, design and performance really don’t warrant the high list price when there are plenty of small, high-performing speakers available at a lower price point; and especially considering that the powerhouse Apple HomePod mini is just $20 / £20 more expensive, and the same price in Australia.

With its release coinciding with Amazon Prime Day we’re seeing immediate discounts on the Echo Spot – it’s available for $44.99 / £49.99 in the US and UK in an introductory deal, which feels like a more reasonable price. Still, it’s frustrating to see the continued trend of Amazon’s devices being overpriced outside of its own major sales.

  • Value: 3/5

Amazon Echo Spot (2024) review: Specs

Amazon Echo Spot (2024) review: Design

Amazon Echo Spot on a tabletop

(Image credit: Future)
  • Three control buttons for volume and microphone control
  • Stylish semispherical design with bright and vivid 2.83-inch screen
  • No 3.5mm port, no camera

Amazon has hearkened back to the original in the Echo Spot (2024)’s angled, semi-spherical design, but with a few modernizations that result in a chic and clean look that’s a lot more contemporary than the quirky original.

The new Spot measures 113 x 103 x 111mm, making it a little larger than the original (104 x 97 x 91mm). Where the original featured a round 2.5-inch display on the device’s clock face with a 480 x 480 resolution and a thick bezel, the 2024 model has a rectangular 2.83-inch 320 x 240 resolution display that occupies most of the top half of the face, while the bottom section’s speaker grille is home to the 1.73-inch forward-facing driver, and is encircled by the thin bezel of the device’s plastic casing. There’s a motion sensor at the very top of the face.

Broadly speaking, the glossy top half and display make for a classy and attractive clock face, but it’s disappointing that the display doesn’t occupy more of the top half – especially given that you’ll often catch a glimpse of its rectangular edges. 

Amazon Echo Spot on a tabletop

(Image credit: Future)

On top of the device are three buttons for controlling the volume and toggling the microphone on and off, as is standard on most Echo speakers, as well as a pair of microphones. As a daily snooze-smacker I was initially disappointed that there was no snooze button, but – to my delight – you simply need to tap anywhere on the top of the Echo Spot (2024) to temporarily silence the alarm. At the rear is the power port, and the flat base is steadied by a rubber foot to stop it from slipping no matter how hard you hit ‘snooze’.

Overall, I think the redesign is largely effective. It takes the Spot from being a quirky product with a neat gimmick to something that feels a little more sophisticated and at home in non-techy households – but in doing so, the Spot loses much of the original’s charm. Still, it’s a more mature look and feel that befits its larger size and more slick display, and it looks wonderful in the white colorway I received for testing.

  • Design: 4.5/5

Amazon Echo Spot (2024) review: Display and features

  • Fun and vibrant customizable clock face
  • …but the viewing angles aren’t the best
  • Lacks features and functions from the wider Echo line and original Spot

As with all devices in Amazon’s Echo lineup, the Echo Spot (2024) houses the brand’s voice assistant, Alexa, and as such is designed to be mostly used hands-free. Under the hood is the same MT8519 processor as in the Echo Dot 5th Gen and Echo Pop, meaning Alexa’s responses are fairly zippy but still a little slower than on the standard Echo. The Echo Spot (2024) is also Matter-compatible but unfortunately doesn’t work as an Eero Wi-Fi as other Echo devices can.

There’s also no temperature sensor as on some other Echo devices to help create temperature-based automations, but a motion sensor on the clock face will allow for motion-based automation mapping, such as turning on your smart lights when you enter a room and turning them off when no motion has been detected for a given amount of time.  Unlike on the original Echo Spo, there’s no camera in the newer model; however, the idea of having an inbuilt camera in a smart device designed for use in bedrooms never quite sat comfortably with me. 

Broadly speaking, the screen is discreet in its semicircular housing, blending fairly seamlessly with the black glossy surface surrounding it; however at certain brightnesses and angles its rectangular borders become very clear, spoiling the effect somewhat. At the time of writing, there are no ads on the Echo Spot, but as with any service-based product you have to keep in mind the possibility that the service provider might at any point change the rules of engagement, whether that’s by gutting software or removing key perks unless you pay for a subscription.

Amazon Echo Spot on a tabletop

(Image credit: Future)

The real standout is the Spot’s 2.83-inch touch display, which primarily services as a clockface. It’s sharp and smooth, even at its size and middling 320 x 240 resolution. There are six customizable animated clock faces in six different color themes available in the Alexa app, along with four new alarm sounds, giving you some freedom to express yourself with the Echo Spot. 

The screen will also display different visuals depending on your queries; I particularly enjoy the music visualizer and weather animations, which feel a lot more understated and finessed than Amazon’s usual cluttered screens (I’m looking at you, Echo Show 5). There are also a handful of widgets for other functions like smart home control, including a brightness slider for smart lights. 

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Amazon Echo Spot on a tabletop

Echo Spot seen from the side, where its display begins to dim (Image credit: Future)
Image 2 of 3

Amazon Echo Spot on a tabletop

... compared to full-frontal, when it is bright and vibrant (Image credit: Future)
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Amazon Echo Spot on a tabletop

(Image credit: Future)

The screen is fairly bright, at least when viewed straight-on, but it’s a little hard to read if you’re at an angle to it, which will likely frustrate in larger rooms; mine lives in the corner of my bedroom, and I have a pretty good view of the screen at all times. With night mode activated (either manually or by setting a schedule), the display switches to a dark mode and the colors are muted, and you can also toggle settings like Do Not Disturb from within the Alexa app. 

For me, it’s no great issue that the Echo Spot (2024) doesn’t offer video streaming or video calls, but I am disappointed that it doesn’t show video feeds from the best video doorbells. I appreciate that the Echo Spot isn’t intended to be one of the best smart displays, but there are some very simple and useful features, like recipes and location information, that l’d like to see added in the future – and I for one would like to know if whoever’s knocking at my door is worth getting out of bed for. The Echo Spot does, however, support voice calling.

  • Display and features score: 3.5/5

Amazon Echo Spot (2024) review: Sound quality

Amazon Echo Spot on a tabletop

(Image credit: Future)
  • Decent audio for its size
  • Struggles with complex textures and mids
  • Great for spoken-word

While Amazon is branding the Echo Spot as more of a smart alarm than a smart speaker, that’s not to say you can’t reap the benefits of its 1.73-inch speaker and listen to some of the best podcasts, best music streaming services, or other audio broadcasts using the best Alexa Skills and commands. 

As long as you’re in front of the Echo Spot (2024), as its speaker is front-facing, you can enjoy the improved audio quality compared to the original Echo Spot. This is definitely not a party speaker, and nor is it for audiophiles, but that’s generally to be expected from smaller speakers. You can expect a decent audio performance overall, though; Alexa’s voice cuts through crisply and cleanly, and in general spoken-word audio sounds very pleasant, which is good news if you’re a podcast-lover. 

Amazon Echo Spot on a tabletop

(Image credit: Future)

For music, the Echo Spot offers an energetic sound that’s impressive for its size, but not without fault. Without tweaking its equalizer settings in the Alexa app, the bass is fairly dominant, but lacks depth; Fleetwood Mac’s The Chain sounded hollow without its thumping rage and resonance, and the opening bass line of Led Zeppelin’s Dazed and Confused lacked its evocative trudging, bluesy depth.

The mid-range often becomes muddied, with pieces like Hans Zimmer’s Time from Inception sounding uncharacteristically unbalanced, while tracks like Radiohead’s 15 Step feel fuzzy and sluggish, with the Echo Spot (2024) unable to reproduce the track’s crisp and rich textures. 

As highlighted above, none of this is really a surprise given this speaker’s size, but it’s worth noting if you’re passionate about hi-fi. Much like many of Amazon’s smart speakers, the Echo Spot is best enjoyed at low-to-mid volume, as from 70-80% volume and above it begins to distort.

  • Sound quality: 3.5/5

Should I buy the Amazon Echo Spot (2024)?

Buy it if…

Don’t buy them if…

Amazon Echo Spot (2024) review: Also consider

How I tested the Amazon Echo Spot (2024)

Amazon Echo Spot on a tabletop

(Image credit: Future)
  • I tested the Echo Spot for a week
  • I used it as part of my Alexa-based smart home set-up, testing all of its features, functionalities and companion software.
  • I used it to play music, set alarms, control my smart home, and as a main voice assistant

To put the Amazon Echo Spot (2024) through its paces I used it as my main smart home speaker for a week; and given that I’m both constantly using smart home devices for work and chronically lazy enough to lean on voice control, that means a lot of testing. 

I used all of its key features to test how well the device measured up against its marketing, ensuring that the audio, speed, voice controls and display all performed as expected. I compared it to the Amazon Echo Pop and Echo Show 5, as well as the Apple HomePod mini, to see how well it stacked up against the competition, as well as referencing it against TechRadar’s coverage of some of the best smart home devices.

I’ve been testing smart home devices for two years, but I’ve been an enthusiast for far longer. When testing tech, I try to consider not just the specs, but the lived experience I have with different devices, using this and my market knowledge, as well as a keen sense of value for money, to inform my opinions. 

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

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

Eufy Clean X8 Pro robot vacuum: two-minute review

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

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

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

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

Eufy Clean X8 Pro

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

Eufy Clean X8 Pro review: price & availability

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

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

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

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

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

  • Value for money score: 4 out of 5

Eufy Clean X8 Pro review: design

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

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

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

Eufy Clean X8 Pro

(Image credit: Future)

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

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

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

Eufy Clean X8 Pro

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

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

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

Eufy Clean X8 Pro

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

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

  • Design score: 4.5 out of 5 

Eufy Clean X8 Pro review: performance

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

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

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

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

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

Eufy Clean X8 Pro

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

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

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

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

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

Eufy Clean X8 Pro

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

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

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

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

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

Eufy Clean X8 Pro

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

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

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

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

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

Eufy Clean X8 Pro

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Performance score: 3.5 out of 5 

Eufy Clean X8 Pro review: app

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

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

Eufy Clean app with X8 Pro

(Image credit: Future)

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

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

  • App score: 4.5 out of 5 

Should you buy the Eufy Clean X8 Pro?

Buy it if… 

Don’t buy it if… 

How I tested the Eufy Clean X8 Pro

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

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

  • First reviewed: July 2024
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