Dysons 360 Eye Robot Vacuum Succeeds By Seeing More

It will create a map of your home, but unlike the Roborock, you can’t then create virtual barriers. It comes with two battery-powered digital fencing devices that prevent the Roomba going where it irobot vacuum cleaner shouldn’t. We can attest to them working well, but in truth, if the floors are clutter-free and there are no trailing wires, the 980 didn’t need the help, and cleaned reliably well day after day.

It is loud though, so being out is a must when it works its magic. And one final bonus for pet owners, the dedicated pet mode increases cleaning power to compensate for extra hair and the cameras will be on high alert for any unwanted little presents left on the rug. It can even take a photo and send it to you, which is infinitely more appealing that the alternative outcome. There’s also Alexa and Google Assistant if barking orders at the help is more your thing. At this price, there’s very little to complain about with the X8 Hybrid.

The best robot vacuum for deep cleaning is Dyson’s 360 Heurist (£899). It’s a big improvement on the original Dyson robo vac with increased suction power, the ability to see in the dark and it’s a great performer, especially on carpets that need a deep clean. Control of the 360 Heurist vacuum cleaner is through the Dyson Link app, which is true of all Dyson’s smart products, from its air purifiers to its Lightcycle task lamps. There’s a little more to using this vacuum cleaner than its predecessor, starting with a requirement to map an area before the robot can clean it. You can store maps of multiple floors, moving the 360 Heurist around your home to clean everywhere.

dyson robot vacuum

In addition to its digital V2 motor that Dyson says “spins at up to 78,000 revolutions per minute,” the way a robot vacuum sees rooms has a huge impact on its ability to clean. The 360 Eye by Dyson is a very good robot vacuum, but competitors offer similar features and better performance for less. But there are changes from previous models, the most obvious of which is the shape of the robot vacuum itself, which seems wider and shorter. It also has one flat side, so it has more in common with the Neato Botvac than previous Dyson vacs – superficially, at least.

The Alexa Skill is very good, providing enough voice control that you can even use the robot in Routines, triggered either by your voice or through another bit of smart kit – say, your Ring Alarm turning on. Google Assistant is also supported, if that’s your smart helper of choice. It can be unscrewed and removed from the side, but I found I never actually needed to do that, even for shoe laces it had eaten. The Dyson Link app for Android and iOS allows remote control, scheduling and diagnosis of faults, in an easy-to-use manner.

When it launched way back in 2015 the Roomba 980 (£849) was iRobot’s top-of-the-range Wi-Fi connected design, and while it now somewhat eclipsed by the i7+, it has more enough cleaning smarts to deserve a place on this list. One final hangover from the original remains; its unwillingness to successfully dock and charge after a clean. Frequently, just like a drunk sleeping in his own doorway, the Heurist gets so close to the charger and seems to think, ‘that’ll do’ and just stops. The self-emptying bin is our favourite feature for sheer convenience, but its smart maps come a close second. You know which rooms need cleaning and which are too cluttered. Simply tell it where to clean as you go out, then leave it to do the housework.

However, superior cleaning performance is still available in all our other vacuums. Vacuum-proof the house – Things like socks, pet toys, or other small objects can get stuck in the robot vacuum just as they would in a traditional vacuum. The difference is that you’re not there to pick it up on the fly or go around it, so you need to keep the house more or less vacuum-proofed before the vacuum runs. With that in mind, let me share with you the pros and cons of robot vacuums so you know what to expect if you invest in one. When I agreed to review the Rydis H68 Pro I didn’t consider myself an expert on robot vacuums by any stretch.

Everything is easy breezy with this device, you simply let it go. But, when you do need to add an attachment or customise the vacuum’s functions at all, that’s super simple to do as well. A key qualm is this device’s ability to clean in the nooks and crannies. The sweeper arm is on one side and rather small, meaning that crumbs and the like that are right up against a wall can get missed. The Dyson 360 Heurist needs adequate space to navigate; if you have a lot of furniture with relatively small gaps, then you may find this robot vac won’t go everywhere you want it to. All of the above may sound like a faff, but the more time you spend setting things up, the less time you’ll spend moving items out of the way or rescuing the robot from getting stuck on a bit of furniture.