02 Oct
Blog

Samsung Jet Bot AI+ Review: Home Security on Wheels is Here

Samsung Jet Bot AI + on hardwood floor.

Samsung Jet Bot AI +

RRP $ 1,300.00

"If you can afford its high price, the Samsung Jet Bot AI + is the best Samsung robotic vacuum cleaner yet."

advantages

  • Home security patrol function works well

  • More efficient cleaning performance

  • Good at avoiding obstacles

  • Minimal disposal through self-draining system

I've never been satisfied with Samsung's range of robotic vacuum cleaners. They were average at best, but never outstanding enough to put the company in the same sphere as iRobot or even Roborock. However, that may change with the introduction of the latest robotic vacuum cleaner for the home, the Samsung Jet Bot AI +.

A cursory glance at the bot is enough to raise your eyebrows, including mine, just for its stimulating design. Seriously, it looks like a mini tank on wheels instead of your traditional robotic vacuum cleaner design. What makes the Jet Bot AI + remarkable over other models is that it is a self-draining model and performs a dual role as a patrolling bot for home security. Some models do this, but none have yet assured me that they can do it effectively.

Finally a superior cleaning performance

One of the biggest reservations I had with the last generation of the company, the PowerBot series, was that they didn't do a good job of picking up debris from corners and edges. Even after a few cleanings, cat litter was still scattered everywhere. Fortunately, that changes with the Samsung Jet Bot AI +.

Samsung Jet Bot AI + on hardwood floorJohn Velasco / Digital Trends

With the help of its integrated lidar sensors, it maps rooms quickly and easily and then cleans them efficiently with the typical S-shaped cleaning pattern. It works pretty well with hardwood floors, vacuuming up any tiny dirt, grime, and cat litter. Given my previous experience, I was pretty impressed with this particular Samsung bot.

Instead of being equipped with an ordinary underside brush with bristles, the Jet Bot AI + has a soft roller brush, which is more effective on hard floors than on carpets. Don't get me wrong, the anti-static fibers aren't curled from overuse, but it lacks the inclusion of an ordinary bristle brush when it comes to carpets. It automatically adjusts its suction to the surface, with a noticeable increase when moved onto carpets and rugs – but I've still noticed some glued pet hairs clinging to the carpet.

Bottom of the Samsung Jet Bot AI +.John Velasco / Digital Trends

When everything is done, it will automatically find its way back to its combined charging and self-emptying base. The entire contents of the bin are disposed of directly in the bag inside the self-emptying base. This is less of a mess for me having to clean up every time the bot cleans, but just know that replacement bags for a pack of 5 are $ 40.

Smarter avoidance detection

It was noticeable from the start that this Samsung vacuum robot was light years smarter than the previous models. Thanks to its combination of lidar sensors and camera, the Jet Bot AI + exceeded my expectations in terms of avoiding obstacles and clutter – including some pesky cables that are known to be difficult to avoid. Although it was still stuck on one end of a ceiling, I couldn't find it getting stuck in tight spaces. It actually did a good job of navigating tight spaces, which is surprising since it's quite a giant.

Close up of the camera on Samsung Jet Bot AI +.John Velasco / Digital Trends

The Samsung SmartThings app displays the map of your home when the Jet Bot AI + first cleans and then automatically categorizes the rooms. He even managed to note down large pieces of furniture on the map, something I haven't seen with other robotic vacuum cleaners. The card can then be edited to include no-go zones, which is useful for making cleaning more efficient.

Patrol routes when you are not home

Without question, the most beautiful feature of the Samsung Jet Bot AI + is its ability to act as a patrol when you are away from home. Think of it as your personal security guard, moving from room to room, watching out for your every move. While the live feed of the video can be easily accessed through the Samsung SmartThings app, you will need to install the SmartThings video add-on to view footage recorded later.

This is the best home patrolling robot that I have tested so far.

Well, I'll argue that this is the best home patrolling robot I've tested so far, but it still takes some work to be even more useful. The only complaint I have is that it can't go into patrol mode automatically. I really would have liked to have a geofencing feature that automatically activates the robot for patrols when I'm not home and then turns off when I'm there. Instead, you can only set one schedule for now.

Still, it's really amusing to see the Samsung Jet Bot AI + leave the base to patrol different rooms in my apartment. It also doesn't clean while it's moving, so it's a bit quieter and saves battery. When it enters a room, it ends up staying in one place, but turning every now and then. When the camera detects movement, it records the event and sends a notification in the app. This is exactly the type of home security that is needed most as it doesn't sit in one spot like a typical security camera. There is still room for improvement here, however, due to its narrow field of view and fairly easy motion detection.

Our opinion

The Samsung Jet Bot AI + is the company's best robotic vacuum cleaner to date – there's no doubt about that. It's also one of the most advanced robotic vacuums on the market, offering top-notch features like a self-draining system, intelligent obstacle avoidance and home security.

The latter feature is especially noteworthy as few bots really do a good job, but the Jet Bot AI + is the first to offer some level of confidence when it comes to home security. It's not terrific, but the beginning of what's to come as more and more robotic vacuums become personal safety patrols on wheels. It's Samsung's best deal, but it's also an expensive one at $ 1,300.

Is there a better alternative?

The closest competitor to this is the Roborock S6 MaxV, which also has a camera for better obstacle avoidance and safety. While it doesn't offer that much of a comprehensive home security package, it doubles as a mopper – something the Jet Bot AI + doesn't offer. Plus, it's also available for $ 850.

In terms of cleaning performance, the iRobot Roomba i3 + does a great job of cleaning every corner of your home in an efficient manner. In addition, it has a self-draining base and a far more attractive price of $ 600.

How long it will take?

There are certainly many components involved in the Samsung Jet Bot AI +. Cleaning the robot, removing tangled strands of hair from its wheels, and emptying the bag in the cleaning base all help to keep it in optimal shape. There is a one year limited warranty that covers it against defects.

Should you buy it?

Yes sir. It's a really expensive investment, but given all the features it offers, it has some advantages.

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14 Nov
Blog

Bissell SpinWave Robot Vacuum: A Basic Bot That Cleans Well

The Bissell Spinwave wet and dry robot vacuum

“This is a very simple robotic vacuum that works as advertised. No more, no less. "

  • Simple vacuum, simple interface

  • Dry vacuum cleaner and pug

  • Low profile fits under most furniture

  • Simply change / empty the trash can

  • No frills

  • Inefficient travel routes

I am probably the worst person to test a robot vacuum. I have two children and two dogs, my house is on two levels, which means there are stairs everywhere, and we may vacuum our house every quarter as well. As a result, our carpet is terrible. But maybe all of these things make me perfect for testing a robotic vacuum? When Bissell asked me to take his newest bot for a spin (no pun intended), I was all in. Here's what I found out:

The Bissell SpinWave wet and dry robot is a very flat floor sweeper and mopper that covers the basics of floor cleaning. As the name suggests, there are two modes. The mode is determined by the attachment to the robot. The dirt cup puts the vacuum in dry mode and the mop head puts the robot in wet mode. The vacuum itself is short enough to fit under my couch, kitchen chairs, and even the step board along my kitchen counters. These are all pleasant surprises.

No frills

The vacuum (which my daughter called "Turbo") only navigates with optical sensors and shock sensors. The vacuum cleaner neither maps rooms with unusual technology like the Eufy RoboVac L70 Hybrid with its lidar, nor does it do anything particularly clever. It uses structured gyroscopic navigation (back and forth pattern) and returns to places it may have missed. The only other sensors are a downward-facing sensor, which prevents strips from moving, and a soft-surface avoidance sensor, which prevents the robot from hitting carpets while mopping. This is a basic robotic vacuum.

I've tested the vacuum on carpets – very dirty carpets – and ceramic tile floors. Both the vacuum passed the hair and grain tests, which was good. Some larger pieces of debris such as lollipop sticks and some cheese stick packaging were not picked up. All in all I would say that the robot vacuum is not as strong as the upright vacuum normally used. However, the advantage of using a robotic vacuum cleaner is that you can use it far more often and even schedule it for the night or other times that I normally wouldn't vacuum. If you run a robotic vacuum cleaner several times over the course of a week, it will become just as powerful as the post, depending on how often we are currently using it.

When a vacuum cycle is complete, or when the battery goes low, the vacuum finds its way back to its charging station. There the vacuum charges wirelessly. After several vacuum cycles, the vacuum will still easily find the charger. The installation instructions recommend that the Base Station be placed in an area 40 inches on each side. I placed them under a chair less than 4 inches on each side, however, and the vacuum still found the charger flawless.

Works wet and dry

Let's move on to the mop mode. The vacuum comes with a bottle of solution that you mix with water. Just take out the bin and insert the mop head. So you are simply in mop mode. The mop attachment has a garbage can that is significantly smaller, but can still collect dust and dirt before running over it with a mop. It's always a good idea.

Bissell Spinwave Robot Vacuum with wet and dry attachments

In wipe mode, the vacuum becomes very stubborn in small corners. I watched the robot mop the same 4 "x 1" corner for about 10 minutes before finally maneuvering to the rest of the floor. The robot has algorithms that tell it where to go, but I can't find a method in the madness. I have no doubt that the vacuum covers the entire floor, but I am not sure that it does this in the most efficient way

There are some things the vacuum doesn't do that I would want in a second generation device. There is no way to block the vacuum in certain rooms. Since the vacuum does not map your home, there is no way you can prevent it from migrating to places it shouldn't be. Even additional sensor barriers that you could purchase separately would be a welcome addition. It would hit the board I put across the threshold of my son's room to keep the vacuum out and the baby gate that I used to keep the vacuum in the kitchen.

I initially struggled to get the stain cleaner to work. I found out because I didn't get the robot to where I wanted to clean it. Bissell's support website provided the answer, but the app didn't prompt me to tell me that a clean patch couldn't start while the device was still in the charger. I would also like to see the option to remotely control the vacuum for spot cleaning.

Don't forget to empty it!

The dust collector fills up very quickly. It is worth repeating that I have two children and two dogs. That's why I have to empty the trash can after every cleaning to keep it running. Unfortunately, like the iRobot Roomba S9 +, the robot doesn't automatically empty the trash can, but that's about a third the price, either. It's okay to schedule several cleanings a week, but it's difficult to empty the bin every morning after a clean. A notification from the app would be nice.

This vacuum absolutely covers the basics and nothing else, but at this price point it doesn't really have to cover anything else.

The outer casing of the vacuum is very sensitive to abrasion. I mentioned earlier that the vacuum cleaner can be cleaned under the kickplates of my kitchen cabinets, but it has often left a scuff mark that makes the vacuum cleaner look beaten up. Fortunately, the scuffs have been polished off with a clean cloth and some cleaner, but it would be nice to see a more abrasion-resistant finish in the future.

After all, the vacuum is not compatible with smart assistants like the Google Assistant and AmazonAlexa. It's not terrible. Actually, it's more of a footnote. It would be nice if you could start a cleaning cycle with a voice command, but to be honest. Starting the app or pressing the start button on the vacuum itself is not difficult.

Our opinion

Overall, this is a very basic vacuum that offers limited robot vacuum functionality and little else. But that's perfectly fine as it's available at a low price for the rest of the field. The normal retail price for this vacuum is $ 400. This is a bargain for a wet / dry vacuum. Even better, at the time of this writing, Bissell is making a sale that will bring the price down to $ 250. That's a staggering amount.

Is there a better alternative?

Naturally! There is no shortage of robotic vacuum cleaners. We have several recommendations that cover the scope. But this package offers a lot of value, especially at the discounted price of $ 250. At this price point, it competes with the Lefant M571 Robot Vacuum, which also wipes. However, these vacuums are at the bottom of the price spectrum, and the cut corners don't detract from that overall value.

How long it will take?

The Bissell SpinWave wet and dry robot vacuum is made of solid plastic. Sensors keep it away from falls and falls. The battery can even be replaced. I don't see any problems with this vacuum that will last long. It comes with a 1 year limited warranty.

Should I buy it?

Yes! Despite all the compromises this vacuum makes, Bissell is a well-known brand that has long been active in the vacuum sector. This vacuum absolutely covers the basics and nothing else, but at this price point it doesn't really have to cover anything else. As long as it covers the entire floor, you are golden. There are more advanced robotic vacuums out there for sure, but none for that kind of value and with a brand name.

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