16 Oct
Blog

Eufy RoboVac X8 Review: Turbine Meets Unavoidable Collisions

The RoboVac X8 is docked to its charger.

Eufy RoboVac X8

RRP $ 599.00

"The Eufy RoboVac X8 brings a feature-rich companion app to the table, but the vacuum cleaner disappoints on some fundamental points."

advantages

  • Strong suction power

  • A solid companion app

  • Great battery life

disadvantage

  • Messy vacuuming and poor performance

  • Bad object avoidance

  • Bulky design

  • On the expensive side

When it comes to smart home appliances, robotic vacuums have managed to rise and dominate. It's not an unwanted invasion, however, as nothing beats an automatic cleaning assistant that floats around your house picking up dirt on a set schedule. The best robotic vacuums use advanced laser scanning technology to create blueprints of your home, maps that the vacuum cleaner references in its cleaning route, and maps that you can access in the vacuum cleaner's companion app. Other features like object avoidance and voice assistant control are also pretty standard these days.

There is no shortage of smart home brands offering "the best" vacuum robots on the market, which can make the buying process difficult. Eufy, a sub-label of parent company Anker, is a prolific manufacturer of some of today's leading smart tech – from cameras to health monitors. Eufy's brand new RoboVac X8 competes against the hordes of robotic vacuums and is hailed as one of the company's first vacuums. Is it worth the investment? We got our hands on a test device and can say a lot about it.

unpacking

the RoboVac X8 is packed with a handful of essentials to get you started. In the box you will find the X8 itself (with the side brush already attached), the charging station with power cord, an additional filter and an additional side brush as well as an instruction manual.

Unlike other robotic vacuum cleaners on the market, the X8 does not come with a dual-purpose charging station / dust collector. This means that you need to keep an eye on the vacuum cleaner's trash can so that you can manually empty it when it is full. To be honest, these towering canisters can be a real eyesore depending on the home decor you have to pair them with. So to me it wasn't a big deal that the X8 didn't come boxed with one.

The RoboVac X8 is docked to its charger.

The X8 itself is about 4 inches tall (including the top-mounted lidar scanner) by 13 inches in diameter. The vacuum cleaner's black body is a fairly low-key aesthetic that works well in most homes. The branding for the twin turbine function of the vacuum cleaner is located directly above the vacuum cleaner – a black label with a blue stripe on the left and a red one on the right.

The 600 milliliter dust box has a purple locking tab that you push down to pull out the tank. The washable filter is located directly in the dust box. To access it, just pull on either side of the tank and it will open in a clam-shell style. When you turn the vacuum cleaner you will find a central roller brush, two sturdy drum wheels, a forward facing surface adaptive wheel and a single side brush (detachable).

The bottom of the RoboVac X8.

The charging station doesn't take up much space – although you'll want to allocate enough space for the X8's docking process. Whenever I sent my test unit home to charge, the nipple needed a lot of space to comfortably dance around before docking (like the dog who has to turn a few times before landing in the dog bed).

Put up

Once your X8 is ready to use, the first thing you should do is download the EufyHome app (for iOS and Android devices). As soon as you start the app, EufyHome requests access to your device's bluetooth in order to be able to recognize your vacuum cleaner. After a few seconds, your X8 should appear in the list of available devices. Select it, enter your applicable Wi-Fi information (the X8 only works on 2.4 GHz network bands) and wait for the vacuum cleaner to connect to your network.

Note that you will need to set aside at least an hour or so for the X8 to have enough charge to function. My test device only registered my WiFi after it was docked for a while. Once everything is live, the app will prompt you to send your vacuum cleaner for the first cleaning. During this first pass, the lidar (light detection and distance measurement) and other image mapping functions are actively operated and create a cleaning map of your house that you and the vacuum cleaner can access.

power

The RoboVac X8 is equipped with several cleaning functions. First and foremost is the much-advertised twin turbine technology. Each turbine brings 2,000 Pa of suction into the equation, creating a vacuum experience that is twice as powerful as many competing bots. The ultra-pack dust compression feature is a solid consideration for a vacuum cleaner without an automatically empty canister / charging station. Essentially, all of the dirt the X8 draws in is heavily pressurized, reducing tank volume by up to 127%. Combined with intelligent lidar mapping and nearly three hours on a single charge, this should result in an incredible cleaning experience … right?

Not exactly. The RoboVac X8 lived at my house for several weeks. With the many rounds of cleaning I went through, I found the overall performance to be pretty average – in some cases below average. Let's start with the top slice of bread in the compliment sandwich.

Whenever the sweeper came across the oat, it whipped it into cracks and crevices that the vacuum cleaner would never navigate to.

The twin turbine technology brings the vacuum cleaner to impressive levels. When crossing the carpet, the X8 penetrated deep into the fibers, pulling up dirt, hair and other debris that was not visible on the surface. With BoostIQ activated, the vacuum cleaner also did an excellent job of automatically adjusting the suction power when switching from carpeted floors to tile and hardwood surfaces. When set to Pure (the default setting for soft suction), the vacuum cleaner is quite quiet, although the volume increases quickly when you switch to the next suction level. More on this below.

Collision avoidance

Now, let's get to the meat of the sandwich, where I'll complain. I've tested (and owned a couple of models) a few other vacs that had pretty lackluster object avoidance. This, combined with severe collisions with the inevitable obstacles, made for a nerve-wracking experience when I let go of the suction cups. Unfortunately, I found the Eufy no different. On the one hand, the X8 did a fine job of not slamming into furniture when bumped into a chair or ottoman, but there never seemed to be any active effort on the part of the vacuum cleaner to actually avoid the obstruction. Several times I had to jump in to save the vacuum cleaner from under a chair or between two items, which requires you to manually continue the cleaning cycle each time.

The RoboVac X8 cleans oats.

Also, the side sweeping brush turned out to be a nightmare when I put test oatmeal on the laminate surface of my kitchen. Whenever the sweeper came across the oat, it whipped it into cracks and crevices that the vacuum cleaner would never navigate to. I had to pull out my cordless handheld vacuum to clean up this clutter later. There have also been a few instances where the X8 would simply stop and not pair with the home map it created. It would come back online after a few moments of buffering, but it was strange walking by and watching it stumble.

Out of the lawsuit and into the bottom slice of bread. My X8 was fully charged and never needed to be charged during a complete cleaning of my home. It would cover the entire floor plan in under an hour (1,300 square feet) with minimal human babysitting required during operation.

software

The EufyHome app is your point of contact for all X8 settings and adjustments. Once the vacuum cleaner's lidar sensors are working, a detailed map of your home will be available for viewing on the home screen. From here you can track the progress and battery life of your vacuum cleaner while it cleans the house, labels rooms, sends the vacuum cleaner to clean specific areas and regulates the suction power.

If you want the X8 to move away from certain areas of the house, tap Edit Map and set one or more restricted areas that you want the vacuum cleaner to avoid.

App screens from the EufyHome app.

When vacuuming, you have the option of switching between four different presets (Pure, Power, Turbo and Max), with Pure (the softest setting) being the default setting. You can also turn BoostIQ on and off. This is the X8's ability to automatically adjust suction based on the surface it is vacuuming over.

Several useful functions are housed in an almost invisible separate settings menu. To access it, you need to tap the gear icon in the top right corner of the home screen. Here you'll find options to create vacuum schedules, a cleaning history report, and card management tools. In my opinion, the scheduling feature should be a quick tip button on the main screen of the app.

The scheduling function should be a quick tip button on the main screen of the app.

Visually, I wasn't the biggest fan of the super dark overlay that dominates the main map screen, either. It may sound fussy, but considering the other submenus on the EufyHome app are bright white, the X8's black background made navigating to certain functions a bit difficult – at least for me.

Price and guarantee

You will find the Eufy RoboVac X8 on sale for $ 599 via the Eufy website. Similar to other Eufy products, the X8 comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee and a one-year limited warranty.

Alternatively, there is also the Eufy RoboVac X8 Hybridwhich is linked to the function of a wiper. For the added $ 50 cost, it certainly seems like some added value given its 2-in-1 vacuum and mopping capabilities.

Our opinion

I cannot actively sing the praises of the RoboVac X8. Yes, it has a great app and the promise of powerful and smart cleaning technologies to keep your home pristine. In my personal experience, the X8 has often done more of my work for me and required multiple rescues and resets, with a handful of glitches thrown in every now and then.

Is there a better alternative?

Yes, several. From Roomba's entire range to affordable vacuum cleaners from Roborock and Neato, there are plenty of robotic vacuum cleaners that can clean your house without so many hiccups. In the price range, I think of the iRobot Roomba i3 Plus with its self-emptying dock and efficient cleaning as well as the Roborock S7 with its acoustic wiping function.

How long it will take?

I suspect the Eufy RoboVac X8 will last for several years. The outer shell is well protected, the app seems to stay updated successfully, and with the option to replace the main brush head and side brushes, there seems to be a lot of support from Eufy. It comes with a one-year limited warranty that protects it from defects from the date of purchase.

Should you buy it?

It's by no means a total dud, but your money is better off elsewhere.

Editor's recommendations



03 Jan
Blog

Eufy RoboVac G30 Review: Won’t Break the Bank

Eufy robot on the floor

Eufy RoboVac G30 Hybrid Review: This robotic vacuum cleaner isn't going to break the bank

"This is a cute little robotic vacuum cleaner that you can use to keep your home clean without cleaning your wallet first."

  • App informs you when parts need to be serviced

  • Manual remote control for easy cleaning

  • Very comprehensive app

  • Inexpensive for a 2-in-1

  • Questionable brush durability

  • The wiping is a little weak

Finding a good robot vacuum is not difficult. It's harder to find a good one that won't break the bank. Eufy is trying to solve this second problem with its RoboVac G30 Hybrid. I have been testing this robot vacuum for two weeks and am very impressed with what the vacuum offers. It has good suction, a very comprehensive app and talks to you.

The $ 379 Eufy RoboVac G30 Hybrid, which our daughter named "Mando" because it looks a bit like Mandalorian armor, definitely does the job as efficiently as possible. This is demonstrated by the exact back and forth pattern it follows across the floor. I can appreciate this simplicity. The Bissell Spinwave follows its own algorithms that defy logic. Not this one.

Set everything up

The Eufy Spin brush may not last long

The setup is similar to most robot vacuum cleaners. Find a place free of obstacles, put down the charging mat and lock the charging stand. As with other robotic vacuum cleaners, you should leave plenty of space on both sides. I didn't and like other vacuum cleaners it worked just fine. The vacuum cleaner can clean my 172 square foot family room / office in about 34 minutes.

On the bottom is a single three-pronged spin brush that sweeps dirt into the path of the vacuum. Due to my two weeks of use, I am concerned about the longevity of the spin brush. My office has low-pile carpets and the brush looks a bit disturbed. The Eufy Home app, which we will get into in more detail later, has a useful feature that reminds you when to clean or replace various components. According to the app, I have to replace my side brush within 247 hours. I am not optimistic that it will take that long.

The vacuum hardware itself is very attractive and unobtrusive. The top is made of very shiny plastic with a neat pinstripe pattern. At just 2.85 inches high, the vacuum fits easily under my couch and the step plates in my kitchen. There is a single sided sweeper on the right and a trash can on the back. The vacuum cleaner also includes an attachable mop accessory that falls under the garbage can.

Wiping is too short

The wiping function is just fine. The attachment under the garbage can doesn't have much space for water, but it covered my kitchen well. In contrast to the Bissell Spinwave, however, the mop head does not move and does not move. It just pulls itself behind the vacuum. The mop is also designed for water only, which is similar to most robotic vacuum cleaners, but again different from the Spinwave, which actually comes with wiping agent in the box. The smaller mop head keeps the original trash can in place. So if you have a dusty, dirty floor, you can run the vacuum as usual and pick up the same amount of dirt. But honestly, I probably won't be using the mopping function anymore because you need more than just water on a high-traffic floor like a kitchen.

This is a good, solid vacuum cleaner that will clean your floors and carpets well.

The vacuum also comes with magnetic strips that you can use to block areas where you don't want the robot to travel. That's not really ideal. My office is carpeted and I really don't want to put tape over the carpet. In general, putting tape on the floor to cordon off certain areas is a thorn in the side. I prefer to put a board over the threshold to my son's room as I can just slide it away later.

The vacuum has a speaker and gives verval warnings and status updates which is very nice. Some vacuums use a series of beeps to alert you to problems. A vacuum speaking to you removes any doubts about what is wrong. It's a nice touch.

software

The app for the vacuum is just as nice. Since I mentioned above, I'll start with the fact that the app will notify you when it's time to swap out components or order new parts. In addition to the side brush, you will be informed about the roller brush, the filter, the sensors and the rubber strip. That is a core function. Robotic vacuums run on their own, so it's harder to tell when something isn't working as it should. In all honesty, all robotic vacuums should have this built into their apps.

You can also schedule cleans, adjust the suction and voice settings, and even use your phone as a remote control to get the vacuum where you want it. It can also do spot cleaning and show you the layout that the vacuum created for itself. This isn't particularly useful data, but it's fun to look at.

Our opinion

This is a really solid buy at $ 379. It's one of the cheapest robotic vacuums out there, and it has a wide variety of features that are usually offered at higher prices. The vacuum cleaner does a good job on my office carpet and a slightly better job on the tile floor of my kitchen. Overall, I have no complaints about how it does its job. I just want a better option for locking certain areas.

Is there a better alternative?

A better alternative is hard to imagine at this price. High-quality models of robotic vacuum cleaners such as the Roomba s9 + have self-emptying trash cans. For a little extra cash, you can opt for something like the Roborock S5, which also comes with wiping accessories and has more advanced sensors.

Will it take?

The build-up of the total vacuum is fixed. I ask the app's estimate of how long the side brushes will last, but that's about the only question mark I have when it comes to durability. Side brushes are $ 10 for a pack of 4, so I'm not too worried about that. Eufy robotic vacuum cleaners come with a 12-month guarantee and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Should I buy it?

Yes. This is a good solid vacuum cleaner that will clean your floors and carpets well. I like the voice and remote capabilities, and maintenance reminders in the app are perfect for me. Now all we need is one in green so we can call it Grogu.

Editor's recommendations




15 May
Blog

Eufy RoboVac G30 Edge Review: A Worthy Budget Contender

"The Eufy RoboVac G30 Edge is a wonderfully simple robotic vacuum cleaner."

  • Great app

  • Easy to use

  • Manual control option

  • Adjustable volume control

The Eufy RoboVac G30 Edge ($ 399) is a robotic vacuum cleaner with a great app and features that make it stress free and amazingly easy to use. Surprisingly, it's not the cheapest bot vac: it's at the bottom and can be a good option for those who don't want to pay a fortune for premium vac brands like iRobot or Ecovacs. There was very little that I didn't like about this cleaning bot, and that says a lot because I rarely find robotic vacuum cleaners useful or efficient. I learned that when I tested the G30 Edge.

App worship

G30 Edge app

The Eufy Home app is one of the best robot vacuum apps I've seen in a long time. It is easy to use and trouble-free and offers countless well thought-out options. For example, I think it's great that you can use the app to adjust the voice volume of the G30's robot voice. I have never seen this option on a robot vacuum and it is fantastic.

However, I think the manual control option is my favorite part of the G30 app. The manual control basically turns the G30 into a remote controlled car that cleans while the app is the control. This is a rare feature on most robotic vacuum cleaners and I'm glad that Eufy picked it up. I'm so frustrated when cleaning bots is not where I want it to be, and this option gives me complete control. You can also choose how much suction you think your floors need to get clean.

Do you want to set it and forget it? The planning function is refreshingly easy to use. If you are not there and are not sure whether the G30 has actually been cleaned on schedule, there is a cleaning report that you can access in the app that gives you all the details.

A button for easier cleaning

Another special feature of the RoboVac G30 Edge is the stain removal button. I don't know how many times I took a robot vacuum cleaner and put it in a place where quick cleaning was required to make it fly away and clean another area of ​​the room. Tapping the stain cleaning button on the top of the G30 tells him to be in a specific area. Spot Clean doesn't just keep the vacuum cleaner in one place. The cleaning begins in a small circle, which increases with each revolution.

Voice control

G30 edge on carpetAlina Bradford / Digital Trends

Although buttons and an app are great, nothing makes you feel like voice commands to the king or queen of your automated kingdom. The G30 can be controlled with Alexa or Google Assistant. You can say things like "Alexa, start cleaning" or "Hey Google, stop cleaning" to control the little bot. I find this option very useful when I am in the middle of a task and remember that I need to vacuum. One command and suddenly I suck while doing everything else I have to do. You can also ask the assistant to find your Bot Vac or send it to recharge.

Battery life

Eufy claims that the RoboVac G30 can run for up to 100 minutes. I thought that was pretty accurate, although the Bot Vac had to remove dog hair and a variety of crumbs, which is a big task for a robot Vac of any kind. This type of battery life is above average for the price range. For example, the Pure Clean Robot vacuum cleaner only runs for about 50 minutes and the first-class iRobot Roomba s9 Plus only for about 60 minutes.

This type of battery life is above average for the price range.

If many robot vacuum cleaners have a low battery, they will return to their charger and you will need to restart them. The G30 charges and starts cleaning where it left off. This is a particularly useful feature when you want to operate your robotic vacuum cleaner while you are away from home.

cleaning

When it started, I didn't think the G30 Edge would do very well when cleaned. For one thing, I didn't like the fact that the G30 Edge only has a cleaning brush for cleaning edges and corners. Other robotic vacuum cleaners such as the Ecovacs Deebot 901 have two edge brushes, which usually does not result in more thorough cleaning. However, the G30 surprised me. It seemed to get in there and do the work with just one brush.

My cats weren't even disturbed by the noise.

Second, it is quiet. While most robotic vacuum cleaners sound like a jet plane taking off, the G30 only has a quiet whir when it slips through the living room. My cats weren't even disturbed by the noise. Obviously, I didn't think it had the suction power to do much of anything. Amazingly, my carpet got very clean. I'm not sure if it got into the fibers and really absorbed the deep dirt, but the surface was clean. This is due to the BoostIQ system, with which the G30 automatically recognizes what type of suction your floor needs and can adjust it accordingly.

I also noticed that the G30 does not have as many small panes on top as many robot vacuum cleaners, such as the Neato Botvac D4 or the Ecovacs Deebot 960. This is because a laser navigation system is missing. It does a pretty good job of depicting your home without it, but it tends to bump furniture and walls a lot. It should map your rooms when cleaning and clean more efficiently the next time. I noticed that it works better every time. It is also said to clean in an "S" formation, but it seems a bit random. But I don't mind that.

G30 edge shelf and containerAlina Bradford / Digital Trends

Emptying the trash can in vacuum is my least preferred job, and I have to say that the G30's trash can has made things easier. It pulls out easily and opens effortlessly, unlike many other robotic vacuum cleaners I've tested.

Our opinion

The Eufy RoboVac G30 Edge costs $ 399 at the bottom when it comes to robotic vacuum cleaners, but it really impressed me. Everything about this bot is straightforward, and that's exactly what you want when it comes to an automated cleaning device. The app is also fantastic as it is packed with features, but has no glitches and is beautifully designed. Overall, this robot vacuum is a winner.

Are there any better alternatives?

You can find robotic vacuum cleaners that are cheaper, like this for less than $ 200, but I think you'll find it hard to find a vacuum cleaner that can clean with as few issues as the G30 Edge, especially if it does is a brand new model. However, if you're ready to pay more money, consider robot vacuum cleaners that can self-empty, have a laser tracking system, or can act as a robot mop. Here you can see our top offers.

Will it take?

I think so. It is well built and if you have any problems, Eufy has a 30 day return policy.

Should I buy it?

Yes. I really love this robot vacuum and I think you will too.

Editor's recommendations