It used to be TVs and smartphones but now robots rule. I get more questions about robot vacs than any other product and for good reason … they are awesome. A recent Telsyte Australian Smart Home Market Study found that one-in-five households have a robot vacuum “with more general-purpose robots on the way.”
In my weekend tech chat with Tim Gilbert on Sky News Australia, I revealed my top domestic robot helpers in the house, yard and pool for 2024.
POOL – Beatbot iSkim Ultra
There are many pool robots out there but in the critical category of debris skimming, it’s a much smaller bunch to pick from. So when the Beatbot iSkim Ultra launched in Australia I didn’t hesitate to grab one for review.
Billed as the world’s first intelligent robotic and solar-powered pool skimmer, the iSkim Ultra is expensive (A$2,499 RRP – Launch Price $A2,049) but it has absolutely everything you need to catch debris at the water surface.
If you’re like me, I have a major issue with with leaves, seeds and fruit attacking my pool – all year around. I just can’t keep on top of it when scooping manually. So this is the device I’ve been waiting for and it’s a game-changer. It has a massive debris basket, battery and solar panel. If you start with a fully charged robot you can just leave it running day and night, as long as you get sunny days.
Loaded with sensors and AI, the robot navigates in a pattern around the pool to maximise debris pick up. Speed counts because the goal is to try and grab the floating material before it sinks. Other skimmers just move randomly across the water.
Running the iSkim Ultra in tandem with a regular pool cleaning robot means I have a fighting chance against the never ending assault from the neighbour’s massive fig tree.
iSKIM ULTRA SPECS
- Automatic and Natural Water Clarification System
- App Remote Control, Scheduling & Voice Broadcast
- Precise Surface and Edge Cleaning with 20 Sensors
- High Efficiency 7 Motors and Obstacle Handling
- Superior Debris Removal with Dual-Side Brushes
- Extra-large 9L Filter Basket with One-touch Debris Release
- 24/7 Cleaning: Powerful 24W Solar Panel & 10,000 mAh Battery
- 14 Leading Certifications and 2-year Warranty
LAWN – Dreame A1 Robot Mower
Dreame’s A1 is a surprise champion in the robot mover category. The company makes outstanding robot vacuums but its first lawn mower is a stunning achievement. And I say this after having early issues with the app and connectivity.
But that was resolved pretty quickly, resulting in a very satisfying mowing experience. The Dreame A1 builds a 3D map of your yard using a front-mounted LiDAR sensor. So there’s no need to place beacons around the garden or bury cables in the soil to set boundaries.
This means mowing day and night. A huge plus. It also hugs the fence line which means less to tidy up with a line trimmer.
It also looks good and doesn’t take up much space. You can command a lot functions from the app, including the raising and lowering of the cutting disc.
It’s also on sale right now. Just A$1,999 which is a 50% discount.
WINDOWS – ECOVACS WINBOT W2 OMNI
As I said in the TV segment above, I reckon the ECOVACS WINBOT W2 OMNI could be the device of the year. It’s the latest version from ECOVACS, a company that also makes leading robot vacs.
The best thing about the W2 is its battery and portable dock. The ability to clean any window, anywhere, is a game changer. I’ve used it on massive ocean facing windows and small kitchen windows. The more I used it, the more I loved it. It’s very easy to operate, just turn on and attach it to the glass. Within seconds its suction is strong enough to stick to the glass for up to 110 minutes or 55 square metres on a single charge. It’s also ideal for shower screens and glass pool fences.
Some of the other features I like include:
- Automatic wire coiler that can keep the wire collection neat and tidy
- Composite safety rope and power cord
- Upgraded Three-nozzle Wide-angle Spray Atomization
- 12-stage protection system from both hardware and software support
- Intelligent climbing system to avoid slipping
At just $A999, it’s a great deal.
ROBOT VACUUM – Roborock Qrevo Curv
This year robot vacs reached a point where they can pretty much do it all when it comes to hard floors and carpets. That’s why I’ve nominated a Roborock device that hasn’t even hit our shores yet.
The Roborock Qrevo Curv was revealed at IFA in Berlin but it won’t be available in Australia until January 1st 2025. It has some incredible features including AdaptiLift™ Chassis. This independently adjustable three-wheel control, enables the chassis to lift by 10mm or elevate specific sections, including the front, rear, left, or right. It automatically lifts the omni-wheel to handle standard thresholds up to 3cm and complex double-layer thresholds up to 4cm. It’s like having an off-road robot in the home.
Roborock Qrevo Curv Features:
- Powered by 18,500 Pa suction
- Reactive AI Obstacle Recognition – combining structured light, RGB cameras, and LiDAR technology, the Curv can recognise and avoid up to 62 object types
- Dual Anti-Tangle System
- All-in-One Multifunctional Dock 3.0 automates maintenance tasks like 75°C hot water mop washing, warm air drying, auto dustbin emptying for up to 7 weeks, plus auto water tank refilling
Qrevo Curv is priced priced at A$2,799 with availability announced soon.
More 2024 best-of-the-best to come soon.