The mapping technology can store multiple maps, meaning you can set it down in your bedroom or kitchen, select the room and let it get to work. David Ludlow is a Freelance Journalist and Home Technology Editor. Starting life on the consumer PC press back in 1998, David has been writing about the forefront of technology for the past 20 years. David has edited Computer Shopper and launched Expert Reviews. He has written a number of books on PC building and maintenance.
Photos in the filing seem to show a new design that is wider and flatter than its predecessors, with a squared-off rear and bulkier charging base. A few robot vacuums have a clever self-emptying feature, most notably those of the iRobot Roomba series. These can transfer the refuse they pick up to a larger compartment in the docking station, letting them carry on for weeks with minimal maintenance. According to a 2018 survey by Consumer Reports in the US, robot vacuums last an average of five years. Of course, this is based on models that are, for the most part, no longer sold.
Over two dozen test runs later and the 360 Eye ended up scoring well compared to many of the non-smart robot vacuums we’ve reviewed, but not as well as either the Roomba 980 or the Neato Botvac Connected overall. The 350dia x H91mm lozenge can get right under all but the lowest furniture, and when it moves from hardwood floors to rugs and carpet it boosts the motor speed for better cleaning results. The twin rubber brush bar is easy to untangle and exceedingly good at picking up pet hair. This bar doesn’t extend right to the edge of the vacuum like they do on the Dyson, but two spinning brushes sweep dust into its path, so it can clean right up to the skirting boards.
As mentioned, this vacuum cleans deep, and is especially good on carpets. The 360 Heurist (£899) takes the same basic form as the original – albeit with a swanky blue paint job – but most other aspects have been improved. This doesn’t make it the best robotic vacuum available, but it is significantly better than its predecessor. For those with a particularly busy or big household, robot vacuums can be a godsend.
It’s not an issue really, as you can schedule it to clean when you’re not around. If it’s a basic clean you’re after, the lowest setting is relatively quiet while there’s three higher settings giving you room to ramp things up for bigger messes—but, then, it does get quite loud . There’s also a decent size water tank and the option to use a reusable mop dyson robot vacuum or some disposable mops when your hard floors need a stronger once over. Vacuum under furniture and tough-to-reach spots – When I vacuum the house the old-fashioned way, I generally go around the sofa, bed, and other large furniture. Robot vacuums can just zip right under there and take care of business so you don’t have an accumulation of dust bunnies.
What information is available has come via The Verge, which discovered that Dyson had filed details of a new product with the FCC. On the filed documents, the new robot vacuum cleaner is just called the RBO3. The FCC filing could indicate that the brand is ready to launch the machine in the US. Carpets and rugs didn’t fare quite as well, particularly when trying to extract pet hair. The very best Dyson you can buy right now is the V15 Detect Absolute (£599).
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The Dyson 360 Eye is unsurprisingly a terrific vacuum, but it does have room for improvement for a robot – which isn’t saying anything new for the category. For instance, the 360 Eye can weave in and out of table and shark cordless chair legs better than competitors so you don’t have to stack chairs on top of tables on scheduled-clean mornings. The 360 Eye picked up a lot of the pet hair, but the rest was stuck along the side of the test pen.
The highlight of this vacuum is hinted at in its name, using a laser to reveal microscopic dust – making sure you can spot everything and get it picked up. The V15 also smartly adjusts its suction power, ramping it up when needed. Fancy tech doesn’t drain the battery life either, with up to 60 minutes – which should be plenty, even if the laser has you meticulously cleaning every nook and cranny.