If you're on the hunt for the best robot vacuum on the market, there are a real wealth of options on the market. All manner of different companies have entered the fray, bringing their own take on the form.
Recently, I've been testing the EZVIZ RE4 Plus. That's a more budget-conscious option, complete with a self-emptying base and a LiDAR mapping system. It also comes in at a lower price point than much of the competition.
So, is it any good? Well, let's dive in and take a look.
EZVIZ RE4 Plus review: Price and Availability
The EZVIZ RE4 Plus retails for £299.99 in the UK (approx. $400/AU$583). That's considerably cheaper than a lot of the best models on the market.
Users in the UK can find the device at a wide range of retailers including Amazon and Currys.
EZVIZ RE4 Plus review: Features
While the lower price point might make you think of a sparse feature set, it's not the case here. In fact, the RE4 Plus is packed with useful functions.
Let's start with the dock. That offers automatic emptying, meaning you won't need to manually do it every time. Plus, with a large 4l dust bag, you can get up to 90 days of use without needing to empty the dock.
The vac itself also boasts some killer specs. A LiDAR mapping system allows it to intelligently sense the environment around it. That's used to build a map of your space, and allows the RE4 Plus to move around with confidence. That's also how it manages to avoid obstacles in your room.
That mapping system also ensures the device is aware of the position of the dock. Once it has finished the cleaning cycle, the vacuum will return to the dock for auto-emptying and recharging.
Elsewhere, the vacuum can detect different surfaces like carpets. Once that happens, it will adjust the suction power to ensure an adequate clean. It can also sense drops and will send a notification to your phone should it find itself stuck.
EZVIZ RE4 Plus review: Performance
When you first setup the EZVIZ RE4 Plus, you'll need to let it run a LiDAR scan of your property. That sees the vacuum move around the property to build a picture of the environment.
That can be a slightly long-winded process, but it's an essential one. It's quite cool to see the 2D map of your house on the app, too. Once it's complete, you can use the app to make adjustments like setting no-go zones.
One thing I did find was that adding rooms to the map is tough. I initially closed off a single room to test the features and ensure everything was working. Once that was complete, adding additional rooms was a process of trial and error, trying to coax the vacuum out of the doorway.
Once you manage it, the vacuum will automatically begin to scan as it cleans, adding new areas to your map. Once you've done it, those areas will be cleaned everything you use the device.
Speaking of the cleaning performance, it's pretty darn good. The RE4 Plus works efficiently to remove a lot of the dirt and debris in a space. On a day to day basis, you'll find that it collects a lot of material on the ground, leaving you with a neat and tidy home.
That being said, it's not perfect. The vacuum moves around your property, but it can sometimes miss sections as it weaves around. That can leave areas of dirt seemingly at random.
I've also seen at least one occasion where it appeared to leak collected dust. The result was a trail of dust throughout the house. It's a pain, though it did appear to be a rare malfunction.
The RE4 Plus does also feature a mopping function. Simply add water to the 300ml tank on the vacuum and it can clean hard surfaces in the home. This didn't form part of my testing as I didn't have a suitable surface to use it on, but I'd assume it performs as well as the suction setting. You can also select different rooms and areas for mopping in the app.
EZVIZ RE4 Plus review: Verdict
If you're on the hunt for a robot vacuum, there's a wide array of options out there. The EZVIZ RE4 Plus is a solid option – particularly for those on a budget.
Whether you're looking for your first ever robot vacuum or simply need a new model on a budget, this is a really solid choice. Sure, it's not perfect. The app can be a bit finickity at times, and occasional malfunctions can leave things in a bit of a mess, but overall it's a handy helper to have around.
EZVIZ RE4 Plus review: Also Consider
If you're looking for something else on the market, you're going to have to be prepared to spend a little more. Frankly speaking, this is a really great value for money offering, which makes it hard to draw close comparisons.
One option is the Eufy Clean X8 Pro. That's a real specialist on hard floors, and is highly rated for tougher situations like dealing with pet hair.
If you can find a lot of added budget, the iRobot Roomba j7+ is a great shout. It earned a five-star review when we tested it, excelling in all areas and offering a really complete experience.
