Skip to main content

Wyze branches out with $199 robot vacuum featuring lidar tech

Wyze is best known for its affordable security cameras, but now the company is entering the robot vacuum cleaner market with a $199 bot that boasts enough features to compete with many of the bigger names on the market. Unlike many budget models, the Wyze Robot Vacuum uses precision lidar to navigate through the home and avoid common obstacles and pitfalls that might snare other models. Users can also set up virtual walls to keep the vacuum from running into things like pet water bowls and over stairs.

The Wyze Robot Vacuum also has schedule times for automatic cleaning of specific areas of the home. This is particularly useful for keeping high-traffic areas (like the space in front of the door) clean.

Recommended Videos

You can even customize the suction level. While higher levels of suction will result in a cleaner floor, it will also be significantly louder. If you schedule the machine to run at night, then lower suction levels will likely keep your sleep from being interrupted. On the other hand, you can set the suction level to its highest setting and run the Wyze Robot Vacuum when you’re gone during the day, ensuring you’ll come home to a very clean floor.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

The Wyze Robot Vacuum can automatically adjust between carpet and hardwood flooring. This means that it will be just as effective cleaning hardwood as it will be on carpet — no need to worry about whether it is on the right setting or not.

Please enable Javascript to view this content

Like many premium options for robot vacuums, the Wyze Robot Vacuum will create a map of your floor as it cleans. Once this map is finalized, you can use it to set up virtual walls to denote areas where the vacuum should not go. This is great for keeping it from under the TV stand or computer desk, as well as away from areas where it might get stuck. This map not only tells you the square footage of the space the Wyze is cleaning, but also how long it runs for and its current charge level.

The Wyze Robot Vacuum starts at just $199 and is available for pre-order starting today. It’s yet another example of Wyze’s aggressive rollout in the smart home. The company is diversifying its portfolio, with recent gadgets like its Doorbell, Thermostat, and Outdoor Camera all making significant noise in their respective domains.

Patrick Hearn
Patrick Hearn writes about smart home technology like Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, smart light bulbs, and more. If it's a…
Tapo launches two affordable robot vacuums with surprisingly premium specs
The Tapo RV30 Max Plus in its docking station

Tapo, a brand responsible for a wide range of smart gadgets, has just revealed two new robot vacuums -- the Tapo RV30 Max Series and Tapo RV20 Max Series. Both can be purchased as standalone robots or bundled with an auto-empty dock, and they offer some pretty impressive stats despite their entry-level price tags below $300.

The Tapo RV30 Max is the more expensive of the duo, clocking in at $220 ($300 when bundled with its auto-empty docking station). Its suction numbers are quite low at just 5,300 Pa, but it does offer a unique Mesh Grid feature that helps it accurately map and move about your home. It works in conjunction with lidar and IMU Dual Navigation, which should also make it great at avoiding obstacles.

Read more
Forget about fancy features, more robot vacuums should perfect the basics
The Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra connected to plumbing.

Robot vacuums come in all shapes and sizes, but after reviewing dozens of models over the years, one thing holds constant -- products that focus on improving performance instead of adding fancy new features are my favorite. More and more companies are loading their robots with abilities that have nothing to do with cleaning (or are only tangentially related to the task), and while these can be fun to use during the first few weeks with a device, the thrill quickly fades.

There’s little reason to spend $1,600 replacing your existing robot vacuum with the newest model when the only new feature you’ll get is the ability to take snapshots of your pets or climb tall thresholds. To me, there's nothing more exciting about a robot vacuum than re-engineered roller brushes, increased power, and skills that directly translate to cleaner floors.

Read more
Roborock Qrevo Curv vs. Dreame L40 Ultra: Which premium robot vacuum is best?
The Dreame L40 Ultra mopping a room.

The Roborock Qrevo Curv and Dreame L40 Ultra are two of the best robot vacuums on the market, capable of not just cleaning your home but also handling most of their own maintenance. From rinsing and drying mops to emptying dustbins, they’re both incredibly self-sufficient -- making them great additions to any home. They both earned stellar reviews and carry similar price tags, so it could be a challenge to figure out which is the better choice.

Thankfully, you won’t regret either purchase. These two high-end models put most of the competition to shame, and there’s truly not a loser between the two. However, depending on the types of floors they’ll be cleaning, one might be a slightly better choice. Here’s a closer look at both to help you decide which is the better investment.
Pricing and design

Read more