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.

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.

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.

Editors' Recommendations

Patrick Hearn
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Patrick Hearn writes about smart home technology like Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, smart light bulbs, and more. If it's a…
Roborock S8 Pro Ultra vs. Roborock S7 Max Ultra: Which is the better robot vacuum?
The Roborock S8 Pro Ultra cleaning up pet fur.

The Roborock S8 Pro Ultra and Roborock S7 Max Ultra are two of the best robot vacuums of 2023. With the ability to both mop and vacuum -- and then empty their dustbins and clean their mops at the charging dock -- they offer everything you need to automate your home cleaning. But aside from remarkably similar names, the two also share many of the same specs.

Here’s a closer look at the S8 Pro Ultra and S7 Max Ultra to help you decide which is best for your smart home.
Pricing and availability

Read more
How to choose a robot vacuum
Roborock S4 Max cleaning a carpet.

When it comes to keeping your home clean, few smart home devices are as beloved as robot vacuums. These nifty gadgets let you put away your cordless vacuum and sit on the couch while it sucks up all the dust, pollen, debris, and other gunk that’s trapped inside your carpet. Some models even double as a mop, while others can automatically empty their dustbin.

There’s a wide variety of robot vacuums on the market today, which means you can find a product for every budget. It also means there are a lot of choices to wade through -- and not all of them are worth considering. If you need some help with your search, here’s how to choose a robot vacuum in 2023.

Read more
The Wyze Cam Floodlight Pro is a premium outdoor camera with tons of AI features
The Wyze Cam Floodlight Pro installed on a wall.

The Wyze catalog is already loaded with popular outdoor (and indoor) cameras, and the newly announced Wyze Cam Floodlight Pro is looking to give shoppers another affordable option to consider. Offering a 2.5K resolution, 180-degree coverage, and the ability to use onboard AI to trigger motion alerts and activate the floodlight, there are tons of useful features packed into this $150 smart home gadget.

Alongside its premium filming resolution and impressive 180-degree field-of-view, the Wyze Cam Floodlight Pro also lets you enable a voice-deterrence system, which will automatically play a voice prompt telling intruders they’re being recorded. And if that’s not enough, the 105-decibel siren should scare away any would-be burglars (or dangerous wildlife).

Read more