Unboxing: The first thing I noticed while I unboxed the robot was how plain the exterior box is. Is iRobot emulating Apple packaging? The cutouts on either side made it easy to pick up without fear of dropping it. Inside the box, each item was packaged securely and marked with symbols that made identifying the contents intuitive. The inside flap of the box has cutouts for easy opening, while the vacuum box has a plastic handle for removal. iRobot's package design engineer did a pretty good job, but there's still room for improvement. The box for each component was plain cardboard with no coatings, which allowed it to be quickly identifiable as recyclable. iRobot needs to go further, by finding alternative materials for the foam padding attached to the lid of the outer box. The plastic handle on the vacuum box also warrants another look at the possibility of using durable, environmentally friendly materials. Overall, the iRobot was packaged securely, easy to unpack, and consisted of mostly biodegradable materials. Meeting the robot: The first thing I noticed about the robot was its updated color. I've owned Roombas in the past and as I'm not a fan of red, was always unhappy with the color. This newest version is a pleasantly neutral combination of black, dark grey, and light grey. The light grey ring on the top surface is nicely textured, which gives it a more upscale look. It reminds me of a grey Google Mini speaker, which if done intentionally, is a clever way to indicate its compatibility. This is one of very few household appliances that I don't mind being displayed. The brushes underneath are a cheery shade if chartreuse. That's always been one of my favorite colors, in moderation, so that's another plus, in my opinion. The only thing I'd add to this robot is a recessed carrying handle. It's rather awkward to carry from place to place. It brings me back to the days I used to rescue snapping turtles crossing the road in front of my house by picking them up and ferrying them to safety. Awkward, like carrying this Roomba. Out of the box there's not.much to do, other than installing the edge-sweeping brush and installing the disposal bag in the charging base. I did have to double check to make sure that no pieces were missing. Having been an owner of a couple of older models, I thought I was missing and edge-cleaning brush. The versions I owned had two. This model has only one. Where the other sweeping brush used to be is the opening through which the dust bin is emptied. Connecting the robot: I had to charge it before it was ready to be used. Setup was relatively easy. I downloaded the app and connected it to my home's wifi. The app discovered the robot almost immediately. Connecting was easy as well. I experimented with connecting it to different wifi sources. I tried using my phone's hotspot. That didn't work since my phone had to be connected to the same wifi that I connected the robot to. My hotspot didn't show up in the list of available wifi connections. I then tried connecting it to a Sprint mobile hotspot that supports up to ten devices. After numerous tries, it eventually connected. I was able to use the robot several times before the connection was lost. I was unable to reconnect after that. The most reliable connection, of course, was through my cable internet wifi. Cleaning: I have a variety of different floor surfaces in my home. I have, hardwood, tile, linoleum, carpet, and area rugs. (REVIEW IS CONT'D BELOW)
Customer reviews for iRobot Roomba i3+ EVO Robot Vacuum with Smart Mapping for
