We have smart everything nowadays, and there are several brands of smart vacuums on the market. One of those is the LG Hom-Bot, and it runs between $750 and $900.
For the model that is $750, you get a robotic vacuum that can master cleaning corners, collide safely with its bumper, operate seven cleaning modes, and makes it easy to empty its bin. For an extra $150, you get all that plus a device that can sweep, vacuum, and mop.
So, is it worth the price? My first question is: why are robotic vacuums so expensive? There are so many smart products on the market, and there are devices that are cooler than, and have more features than, the robotic vacuums. Yet, the LG Hom-Bot, and its competitor devices from iRobot and Roomba, have the same hefty price tags (though the competitors do offer different models that can start closer to the $200 mark).
With so many advances in smart home technology, and with it becoming more mainstream, why does a robotic vacuum still cost as much as a nice, high-scale (though not smart) refrigerator? Robotic vacuums have been on the market for almost 15 years – you’d think we’d have found a way to master it and produce it at a cheaper cost to the consumer by now. Sure, it cleans your house in a super convenient fashion, but it also wastes batteries, and – as an unlucky consumer recently found out – can make a huge mess if it runs over something it shouldn’t. (Dog poop. I’m talking about dog poop.)
While I think that I could probably hire a housecleaning service to clean my floors and everything else in my house for a full year for just a little bit more than the LG Hom-Bot costs, I guess that would be a recurring charge while the bot is a one-time cost. So, if you are still willing to shell out $900 for a robotic vacuum, here’s what you’ll get:
- A vacuum that cleans corners. This is actually something that I can get behind. Corners suck. The LG Hom-Bot has long side brushes that claim to tackle corners with “impressive efficiency.” For $900, it will not be easy to impress me.
- An advanced mapping system. I think this thing has a better GPS than my car. It’s got what it calls a “dual eye 2.0 mapping system” that it claims is revolutionary. It uses cameras on the top and the bottom of the device, and actively maps as it cleans so that it can be sure to get $900 worth or your home.
- Non-damaging bumper. Just in case that mapping system fails, it’s nice to know that this $900 device won’t be damaging your other $900+ purchase – like couches and tables (since those are things that I’m OK with costing that much).
- So many cleaning modes. Apparently you have a need to choose between seven cleaning modes. I choose the “get it clean” mode. For $900 I wish this thing could recognize which mode it needs to use on its own.
Photo by: Pop Culture Geek
