Smart homes are on the rise as we incorporate more tech into our daily lives, with robot vacuums going from novelty to everyday essential. Eufy has taken it one step further with the release of the Omni E28, the first robovac to come with a detachable spot cleaning segment, the FlexiOne portable deep cleaner. It also comes with a premium price tag, so we put it to the test to see if the results justify the investment.
What’s Hot:
+ Powerful 20,000 Pa suction and CornerRover Arm for tricky edges
+ Roller mop system for deep cleaning
+ Auto-detangler brush keeps maintenance low
What’s Not:
– High price tag
– The mop washing cycle and dust emptying are pretty loud
– FlexiOne portable deep cleaner is heavy and bulky
Eufy Omni E28: What is it?
The Omni E28 is the latest home cleaning gadget from Eufy, combining the tasks of vacuuming and mopping your home. Thanks to the incorporation of a detachable unit into the base station, it can now also deep clean areas of carpet and upholstery that require extra attention.
Once unboxed, setting up the Omni E28 is straightforward. There are three main parts: the base station and detachable ramp, the robot vacuum and the FlexiOne cleaner section. Having removed all the packaging and labels, assembly was intuitive, with everything clicking together easily. The FlexiOne unit sits on top of the base unit, with the coiled hose neatly stashed under a cover. I plugged the unit into the mains and pushed the robot unit backwards into the station to start it charging.
One of the things I love about Eufy products is their simplicity in setup. Once the unit is assembled and powered, the remaining setup is completed using the Eufy app on your mobile device. After downloading the app and setting up an account, add your Eufy robot by selecting the model from the list within the app. Then, it’s just a matter of following the steps to connect the WiFi, and you’re ready to start cleaning in a matter of minutes.
What’s the performance like?
Having previously tested the X10 Pro Omni and loved both the vacuum and mopping functions, I had high hopes for the Omni E28. With a whopping 20,000 Pa of suction — more than twice the power of the X10 — and the HydroJet System for deep, consistent mopping, we must surely be onto a winner?
Thankfully, my faith wasn’t misplaced. The first few outings enable the robot to map the layout of the house effectively, and it may take a few runs to perfect the map, but the first run captured the basics nicely. The addition of the CornerRover Arm for extra reach at the edges and corners and the additional suction power left my carpets and hard floors looking spick and span.
Once the lounge and dining room had been tackled, it was time to see how well the roller mop system dealt with the kitchen floor. Before the E28 heads out to mop the floors, it washes the mops in the base station. Like the self-emptying function, the mop washing function gets fairly loud — not for long, but enough to be a little annoying.
With the mops suitably washed, work began on the tiles. I tested it on a small spill, and the E28 had it sorted in a single pass with no residue left behind, which was impressive. In no time at all, the whole floor was vacuumed and then washed, and I was very happy with the results.
There are plenty of robot vacuums on the market that vacuum and mop, but what sets the Omni E28 apart from mop and vacuum rivals is the FlexiOne portable deep cleaning unit. This is the first time I’ve come across a robot vacuum with this particular feature, and while it may not be something everyone finds useful, I can certainly see the potential.
The detachable unit is designed for deep treating spills and stains on carpets and upholstery around the house. The power cable for the base station, the hub of the Omni E28, attaches to the FlexiOne section, doubling as the power cable for the unit when it’s being used for spot cleaning. There are pros and cons to this setup. On the plus side, there’s no extra cable clutter. On the downside, because you have to unplug the unit to use the FlexiOne, it limits where you can position the base for convenient access.
That minor issue aside, for a family with young children or unruly pets, the FlexiOne unit would be a very handy tool for cleaning up stains and spills without needing to clean the whole carpet or sofa.
I put it to the test with a couple of marks on my stairs carpet, and even without using a stain remover, the water and vacuum combination did a great job. While the deep-cleaning unit was a bit heavy and cumbersome on the stairs, the results made the effort worthwhile.
Eufy Omni E28 with FlexiOne deep cleaner: What’s the verdict?
For a busy household with hard floors and carpet, and a few kids running around, the amount of time spent keeping things clean can be overwhelming. Introducing aEuf robot vacuum cleaner is a game-changer, but adding floor mopping and deep cleaning takes it to the next level, making it a winner.
The ability to pre-program cleaning cycles in the app means that you can let the E28 do its thing once the kids are in bed and you’ve got your feet up watching TV. Made a bigger mess than usual in the kitchen while cooking? No problem – a quick adjustment in the app, and rather than just a once-over with the mop, it can be given a more thorough cleaning without you needing to leave the lounge. Spot cleaning with the FlexiOne deep cleaning unit takes the fuss out of tackling stains, keeping carpets and sofas looking fresher for longer.
The Omni E28 isn’t a small investment, but with discounts often available, and the time and effort it will save you with cleaning at the press of a button, you might just wonder how you ever managed without it.
Model Tested: Eufy Omni E28
Price: £999
Average Joes Rating: ★★★★☆
