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Dyson’s first ever wet and dry robot vacuum cleaner is out, and I was able to preview it at the Dyson Soho store.
Ajay has worked in technology journalism for over a decade as a reporter, analyst, product reviewer and editor. He got his start in consumer technology breaking Android news at Newsweek before joining PCMag, where he reviewed hundreds of smartphones, batteries and chargers as a mobile analyst. He also worked at Lifewire, a Dotdash Meredith brand, as a Tech Commerce Editor, compiling product review lists and assigning product ratings in categories such as smart home, uninterruptible power supplies, generators and automotive technology. Most recently, he was Mobile Editor at Digital Trends, leading his team’s coverage of the latest news, features, reviews, roundups, deals and more on a variety of mobile products, including phones, wearables, VR headsets, batteries and chargers. If you would like Ajay’s advice on all things technology, especially solar panels, inverters, batteries, electric vehicles and charging technology, you can reach him at ajkumar@cnet.com.
Skill 13+ years of experience providing consumer product reviews, buying guides, best lists, and technology news across a variety of technology categories. As a landlord, Ajay is also familiar with the unique electrical issues that can arise in a pre-war apartment building.
Dyson is one of the leading manufacturers of cordless vacuum cleaners worldwide, earning several spots on our list of best cordless vacuum cleaners for their high cleaning performance and attractive design. Although not as famous, the company created robot vacuum cleaners since the 1990s, with its first model, the DC06, launched in 2001. The most recent is the Dyson Spot+Scrub AI, the company’s first wet and dry robot vacuum cleaner.
“We have now designed a robot that intelligently detects, identifies and cleans stains, spills and debris, identifying stubborn stains and examining them again and again until they are gone, using advanced AI,” James Dyson, founder of Dyson, said in a statement. “It’s a determined, intelligent and adaptable machine. The wet roller even cleans with fresh water as it spins, ensuring your floors stay spotless.”
The Spot+Scrub is the company’s first wet-dry robot vacuum, but it comes with many of the features we’ve come to expect from higher-end models.
DysonThe Spot+Scrub AI takes over from previous models like the Dyson 360 Vis Nav and directly competes with models from Roborock, Ecovacs, Eufy, Shark and others that have dominated the robot vacuum market in recent times. I got to see him in action for a brief moment at the Dyson store in Soho, watching him clean and navigate an enclosed area. It wasn’t a full demo, but it worked well in the confined space, cleaned up the mess, then drained and cleaned automatically in the nearby dock.
It cleans using what Dyson calls a 12-point hydration system, which uses cool and heated water from the roller to remove stains. The roller self-cleans with each rotation, a feature we’ve seen on many high-end robot vacuums, so it’s good to see Dyson joining the club. The roller also extends up to 1.6 inches to clean tight corners and baseboards.
Perhaps more notable is Dyson’s AI stain detection system, which the company says can identify 200 types of household substances and objects and revisit the same area until the stain is removed. It uses the green LED illuminator we saw on the Dyson PencilVac and Dyson V16 Piston Animal to spot the stain (with help from the AI-powered camera), and it continues cleaning the stain until the stain is removed.
“By combining lidar room scanning technology and camera vision systems, the Spot+Scrub Ai is able to detect stains and precisely navigate around obstacles, all while vacuuming and mopping your floors,” Jake Dyson, chief engineer at Dyson, said in a statement. “It continually adapts its cleaning patterns based on real-time detection of debris, sticky spills and stains. When it detects a stain, the robot performs up to 15 targeted cleaning passes over the area, using its HD camera to monitor until the stain is completely removed.
The Spot+Scrub AI has a self-emptying bagless trash can in its dock, as well as a clean and dirty water reservoir.
DysonThis looks like a feature revealed by Shark on the Shark UV Revealwhich uses a mix of UV lighting and an AI camera to identify stains and a traditional flat mop pad to clean. The Spot+Scrub also has object avoidance capabilities and supports the MyDyson app.
In terms of other specifications, you’re looking at a docking station with a bagless, cyclonic, self-emptying trash can. Dyson claims it can store up to 100 days of dust and comes with a dust filter capable of trapping particles as small as 0.1 microns. There are 0.6 gallons of clean water and 0.55 gallons of dirty water.
THE Spot + AI Scrub will cost you $1,199, and it’s available now from Dyson. However, this isn’t the only cleaning product Dyson offers.
Dyson wet and dry cleaners
The Clean+Wash Hygiene is Dyson’s latest wet and dry cleaner.
DysonAlso new is a wet and dry cleaner with Dyson Clean+Wash Hygiene. Similar to other Dyson models we’ve seen and tested, this is a wet and dry cleaner that doesn’t use suction. Instead, it uses a microfiber roller to remove messes from hard floors, and it doesn’t come with a debris filter that needs cleaning or can become clogged. It is a little larger than the Dyson PencilWash which I was able to test earlier at the Soho store, but it’s not particularly heavy at 8.4 pounds.
Like the PencilWash, it can lie flat and slide under low furniture thanks to its 4.4-inch profile. There’s also a docking station with hot air drying and self-cleaning, a feature I’ve wanted in Dyson’s wet and dry cleaners for a while. The Clean+Wash Hygiene costs $499 and is available now.
Finally, the aforementioned PencilWash will also be available for $350.
