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Update July 2019: The RoboVac 12 has been replaced in the Eufy range by the Eufy RoboVac 15C.
The Eufy RoboVac 12 launched several years ago as our review goes live. After some great service over time, we have to admit that the time may have come for this one to be phased out. While an excellent robotic vacuum cleaner in its own right, it is difficult to consider this one as being anything too special at the price point. It rarely dips below the £200 mark and for that we would hope for superior connectivity and simply more features than this RoboVac has lined up. Nevertheless, if you are after a rugged machine that still manages to outshine much of the competition, you will find several features and functions to get excited about as we proceed with the full review below.
- Value for Money 75%
- Battery Life 85%
- Durability 85%
- Suction Power 85%
- Noise 90%
- Connectivity 70%
Key Features
- Impressive suction, coming in at 1,500 Pa
- Streamlined design and only 7.3 cm tall to access tight spots
- Great for users with limited mobility at only 2.6 kg
- Infra-red control for remote operation
- Drop sensor to enable unsupervised upstairs cleaning
- Decent run time pegged at 100 mins per charge
The opportunity to review any Eufy robot vacuum model is one that we relish, and while we have been putting the latest releases through their paces in recent times, we wanted to make sure that the current range also had the chance to shine. The Eufy RoboVac 12 has a few years of service to its name, and the first thought we had when approaching this review was that it had never quite reached the success levels of robot vacuums in the same manufacturer’s 11 series. This makes sense, as there has only ever been a slight difference in cleaning power and functionality between the 11 and 12 series, and one that is perhaps not worth the small but not insignificant difference in price.
We always look to take the time to judge any robot vacuum that passes through our testing area on its own merits and, as mentioned, we had no concerns about cleaning power here. Eufy knows what it is doing when it comes to ensuring that their RoboVacs are fully capable of cleaning well, and this model is no different. With 1,500 Pa suction, it will pick up even stubborn dirt as long as it is not ground in, and the RoboVac 12 also benefits from the inclusion of BoostIQ technology. This facility is unique to the Eufy brand and sees the automatic vacuum pumping up the power when it discovers a particularly dirty area.
There are some drawbacks to the cleaning abilities of this model. It is not perfect for allergy sufferers due to the lack of HEPA filter, which can be found on some competing models. The RoboVac 12 also impresses without being truly outstanding when it comes to suitable surfaces. Carpets and hard floors alike are no obstacle for this machine, but the thickness of your carpet may inform your decision. Carpets and rugs up to 16 mm in thickness are absolutely fine. Anything thicker than that will see this robot vacuum start to struggle, and it simply cannot be recommended for homes with such floor coverings.
Other particular highlights of this robot are the dust box and the slim form factor. With the former, the Eufy RoboVac 12 measures up well to the competition with a 0.6 litre capacity. That is enough for both floors in small and medium homes, and more than capable of holding the additional hair and mess caused by pets. For the latter, the low profile of the device means that it has every chance of being able to reach areas that larger robot vacuums cannot. Any furniture that is not flush to the ground can often be overlooked, and users will be reassured by just how thoroughly this robot vacuum manages to cover the floor area.
At first glance, the RoboVac 12 looks like decent value, and we know that it once was. However, as technology has moved on, this robot has found competition increasing in intensity around the price point. It is not unfair on Eufy or the RoboVac 12 to conclude that there is more bang for your buck out there – we even consider the RoboVac 11S to be superior to this one when both price and performance are taken into account.
Eufy RoboVac 12 – Pros and Cons
- Cleaning capabilities in line with what we expect from Eufy
- Good 0.6 litre dust box capacity for less emptying and more cleaning
- Durable infra-red remote control to start cleaning from across the room
- No connectivity beyond the infra-red remote, so no Wi-Fi or voice control
- Not ideal for allergy sufferers due to lack of HEPA filter
- Suitable for most surfaces but limited to carpets of 16mm thickness or less
Eufy RoboVac 12 – The Verdict
Edit July 2019: The RoboVac 12 has been replaced in the Eufy range by the Eufy RoboVac 15C – a highly recommended alternative.
Just as we had expected coming into this review, we found the Eufy RoboVac 12 to be a solid all-rounder and anyone that has already taken the plunge and made the purchase will not be disappointed. However, if you are browsing and open to ideas for a new robotic vacuum cleaner then we must say that the RoboVac 12 has been surpassed. That not only goes for competitors like the Roomba, but also from the same manufacturer. The RoboVac 11S is one example – not only is it cheaper, but performance is virtually identical to this model, and it even shares the same slim form factor. The best-selling RoboVac 30C will set you back another £30 at RRP and combines cleaning power that equals or exceeds this model in every area in the same dimension but with mobile app and Wi-Fi support. Throw in the fact that all that makes it weight just 0.1 kg more and it can be worth saving up a little more for a clearly superior product.
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Eufy RoboVac 12 Review
As a standalone machine, we can have few complaints about the RoboVac 12. It reminds us of the Roomba 671, which sits around the same price point and also gives the impression that it might be time for a refresh sometime soon. That is decent company to keep, and it is impossible to ignore that both models sat at the upper end of the value for money scale when they were fresh. Since then, technology has moved on and while there are potent cleaning capabilities in the RoboVac 12, there are alternatives that can do all this and more for less money. As mentioned, we would certainly not seek to imply that anyone that has made this purchase has made a mistake, especially if you got it on sale, but if you are still thinking about it, we would recommend checking out our buyer’s guides for side-by-side comparisons. You’ll find that there are superior options from Eufy and beyond.
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