Review of Miele Scout RX2 robot vacuum cleaner

Описание: We have used several robot vacuum cleaners including the Chinese cheapies many of which are very good - or so we thought until being introduced to this high-end model with a matching high-end performance along with its vastly superior build quality.

Every feature of Scout is well-designed for ease of use while also being robust and practical. This includes a lift-out then pinch-to-empty dust container designed so your hands never come into contact with dust, twin side-brushes ensuring Scout can sweep along skirting boards in either direction, rugged traction wheels designed to negotiate rugs and thresholds to the retracting side-wheels which I haven't seen on any other robot vacuum cleaner. Similarly, the sweeping brush is simply removed for cleaning then clicks back into place.

Unlike many other robot vacs which proclaim they will work in your absence, the Scout RX2 really does. He can be left to sweep a room or several rooms because he doesn't get stuck in corners or while struggling over the raised height of a rug where other vacs are left chugging away trying to mount it unsuccessfully while running down their battery in the process. Other robots get stuck between furniture legs with the same results - but not the Scout who simply whirrs while contemplating his next move then retracts his jammed wheel inwards and continues on his way. He will also navigate between rooms climbing over different floor surfaces and threshold heights of 2cm with ease although his manual spec states only 1.7mm. Cleaning is more thorough than I've seen other models due to his superior design which includes wilder than average and far less flimsy side sweeping brushes which reach into corners and along skirtings. Plus, in addition to the main vacuum suction orifice, there is a second which picks up any dust which the first might have missed.

Whereas all other robot vacs I've used seem to navigate at random, this sweeps in stripes along the length or width of a room and doesn't repeatedly go over the same patch - nor does it need to because it cleans on the first pass. Modes include 'Auto' for fully-automated cleaning, 'Turbo' for a shorter lighter-duty cleaning, 'App' for controlling via the smartphone/tablet app to operate the Scout via WiFi, 'Spot' to clean a 1.8m square around Scout, and a 'Silent' mode ideal for use at night or if a member of the household is sleeping. However, Scout isn't noisy and if working downstairs or in an adjacent room with solid walls, would probably not keep any family members awake. It is also possible to watch TV while he is at work in the room. Tapping on 'Back to Base' will send him back to his charging dock (except in Spot mode where he returns to his starting point).

Automatic navigation is good. The onboard infra-red sensors effectively detect obstacles and, rather than bump into them, he stops about 5mm short and turns himself away to change direction then resumes cleaning creating a striped pattern on pile carpets. If there are any areas he should not enter then a magnetic strip is supplied to act as a barrier which Scout detects, rotates away from and continues on his way. Further sensors block any death-wish on his part and prevent him topping fatally down stairways. His direction can also be controlled via the arrows on the remote control unit or the WiFi app to which he responds accurately and promptly.

Cleaning is consistently good whether picking up crumbs, fluff, grit, hair, dust or any of the other debris which commonly finds its way onto the floor and it works equally well on hard floors including tiles, lino, laminate or carpeted including short and medium pile and rugs.

For cleaning, the dustbox, filters and brushes etc are designed for ease of removal and snap back into position again with parts being clearly marked. The dustbox will likely need emptying following every use and is well designed to be simply lifted in and replaced, squeezing apart catches to easily release the dirt with no need to dirty the hands.

Following cleaning or when the battery runs low, he returns to his charging base if this is where he set out from and then automatically recharges ready for his next use making him wholly automatic and almost maintenance-free (the user just needs to empty the dust box and occasionally remove any long hair tangled in the sweeping brush. If he was carried into a room for sweeping then he returns to the exact spot he started from.

Available from: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...