Eufy RoboVac X8 Hybrid Review

In much of our testing we found ourselves pleasantly surprised with the Eufy RoboVac X8 Hybrid. It was especially strong on hardwood flooring, where its powerful suction and onboard mop can really shine. However, this model doesn't have a tower dock to help gather the day's collected debris.

Performance Comparison

Navigation

We assess overall navigation by testing our vacuums via three key metrics — maneuverability around furniture, docking, and poo avoidance. While the X8 performs admirably on the first two, the third trial is essential for any pet owners, and they should know that the RoboVac X8 does not do well with poo avoidance.

We start with furniture maneuverability. The specific algorithm each product uses to configure its internal room layout is important in determining how the vacuum approaches each object it encounters. In the X8's trials, we noticed it requires some open space near the dock, where it can first jog off to the side and help position itself before starting on a perimeter sweep around our mock room. We noticed it became temporarily confused after some bumping against objects it previously avoided, but later corrected itself. It's particularly methodical when cleaning under large objects like a sofa, especially with some of the tighter angles other vacuums have trouble with. Small table legs, however, take a wider-than-average turnaround.

Docking for the X8 is similarly solid. In most cases, it could easily find its home base and docked correctly on the first try. The few times it had issues lining up to its station, we found it always corrected itself, which is all you can ask.

Our last trials specifically dealt with the unfortunate but critical reality that any pet owner needs to beware. The RoboVac X8 Hybrid does not avoid pet accidents well, and if it does run over some poo, your vacuum will likely be rendered useless. In our simulated tests with playdough, the X8 didn't flinch when encountering a smaller poo (like a cat or smaller dog may make) and ran right over it. With a larger poo, it did notice it hit something but proceeded to spin and run over the area multiple times.

To be fair, very few robot vacuums on the market today handle this situation well. This is one area in which the market is not fully mature, though a few (usually pricier) models are starting to address it by including a full Lidar system. With Lidar, models can identify poo, socks, and other smaller objects and reliably avoid them.

Home Coverage

A smart robot vacuum's true advantage over the manual kind is its ability to clean autonomously. Once again, the Eufy RoboVac X8 Hybrid excelled in this metric, especially for a mid-priced model.

Some simpler models can't differentiate between different rooms or remember where it left off when it has to recharge mid-cleaning cycle. This does not apply to the X8. Cleaning sessions comfortably finish overnight or while the family is away at work and school, and if it does run low on power, it can return to base to recharge up to 80% and resume right where it left off. It even has a useful "Multimap Saving" feature, so you can periodically move it between floors, and it can get to cleaning without having to relearn the layout.

The app allows the user to specify a precise location for spot cleaning, though the software limits you to a square shape and a single pass. The user can also set virtual walls, no-go zones, and specific rooms to avoid. The X8 does well in respecting these barriers.

As mentioned, the X8 boasts what Eufy calls "iPath Laser Navigation" and executes the right amount of overlap and near-full coverage with its path charting. Cleaning of each room starts with a perimeter sweep, followed by parallel lines working from one side to the other. We rarely noticed missed spots, and when it did, it tended to be near the docking station. If the dock is placed too close to another major object, the X8 could overlook the area between the object and the dock.

Edges and corners are the X8's weak points in this metric. Our tests with spilled coffee grounds resulted in a distinct leftover haze of up to 4" away from the walls. It wasn't all bad — much of the grounds flung to the center for the underbelly, but this seems to be a fundamental limitation in the placement of the rotating bristle arm.

Carpet Cleaning

Many robot vacuums on the market don't do well with carpeting. The compact design is inherently limiting with how well it can tackle carpet fibers, especially high pile. That said, the EufyRoboVac X8 Hybrid performed better than expected. It left behind only a few grains of rice or oats on low-pile carpets, though some haze of flour was apparent. High-pile carpeting was more of a challenge, as expected. It picked up more than half the material we used in our tests but undeniably pushed much of it deep into the fibers.

The X8 was finally able to pick up the cereal we left for our various carpet tests, meaning once it had the clearance to do so, it had some issues with larger debris — something that many vacuums have issues with.

Hard Surface Cleaning

Most robot vacuums perform best on hard surfaces and the Eufy RoboVac X8 Hybrid performs among the best of all models we tested.

We tested the X8 with general debris including rice, oats, flour, and cereal. In most cases we were very happy with the results. We noticed only a few grains and the slightest haze left behind, mainly in small cracks in our hardwood flooring. The larger cereal pieces proved a challenge. The X8 was too low to the ground to grab them, a common limitation in the robot vacuum realm. They were pushed around and partially ground up, with the X8 ultimately leaving most of them behind entirely. We found worse performers for more dough in other models we tested.

One key factor to the X8's excellence on hard surfaces is that it's a hybrid vacuum and mop (whereas the standard X8 is a standalone vacuum). The 250ml tank capacity (a little over 8oz) may seem small, but the X8 is fairly efficient with its water usage. The mopping feature does help, but its main annoyance is that the mopping cloth has to be removed and washed often.

Pet Hair

How does the RoboVac X8 do specifically with your pet's hair and fur? On hard surfaces, great. However, in further tests simulating the buildup of hair on high-pile carpeting, the RoboVac X8 Hybrid performed mediocre at best (as with most vacuums on the market). Precisely weighing the results before and after, we found the X8 to pick up just 28% of the hair we tasked it with. The silver lining is that it did this with just a single pass, whereas most other models require multiple passes to achieve similar results.

Convenience

The general convenience of the RoboVac X8 Hybrid is a mixed bag. It has a great app with a ton of available features, but its physical capabilities can leave something to be desired.

The X8's bagless collection bin is a disappointing 400ml — slightly more than a standard can of soda. This is partly due to the 250ml water tank for the mopping feature, as the standard X8 has a dry bin capacity of 600ml. The bagless design is nice, as you don't have unnecessary waste, but you'll be emptying it fairly often. It should be noted the tower doesn't offer dust collection or water tank refills that some pricer models do, which generally reduces how often you'd need to be interacting with your vacuum.

Operating of the X8 can be achieved through an included remote control or its excellent smartphone app (with many of the more useful features requiring the app). As mentioned, the no-go zones, virtual walls, spot cleaning, and multi-story map saving are great perks. It also sports displays of each room's map (including calculated square footage), an auto suction adjust, and it even tracks the life of some of the replaceable components (like its rollers). Lastly, it links with your favorite smart home devices for voice command capability.

Should You Buy the RoboVac X8 Hybrid?

Yes! This is a solid performer in almost all of our tests. For what it offers, this is one of the best value robot vacuums you can find — truly a smart choice for nearly all consumers. You would be hard-pressed to find a better option in this price range.

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