First Impressions: Dyson Spot and Scrub AI Robot Vacuum Review

Introduction

Despite Dyson having revolutionised the plug-in and cordless vacuum cleaner markets, the company has only managed to release two robot vacuum cleaners, with big gaps between each model. With the competition dominating the robot world, could the Dyson Scrub and Spot AI be the one that turns the tide?

This might be common knowledge to more ardent Dyson fans amongst our readership but during the company’s recent event in Berlin, which unveiled a handful of new products, one of the most surprising bits of information was in finding out that Dyson has been tinkering with the robot vacuum concept since the early 2000s, with the unreleased Dyson DC06 giving us a look at what would eventually morph into the Dyson 360 Eye and more recently, the Dyson 360 Vis Nav.

It seems strange then that, despite having had this head start, the current crop of the best robot vacuums is largely made up of devices from the likes of Dreame and Roborock. With the release of the Dyson Spot and Scrub AI, could this be the opportunity the company has waited for to really make its mark in this sector? Based on my initial impressions of the device, I think Dyson could be on to something here.

Design

• New all-black aesthetic
• Physical buttons have been swapped in for the digital display

What’s probably most surprising about the Dyson Spot and Scrub is that it doesn’t look like a typical Dyson robot vacuum. Gone is the all-blue design, swapped out in favour of a more low-key black chassis, although there are still touches of red and blue to be found at the wheels, the rotating brushes and the back of the water tank.

That design philosophy carries over to the docking station, which also has an all-black finish aside from the top of the dust bin, the lid of which has that same Dyson blue that we’ve come to associate with the range. It’s a nice touch, and feels as if Dyson is recognising the strengths of the competition without completely giving over to a different look.

What struck me more than anything else was the height of the thing. At a stature of 110mm, the Spot and Scrub is just slightly taller than the 360 Vis Nav (99mm) but it’s a world away from the gargantuan Dyson 360 Heurist from a few years back. I can’t foresee any issues with the Spot and Scrub trying to get under furniture unless you have a particularly low sofa.

Eagle-eyed fans of the Vis Nav may have already spotted that the LCD touchscreen is no longer here, replaced by two physical buttons that sit just above where the company logo is placed. Personally, I’m a fan of this change, as I’d only ever want to use on-device buttons for very quick actions, preferring to sort everything else via the accompanying Dyson app.

Features and performance

• Dyson’s first two-in-one robot vacuum
• AI detection ensures that no stains are missed
• Suction isn’t quite as powerful as the Dyson 360 Vis Nav

While it is far from being the first Dyson robot vacuum, the Spot and Scrub is the first in the range that can clean as well as vacuum. Given the push of the last few years to have more all-in-one devices when it comes to home cleaning, I think this change makes a lot of sense, and it’s exactly why I think that the Spot and Scrub will reach a wider audience than any of its predecessors.

The one caveat to this shift, which was admitted by Dyson himself during the launch event, was that in order to have cleaning capabilities on the device, suction power needed to be reduced to fit everything in. It won’t be a drastic depletion, with the motor boasting a power rating of 18 kPa, previously 22 kPa on the 360 Vis Nav. It’s certainly a compromise, but one that I think makes sense for the convenience that a robot vacuum is supposed to deliver.

Beyond simply having cleaning functionality, the Spot and Scrub’s major feature isn’t much of a surprise given that it’s in the name. The new robot vacuum uses AI to constantly analyse your floors as it cleans, so that if a particularly stubborn stain needs going over several times, it will recognise this and keep going after it until the stain is completely gone.

It’s a great bit of tech to see and a neat way to get around the Spot and Scrub not having quite as much power as a manual cleaner. This way it can ensure the job gets done, purely off the back of being thorough.

If your floors are a bit cluttered (and I include my own floors here) then you’ll be glad to know that the AI technology onboard can detect close to 200 items, with cables and socks being mentioned as examples. Speaking from my own experience, my floors have always been an issue for certain robot vacuums as I have plenty of charging cables around for phones, smartwatches and various laptops, but if the Spot and Scrub can accurately avoid them, then it would be a load off my mind.

Staying on top of the device’s cleanliness shouldn’t be too much of an issue either. Just like the larger Dyson Wash G1 Wet F floor cleaner, the Spot and Scrub’s microfibre roller is able to clean itself as it moves by circulating fresh water, and once it’s at the docking station, the roller is cleaned again with an anti-bacterial solution, all of which should go a long way towards preventing a build up of bacteria and any nasty smells that could emanate as a result.