Cecotec Conga 3890 Ultra: lidar, advanced wet cleaning, three central brushes to choose from

This review will examine a robot vacuum cleaner from the Spanish company Cecotec. The model is called the Conga 3890 Ultra. Priced at around $400-$450, this robot vacuum cleaner features lidar navigation, dry and wet cleaning functions, three different central brush designs included, and control not only via the company's mobile app but also via a remote control. These are the essential features needed to automatically maintain a clean home. Below, I'll thoroughly test the Cecotec Conga 3890 Ultra and then express my opinion on whether it's worth buying. So, let's get started!

Equipment

The robot vacuum cleaner arrived in this branded box:

The Cecotec Conga 3890 Ultra package includes:

1. Charging base.
2. Power adapter.
3. A combined container for dirt and water. The robot itself already has a dust collector installed.
4. Nozzle with a cloth for wet cleaning.
5. Branded sticker for the top panel of the robot.
6. Remote control with power supply elements.
7. Two replaceable central brushes: a bristle-petal brush and a rubber brush. The robot itself is equipped with a Jalisco-type turbo brush.
8. Spare microfiber cloth.
9. Spare side brush.
10. Operating instructions translated into several languages.

Basically, the complete package includes everything you need. Considering the HEPA filters in the combined tank and the separate dust container are identical, it turns out that a spare HEPA filter is included.

Appearance

Now let's take a look at how this robot vacuum cleaner is designed. It's round, black, and made of glossy plastic. The body is a standard height – 9.5 cm. The charging terminals are located on the back.

An obstacle detection sensor is located on the front mechanical bumper.

The top cover contains two mechanical control buttons: start/pause and forced return to the charging base. The lidar cover is not spring-loaded. The dust collector is located on top under the cover. It holds up to 550 ml of dry waste. The filtration system consists of a mesh and HEPA filter.

A combined water and waste container can be installed in place of the dust collector. The water tank holds up to 200 ml of water, while the second compartment holds up to 350 ml of dry waste. A pump is installed inside the container for electronically controlling the water flow. The filtration system is HEPA-only.

Let's take a look at the Cecotec Conga 3890 Ultra's underside. It has four fall protection sensors. There's only one side brush: a three-beam, quick-release design. The central brush unit is fixed, which isn't ideal. I'll demonstrate why during the tests. The robot comes with three different central brushes: a bristle-petal brush, a rubber brush, and a lint roller called Jalisco. The brushes are non-detachable; only the cap on one side is removable.

The wet cleaning attachment has six holes for dispensing water onto the cloth. The cloth is divided into two sections, allowing the first section to wet the surface while the second section collects water. The attachment is secured to the robot via a mechanical latch.

Overall, the build quality of the Cecotec Conga 3890 Ultra is average. Its design is very similar to the popular Xiaomi Mijia LDS Vacuum Cleaner and robotic vacuum cleaners of the Viomi line: namely, Viomi SE, V2 Pro and V3. But the design advantage of this model lies in its three central brushes, each with a different structure.

Technical specifications

The main characteristics of the Cecotec Conga 3890 Ultra, as declared by the manufacturer:

Battery	Li-Ion 3200 mAh
Suction power	Up to 2300 Pa
Cleaning area	>100 sq.m.
Battery life	Up to 150 min
Dust collector	550 ml
Combined container	≈350 + 200 ml
Obstacle clearance	up to 20 mm
Dimensions	355*95 mm

Overall, the specs are pretty standard. In my opinion, the battery is a bit weak compared to similar devices and the higher-end model. Cecotec Conga 7090 IA, but in any case, the robot is capable of cleaning large areas and resuming cleaning after recharging at the base.

Functional capabilities

Let's move on to a review of the Cecotec Conga 3890 Ultra's features. The robot vacuum cleaner can be controlled via both the proprietary mobile app and the remote control. First, let's look at the app's functionality. The robot vacuum connects to the network without any issues. The app interface is currently in English, but the company promises to add a Russian translation soon.

On the main control panel, the robot vacuum cleaner creates a room map and automatically divides it into rooms. When you press the cleaning button, it offers a choice of three cleaning modes:

1. Manual control of the robot.
2. Quick Cleaning. Here, you can first select the robot's movement pattern, including automatic cleaning of the entire available area in a serpentine or perimeter pattern, floor polishing mode (in which the robot moves in a herringbone pattern), room perimeter cleaning, spot cleaning, localized cleaning at a selected point on the map, and cleaning in a selected zone on the map. After selecting a cleaning mode, you can set a double cleaning cycle, adjust the suction power and water flow level, and enable automatic power boost when entering carpets. You can then set no-go zones on the map, after which the robot will begin cleaning.
3. Set up a cleaning schedule. Here you can flexibly customize cleaning parameters for each room, set the cleaning order, and specify the desired time and days of the week.

The Cecotec Conga 3890 Ultra can store up to five unique maps in its memory. In map editor mode, you can name rooms and manually edit their boundaries. In the settings section, you can adjust the volume of voice notifications, monitor the status of consumables, and view the cleaning log.

Yes, and it's important to remember that the Conga 3890 has an alternative remote control. It allows you to set up scheduled cleaning, manually control the robot, change operating modes, and adjust suction power. For some, this may be an important or even decisive feature when choosing between several robot models.

Overall, the robot's functionality is complete. The only missing features are control via Yandex.Alice and support for specific no-go zones for wet cleaning mode. But at least the robot vacuum supports voice control via Alexa and Google Assistant.

Testing

A detailed video review with all the tests has already been prepared and published on the channel. I recommend watching the entire video:

Navigation

And finally, let's move on to the tests. First, we tested the Cecotec Conga 3890 Ultra's navigation in a room with obstacles. The robot vacuum cleaner traversed the entire area, first along the perimeter, then in a serpentine pattern. It got stuck slightly on the dryer, but was able to quickly escape the trap and continue cleaning. It also swept around a box and the legs of a chair, then returned to its base. Test successful!

As for navigating around the house, the robot goes room after room, leaving no areas missed. Cleaning speed is high, and I have no complaints. The test was a success!

Suction power

In terms of suction power, the Cecotec Conga 3890 Ultra is capable of thoroughly cleaning crevices as deep as 2 mm.

However, with the Jalisco brush, it managed to suck up some debris even from a 6 mm gap, so I can say that this robot vacuum cleaner has slightly increased suction power compared to the same Viomi or Mijia.

Dry cleaning of laminate flooring

When it comes to picking up various types of debris on laminate flooring, the standard bristle-petal brush performed best. The rubber brush also performed well, but some debris was still left behind. The Jalisco fluffy brush performed worse due to the small gap between the brush and the suction channel. Large debris physically cannot pass through such a narrow gap, so I recommend using this brush if there are no carpets on the floor and the robot's primary purpose is to pick up dust, hair, and pet hair.

It's worth noting, however, that the Cecotec Conga 3890 Ultra sweeps corners better than most other round robots. The brush beams reach corners well, minimizing the so-called blind spot.

Carpet cleaning

Carpet cleaning performance is equally poor with all three types of center brushes, and this is due to the non-floating brush unit. It doesn't press firmly to the floor, making the center brush significantly less effective at picking up debris on carpets.

Moreover, the automatic suction power boost when entering carpets only works effectively on high-pile carpets. On medium-pile carpets or carpeted areas, the robot does not increase suction power. This isn't surprising, as there's no ultrasonic sensor underneath, and the increased power likely stems from the resistance to the central brush, which only high-pile carpets can provide.

Wet cleaning

But the wet cleaning performance is excellent. The Cecotec Conga 3890 Ultra is capable of removing light stains from floors without leaving streaks. The robot's cloth adheres well to the floor, and its structure is indeed slightly more effective.

Yes, and it's worth noting that the robot vacuum cleaner is capable of not only vacuuming and mopping the floor at the same time, but also moving in a Y-shape for more effective cleaning of dirt.

Wet cleaning and carpets

A common question for many is how a robot vacuum cleaner behaves when it's wet cleaning on carpets. The Cecotec Conga 3890 Ultra is unable to detect carpets, much less automatically avoid them in wet cleaning mode or even stop the water flow on carpets. I recommend setting no-go zones on all carpets to prevent the robot from wetting them during cleaning.

Obstacle clearance

The robot vacuum's ability to navigate thresholds was quite impressive. It easily negotiated a 2-cm threshold, both with and without the wet cleaning attachment.

Driving on dark surfaces

Like most other robotic vacuum cleaners, the Cecotec Conga 3890 Ultra is sensitive to dark surfaces and height differences. This is important to keep in mind.

Noise level

Finally, we measured the robot vacuum's noise level in different modes. With suction disabled, the noise level was between 57-60 dB. However, during acceleration, the noise level reached 65 dB. At minimum power, it increased to 62-64 dB. In medium mode, the noise level was around 66-68 dB, and in Turbo mode, the peak was 70-72 dB. Yes, this robot's noise level is elevated, despite its fairly standard suction power.

Let's sum it up

The Cecotec Conga 3890 Ultra has been thoroughly reviewed and tested. our evaluation system he managed to gain 68 out of 100 points and stand in line with models that are very similar in design Viomi V3 And Mijia Mop 2, reviews of which are published on our channel. The results are quite standard for a robot vacuum cleaner with lidar navigation.

Overall rating of robot vacuum cleaners tested on robovac.washerhouse.com: https://robovac.washerhouse.com/en/rejtingi/robovac-obshhij-rejting-robotov-pylesosov-robo.html.

I'll share my thoughts on the Cecotec Conga 3890 Ultra after a thorough review. I liked the following:

1. Good navigation.
2. Simultaneous dry and wet cleaning.
3. Complete set.
4. High quality cleaning on hard floors.
5. Flexible cleaning settings in the app.
6. Alternative control option via remote control.
7. Three central brushes to choose from.
8. Good obstacle clearance.
9. Moving the Christmas tree in wet cleaning mode.
10. Availability of warranty and service support.

As for the disadvantages, I have a number of comments about the Cecotec Conga 3890 Ultra, namely:

1. The application interface is in English.
2. Poor quality carpet cleaning.
3. Fear of dark floor coverings.
4. Non-separable central brushes.
5. The battery is a bit weak.

Ultimately, I would recommend this robot vacuum primarily for cleaning hard floors. It has its strengths and weaknesses, but when compared to Viomi robot vacuums, their weaknesses are almost identical, while the Cecotec Conga 3890 Ultra has more strengths. However, the price difference also supports some of the Cecotec's advantages. Therefore, if this robot is discounted and the price drops below $350, it's definitely an interesting option. In the $400-$450 price range, it has many serious competitors that managed to score higher in the overall rating.

On that note, I'd like to end this review. If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments. Happy shopping. Bye!