iRobot Braava 380T

The American company iRobot Corporation is a recognized leader in the robotics market, specializing in the development, production, and sale of robots for everyday household assistance. The iRobot Braava 380T robotic floor cleaner is such an indispensable assistant. This model is designed for daily, thorough floor cleaning according to a selected mode, easily removing even stubborn dirt stains. The robot can sweep and mop floors with a microfiber cloth. It is designed for cleaning rooms with hard floors. Below, we'll provide a detailed review of the iRobot Braava 380T, covering all its important features and technical specifications.

Equipment

The iRobot Braava 380T robot comes fully loaded. In addition to the robot vacuum itself, the package includes:

• NorthStar 2.0 navigation cube.
• Two batteries for the cube.
• Power unit.
• Charging base.
• Pro-clean wet cleaning module with a special liquid tank.
• Spare microfiber cloths.
• Instructions in Russian.

The robot vacuum cleaner and its components are shown in the photo:

The robot itself is packaged in a cardboard box equipped with a convenient plastic carrying handle. The box contains information about the components, a list of the robot vacuum's features, and a description of its main technical specifications.

Design

Unlike similar robot vacuum cleaners from other manufacturers, which have a standard cylindrical shape, the iRobot Braava 380T robotic mop features a unique, square shape. Its shape and compact size allow for effective cleaning under furniture, along baseboards, walls, and even close to them, ensuring the cleaning pad adheres snugly to them. The square shape is also ideal for thoroughly cleaning corners.

The iRobot Braava 380T robotic vacuum cleaner has a compact size and a beautiful appearance. Its body is made of durable plastic in a classic black color with a glossy top panel. An overview of the robotic vacuum cleaner's appearance is shown in the photo:

Technical specifications

An overview of the technical characteristics of the iRobot Brava is shown in the table:

Overall dimensions (WxDxH)	21.6 x 21.6 x 7.6 cm
Weight	1.8 kg
Battery	Ni-MH, 2000 mAh, 7.2 V
Power	30 W
Battery life	Wet cleaning up to 150 minutes, dry cleaning up to 240 minutes
Charging time	On the charging base – 120 minutes, from the power supply – 240 minutes
Operating modes	4
Cleaning area	Up to 93 m² — dry cleaning (up to 186 m² with additional NorthStar navigation cubes), up to 32 m² — wet cleaning
Noise level	45-46 dB
Control	Buttons on the body
Orientation system	Navigation cubes, drive wheel rotation sensors
Obstacle sensors	+
Year of release	2013

Functional capabilities

The iRobot Braava 380T robot vacuum cleaner lacks a suction module. Therefore, it lacks suction power. It doesn't scrub, mop, or vacuum large debris, but rather wipes the floor, collecting dust, hair, and small debris onto a cloth.

The robotic floor cleaner has two cleaning modes: dry (sweeping mode) and wet (mopping mode). Each mode uses a dedicated cloth, made using the company's proprietary technology specifically for this model: white for dry cleaning, blue for wet cleaning. The mode is selected manually by pressing buttons on the control panel located on the body. A quick cleaning option is available, in which the robot cleans only the main area of ​​the room, avoiding areas close to furniture, baseboards, and walls. The vacuum cleaner moves in a serpentine pattern when dry cleaning, and in a herringbone pattern when wet cleaning. The wet mopping process is fully automated, using a dedicated cleaning panel with a 100 ml liquid container.

Another feature of this model is navigation. A built-in navigation system helps the robot vacuum cleaner clean smaller spaces. To increase cleaning coverage, a NorthStar navigation cube with GPS is used. Using this unique navigation system, the robot vacuum cleaner perfectly navigates its surroundings, creating a map of the room during each cleaning cycle, taking into account the location of walls, furniture, stairs, and other obstacles.

Thanks to IR proximity sensors built into the bumper, the iRobot Braava 380T avoids collisions with walls and furniture, only gently brushing against them as it moves. IR sensors prevent the vacuum from falling by helping it recognize steps and other elevation changes.

Due to the lack of a suction module, the robot vacuum cleaner is very lightweight, compact, and virtually silent during operation. After finishing cleaning, the device automatically returns to the starting point and turns off.

A video review and test of the iRobot Braava 380T is provided below:

Operating instructions

To properly use the iRobot Braava 380T, follow the instructions in the included manual. It covers the robot vacuum's technical specifications, its features, and maintenance instructions, lists possible causes of malfunctions, and offers troubleshooting tips. Following these instructions will help ensure its performance is more efficient and reliable.

You can download the iRobot Braava 380T user manual in Russian from our website. Download link:Brava 380T manual.

Advantages and disadvantages

An overview of the main advantages of the iRobot Brava 380T:

1. Optimal balance of price and functionality. In 2019, the average price of the model was $180.
2. The original design and square body shape allow the robot to perform thorough cleaning right up to walls, baseboards, and furniture.
3. Extended package.
4. A special panel for wet wiping of floors with a water tank.
5. Possibility of operation up to 4 hours on one charge.
6. Modern navigation system.
7. A well-coordinated system of sensors prevents the robot from driving onto carpets, getting stuck under furniture, and falling down stairs.
8. Very low noise level.

This model of floor polisher has some minor drawbacks, an overview of which is given below:

1. Preliminary preparation of the room is necessary – manual removal of large debris and objects that could get under the cloth and scratch the floor surface when the robot moves.
2. The square shape makes it difficult to maneuver in tight spaces.
3. The floor polisher itself is not the best in its class; there are better models with rotating brushes that scrub floors better.

If you compare the iRobot Braava 380T and 390T models, you can highlight the following differences:

• Color: The 390 model is white, and the 380 model is black.
• Equipment. iRobot Braava 390T comes with 2 napkins, not 1.

Otherwise, the robotic mops are identical. The price is also roughly the same—the average price of the 390 model is $27 more (at $207). Therefore, it's impossible to say which robot is better. It all depends on color preference, and the package contents are virtually irrelevant, as you can always purchase additional cloths separately for the same price (on the manufacturer's official website, they cost $7 for three).

This review of the iRobot Braava 380T, its specifications, and functionality, reveals it to be the true top-of-the-line model in the Braava robot lineup. It offers a wide range of features and an excellent price-performance ratio.

Analogues:

• iRobot Scooba 450
• Everybot RS500
• iRobot Scooba 390
• iRobot Braava Jet 240
• HOBOT Legee 668
• Everybot RS700
• iRobot Scooba 230