iBoto Smart C820W Aqua: A robot vacuum cleaner with a camera and wet cleaning for under $200

In this article, we'll look at the iBoto Smart C820W Aqua robot vacuum cleaner. Priced between $165 and $200, it features a camera for navigation, dry and wet cleaning functions, and can be controlled not only via a mobile app but also a remote control. Below, you'll learn about the 820's design, its features and functions, and, most importantly, how it handles automated home cleaning. Let's get started!

Equipment

iBoto Smart Aqua C820W comes with:

• charging base;
• power adapter;
• remote control with power supply elements;
• a separate water tank with a microfiber cloth installed;
• spare napkin;
• spare HEPA filter;
• two spare side brushes;
• brush cleaning tool;
• operating instructions in Russian.

The kit is complete, including all accessories and spare parts. That's a plus.

Appearance

Now let's look at the robot vacuum cleaner itself. It's round, with a body just 76 mm high. The iBoto Smart Aqua C820W is equipped with a camera for navigation, which allows the robot to create a map of the room and store it in its memory.

Below the camera is the company logo, and above it are two control buttons: start/pause and return to the charging base. A soft-touch mechanical bumper is installed on the front.

On the side there is an on/off power button and a sticker with a QR code for downloading a mobile application.

The dust container is removable from the rear. It holds up to 550 ml of dry waste. A motor is installed inside the container. This increases suction power, but the downside is that the container cannot be rinsed with water, which is important to keep in mind.

Filtration system based on mesh and HEPA filters.

A 300 ml water tank can be installed in place of the dust collector. Inside, you'll find a pump for electronically controlling the water flow. There's also a small dust compartment. In wet cleaning mode, the iBoto Smart Aqua C820W can sweep up debris with its side and center brushes. It's not vacuuming, it's sweeping.

The microfiber cloth is attached with Velcro. Water enters through two holes at the bottom.

Let's take a look at the robot vacuum's underside. We can see two side brushes. They are three-pronged, quick-release, and have bristle brushes on the sides, making it easier to clean the brushes of tangled hair. Three anti-fall sensors are mounted at the bottom of the front section.

The central brush is a non-detachable, bristle-petal type. Only the dust cover on one side is removable.

Technical specifications

The main characteristics of the iBoto Smart Aqua C820W, as stated by the manufacturer:

• Li-Ion battery 2600 mAh.
• Suction power 2500 Pa.
• Cleaning area up to 150 sq.m.
• Battery life up to 120 min.
• Dust collector 550 ml.
• Water tank 300 ml.
• Obstacle clearance up to 1.5 cm.
• Dimensions 330*76 mm.
• Weight 2.5 kg.

Functional capabilities

Let's move on to an overview of the robot vacuum's features. The iBoto Smart Aqua C820W is controlled via the Weback mobile app. In my case, installation was straightforward.

In the app, the robot creates a room map and stores it in its memory. Automatic room zoning is not supported. The bottom row of buttons is the robot's primary functionality. You can select one of three cleaning modes, force the robot to return to the charging base, adjust the suction power, and water flow rate. You can also direct the iBoto Smart Aqua C820W to a desired point on the map for spot cleaning, set a virtual wall where the robot should not go, or vice versa—set a cleaning zone where you want it to go. Manual control of the robot is also available, as is the ability to reset the map if needed.

The settings include options to enable/disable voice notifications, enable threshold crossing mode, and resume cleaning after recharging at the base station, picking up where the robot left off. You can also change the robot vacuum's name, set up a cleaning schedule by selecting times and days of the week, and share control with other family members if needed. That's all the app's functionality.

By the way, the robot vacuum cleaner itself speaks Russian!

The iBoto Smart Aqua C820W is also controlled via a remote control. It features buttons for turning the robot on/off, automatic serpentine cleaning mode for all available areas, forced return to the charging base, manual control, suction power adjustment, and spot and wall cleaning modes.

The iBoto Smart Aqua C820W has all the basic features for automatically maintaining your home's cleanliness. The only key feature I didn't find was the ability to view reports on past cleanings, but that's not a critical feature to point out. Just something to keep in mind. The robot can be controlled via Yandex.Alice, which is an added bonus.

Testing

For a detailed review and test of the iBoto Smart Aqua C820W, we recommend watching our video, which has already been prepared and published:

Navigation

First, let's test the iBoto Smart Aqua C820W's navigation in a room with obstacles.

The robot first sweeps the entire accessible area in a serpentine pattern, then begins cleaning the perimeter of the room and automatically returns to the base to charge. It didn't get stuck on the dryer, but it didn't particularly clean around the box or chair legs. Navigation is quite standard. It's worth noting, however, that there were no uncleaned areas even with the complex layout.

Within the apartment, the robot also covered the entire accessible area, dividing the space into zones. The robot cleaned 26 square meters of usable space in 28 minutes. Cleaning speed is above average.

Suction power

The iBoto Smart Aqua C820W's suction power is also average. It managed to remove some debris from a 2mm-deep crevice, similar to most similar devices in its segment. This power is sufficient for automatically maintaining a clean home.

Dry cleaning of laminate flooring

There are no complaints about the dry cleaning performance. The robot vacuum was able to pick up all debris from the floor, including pet hair and fur. Some debris remained in the corners, but this is due to the round shape of the body, which other round robots cannot clean effectively.

Cleaning the carpet

The robot does a good job of picking up debris on carpets, thanks to its turbo brush, which literally brushes even medium-pile carpets. Most of the debris was picked up. The test passes.

Wet cleaning

The cleaning performance on slightly dried-on dirt is also above average. Only a small streak remained along the baseboard, which is a weak point of all the robot vacuums I've tested.

Obstacle clearance

The manufacturer claims a maximum cross-country ability of up to 15 mm, and this is indeed true. The robot even managed to cross 2-centimeter thresholds on occasion, but not always. So 15 mm is closer to the truth. And this is the first minor criticism of the robot. It would be great if it could easily cross 2-centimeter thresholds.

Driving on dark surfaces

The iBoto Smart Aqua C820W is surprisingly resistant to dark surfaces. The sensors didn't detect a black mat as a height difference, which is a plus.

Noise level

Finally, I measured the robot's noise level in different modes. In wet cleaning mode with the suction off, the noise level does not exceed 56.7 dB. At standard power, the noise level is around 61 dB, and at maximum power, it does not exceed 67 dB. The noise level is quite standard for a robot vacuum cleaner.

Let's sum it up

The iBoto Smart Aqua C820W has been thoroughly reviewed and tested. our evaluation system he was able to dial 60 out of 100 pointsConsidering the robot's price and test results, it's a good value for the money. After testing, it left a largely positive impression.

Among the identified advantages, I would like to highlight:

1. Small body height.
2. Building a cleaning map and saving it in memory.
3. Good quality dry and wet cleaning.
4. Control via app and remote control.
5. Support for no-go zones and cleaning zones in the app.
6. Complete set.
7. Availability of warranty and service support.
8. The robot is not afraid of dark surfaces.

No particular drawbacks were identified. Perhaps the only things worth mentioning are the robot's poor maneuverability, the lack of automatic power boost on carpets, and the fact that the robot can't vacuum and mop simultaneously. But I think these issues won't be critical for most people. For the price, this is definitely one of the best. The best robot vacuum cleaners under $200 and one of The best robot vacuum cleaners with camera navigationHe actually took part in these ratings in 2021.

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

Analogues:

• Xiaomi Mijia Sweeping Vacuum Cleaner 1C
• Ecovacs DeeBot DE55
• Xiaomi Mijia LDS Vacuum Cleaner
• Kitfort KT-545
• iRobot Roomba 676
• iLife A9s
• Samsung VR05R5050W