Philips SmartPro Active

The Philips SmartPro Active robot vacuum cleaner is a highly convenient solution for cleaning your home. In addition to its extensive functionality, it boasts a well-designed design and compact dimensions. This device can become an indispensable home assistant for anyone, cleaning even when the owner is away, thanks to preset runtime parameters. Previously, it might have seemed like a miracle when tired homeowners, arriving home from work, find themselves in a clean, tidy space without having to do anything. However, now this dream is quite real—all you need is a specially designed home appliance. In this article, we'll review the Philips SmartPro Active, its design, and the differences in specifications between the FC8820/01 and FC8810/01 models.

Delivery set

So, the Philips robot vacuum cleaner kit, in addition to the robot itself, consists of:

• charging base;
• power unit;
• Infrared remote control with light pointer;
• USB cable;
• additional filter;
• napkins (3 pcs.);
• napkin tray;
• side brushes (4 pcs.);
• virtual wall and power supply elements for it (4 pcs., type AA);
• operating instructions;
• warranty card.

It's worth highlighting the differences between the SmartPro Active FC8820/01 and FC8810/01. There are several: the FC8810/01 lacks a light pointer, lacks a Turbo mode, and has a charge and run time of 210 and 90 minutes, respectively (compared to 240 and 120 minutes for the FC 8820). Otherwise, the design and technical specifications of the two robots are identical, so we won't dwell on either model here; instead, we'll provide a general overview of the Philips SmartPro Active robot vacuum cleaner.

Appearance

The design of the Philips robot is shown in the photo below. As you can see, it's finished in a stylish deep black. Overall, it has a very modern and attractive appearance. The lid is glossy. Models made of titanium are also common. The vacuum cleaner has a display and a built-in clock.

Technical specifications

The table below summarizes the main parameters of the Philips SmartPro Active robot vacuum cleaner:

Type of cleaning	Dry
Cleaning area	Not specified by the manufacturer, within 100 sq.m.
Nutrition	Battery (Li-ion) with a capacity of 2800 mAh
Power consumption	Operating power 33W, standby power 0.65W
Opening hours	120 min
Charging time	240 min
Noise level	63.4 dB
Dust collector capacity	0.4 l
Weight	1.95 kg
Overall dimensions	Height - 8 cm, diameter - 33 cm
Obstacle sensors	Mechanical bumper, infrared height difference and proximity sensors
Orientation	Gyroscope, accelerometer, infrared base search sensor
Operating modes	Automatic, manual, local, scheduled
Charger	From the base or power supply

Functional capabilities

A key advantage of this Philips robot vacuum cleaner is its ability to overcome obstacles up to one and a half centimeters high. The vacuum cleaner navigates using an infrared beam and is also equipped with an obstacle sensor.

The robot can be controlled remotely, as its kit includes a remote control.

The Philips SmartPro Active robot vacuum cleaner offers both dry and automatic cleaning functions, and a built-in timer lets you set a desired cleaning time. The vacuum cleaner features a turbo mode (model FC8820), providing powerful suction and effective floor cleaning.

Despite its modest cleaning power, the Philips vacuum cleaner is quite effective: it can pick up pet hair, small debris like sand, dust, Play-Doh leftovers from children's play, and many other debris left on floors or carpets. Dust collection is achieved through vacuum filtration.

The robot vacuum cleaner has four main operating modes: zigzag, spiral, wall-mounted, and random. Furthermore, the robot can automatically select the appropriate mode based on the surface and level of dirt.

As mentioned above, the robot vacuum cleaner uses an infrared beam to navigate. However, if the robot gets stuck in a doorway or slightly lost, it will alert its owners with special sound signals.

In addition to automatic mode, you can control the Philips SmartPro Active manually using the remote control, which features buttons that allow you to direct the vacuum to the desired location. However, please note that the robot vacuum cleaner can automatically change modes if it detects heavy soiling.

If you're wondering how long it takes this Philips model to clean one room, the answer depends on the room's size. If the room is small, the vacuum cleaner will clean it in less than an hour. Therefore, if the total area to be cleaned is standard, the robot vacuum's charge will be sufficient to clean the entire space.

The Philips SmartPro Active has two brushes. As they rotate, debris is pushed toward the target, where suction occurs. The brushes rotate very rapidly, allowing the robot to sweep away everything in its path. The advantage of this design is that the motor inside the robot vacuum is reliably isolated from the dust that gets inside. This prevents dust from spreading around the dust container, trapping it directly inside.

To prevent the robot vacuum from tipping over on stairs or to limit its range, the vacuum cleaner is equipped with a "virtual wall." This is an infrared sensor that prevents the robot from going beyond a preset line. Using these virtual lines, you can limit the robot's movement and restrict cleaning to a single room.

Please note that the Philips SmartPro Active is not recommended for use in wet areas where liquid spills of any kind may occur. If the vacuum cleaner has come into contact with liquids, it must be thoroughly cleaned to prevent further damage.

When the battery level is low, the vacuum cleaner can return to the base to recharge, after which it is ready to start cleaning again.

Operating instructions

To ensure your robot vacuum lasts a long time and you enjoy high-quality cleaning, it's important to read the Philips FC8820/FC8810 user manual before use. You can view or download the user manual in Russian by following this link:SmartPro Active.

An overview of the main advantages and disadvantages

Let's look at the main advantages of the Philips SmartPro Active robot vacuum cleaner:

1. The robot cleans smooth surfaces, i.e. the floor itself, very efficiently and effectively (with carpet, things will be a little worse).
2. Possesses orientation in the surrounding space.
3. The small dimensions indicate the vacuum cleaner's compactness, making it easy to maneuver.
4. The availability of different operating modes, the ability to set specific times for cleaning, and even plan daily cleanings for a week in advance.
5. It is possible to adjust the suction power.
6. Powerful battery.
7. Relatively low power consumption in standby mode.
8. Stylish, modern and attractive appearance.
9. There is a napkin for wiping the floor.

Among the disadvantages, the following points can be highlighted:

1. The vacuum cleaner is not very good at cleaning thick and high carpets; these surfaces are difficult for it to clean.
2. Since the vacuum cleaner lid is glossy, there is a high risk of quickly damaging it, leaving marks and scratches on it.
3. When operating, the robot produces a sufficient level of noise.
4. The significant cost of a "smart device." The average price of a Philips SmartPro Active in 2019 was $240 (model FC 8820) and $160 (FC 8810).
5. The filters included in the kit are not very durable and are also expensive.
6. There are times when the vacuum cleaner gets stuck under furniture, or when, after cleaning one room, it doesn't move to another, but returns to the base, which requires additional settings.

Finally, we recommend you watch a video that demonstrates testing the operating modes of the Philips robot:

So, here's our review of the Philips SmartPro Active. Now you know the technical specifications of the FC8820/01 and FC8810/01 models, as well as the advantages of this popular Philips robot vacuum cleaner.

Analogues:

• iRobot Roomba 616
• LINNBERG Drive
• Philips SmartPro Easy
• iBoto Aqua V710
• AltaRobot D450
• PANDA X900 Wet Clean
• Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum Cleaner