Rekam RVC-1600R
In our previous review, we told you about a budget Chinese robot vacuum cleaner. Rekam RVC 1670GToday, we'll be looking at the RVC-1600R dry floor cleaning model from the same manufacturer, which offers similar features and functionality and is also priced at $45. Below, we'll take a closer look at what you get for that price.
Equipment
The Rekam RVC-1600R package includes, in addition to the robot vacuum cleaner itself, the following accessories:
- Power unit.
- Waste container with fine filter.
- Two side brushes.
- Microfiber cloth with clip (+ spare cloth).
- Operating instructions.
- Warranty card.
Rekam package
As you can see, the charging base, remote control, and cleaning area limiter are not included. This negatively impacts the robot's overall performance.
Appearance
The robot vacuum cleaner is made of cheap plastic, which easily deteriorates, scratches, and gets dirty. Unlike the RVC 1670G, the Rekam RVC-1600R features a red, black, and white color scheme, making the design more vibrant and appealing. However, as we'll see in the review below, this doesn't improve the situation.
The body has a traditional round shape and compact dimensions: 26 x 26 x 6 centimeters. The device is also very lightweight, at 1.1 kilograms. This allows the robot to crawl under furniture and clean, if possible, hard-to-reach areas.
Top view
The top of the robot vacuum cleaner is largely taken up by the dust bin cover. Above the cover is the Rekam RVC-1600R's mechanical power button. The manufacturer's logo is located in the center.
Looking at the front, we also don't see a protective bumper, which is a real shame. On the side, there's only a power adapter port, allowing for manual charging of the device's battery.
The robot's underside is equipped with two small wheels. A microfiber cloth, designed to wipe the floor, is also attached to the underside. Also located at the bottom is a rotating roller unit, two side brushes, a battery compartment, and, closer to the center, a small suction port.
The Rekam RVC-1600R is equipped with obstacle avoidance sensors and height difference sensors around the perimeter.
Because the device's wheels are too small, it cannot overcome obstacles taller than 5-7 millimeters. Also, despite the presence of sensors, in practice, the robot vacuum cleaner does not drive over small interior thresholds, wires, or climb onto rugs.
Let's move on to a review of the technical characteristics of the Rekam RVC-1600R model.
Technical specifications
| Type of cleaning | Dry |
| Battery type | Ni-MH |
| Battery capacity | 1800 mAh |
| Maximum operating time | 90 minutes |
| Charging time | 480 minutes |
| Cleaning area | Up to 50 sq.m. |
| Suction power | 15 W |
| Dust collector capacity | 0.35 l |
| Dimensions | 26*26*6 cm |
| Weight | 1.1 kg |
The next point we will consider is an overview of the functional capabilities of the robot vacuum cleaner.
Functional capabilities
The Rekam RVC-1600R robot vacuum cleaner is not spatially oriented and moves in a completely erratic manner. It has no navigation system. Its only aid in avoiding serious collisions with obstacles is its built-in anti-collision and anti-fall sensors. However, the robot lacks a protective bumper, so these cannot fully ensure reliable operation. There are frequent cases of the robot vacuum cleaner simply stopping in one spot and not continuing cleaning, instead spinning around until the battery is drained. Since the docking station does not automatically recharge, nor does it have a battery level indicator, the Rekam RVC-1600R will eventually shut off without warning. Afterwards, the owner will need to manually connect the robot to the power outlet.
The robot vacuum cleaner cleans using two side brushes, which sweep collected debris toward the center of the suction port. The direct suction channel draws debris and dust into a 350-milliliter dust bin with a fine filter. The Rekam RVC-1600R is unable to suck up larger debris because its suction power is too weak (15 W). A turbo brush is also not included. However, it does include a microfiber cloth, which is of little practical use.
The robot vacuum cleaner is easy and simple to operate, thanks to a single mechanical control button on the body. Once pressed, the vacuum cleaner begins cleaning automatically. The robot has no other operating modes besides automatic.
Advantages and disadvantages
Pros:
- Low cost.
- Compact body, bright design.
Cons:
- Quality of workmanship, lack of protective bumper.
- Ni-MH rechargeable battery with short service life.
- Poor delivery set.
- Simple navigation, chaotic cleaning.
- Poor cross-country ability.
- Small volume of dust collector.
- Useless, low-quality rag.
- Poor quality of cleaning.
The Rekam RVC-1600R won't be a full-fledged cleaning assistant, and certainly won't replace manual labor. This device should be considered only as a budget-friendly experiment to get you started with robotic vacuums in your home.
Analogues:
