Hobot 188

Finally, there is a product out there that makes window cleaning as simple as pressing a button and the Hobot range of window cleaning robots are certainly some of the best consumer products currently on the market. Window cleaning robots are one of the newest gadgets you should consider for your home. They make cleaning windows simple, fast, and painless. In this post, we will be taking a closer look at two of the most popular Hobot robotic window cleaners, the Hobot 188 vs Hobot 198 which are designed for small to medium windows. If you have large windows, be sure to check out our comparison post of the larger Hobot 268 vs 288 and the 298 or if you want the best, check out our comparison of the Hobot 388 and the 298. Quick answer - Hobot 188 or 198 When you include the price factor, I would side with the Hobot 198 model when compared to the 188. However, if you are after an oval-shaped robotic window cleaner, over both of these models I would recommend the Hobot 388, it is their newer model and has an onboard water tank. But, this post is focusing on these two models from Hobot, so let's take a closer look at each of them. Hobot 188 Review The Hobot 188 window cleaning robot is specially designed to clean not just windows, but also efficiently clean a variety of surfaces including; mirrors, mosaic glass, tiles, rough glass, even floors, to a certain extent. This window cleaning robot uses two cleaning wheels covered with a microfiber cloth to clean, the wheels enable the robot to spin and move over a surface, thoroughly cleaning it in the process. These cloth-covered cleaning wheels is a good upgrade from the traditional caterpillar tracks and rubber driving wheel as they do not leave tracks on the cleaned surface, plus it gives the robot an impressive cleaning speed. With the help of a powerful centrifugal pump, this robot attaches itself to any surface and securely sticks to the surface to make sure it doesn’t fall off while cleaning. The vacuum motor also sucks away the dirt particles into the microfiber cloths, which can be washed and reused. This window cleaning robot also has sensors that help it to scan the surface to be cleaned, create a map of the surface in its internal memory and then determine the best route to follow to achieve the best result; a spotless and shining surface. Also, this system prevents the robot from missing spots on the window surface while cleaning, and in the event of a power failure, an integrated UPS keeps it on the window for up to 20 minutes. The 188 window cleaning robot has special sensors and a vacuum pump that detect different surface types and measure how strongly adhered the robot is to the surface that’s being cleaned, and if the adherence isn’t strong enough this smart robot will stop and give you a warning signal, thanks to its anti-falling control algorithm and AI technology V2. And in case it falls off while cleaning, a high strength safety rope prevents it from hitting the ground. This robot window cleaner does an excellent job with minimal prompting from a remote control. Using this remote control, you can direct its movement, and once the cleaning is complete, Hobot 188 automatically goes to standby mode. This model is best suited to a consumer who is looking for a moderately priced product that still performs very well. It may not be perfect for someone who is on a strict budget, but the extra expense is worth it. Very easy to usereusable microfiber clothProperly cleans different surface typesComes with extra parts and accessoriesHigh strength safety rope Can be slow and a bit noisyRequires constant power supply Hobot 198 Review The Hobot 198 window cleaning robot was the top of the line small unit from Hobot, with the latest software versions. We found that this robot cleaner was very efficient at removing dirt from windows and surfaces. However, we did not care for the hefty price tag that comes with it. On the underside of Hobot 198, you will find two cleaning wheels wrapped with a microfiber cloth which enable the robot to rotate and move about while cleaning. The cleaning wheels simultaneously rotate in clockwise and anti-clockwise directions, ensuring the complete cleaning of surfaces, and it's driven by a powerful vacuum motor. The cleaning cloth covering the driving wheel absorbs the dirt particles and can be washed and reused several times. These cleaning cloths are yellow and blend in well with the robot’s black color giving it an attractive look. As an automatic cleaning gadget, the Hobot 198 has a specially designed centrifugal pump that attaches and secures it firmly on different surface types including rough glass, mosaic glass, tile, wall, ground, and glass tables. It gently moves over to clean any surface with a soft and thick cleaning cloth leaving no tracks after cleaning windows. This robot has AI technology and uses sensors to map out cleaning surfaces for the most efficient cleaning route. It also automatically detects obstacles, this system prevents the robot from bumping into obstacles on a window surface, and it also has an anti-falling control algorithm. While in use, this window cleaning robot is plugged into a power system via a 5-meter power cable and in case of a failure, an embedded UPS power system prevents it from falling off by sustaining it for up to 30 minutes. This automatic cleaning robot can clean in two ways, dry cleaning and solution cleaning. For dry cleaning, the robot goes over the window surface to suck off the dust particles, and for solution cleaning, you’ll need to apply a small amount of cleaning solution on the cleaning cloth. Solution cleaning gives much better results. The Hobot 198 is an upgrade on the 188 version due to its increased engine power and Bluetooth connectivity which enables you to connect it to your smartphone and control it from there. To establish this connection, you’ll need to download the free application, and it’s available for iOS and Android platforms. This means you can control this robot with a remote control or your smartphone, whichever one you prefer. Very easy to usereusable microfiber clothProperly cleans different surface typesA smartphone and remote control Hobot app and UPSComes with extra parts and accessoriesContains AI technology v2 1 Can be slow and a bit noisyRequires constant power supplyExpensive Hobot 188 or the Hobot 198: Product Comparison Ease Of Use Both the Hobot 188 and Hobot 198 are straightforward gadgets and very easy to use. Both are remote control Hobot robots to enable easy control of these robots. And each remote control is simple and intuitive. An additional control feature for the Hobot 198 is the Bluetooth connectivity and mobile application, to control this robot with your smartphone requires that you download the free app and connect it to the robot via Bluetooth. Winner: As you don’t have to fiddle around with Bluetooth, the Hobot 188 shades the ease of use. What Is Inside The Box? The manufacturer Hobot was obviously very generous here, both robots come with the same set of spare parts and accessories to help users in handling and maintenance. These extras include; Cleaning cloth; each robot comes with 14 circular microfiber cleaning pads to cover the driving wheel which prevents track marks and facilities better cleaning. Despite that, each cleaning cloth can be washed and continuously reused you still have many more so you won’t run out of them. Charger; the two robots come with chargers for charging their backup batteries. The charger is plugged in even while the robot is working so it can work and charge simultaneously. Remote; each Hobot window cleaner has a remote control to enable you to control it from a distance. Cleaning rings; there are spare cleaning rings for the robots so you can use them if any of the original rings is broken or misplaced. Winner: Draw Cleaning Speed These window cleaning robots have many things in common, even the speed at which they clean. It takes them approximately 4 minutes to clean 1 meter of a surface which is an impressive cleaning speed for gadgets of their size, thanks to a powerful vacuum motor. Winner: Draw Product Features These robot window cleaners have very similar features and functionality. They are of the same size and weight and can clean a variety of surfaces at the same cleaning speed. Each robot comes with a vacuum pump, circular cleaning wheels with microfiber cloths, AI technology, embedded UPS, 16-foot power cable, remote control, safety cord and the 198 has a power consumption of 80W while the 188 has a power consumption of 90W. The two robot window cleaners are basically the same except that the Hobot 198 is the upgraded version because of its smartphone control feature and more advanced cleaning AI. The Hobot 188 has the AI technology V2 while Hobot 198 has and improved AI technology v2 1. Finally, they have different colors, Hobot 188 is white with gray microfiber cloths while Hobot 198 is black with yellow cleaning pads. Winner: The Hobot 198 has upgraded AI technology V2.1 and Smartphone connections, so it wins here. Value Hobot 188 is usually cheaper than the Hobot 198 (although sometimes the prices can flip depending on deals available, so always check), this is mainly due to the upgrade in the AI technology V2 and Bluetooth connectivity. The Hobot 198 also packs slightly more powerful sucking for better performance on dust. Winner: Is the added connectivity worth the extra cost? Not in my mind, winner Hobot 188 Product FAQs As they are very similar products, the FAQs are relevant to both the Hobot 188 and the Hobot 198. What is the smallest window these robots can clean?Hobot specify that the smallest window the 188 and 198 can clean is 13 inches x 13 inchesHow big are they?Both the Hobot 198 and 188 are the same size, 12 x 6 x 5 inchWhat happens in the event of a power failure?If the motor does fail, the backup power system prevents falling. But it is important to attach the included safety cord so if power cuts and the backup battery runs out, the safety cord will save it from hitting the ground. When using on the inside, if you have wooden floors made of softwood, I’d recommend placing some cushions or a rolled-up sheet to protect the floor from any dents, better safe than dented!Is there a limitation to the width of the window?Because the window cleaning robot must be connected to a power supply at all times, the only limit is the length of the power cord, which is around 16 feet.Will this get the corners of triangular windows clean?Unfortunately no, the robot is only specially designed for square or rectangular windows.Can this work on very slightly curved glass?No, it doesn't work on a curved surface. For the suction to work, every surface to be cleaned must be flat.Does it work on frameless windows?No, if you have frameless windows, I’d recommend taking a look at the Hobot 268Does it work on double-pane windows?Yes, as long as it has a frame, you’re good to go Hobot 188 vs Hobot 198: Final thoughts So, which window cleaning robot should you buy? The Hobot 188 or the Hobot 198 Both of these Hobot window cleaners are excellent gadgets and any one of them will work fine on your windows, but the answer to the question of which robot you should buy will depend more on your budget as the two window cleaning robots are basically the same. If you’re more interested in value, then you should be looking at Hobot 188, it is a chunk of change cheaper and still works really well. On the other hand, if you care about performance, upgraded AI technology V2 to V2.1 and the extra smartphone control in addition to remote control, and the cool black and yellow color scheme, then Hobot 198 is the one for you.