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bObsweep Bob Pro Vacuum Review

Tested using Methodology v1.1
Reviewed Nov 23, 2020 at 08:45 am
Latest change: Test bench update Sep 23, 2022 at 04:10 pm
bObsweep Bob Pro Picture
6.9
Bare Floor
5.9
Low-Pile Carpet
3.1
High-Pile Carpet
3.6
Pets
5.5
Stairs
4.7
Cars
4.2
Workshop

The bObsweep Bob Pro is a budget robot vacuum. It feels quite well-made and has remarkable three-hour battery life. It can be controlled via its included remote controller, which is handy if your internet at home is unreliable. Unfortunately, it's a terrible choice for pet owners due to its awful pet hair-cleaning performance. Many parts require routine maintenance or replacement, so recurring costs can add up over time. It can struggle to clear debris from carpeted floors, too. Thankfully, it does an impressive job of clearing both small and large debris on surfaces like linoleum or hardwood.

Our Verdict

6.9 Bare Floor

The bObsweep Pro is a satisfactory choice for bare floors. It clears small and bulky debris without an issue and is quite well-built. It also has a long-lasting battery life and a suite of automation features that can be accessed without an internet connection thanks to its included remote controller. Unfortunately, it struggles to clean pet hair and has many parts that require routine maintenance and replacement.

Pros
  • Good build quality.
  • Not reliant on Wi-Fi.
  • Fantastic battery life.
Cons
  • Terrible pet hair cleaning performance.
  • Demanding maintenance requirements.
  • High recurring costs.
5.9 Low-Pile Carpet

The bObsweep Pro is a poor fit for low-pile carpet. It struggles to suck up fine debris like baking soda on this surface and clears very little pet hair, which mostly gets stuck in its brushroll. Its performance in regards to coarse material, like sand, is better, but still only mediocre overall. Thankfully, while many components need to be cleaned or replaced, the vacuum itself is quite well-built.

Pros
  • Good build quality.
  • Not reliant on Wi-Fi.
  • Fantastic battery life.
Cons
  • Terrible pet hair cleaning performance.
  • Demanding maintenance requirements.
  • High recurring costs.
  • Struggles to clear fine debris on carpeted floors.
3.1 High-Pile Carpet

The bObsweep Pro is inadequate for high-pile carpet. It does a mediocre job of clearing coarse debris like sand and really struggles with both fine baking soda-like material as well as pet hair. It can also get stuck when attempting to climb onto high-pile carpets from bare floors. Maintenance can be difficult due to the sheer number of parts that need maintenance. However, it feels sturdily-made and has long battery life.

Pros
  • Good build quality.
  • Not reliant on Wi-Fi.
  • Fantastic battery life.
Cons
  • Terrible pet hair cleaning performance.
  • Demanding maintenance requirements.
  • High recurring costs.
  • Struggles to clear fine debris on carpeted floors.
3.6 Pets

The bObsweep Pro is terrible for pet owners. It lacks an allergen-trapping HEPA filter and sucks up very little pet hair on almost any kind of surface, as it just gets caught in its brushroll and pushed around. Many components require routine maintenance or even replacement, though you can remove its brushroll to clear hair wraps with its included detangling brush tool.

Pros
  • Good build quality.
Cons
  • Terrible pet hair cleaning performance.
  • Demanding maintenance requirements.
  • High recurring costs.
  • No HEPA filter to trap allergens.
5.5 Stairs

The bObsweep Pro is a robot vacuum that isn't designed for stairs.

4.7 Cars

The bObsweep Pro is a robot vacuum that isn't meant for cleaning the inside of your car.

  • 6.9 Bare Floor
  • 5.9 Low-Pile Carpet
  • 3.1 High-Pile Carpet
  • 3.6 Pets
  • 5.5 Stairs
  • 4.7 Cars
  • 4.2 Workshop
  1. Updated Sep 23, 2022: Converted to Test Bench 1.1.
  2. Updated Sep 23, 2022: Converted to Test Bench 1.0.
  3. Updated Nov 23, 2020: Review published.
  4. Updated Nov 17, 2020: Early access published.
  5. Updated Oct 20, 2020: Our testers have started testing this product.
  6. Updated Oct 14, 2020: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
  7. Updated Oct 04, 2020: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

Differences Between Sizes And Variants

The bObsweep Pro only comes in one variant: 'Steel'. You can see its label here.

If someone comes across a differently-equipped model, let us know in the discussions so that we can update our review.

Compared To Other Vacuums

The bObsweep Pro is a budget robot vacuum. It has outstanding battery life, good build quality, and delivers great cleaning performance on bare floors. Unfortunately, it's a poor fit for pet owners, as pet hair can easily get caught in its brushroll instead of getting sucked up. There are quite a few parts that require routine maintenance, even by the standards of robot vacuums, and it doesn't have any distinct power settings for cleaning different surfaces. If you're looking for alternatives, take a look at our recommendations of the best robot vacuums for hardwood floors, the best robot vacuums for carpet, and the best robot vacuums for pet hair.

eufy RoboVac 11S

The eufy RoboVac 11S and bObsweep Bob Pro have different advantages. The eufy clears pet hair far more effectively, is easier to maintain, and cleans more consistently on carpeted surfaces. Meanwhile, the bObsweep is better-built, has lower recurring costs, and lasts much longer on a single charge. It also struggles less with small and bulky debris on bare floors.

iRobot Roomba 675

The iRobot Roomba 675 is more versatile than the bObsweep Bob Pro. The iRobot is better built, easier to maintain, and charges much faster. It does a better job of picking up pet hair, but it struggles more than the bObsweep when it comes to clearing fine debris on carpeted surfaces. The bObsweep also has a longer continuous battery life, a larger dirt compartment, and comes with a remote controller, so you don't need Wi-Fi to use it.

Roborock E4

The Roborock E4 is a better overall robot vacuum than the bObsweep Bob Pro. The Roborock is better-built, easier to maintain, and has a larger dirt compartment. It also clears debris more effectively on all surfaces and doesn't struggle at all with pet hair. Conversely, the bObsweep is a little smaller and comes with a remote controller.

Samsung POWERbot R7040

The Samsung POWERbot R7040 is somewhat evenly-matched with the bObsweep Bob Pro. The Samsung is easier to maintain, incurs far lower recurring costs, and cleans much better on low-pile carpet. It also doesn't struggle with sucking up pet hair. However, the bObsweep has a much longer battery life and clears small and large debris more effectively on both bare floors and high-pile carpet.

yeedi K650

The yeedi K650 is a better robot vacuum than the bObsweep Bob Pro. The yeedi has a better performance on bare floors as well as low and high-pile carpets. It also has a bigger dirt compartment and less demanding maintenance needs. On the other hand, the bObsweep has a better battery performance and comes with a remote control.

Coredy R550 (R500+)

The bObsweep Bob Pro is a better robot vacuum for bare floors than the Coredy R550 (R500+). The bObsweep is better-built, more maneuverable, and does a significantly better job of cleaning bare floors. It also has a slightly better performance on carpet, although it really struggles with picking up pet hair. However, the Coredy is easier to maintain.

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Test Results

perceptual testing image
Design
7.5
Design
Build Quality
Vacuum Type
Robot

The bObsweep Pro is well-built. It's made of hard, dense plastic, with an eye-catching matte-white finish around the machine's outer edges and a darker brushed-look top. It feels quite premium for the most part, though its dirt compartment feels a little flimsy. Its side brushes feature 16 arms, which is unusually high compared to alternatives that use three or five-armed side brushes. It comes out of the box mostly ready to use, requiring you only to plug in its dock station.

4.5
Design
User Maintenance

The bObsweep Pro is hard to maintain as many parts require routine maintenance, but most are easy to access.

  • Dust bin: The dust bin can be removed after pressing the release button near the backside of the vacuum. It should be emptied after every use, cleaned with the included brush tool once a week, and occasionally washed under water. Be sure to remove its filters before doing so.
  • Brushroll: The brushroll can be removed after pulling off its brushroll cover. You should remove debris from it once a week.
  • Filters: The three-stage filter system, comprising of the filter frame, the foam filter, and high-efficiency filter, is located inside the dust bin. You should remove debris with the included cleaning tool weekly, but be sure not to wash the filters under water.
  • Side brushes: The side brushes under the vacuum require a Philips-head screwdriver to be removed. They should be cleared of tangled debris every week.
  • Drive wheels: The drive wheels should be cleared of stuck-on debris with the included brush tool or compressed air every week.
  • Nose wheel: While no maintenance interval is specified, you should pull out the noise wheel assembly and dislodge any debris if you get an error light.
  • Sensors: The sensors should be cleaned once a week with a soft, damp cloth.

Any part that can be cleaned with water should be left to dry completely before it can be reinstalled.

5.0
Design
Recurring Cost
Bag Part Number No bag
Filter Part Number Bob Pro Filter
HEPA Filter Part Number No HEPA Filter

Like most robot vacuums, the bObsweep Pro has high recurring costs.

  • Filters: The filter components are sold as a single unit. It should be changed every six months.
  • Brushroll: The brushroll should be replaced whenever you observe visible wear, though no replacement interval is specified. Similar robot vacuums recommend replacing this part every six to 12 months.
  • Side brush: The side brushes should be changed when they get damaged, but the manufacturer doesn't specify their expected service life. They can be purchased in packs of two, and similar vacuums recommend replacing them every three to six months.

You can purchase any one of these parts, as well as additional accessories, on the manufacturer's website.

9.0
Design
Storing
Height
3.35" (8.5 cm)
Width
12.99" (33.0 cm)
Depth
14.57" (37.0 cm)
Cord Storing
Not Needed
On-Board Tool Storage
Not needed
Vacuum Rack/Station
Yes

The bObsweep Pro is outstandingly easy to store. It's very compact and has a low-profile charging dock.

6.5
Design
Dirt Compartment
Bagless
Yes
Volume
0.11 gal (0.40 L)
Full Indicator
No
Bag Included
No Bag Needed

The bObsweep Pro has a passably-sized dirt compartment. It has a similar size to other robot vacuums like the Shark IQ Robot, but it's made of clear plastic to help you quickly gauge how full it is.

Design
In The Box

  • bObsweep Pro vacuum
  • Charging dock
  • Charging adapter
  • Filter frame
  • 2x set of high-performance and foam filters
  • 4x side brushes
  • Brushroll
  • Brushroll guard
  • Dust bin
  • Remote
  • Philips-head screwdriver
  • Pack of screws
  • Cleaning tool
  • Owner's manual

10
Design
Range
Cordless
Yes
Cord Length
N/A
Hose Length
N/A
Minimum Wand Length
N/A
Maximum Wand Length
N/A
Total Range
N/A

The bObsweep Pro has an effectively unlimited range as long as it has sufficient battery life and room left in its dirt compartment, but it can't climb up or down stairs.

8.1
Design
Portability
Total Weight
6.72 lbs (3.05 kg)
Weight In Hand
0.00 lbs (0.00 kg)
Carrying handle
No

The bObsweep Pro is very portable. It's fairly lightweight but lacks a carrying handle to make it easier to bring to another room.

9.5
Design
Battery
Minimum Battery Life
182 min
Maximum Battery Life
182 min
Recharge Time
242 min
Recharge Dock
Yes
Battery Life Indicator
Yes
Removable Batteries
Yes

The bObsweep Pro has remarkable battery life. It provides over three hours of continuous runtime, which should be more than sufficient to clean big areas and compares favorably to other robot vacuums like the iRobot Roomba 692 or Coredy R500, though it does take longer to charge. You can keep tabs on its current charge status via the light on top of the vacuum. A solid white light indicates a full charge, while a solid red light indicates that it's running low on battery. The light blinks white when it's returning to its docking station to recharge.

Design
Quality Of Life Features
Rotating Head
No
Power Adjustment
No
Self-Propelled
Yes
Headlights
No
Easy On/Off
Yes
Head Surface Type Adjustment
None

The bObsweep Pro has few extra quality of life features. It doesn't have any power or suction settings, operating entirely in its default 'Auto' mode. There's a single button on the vacuum. Tapping it once turns on the 'Auto' mode, double-tapping it causes it to return to its base, and holding it down in conjunction with its bumper turns the vacuum off. It also has a 'Wall Track' mode, enabled via the remote, which forces it to clean the outer edges of a room.

Design
Tools And Brushes
Brushroll
Yes
Brushroll On/Off
No
Removable Brushroll
Yes
Turbo Brush
No
Crevice Tool
No
Upholstery Tool
No
Soft Bristle Brush
No
Hard Bristle Brush
No
Extension Wand
No
Ceiling Fan Tool
No
Pet Grooming Tool
No

The bObsweep Pro has few tools and accessories. There's a pair of side brushes that carry debris into the path of the vacuum, a double-ended cleaning tool with a hook blade and brush to clear debris from various components, and a Philips-head screwdriver to help detach the side brushes.

Design
Alternative Configuration
Blower Mode
No

The bObsweep Pro has no alternative configurations.

Performance
9.3
Performance
Bare Floor Performance (Hardwood, Laminate, Tiles)
Setting Used "Auto"
Large Debris at 0 gal (0L) 99%
Large Debris at 0.07 gal (0.25L) 71%
Large Debris at 0.2 gal (0.75L) N/A
Large Debris at 0.4 gal (1.5L) N/A
Large Debris at 0.8 gal (3L) N/A
Large Debris at 1.6 gal (6L) N/A
Small Debris at 0 gal (0L) 100%
Small Debris at 0.07 gal (0.25L) 100%
Small Debris at 0.2 gal (0.75L) N/A
Small Debris at 0.4 gal (1.5L) N/A
Small Debris at 0.8 gal (3L) N/A
Small Debris at 1.6 gal (6L) N/A

The bObsweep Pro offers great cleaning performance on bare floors. It clears debris like rice and cereal easily, which can be an issue for some robot vacuums. Unfortunately, it struggles with pet hair, which can get stuck in its brushroll.

5.4
Performance
Low-Pile Carpet Performance
Setting Used "Auto"
Large Debris at 0 gal (0L) 57%
Large Debris at 0.07 gal (0.25L) ≈ 56%
Large Debris at 0.2 gal (0.75L) N/A
Large Debris at 0.4 gal (1.5L) N/A
Large Debris at 0.8 gal (3L) N/A
Large Debris at 1.6 gal (6L) N/A
Small Debris at 0 gal (0L) 26%
Small Debris at 0.07 gal (0.25L) ≈ 25%
Small Debris at 0.2 gal (0.75L) N/A
Small Debris at 0.4 gal (1.5L) N/A
Small Debris at 0.8 gal (3L) N/A
Small Debris at 1.6 gal (6L) N/A

It performs badly on low-pile carpet. Pet hair gets stuck in its brushroll instead of being picked up, and the vacuum struggles to clear fine debris like baking soda. It does a better job with coarse, sand-like material, but its performance is still mediocre in this respect.

0
Performance
High-Pile Carpet Performance
Setting Used Untestable
Large Debris at 0 gal (0L) 0%
Large Debris at 0.07 gal (0.25L) N/A
Large Debris at 0.2 gal (0.75L) N/A
Large Debris at 0.4 gal (1.5L) N/A
Large Debris at 0.8 gal (3L) N/A
Large Debris at 1.6 gal (6L) N/A
Small Debris at 0 gal (0L) 0%
Small Debris at 0.07 gal (0.25L) N/A
Small Debris at 0.2 gal (0.75L) N/A
Small Debris at 0.4 gal (1.5L) N/A
Small Debris at 0.8 gal (3L) N/A
Small Debris at 1.6 gal (6L) N/A

This robot vacuum delivers disappointing performance on high-pile carpet. It does an unremarkable job of clearing coarse debris like sand and doesn't suck up much fine material, such as baking soda. Pet hair also gets trapped in its brushroll.

2.9
Performance
Pet Hair Floor Performance
Bare Floor
36%
Low-Pile Carpet
54%
High-Pile Carpet
0%
0
Performance
Suction
Maximum Suction
0.0 inHâ‚‚O (0.01 kPa)
Setting Used For Maximum "Auto", (Remote Control)
Normal Suction
0.0 inHâ‚‚O (0.01 kPa)
Setting Used For Normal "AUTO", (Remote Control)
Hose Diameter
N/A
9.6
Performance
Noise
Bare Floor
60.3 dBA
Low-Pile Carpet
53.7 dBA
7.0
Performance
Maneuverability

The bObsweep Pro is decently maneuverable. It has a smart-pathing feature, allowing it to clean rooms in sections and go back to areas it missed. It's small enough to fit under couches and tables but struggles to climb onto shag carpeting or maneuver over electrical cables. Rug tassels can also get caught in its brushroll, requiring you to free it manually.

0
Performance
Pet Hair Furniture Performance
Sofa Pickup Post Test
Performance
Air Quality
Anti-Allergy Filter (HEPA)
No
4.0
Performance
Cracks
Wood Cracks Post Test
1.0
Performance
Stains
Stain Pickup Post Test
0
Performance
Water
Wet Compatible
No
Water Pickup Post Test
Automation
7.4
Automation
Physical Automation
Automatic Recharging
Yes
Automatic Bag Emptying
No
Pathing Algorithm
Random
Physical Boundary Markers
No
Scheduled Start Buttons
Yes
Cycle Control Buttons
Onboard and Remote Controller
Navigation Control Buttons
Full Movement Controls

It has decent automation features. It doesn't have a companion app and can be used without an internet connection, courtesy of the included remote control. With the remote control, you can start and stop cleaning tasks, make navigation inputs, put it into its fully autonomous 'Auto' mode, and put it into its 'Wall Track' mode, which makes the appliance clean around the outer edges of a room. You can also schedule cleaning sessions. Unfortunately, the vacuum doesn't come with physical boundary markers, and you can't set up any virtual ones.

0
Automation
Companion App Automation
App Name
No App
iOS Availability
No
Android Availability
No
Software Boundary Markers (No Go Zones)
No
App Scheduled Start
No
App Cycle Control
No
Navigation Control within App
No