Haier TH27U1 Smart Robot Vacuum Cleaner Review: A Cost-Effective Clean-Up Job

If you’re new to the world of smart robot vacuum cleaners, I’ve got a suggestion for you. Yes, the review can start and end right here. With a price tag of just Rs. 13,999, the Haier TH27U1 is a must-buy, for a value-for-money robot vacuum cleaner.

It’s a clean, unassuming robot vacuum cleaner, and doesn’t do much to stand out in the design department vis-a-vis the competition. To be fair, that’s alright, as this design is what works for robot vacuum cleaners. It’s available in silver colour, which doesn’t get dirty easily.

There’s the robot vacuum cleaner inside the box along with a dust collector, a water tank attachment, a charging dock (and cable) and a remote. There are also two mopping cloths. When you first unbox the robot vacuum cleaner, you may not realise the battery isn’t charged. I tried connecting the robot vacuum cleaner to the app and it constantly failed. The moment it was charged, the connection worked like a charm. There’s the LED light on top of the robot vacuum cleaner, that indicates its charging status. Furthermore, the voice prompt lets you know when the device is charging, and when it has been fully charged.

Out of the box, the cleaning attachment is connected to the robot vacuum cleaner. If you want to switch to the mopping one, then it is a quick and easy job.

It works as advertised

To get going, you only need to connect the robot vacuum cleaner to the Haismart app.

Once you connect the robot vacuum cleaner to the Haismart app, then the cleaning can begin. With a 2200 PA, this robot vacuum cleaner is pretty powerful. I’ve been using it for over a month now, and I’ve been happy. It can suck up things like dust and dirt (and even pet hair), from the floor, carpet, bathroom tiles, etc.

As I mentioned, it comes with both a vacuum and a mop. With a 600ml dustbin and a 350ml water tank, this robot vacuum cleaner is a workhorse. It can clean up messes and how. The robot vacuum cleaner has a simple and clear motto; make cleaning easy. And it succeeds.

The robot vacuum cleaner cleans and mops further than you’d expect. The Haiersmart App is fairly easy to navigate. It tells you the battery percentage, what mode it is and much more. Up top, you’ll see two big buttons - Recharge and Start Cleaning - which essentially act as an on/off button. There’s a slider for the strength of the suction, for the water tank and then the work modes - Edge, Spot, Manual, Timer -and that’s it.

There are two downsides that I’ve noticed during my time with the Haier robot vacuum cleaner. First, depending on the size of the room/house, you’ll need to refill the tank every session. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it is kind of a hassle. Sometimes, it may even have to get refilled mid-session. Second, unlike more expensive robot vacuum cleaners, the Haier TH27U1 has no fancy mapping technology. That means you can’t direct the robot to a specific place or room you’d want it to clean. Instead, the robot vacuum cleaner is like a headless chicken. It wanders aimlessly but effortlessly cleans while doing so. I couldn’t test it out, but this robot vacuum cleaner comes with cliff detection. This will prevent it from falling into a state of no return.

The lack of any extra sophisticated sensors means it can suck in thick items like shoe laces and also falls prey to fluffy carpets. Just keep an eye out for that.

One bonus feature

I’d like to point out that Haier has put a lot of thought into this product. If you’re new to the world of robot vacuum cleaners, and find it difficult to connect it to a smartphone, then fret not. Haier has the perfect solution for you. There’s a remote control that comes with this robot vacuum cleaner. Hallelujah! You can bypass the app and simply just use the remote. In fact, the remote is way easier than navigating the app. This is an ingenious move and I don’t know why more companies don’t implement it.

Battery life

One thing I was slightly disappointed about was the battery life on the Haier TH27U1. It is advertised to run for three hours on a single charge, but in reality, that wasn’t the case. The robot vacuum cleaner comes with a 2,600mAh battery, which is on the lower side. I managed to get about forty minutes to an hour of cleaning before the robot vacuum cleaner had to be sent back for charging. On eco mode, this can extend to 90 or 100 minutes.

With the Haier TH27U1, you have to go room by room. It’s a tedious process of cleaning a room, and then having to be sent back for charging, before it can be sent again to clean another room.

Verdict

At a retail price of Rs 13,999, one really can’t complain. Cleaning and mopping are the strengths of the Haier TH27U1, and I’m impressed with that. It’s a basic, no-frills robot vacuum cleaner, and for that, I give it two thumbs up. The battery life is a downside, and so is the lack of any mapping technology. The competition is fast catching up and we’re all waiting for Haier to launch the successor. Until then, the TH27U1 will stay atop at in the budget category.

With all that said, the Haier TH27U1 is a cost-effective cleaner and can clean your floors with relative ease. If you’re new to the world of robot vacuum cleaners, then the Haier robot vacuum cleaner will become your best friend.