'I tested 'smallest' robot vacuum money can buy - it's a game-changer for pet hair'

Robot vacuums have been rising in popularity in recent years, with dozens of clever options on the market that promise to hoover up dust at the touch of a button.

With so many gadgets out there, it can be tricky to know which models stand out as really making your life that little bit easier.That's where SwitchBot Mini Robot Vacuum K10+ comes in.

This nifty vacuum robot claims to have all the bells and whistles; self emptying, smart mapping, 100 minutes of power, compatible with Alexa, powerful suction, all the while claiming to be relatively quiet.

Trends Editor Sophie Law decided to put the new SwitchBot Mini Robot Vacuum K10+ to the test to see how it compared against a regular hoover. Here's how she got on...

Working full-time while living in a city flat with my husband and our dog, maintaining a constantly clean home has always been a challenge - and seemingly endless. That was until the SwitchBot Mini Robot Vacuum K10+ entered our lives.

This isn't just any robot vacuum; it's one of the smallest on the market, wrapped up in a surprisingly compact package. The K10+ is not much bigger than a dinner plate, yet it claims to pack the punch of its bulkier competitors. Its petite 24.8cm diameter body promises to glide under furniture, leaving no crumb or pet hair in its wake.

Oh, the wonders of modern technology, what's not to love? I must admit, I was skeptical at first. How could something so small handle the messes of daily life, especially with a dog that sheds enough to knit a jumper every week? Don't let the size fool you. In my opinion, the SwitchBot K10+ has been a game-changer.

Despite being a 'mini' robot vacuum, the SwitchBot K10+ has a self-emptying dustbin, and empties into its base station which can hold up to 70 days' worth of cleaning - or four litres of dust.

Due to its compact size, it reaches places that a large vacuum can't, including the dusty caves under beds and sofas. It's like having a miniature NASA rover cleaning every inch of our home, navigating around obstacles with ease. Its high-performance vacuum motor and optimised duct effortlessly captured dirt from our hard floors and rugs without the tough physical work.

That's another feature of the vacuum that is perfect for people who lead busy lives, or perhaps have mobility issues which makes hoovering quite difficult. You don't have to break a sweat hoovering back and forth, moving furniture, or trying not to get the wire tangled around various obstacles. The vacuum is the epitome of "set it and forget it". It scurries back to its charging station when low on battery, only to resume its mission right where it left off once recharged. This seamless operation means I can spend less time chasing dust bunnies around.

So how does it work? First things first, the vacuum includes AI-level precise mapping which you can set up on your phone. Using an app which you install, the robot whizzes around your home on its first journey, cleverly scanning every inch until it has a complete map of your home on your phone.

A surprisingly genius feature, it takes into account bulky furniture - such as wardrobes and coffee tables - and so it can know exactly where to go. Once it has created its map, which you can access at all times on the SwitchBot app, it's off on its first cleaning journey. It then returns to its cleaning base once the rooms have been cleaned to empty and recharge. The app tells you the total cleaning time, the square metre of area cleaned, and you can also set 'no-go zones' if you don't want it to enter certain rooms.

The quiet operation is another feature I can't rave enough about. At 48 decibels, it's barely a whisper. The gentle hum of the device wasn't a touch on a regular-sized vacuum, and my dog - who will often bark at the roar of my Shark hoover - didn't seem to mind it flitting from room to room.

While this nifty device is perfect for hoovering up leftover dust and hair while you can focus on other other things, it cannot replace a typical powerful vacuum. I wouldn't ditch my Shark Anti-Hair Wrap Upright Pet Vacuum anytime soon, which is still the best option for a thorough deep clean. That being said, the SwitchBot is perfect for sweeping up the debris in the interim.

There also were times I had to rescue the poor robot from spaces after it became stuck, but luckily, your phone lets you know exactly where the little device is hiding.

In a market that's brimming with options, the SwitchBot Mini Robot Vacuum K10+ stands out not just for its size, but for its sheer capability and thoughtful design. At £499.99, it is an investment. Luckily, the SwitchBot website often has discount codes on offer, and is currently offering discounts codes, bringing the cost down to by up to £100.

Meanwhile, Amazon has the same SwitchBot model priced at £399.99, but is offering a £50 voucher off the original price, bringing it down to £349.99. You can buy the Amazon offer here.

For those looking for a cheaper robot vacuum alternative, HONITURE's robot vacuum cleaner, which sweeps, vacuums, and mops in one, is currently £199 at Amazon, but you can bring the price down with a £35 voucher. Meanwhile, Argos is selling the RoboVac G10 Hybrid, which has multiple cleaning modes, for £169.

The Eufy BoostIQ RoboVac 15C Max is priced at £149.99 down from £239.99, saving customers 38 percent.

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