Summary
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LG HOM-BOT Square: Hands-on
Adding to its range of robot vacuum cleaners, LG has taken to CES 2013 to unveil the follow-on to the LG HOM-BOT with the aptly named LG HOM-BOT Square.
More than a simple robot vac, the LG HOM-BOT Square follows the South Korean company's ethos of everything being 'smart' and connected. As such, the LG HOM-BOT Square, which we got hands-on time with at CES 2013, will communicate with your smartphone allowing you to remotely tell it to clean and monitor its progress.
LG HOM-BOT Square Design
A robot vacuum cleaner that certainly looks the part, the LG HOM-BOT Square has got the futuristic, almost space-age aesthetic down to a tee with a stunning, rounded edged boxey design that is reminiscent of the iconic cartoon images that sparked interest in the idea of automated cleaning products.
Compact enough to be easy to store, the LG HOM-BOT Square gloss red plastic exterior is sleek and stylish and will not look out of place in any modern, tech savvy home.
Helping ensure ease of use, the LG HOM-BOT Square hides its dust collection unit in an aesthetically pleasing manner, with the unit’s centre panel rising at the simple press of a discreet clasp to reveal a well hidden, compact dust tray.
Although helping ensure that the LG HOM-BOT Square remains a pleasing sight when trundling about your home, and offer a quick, simple method for emptying the unit, due to its location, the robot vacuum cleaner’s capacity is severely reduced meaning repeated trips to the dustbin might be an unwanted price to pay for pleasing aesthetics. What does bolster this dust container’s credentials, however, it its integrated HEPRA filter ensuring those with allergies are not bothered by meddlesome dust release.
LG HOM-BOT Square Features
Although we have yet to have an opportunity to test out the cleaning abilities of the LG HOM-BOT Square, based on its extensive features list and our hands-on with the device, we would expect it to tackle all areas of a room with equal aplomb, with the device’s elongated cleaning bristles sweeping out beyond the device’s body to ensure no edge or corner is missed.
Capable of tackling all manner of surface types, the LG HOM-BOT Square pairs ultrasonic and infrared sensors to help it detect obstructions and solid objects meaning it will not simply run around your room bumping into anything in sight.
Further adding to the LG HOM-BOT Square’s extensive features list, the new robot vacuum cleaner boast two inbuilt cameras with the forward-facing snapper and top-mounted camera combining to help the device learn its surroundings and better avoid potentially messy and expensive collisions. Taking several pictures per second, the two cameras work together to help the device learn its location, gaining smart insights from its surrounds to better clean the room.
LG HOM-BOT Square Controls
Once again continuing the premium finish feel, the LG HOM-BOT Square’s controls are handled by a well laid out collection of touch sensitive buttons on the front edge of the device’s top panel.
With a sizeable on/off switch on the side helping to ensure the LG HOM-BOT Square isn’t accidentally turned off during use, the new model, which boasts a 100 minute battery life and produces just 60 decibels of noise, benefits from simplistic controls with the user presented with simple instructions and options, Start/Stop, Mode, Turbo and Home.
As well as offering touch controls, the LG HOM-BOT also relays information to the users whilst in use through a selection of 90 voice alerts, including updates on the unit’s self-diagnostic features.
What do you make of the new LG HOM-BOT Square? Let us know via the Trusted Reviews Twitter and Facebook feeds or through the comment boxes below and stay tuned for a full review of the new LG robot vacuum cleaner in the near future.
