EZVIZ RC3 Plus Robot Vacuum Cleaner Review

Vacuum robot. Honestly, until recently, this phrase was a mystery to me. I’ve learned all the ways to clean the floor indoors with human assistance. I know how to use a broom, a dustpan, and a mop. I’ve collected dust with a traditional vacuum cleaner and washed the floor with a wet vacuum cleaner. But I had never encountered a device that cleans the floor without human assistance. I was curious to find out what this “beast” ─ a vacuum robot ─ is all about. So when I had the opportunity to test the RC3 Plus vacuum robot from EZVIZ (with a suction power of up to 2700 Pa and a self-cleaning station!), I decided to take advantage of it.

Since the EZVIZ brand was unfamiliar to me, I was immediately interested in the manufacturer. The EZVIZ brand belongs to the Chinese company Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Co., Ltd. This company has been in existence for over 20 years and is one of the leading manufacturers of video surveillance systems, including cloud-based data recording, “smart” household appliances, and action cameras (my colleagues tested their outdoor and baby cameras). Under the EZVIZ brand, this product line is distributed worldwide. That’s basically all the information I could quickly gather, so let’s get back to the vacuum cleaner.

EZVIZ RC3 Plus package and specifications

So, the RC3 Plus is a robot cleaner designed for dry cleaning. It came to me in the following configuration:

• Robot vacuum cleaner – 1 pc
• Charging station with automatic garbage discharge function – 1 pc
• Dust bags – 2 pcs
• Side brushes – 2 pcs
• HEPA filters – 2 pcs
• Cleaning tool – 1 pc
• Remote control – 1 pc
• AAA batteries – 2 pcs
• Short user manual – 2 pcs

The vacuum cleaner is packed in a cardboard box. On top, there is a special cardboard base with the robot placed on it, and underneath, on another base, lies the charging dock. Inside the packaging, various compartments hold the remote, batteries, spare parts, and documentation.

The manufacturer claims the following characteristics:

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Appearance

The RC3 Plus vacuum cleaner looks similar to other robot vacuums: a round white body with a diameter of 34.5 cm and a height of 7.85 cm, weighing 2.83 kg. On top, there is a power button and the company logo. On the bottom part of the base, there are two driving wheels, one rotating wheel, and two brushes: a main one and a side one that rotates. More than half of the side wall is occupied by a spring-loaded bumper to soften impacts from obstacles. A black decorative stripe runs through the center of the side wall.

As stated in the vacuum cleaner’s description by the manufacturer, the RC3 Plus is the brand’s first vacuum with a universal charging dock station that automatically “collects” the dust gathered by the vacuum. The charging station is designed as a fairly bulky rectangular column made of white plastic with rounded edges. At the bottom, there is the charging station, while at the top, under the lid, there is a container with a trash bag installed inside.

The instructions for replacing the garbage bags are printed on the inside of the lid.

The build quality of both parts is good. All the details are well-fitted, with no gaps or crevices. During handling of the vacuum, nothing squeaks or rattles.

As for the exterior appearance, in my opinion, the vacuum looks quite appealing and will easily blend into the interior of modern living spaces. However, when the vacuum is “parked” next to the charging station, the entire setup takes up a certain amount of floor space. In small apartments or studios, it may occupy a portion of the living area.

I’m not sure if the following information will be crucial in choosing this model, but I believe it’s worth mentioning to readers that recycled materials were used in the production of the vacuum’s base—equivalent to approximately 16 plastic bottles. Part of the proceeds from the sale of the RC3 Plus vacuum cleaner by EZVIZ is directed to its partners involved in reforestation efforts. Through this collaboration, EZVIZ plants an average of two trees per day.

Price

The price range for the RC3 Plus robot vacuum is quite wide. I managed to find an offer priced at $245, while there are others priced higher at $335. Here, the EZVIZ RC3 Plus competes with a large number of regular robot vacuums. Its advantage over them is the automatic trash collection system into the docking station, which few others currently offer.

When comparing the RC3 Plus to its counterparts with automatic trash emptying function, most of them are priced higher. However, it’s entirely possible to find a vacuum cleaner with similar features but without self-emptying function at a comparable or lower price, or even with additional features like internet connectivity, smartphone control, wet mopping capabilities, or higher suction power (for example, Dreame L10 Pro, Dreame D9 Max, Xiaomi Robot Vacuum S12). The choice, as they say, is up to the buyer.

Oh, I almost forgot! There’s also the EZVIZ RC3 model without the “Plus” designation. It doesn’t come with the self-emptying station, but everything else is on par. It’s priced at around $165 on average.

Functionality

The RC3 Plus is designed solely for collecting dust and debris; it doesn’t perform wet cleaning. The main feature of this model is the elimination of the need to manually empty the robot’s dustbin regularly. After each cleaning session, the vacuum returns to its charging station, which automatically extracts dirt and debris from the robot into a container located in the upper part of the station. The maximum extraction time is 20 seconds. It’s worth noting that during the extraction process, the base station emits a rather loud sound (similar to a regular full-sized vacuum cleaner). However, overall, the device operates quietly; it doesn’t even startle the cat.

The container houses a disposable dust bag with a capacity of 4 liters, where the debris accumulates. According to the vacuum cleaner’s description, one bag can last up to 90 days. Afterward, the bag is removed and disposed of, and a new bag is installed in its place. The bag’s opening is equipped with a protective curtain that prevents debris from spilling out after the bag is removed from the container, similar to the design of bags for conventional full-sized vacuum cleaners.

For cleaning, the vacuum cleaner is equipped with the classic combination of two brushes: the main roller brush and the flexible side brush. The stated suction power for dust removal is 2700 Pa.

For navigation around the living space, the vacuum cleaner utilizes a gyroscope and infrared sensors. Its low-profile design, with a height of only 7.8 cm, is intended to facilitate access to hard-to-reach areas under furniture. During operation, the vacuum cleaner can overcome obstacles up to 20 mm in height, such as transitioning from a flat floor to a carpet. Additionally, built-in sensors can detect cliff edges, allowing the model to be used for cleaning multi-level spaces.

During cleaning sessions on carpeted areas, the robot automatically increases suction power for more thorough debris collection.

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Control

The vacuum cleaner can operate in three different cleaning modes:

1. Automatic mode – for cleaning the entire room: the vacuum follows an S-shaped trajectory to systematically clean the entire area without missing any spots.
2. Wall-following mode – for cleaning along the walls of the room.
3. Spot cleaning mode – for tackling stubborn dirt, such as under a table in the kitchen.

You can change the cleaning modes using the power button on the vacuum cleaner or the included remote control.

The remote control is small, rectangular, and made of black plastic. There are a small number of buttons on the front panel. Using the remote control, you can start, change, or stop cleaning missions, control the robot’s direction of travel, suction power, and set the schedule (time) for the next cleaning.

The robot does not have internet connectivity and cannot be remotely controlled via a smartphone app.

Autonomous operation

The vacuum cleaner has a lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 2600 mAh. According to the manufacturer’s claim, this charge should be sufficient for 190 minutes of continuous operation. During tests, a 45 m² apartment was cleaned, taking about 30 minutes for a full cleaning. Recharging during the vacuum cleaner’s operation was not required, as it was already fully charged on the station. Once, I deliberately did not allow it to “rest” and forced it to utilize the entire resource, which ended up being just over three hours. Additionally, it takes 5 hours for a full charge.

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Cleaning

Here, I will share my personal impressions and observations, reminding readers that this was essentially a dual test. I tested the robot vacuum cleaner as a device for cleaning premises, while the robot vacuum cleaner tested me as a person who encountered this device for the first time. Therefore, I acknowledge that some of my conclusions may not directly relate to the test model.

What I liked:

• The vacuum cleaner effectively cleans up debris and dust, fulfilling its intended purpose.
• The model indeed boasts impressive suction power. In the debris bag, I found two hair ties lost by a school-aged girl.
• For the first time, I didn’t have to bend, sit, or lie down on the floor to clean the dust under the bed. For this reason, I would highlight the “cleaning along the walls” mode.

I can’t label the next section as negative; it’s more like additional points to consider when buying a robot vacuum cleaner in general and the RC3 Plus model in particular.

• The rotating elements of the side brush noticeably protrude from under the vacuum cleaner’s body. If you have pets, they may consider this brush their rightful prey and attempt to attack it. One of my acquaintances’ cats did just that.

• The robot vacuum cleans slightly slower than the average person with a vacuum cleaner. However, I found the cleaning quality of the robot to be better.
• Due to the lack of internet connectivity, the RC3 Plus will be quite independent in your home. If it is programmed to clean while other family members are absent, it makes its own decisions on how to clean the premises, and no one can control it. The primary criterion for assessing its usefulness will be solely the quality of cleaning.
• I assume that the dust bag located in the charging station container will be ready to accumulate debris for three months, but it’s important to remember that it’s a disposable bag. Over time, it will need to be replaced. The package includes only one spare bag. Consequently, after some time, the owner of the RC3 Plus vacuum cleaner will need to purchase new bags. And they don’t come cheap.

Conclusions

Summing up all the above, the EZVIZ RC3 Plus model seems to me like a reliable workhorse in the world of robot vacuums. You give a command, it cleans, you check the result. Occasionally (once every three months), you change the dust bag in the cleaning station. That’s it, your relationship with it is over.

Pros: easy to operate, affordable, quiet, effective vacuuming, long battery life (up to 190 minutes), remote control included, no need to manually clean the dust container.

Cons: no app control, bulky design when combined with the dock station, additional purchase of dust bags required, lacks mopping function (although I personally find it of limited use, it may be important to some users).

I tried to understand who could be potential buyers of the RC3 Plus robot vacuum cleaner:

1. People who are buying their first robot vacuum often opt for a budget-friendly option because they fear disappointment and regret over spending their money. If the results don’t meet their expectations, they’ll store the vacuum away or give it to relatives with little remorse. However, if the results exceed their expectations, they may still gift the vacuum but upgrade to a more advanced model with satellite communication and vertical takeoff. Nevertheless, if they’re too lazy to go through the process of choosing a new model, the EZVIZ RC3 Plus will faithfully serve them well and clean excellently.
2. For novice entrepreneurs, it seems that this vacuum, with its affordable price and ease of maintenance, could be a decent solution for regular cleaning in small offices and workspaces.
3. For elderly relatives to whom you present this vacuum, it’s perfect as it doesn’t require smartphone control or other complexities. It cleans well, has a remote control, and that’s all they need.

That’s a thoughtful approach. Introducing them to this review first is a great idea. And if it proves helpful to others as well, that’s a bonus.

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