Vorwerk Kobold VR 300: analysis, features and functions

Robot vacuum cleaner: specific vs multi-purpose

As the use of smart robots in the home has become fashionable, I have been fortunate enough to try out various types of these devices. From those whose work was based on moving forward to colliding with something and troubleshooting, others on more intelligent ones, where certain sensors were already installed, or even on robots with an exclusive task such as vacuuming or cleaning, and others , more versatile, which performed both tasks.

And this is exactly the case when the VR300 is a robot that deals exclusively with cleaning and cleaning. Is this type of equipment better or should I choose something more versatile? This is what I ask myself every time a robot with these characteristics passes through my hands, and what I want to answer to you in this analysis. But let’s not anticipate the events and first take a look at everything that the Kobold VR300 has to offer.

Design also matters in cleaning

One of the important aspects of this type of equipment is its design and accessories. Depending on its shape and height, you can access various points in your home to be more or less easy to clean. VR300 is D-shaped , making it easier to access the corners compared to other models with a completely round shape. In addition, height also plays in its favor. 9 centimeters from the ground.

As for the accessories, in the box they come with:

• Main brush : It is responsible for collecting most of the dirt at 1,800 rpm when fully operational.
• Side brush : While it also picks up whatever gets in the way and makes it easier for the main one, this brush is indispensable for cleaning corners and hard-to-reach places.
• Mud tank : where all the dust, hair and, ultimately, all the dirt that the robot catches on its way is stored. Its volume is 0.53 liters.
• Tank filter
• Charging base

All this is accompanied by its own more than 15 sensors which allow you to navigate accurately and intelligently. Ultrasonic and infrared sensors with which you can easily avoid obstacles such as doors, furniture or even stairs and continue cleaning.

A few, if not nonexistent, disadvantages I can add to the VR300 in this respect during my tests. My house is a standard house with standard finishes, access points and other more sophisticated ones. This robot went through all of them without any problems, removing under the table and corners, leaving everything pretty clean. In my case, I do not have a ladder, but I was able to make sure that it detects most of the obstacles without problems and easily avoids them. Of course, like other equipment of this type, smaller equipment such as cables or the legs of a portable clothesline continues to resist.

Mapping and cleaning modes

Another fundamental aspect of these commands today is the ability to control them from our own smartphone. This time Vorwerk has a pretty simple and intuitive application in which we can create maps, switch between different cleaning modes, set limits and other cool things.

The first thing we have to do is sync our robot with the app, which is very easy if we follow the steps it gives. Once inside, we must create the first map of our house. But it won’t be the only one that this vacuum cleaner will be able to remember, because if we have a house with several floors from the application, we can make it remember all of them by clicking on “add map”.

Now we will have at our disposal all the possibilities that this application offers us. In it we can:

• Divide our house into rooms or groups of rooms: Thanks to this function, we can order the VR300 to clean a room or group of rooms in a timely manner, without having to fill out the entire map of our house. In my case, I created a group of 2 rooms, including a living room and a kitchen, called “Daily” so that the robot goes through them every day. We can do all this from the “Cleaning zone” menu.
• Virtual access restriction : in the same menu, where we can create different rooms, we will have the ability to add virtual restrictions through which the robot cannot pass. So, if you have a place in your home where cables or small objects are always loose, this limit will make cleaning the robot not a daily odyssey.

• Cleaning Schedule : This is not something innovative in the home gadget market. We can create schedules for turning on the vacuum cleaner and cleaning our house. But the best thing about this model is that we can choose different cleaning zones depending on the programs we create. An example of all of this would be to create a Monday through Friday schedule for cleaning this “daily” group, and then, on the weekend, set up another schedule to do a full house cleaning.
• Switch between different persist cards …

• Perform specific cleaning : if you only want the Kobold vacuum cleaner to pass through a specific area or if you need more thorough cleaning , you can use this function. In the corresponding menu, you can choose between the different options that it gives us (for example, ECO mode for quiet work, cleaning with double power or a certain area of ​​4 x 4 meters) and activate it by pressing “Start”. Of course, this should be combined with the manual cleaning option or use carry handle take him to the place where you need to work on time.

• Check battery status and warnings : from this application we can see battery level what our robot has. In addition, we will receive a notification if you need your tank be empty if it became stuck or when you complete your work and return to base.

Return home to recharge batteries

Now that I mentioned the charging base, let’s talk about the vital point of robotic vacuum cleaners: their autonomy … The Kobold VR300 has autonomy, which Vorwerk says is capable of holding full power for 60 minutes … And if we choose ECO mode , this will fit 90 minutes surface cleaning up to 120 m².

Do they meet on a daily basis? Well the truth is, it’s almost millimeter. In my house about 37 m² useful surface, removing the space that furniture occupies, the space that this vacuum cleaner occupies 50-60 minutes before clean without having to go through the charging base and at full power (not counting double cleaning in spot mode). Thus, I can confirm that he is fulfilling what he promises in terms of autonomy.

On the other hand, regarding the charging base, I would like to highlight it Communication system with a robot. So far, all the models I have tested have had a pin or small plate system both in the vacuum cleaner and at the base, which sometimes caused this equipment to fail when returned to it.

However, the VR300 has two wide stripes on the base and two more on the body itself, making it much easier to get the robot back to base. Also, I believe that approximation method is useful and fun in equal parts as the vacuum cleaner starts to “jerk” in the opposite direction until it detects that it has been connected to the base. You can see this in more detail in our video review, which I left you at the beginning of the article.

Great option for a high price

That being said, and after my tests over the past weeks, I find the Kobold VR300 Robot an incredibly good option if what you are looking for is the highest quality cleaning for your home … In addition, it can avoid obstacles thanks to its sensory system to work properly on surfaces such as wood, slabs or even short and long pile carpets (there is a limit you can check in the user manual).

But, of course, we already know what happens when we find something specific and that it does its job at the highest level, that the price increases. This model has a cost of 899 euros if you buy it on the manufacturer’s website and 799 euros for Amazon at the following link:

Is it worth paying this price? If you are looking for the best cleaning experience and can afford it, I sincerely consider this purchase a highly recommended one. But, if you’re looking for a more versatile option than sweeping and cleaning, penalizing certain details, this model may not be the right one for you.