Among the brands of robot vacuum cleaners that come from China, the 360 one stands out for its design, features and functionality, which offers good value for money, already tested in previous models under test, such as S5.
This time we tried the 360 S7, which tends to differ from its predecessor in one thing only: the washing mode, absent on the S5. Like the previous one, this S7 also cleans the house independently and can be controlled directly from the smartphone.
Aesthetics
We could really make a copy and paste of what was written previously on S5. At first glance this S7 seemed to us, for some strange reason, bigger. It is not so. It is almost identical to the predecessor, except for some color details. This too is almost totally white, circular in shape, but on the upper part it has a pink gold circular border, which on S5 was instead light gray. Also in this case the robot offers two buttons: one for switching on and one for starting recharging.
Beyond the color differences just described, aesthetically S7 is identical to S5: on the upper part there is a small protuberance and on the front there is the laser, while the 570 ml waste bin is housed under the central compartment.
Beware of this number, which differs slightly from the S5, which instead had a 550ml dust compartment. These are absolutely negligible differences, which certainly will not make you choose between one or the other model.
On the lower part there are two rather large rubber wheels and a single main brush. From an aesthetic point of view, there is nothing original compared to other competitors, but overall this 360 S7 robot vacuum cleaner is modern and minimal.
Unlike the S5, and here is practically all the novelty of the model, on the “tail” it is possible to house a small container of water, of 150 ml, at the base of which a cloth is fixed, which will allow you to wash the floor. Of course, this is a very light wash, which, as we will see later, does not replace the classic systems.
360, on the other hand, continues with the welcome novelty regarding the charging base: it has no rail in which to house the robot, but only two large contacts, which will be used to recharge the vacuum cleaner, which must be housed in “reverse”. Naturally, the device finds the base automatically and recharges without any user intervention.
The charging base is identical to the previous model, and allows you to hide the power cord under a special compartment, so as to make the charging station more orderly and less intrusive to the eye.
Technical features
The 360 S5 power robot vacuum cleaner has a maximum suction power of 2,000 Pa and a battery life of between 80 and 120 minutes. This is sufficient cleaning time to clean a house of approximately 100-110 square meters. To tell the truth, more was expected from the standpoint of autonomy.
The previous model, in fact, enjoyed a similar autonomy, if not identical, but with a battery of just 2600 mAh, while the S7 has a much higher battery, of 3200 mAh. It is also heavier, around 200 grams, and this is probably not content with increasing autonomy, despite the larger battery.
It is capable of climbing obstacles around 20mm thick and uses LIDAR mapping technology to tackle obstacles to determine the distance to an object or surface. As already mentioned, the removable dustbin offers a space of 570 ml, while the total weight of the robot vacuum cleaner is over 3.8 kg.
The cleaning functions are identical to that of the S5, therefore with the possibility of setting invisible walls to vacuum only a certain area of the house. From the same app it is therefore possible to limit the rooms in which to clean, increase the suction power and even control the vacuum cleaner, which does not include any remote control for remote control, as indicated in the description of the seller's site. This is a typo, or perhaps a reference to the Virtual Remote function within the app.
In any case, it is possible to use the robot even without an application and without a WiFi connection at home, simply using the two buttons on the top.
It is possible to turn on the robot and start cleaning, or recharging, also using the two buttons on the top, thus allowing cleaning even without a smartphone.
As for the technical equipment, 360 S7 takes up the excellent work of the previous model, proposing the LDS laser on the small turret located on the top of the robot, which scans the cleaning area to create a map of the room on the basis of which the robot can browse independently.
From this point of view it seemed almost to behave better, where the obstacles were just lightly touched, and not impacted. Even in this case, however, the difference between the two robots turned out to be really imperceptible.
Only a few fewer collisions than in S5, while there is nothing to do with any cables or wires, which the robot tries to overcome, but which almost always end up blocking the brush or wheels.
After the robot creates the house map, it will calculate the most efficient way to clean. Following the generated map, 360 S7 moves back and forth in a straight line, so that nothing is overlooked. 360 S7 is able to save the maps of several floors; this makes it ideal for multi-storey houses.
How does it clean?
When it comes to the vacuum cleaner mode, this S7 cleans exactly like the previous model, no more, no less. It enjoys the same suction power, the same brushes, the same cleaning algorithms.
And then, the answer to the question can only be identical to the S5 test: once the small internal dustbin is opened, there is really a lot of debris and impurities, a clear sign that the vacuum cleaner is working. Cleaning, then, can only be satisfying and real, because the robot cannot really lie about this.
The sensors work well, collisions with obstacles are reduced or in any case cushioned to the maximum by the self-propelled front edge. Certainly the vacuum cleaner is not able to eliminate 100% of the dirt on the floor.
Cloth mode
And now we come to what represents the only noticeable novelty compared to 360 S5, the wet cloth mode. This is the most correct wording, because in truth it is not a real washing.
The water tank to be attached to the back of the robot allows you to house 150 ml of water, very little for a thorough washing. And then, the cloth mode must be considered as a damp cloth, passed with not too much energy on a surface.
This mode is less surprising than the vacuum cleaner mode. Also in this case, 360 S7 will not replace the classic methods for washing floors, even if the function allows you to return a semblance of greater cleanliness than the simple vacuum cleaner.
It should be noted that the vacuum cleaner automatically alternates the two cleaning modes, between vacuum cleaner and cloth, depending on whether or not the water tank is inserted. Furthermore, through the application it is also possible to limit the use of the cloth mode to a specific area, thus excluding some rooms or any surfaces that you want to keep away from water.
On the right S5, on the left S7
We have to be honest: the current price difference between S5 and S7 is over 150 euros. We do not consider this figure to be fully justified, considering that net of the cloth mode, the two vacuum cleaners are absolutely superimposable. Be careful not to misunderstand: S7 is a smart robot that works very well, and which incorporates everything positive the S5 predecessor had. In addition, it adds the possibility of this new mode. And then, those who also need this possibility of cleaning, can only choose S7, but those who can do without it, honestly, can choose S5, saving 155 euros.
360Smart application
Also from the point of view of application, the two models are absolutely superimposable. They use the same app, and net of the damp mop function, they are practically identical.
The app allows you to start cleaning immediately, choosing between the different suction powers, between light, standard and maximum, as well as allowing you to recharge the robot with a simple tap.
If these are the immediate cleaning functions, by accessing the other menu, instead, it will be possible to choose the areas in which to limit cleaning, reset the saved maps, use a virtual remote control on the screen to manage the robot, carry out maintenance, or program the cleaning times.
At the moment this vacuum cleaner costs just 418 euros. The price itself is not high, but it becomes so when compared to the S5, which instead costs 263 euros. It is certainly well built, has brushless motors, and is quite quiet. Recommended for those who do not want to do without the cloth mode, and want a range of functions as complete as possible.
On the other hand, there is no support for digital assistants such as Alexa and Google Home, not being able to start cleaning via voice commands, nor deep automations.
S7 costs 418 euros and can be purchased directly on GearBest , where it is also available S5 at the price of 270 euros.
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