The bObsweep PetHair came in and made a name for itself in the robotic vacuum market. With the ability to vacuum, sweep and mop, it battled against robot giant Roomba for precious space in the economy class, with many devotees hailing it the victor.
bObsweep didn’t stop there. They soon released the PetHair Plus. But are the upgrades worth it? In this article, I will show you the differences and similarities between the two units and discuss the ins and outs of the features and options. Continue reading the entire article below; then you will understand why I think the bObsweep PetHair Plus is the better option.
Contents
Differences between PetHair and PetHair Plus
- The PetHair Plus has an updated screen and button controls over the PetHair
- bObsweep upgraded the lithium-ion battery for improved run time over the original model.
- The PetHair plus has four times the suction power of the base model.
- While the bObsweep PetHair has two color options, the PetHair Plus has three.
- There has been an additional year added to the warranty of the Plus model.
- The PetHair Plus comes with the bObi blOck for containment where the PetHair model does not.
Similarities between the Two Vacuums
Because the two models are identical except for the upgrades, all other features are identical. I will, however, point out some of the most impressive ones.
- They both use a remote control for programming and manual maneuvering.
- Both the PetHair and PetHair Plus have three-speed modes.
- Each of the models has a HEPA filtration system.
- You can sterilize your hard flooring with the UV light on each version.
- The both utilize side brushes to get along edges and in corners.
- The PetHair uses a sporadic and random cleaning pattern, just like the PetHair Plus.
- Each model comes with a 1-liter capacity dust bin.
- Both versions have multiple sensors for drops, contact and dirt detection.
- Each of the units will automatically recharge when the batteries run low.
- They will both resume cleaning when the batteries are recharged.
Side By Side Comparison Chart
Let’s take a look at the two models in a side by side chart to see the differences a little easier.
| bObsweep PetHair | bObsweep PetHair Plus | |
| Dimensions | 13.3 x 13.3 x 3.9 inches | 13.3 x 13.3 x 3.9 inches |
| Weight | 7.7 pounds | 7.72 pounds |
| Floor Types | All | All |
| Mop Ability | None | None |
| Side Brushes | Yes | Yes |
| Filtration | HEPA | HEPA |
| UV Sterilizaton | Yes | Yes |
| Dustbin Size | 1 Liter | 1 Liter |
| Drop Sensors | Yes | Yes |
| Bump Sensors | Yes | Yes |
| Dirt Detection Sensors | Yes | Yes |
| Containment | No | Yes |
| Remote Control | Yes | Yes |
| WiFi Connection | No | No |
| Mobile App | No | No |
| Voice Control | No | No |
| Scheduling | Yes | Yes |
| Auto-recharge | Yes | Yes |
| Entire Level Cleaning | Yes | Yes |
| Adjustable Speed | 3 Modes | 3 Modes |
| Battery Type | Lithium-ion | Lithium-ion |
| Battery Run Time | Up to 40 Minutes | Up to 75 Minutes |
| Color Options | 2 | 3 |
| Warranty | 1 Year | 2 Years |
| Camera Navigation | No | No |
| Cleaning Pattern | Sporadic | Spor |
| Extraction Method | Brush Bar | Brush Bar |
| Price | Check on Amazon | Check on Amazon |
Features and Options Details
Here I will give you a detailed description of what is going on under the hood of the two robotic vacuums. This will give you an understanding of what your purchase will be capable of.
1. Batteries, Charging and Draining
The batteries in both the bOBsweep PetHair and PetHair Plus are lithium-ion. However, the similarities stop there. The PetHair Plus got a large upgrade to the battery pack for longer life and less draining.
The PetHair has a 2200mAh battery that takes approximately four hours to charge fully. Once charged you can expect up to 40 minutes of run time, under optimal conditions. In practice, this average will drop to about 20 minutes depending on usage and maintenance.
The PetHair Plus uses a 3500mAh battery pack that takes just shy of five hours to fully charge. However, once it is charged the robot will run for up to 75 minutes, which is almost double that of the original model. Likewise, under practice, you can expect an average of 50 minutes.
So what drains the batteries? Well, obviously the motor and suction when the machines are running account for a large portion of the battery drain. How fast you have them set to will determine a lot of the runtime. There are three speeds: low, medium and high. Which you can count on running on high for most of the time you use it.
The vacuums also have a UV light for sterilization. If you plan to run this on your hard flooring, you can expect an even shorter battery runtime. The size of your floors, either running the UV light or the amount of carpet when vacuuming, will drain the battery the most.
Other factors are low maintenance or upkeep. If the filters get clogged, the brushes get tangled, or the bin is overfilled, you can expect lower performance and a harder working motor, which will all deplete the battery even faster.
When the batteries get to around 15 percent life, the vacuums will stop their cleaning cycle, give you a beeping alert and return to the docking station to recharge. You don’t need to do anything at this point.
Once the batteries are recharged, the robotic vacuums will resume their cleaning until the job is done or you tell them to stop.
Bottom Line: The PetHair Plus wins. Longer battery life is always going to prevail.
2. Ultra Violet Sterilization and HEPA Filtration
Both units come with an ultraviolet light. The UV light spectrum is known to kill bacteria and sanitizes surfaces. The main issue with this is that to be effective; the light must be used on the surface for an extended period of time.
The robots will slow down a little when the light is on to allow for it to kill any bacteria on the floor. One downfall to this is that the robots do not have any form of controlled pattern when they clean. So while your floor will get sterilized, eventually, it may not get every spot and some will get more than others.
On the other side, each vacuum uses HEPA certified filters. These filters will capture allergens down to 3 microns in size. HEPA certification provides you with up to 99 percent allergen reduction in your floors and surfaces.
If you suffer from allergies such as pollen or pet dander having a vacuum with a HEPA certified filter is almost a necessity.
Bottom Line: This round is a tie. Both machines use the same UV light and HEPA filters.
3. Display Panel
The display panel also received an upgrade. While they look very similar, there is one slight difference that should be noted.
The panel now uses sentences to display errors instead of numeric codes you need to look up. The panel has a small section devoted to error codes that will tell you that there is “something wrong with…” and then the choices will be illuminated.
The buttons themselves also changed slightly. You can still program, choose modes and set it to clean, but with the PetHair Plus, you can also run a checkup. This will allow you to find out if there are any errors prior to sending it off. The screen itself is easier to read and has a better layout.
Bottom Line: The PetHair Plus wins. Better display with better readouts is an easy win.
4. Containment
The bObsweep PetHair does not have any method of containment other than physically clocking off areas you do not want it to have access to. The PetHair Plus, on the other hand, does.
With the purchase of the bObsweep PetHair Plus, you will get the bObi blOck Plus. This box will send out a signal to the unit that will prevent it from accessing certain areas. You can use the infrared beam to block off doorways or seclude things you may want to keep from being knocked into.
The bObi blOck will need to be manually synced to your PetHair Plus and will remain on for up to three hours. During this time it will send out a 10-foot signal that the vacuum will not cross.
Bottom Line: The PetHair Plus wins. The standard model doesn’t offer the bObi blOck Plus.
Frequently Asked Questions
I will answer some of the most common asked questions about the two vacuums so you will have everything you need, in one spot, to make your decision.
Q. How do the sensors work?
A. Fairy magic and when the sun is right you also receive the solar power of the gods. However, that is not what you mean. There are three types of sensors on the units: drop, dirt detection and bump.
The drop sensors, located under the units do as the name implies and searches, using infrared beams, any ledge, cliff or stair. When detected the robot will stop and rotate to avoid falling.
The dirt detection sensors are acoustic sensors located near the brush bars that will identify dirt to allow the machines to know when that area is clean so it can move on to the next.
The bump sensors alert the little robot that it has collided with an object and needs to stop, turn around or change direction to avoid damage.
Q. You said these units also mop, can you explain that.
A. Yes. There is a removable bracket that is mounted to the rear underside of the unit. You will then attach a microfiber cleaning cloth to the bracket. You may use cleaners or plain water or even leave the pad dry
As the robot scurries around your hard flooring, the pad will mop up behind it, much the same way those disposable pad mops on a stick work.
Q. What is the purpose of the remote control?
A. Great question. It controls the bObsweep robots, remotely. The same functions on the button panel can also be found on the remote control. You can program, start, stop or cancel a cleaning. There is also the addition of arrow buttons that you can use to manually steer your vacuum to specific spots to be cleaned, or chase the cat, whichever you prefer.
Q. Will they have trouble with rugs that have fringe?
A. Yes. Fringe will be picked up by the brush bars and will most likely get tangled and will need you to remove it manually. The best option here is to fold the fringe under the rug before starting the cleaning cycle. The small bump this creates will not pose a problem for the robot to maneuver over.
What I Like About the bObsweep PetHair
- Simple, functional and affordable.
- UV sterilization.
- Manual control using the remote.
- Large capacity dust bin.
What I Like About the bObsweep PetHair Plus
- Everything about the PetHair, with the addition of:
- Stronger motor with higher suction for more cleaning power.
- Long battery life.
- Containment from restricted areas with the bObi blOck Plus.
In Conclusion
When looking for a less expensive and fully functional robotic vacuum, you will be hard-pressed to find a better option than the bObsweep line. Which one is right for you?
If you are looking for a bare-bones vacuum that is efficient and capable and doesn’t need a lot of extras, the bObsweep PetHair might be your best option. The affordable and easy to use vacuum has everything you need and a few extras to help your cleaning. If you have a smaller space that doesn’t need a long battery life, it is a solid choice.
However, for not much more in the budget department, you will get a lot more bang for your buck with the bObsweep PetHair Plus. The higher powered motor, longer battery life and easier to use and see display make the Plus model the one to go for.
Either way you go, it won’t be a wrong choice. However, from the two choices today, my money is going towards the bObsweep PetHair Plus.