I’m a busy mum of three — this robot vacuum cleaner saved me hours of cleaning and tackled my kids’ clutter with ease

The Samsung Bespoke Jet Bot Combo AI+ 3-in-1 Robot Vacuum Cleaner is Samsung's high-end robot vacuum that comes integrated with a mop and steam sanitisation. It also uses advanced AI features for improved object recognition and floor detection to identify different floor types. I let it loose on the floors around my family home (a mix of hard and carpeted surfaces) to see if it could compete with the best robot vacuums (and the best mops).

As a mum-of-three who's constantly battling household chaos, I was genuinely impressed with how much time and effort it saved me each day. It's fair to say it had its work cut out navigating toys, furniture, and other no-go areas – but it rose to the challenge. While it's not completely flawless, it won me over. Here's everything you need to know...

In a nutshell

The Samsung Bespoke Jet Bot Combo AI+ 3-in-1 Cleaning with Steam Plus Robot Vacuum Cleaner (which is a mouthful, so I'll refer to it as the Samsung Bespoke Jet Bot Combo AI throughout this review) is a huge time-saver if you want to cut down on cleaning effort. It's one of the few robot vacuums to combine mopping, vacuum and a base station that automatically washes, steams and dries the mop pads. So, day-to-day maintenance is minimal.

When paired with Samsung's SmartThings app, it's impressively capable. You can schedule cleans, create maps and routines, cleaning reports and even adjust water levels and suction power, depending on your needs. Admittedly, there's quite a lot to take in, and as a first-time user, I did find it a bit too layered. The upside, though, there's very little you can't get it to do.

Performance-wise, the robot navigated its way around my (often cluttered) floors without bumping into anything and rolled from hard surfaces to rugs without a struggle. The vacuum suction power is more than enough for a thorough clean, and I love that it's quiet enough to run in the evenings without disturbing the kids. That said, it sometimes chooses its own cleaning path and can be a little slow to pick up debris (but it gets there in the end).

At £1,300, it is on the premium end of the scale, and there's no denying that there are much cheaper models out there. But all in all, I think the Samsung Bespoke Jet Bot Combo is well worth the investment if you're after hands-free, hassle-free cleaning that genuinely lightens the load.

Product specifications

• Max. run time: 180 min
• Suction power: 6000 Pa
• Bin volume: 2.5 L (dust), 4L (clean water), 3.6L (dirty water)
• Charge time: 5 hours
• Mop function: Yes
• Noise levels: 74 dBA
• Dimensions: W 35.9cm x H10cm x L36..4cm
• Weight: 18.8 kg

How I tested

Rebecca Lawton

I write freelance content for Ideal Home, and I'm always on the lookout for home upgrades that make my home life smoother (especially with three young children!)

I tested the Samsung Bespoke Jet Bot Combo AI+ 3-in-1 Robot Vacuum in my three-bedroom home, which has both hard flooring and carpets downstairs, and is fully carpeted upstairs. I used it at least twice a day during the testing process, testing the vacuum, mopping and app functionalities.

Unboxing the product, setting up and first impressions

The Samsung Bespoke Jet Bot Combo AI arrived in a very heavy cardboard box. Collectively, the robot and the base weigh 18.8kg, making it difficult to lift single-handedly. Fortunately, the box is fitted with carry handles on the sides, which made manoeuvring it (slightly) more manageable. The packaging itself was quite basic, but the Samsung logo and product name were clearly printed on the front, so I knew exactly what was inside.

Upon opening the packaging, I was greeted with a layer of polystyrene, the user manual and a black cable sitting on top. Below that, the next layer revealed the robot vacuum cleaner itself and a couple of the parts. Underneath another layer of polystyrene was the docking station, which is by far the heaviest part, and admittedly, I had a slight battle taking it out of the box.

Most local authorities don't recycle polystyrene, so I was left with a fair amount of the packaging, which had to go in my general waste bin. I always prefer it when the packaging is eco-friendly.

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The box included the essentials – the robot vacuum and base, user manual, power cord, base plate, washing plates and cleaning brush, so it wasn't overloaded with extra parts. My first impression, after unpacking everything, was how sleek and well-built both the robot and base were.

The docking station houses three compartments – a clean water tank, a dirty water tank and a dust bin. They were much bigger than I was expecting (the clean water tank has a 4 litre capacity), which is a bonus as it means fewer refills. Removing them was straightforward; it's just a case of lifting the lid and sliding out the tanks to either empty or refill the water, and the dust bag pulls out just as easily.

Ease of use

The set-up of the appliance itself was refreshingly straightforward. The cardboard packaging has a QR code printed on it to scan, which links to three short set-up videos – including how to install, how to clean the dustbin and filter, and how to prepare the clean water tank.

To set up the robot, I simply inserted the cable into the back of the docking station, then inserted the washing plate and base plate into the bottom front side, which both slotted in easily. I then turned the robot upside down to remove the protective cover placed over the spin brush, as well as the bumper protection gaskets attached to the left and right sides.

Before first use, the robot needs to charge fully. Initially, the device lights up amber and turns green once it's fully charged and ready to clean. It switches to white when it's in standby mode

This is also illustrated in the paper manual included. As someone who doesn't have much patience for a long setup process, I appreciated how few components there were to assemble.

There is another QR code on the base of the robot to scan – this takes you to the Samsung SmartThings app, which you download from the app store. You'll need to set up an account (if you don't already have one), and you simply add the device via Bluetooth. This whole process took me no more than 10 minutes.

Once set up, you'll be prompted to map out your home's rooms using the mapping feature. You can create no-go zones and divide rooms, which I did with my conservatory and kitchen, as the robot initially identified them as one space. I did find manually creating the maps a bit fiddly, so I was pleased there was the option to let the device create its own map by exploring the space (just be warned, the first few cleaning cycles will likely be longer as it figures out room layouts).

Although the app has a lot of layers, it's worth taking the time to digest and customise your cleaning preferences. I found this out the hard way, when, during the first few runs, the robot continuously cleaned my floors until the battery completely drained. I later discovered there's a setting to repeatedly clean until the battery runs out, but it's buried within the 'driving' settings. I imagine a lot of first-time users will make the same mistake.

The robot uses its LiDAR sensor to scan the space, detecting walls, furniture, and any obstacles in its path (in my case, this was in the form of a lot of small toys). Once the map is created, you can make tweaks via the app, such as selecting areas to mop or keep dry.

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You can select from three different cleaning functions through the app – vacuum + mop, vacuum-only, or mop-only, and adjust the suction power and water levels. One feature I found really handy was setting a cleaning schedule, so, for example, I set it to run at 9 am each day once the kids were at school, and again in the evening once they were in bed.

There is also a live video function on the app, which enables you to monitor the robot vacuum's cleaning progress, or you can use it to check on pets – particularly handy if you're not home and logging in remotely. On top of that, there are several additional add-ons you can download, including pet care, clothing care, and home monitor, which are useful if you have other Samsung smart devices.

Performance

A lot of robot vacuums fall short when it comes to obstacle avoidance, but this is probably the top standout feature for me. It handled stray toys and furniture in my kitchen and living room with ease, which is no small feat in my house!

With a suction power of 6,000 pascals (Pa), although the Samsung Bespoke Jet Bot Combo AI can't begin to compete with the likes of the 20,000Pa Eufy Robot Vacuum Omni 25, I was still impressed with how spotless it left my floors After a few passes around my living room, the difference was noticeable and it moved from the hard floors to the rug in my conservatory smoothly.

Another big win is how quiet it is – I could run it in the evenings without disturbing the kids, which my regular vacuum cleaner can't manage.

One gripe I did have was that the cleaning path wasn't always the most logical. For example, I threw some crushed cereal on the floor, and it only cleaned a fraction of it before diverting elsewhere. That said, it did eventually circle back to the mess further along the cleaning session and removed every trace effectively. And at least with a run time of 180 minutes, I didn't need to worry about it running out of battery.

On occasion, the robot vacuum started bleeping mid-clean to alert me that a check was required. The culprit was usually strands of hair that had become tangled in its brush. Although slightly inconvenient, it was easy to remove. I also noticed the robot struggled to reach as close to the skirting boards as my vacuum would, although the spin brush still did a decent job of picking up most of the debris.

The SmartThings app even creates a cleaning report after each session, which I found really handy. It breaks down how many obstacles were avoided, and not only does it identify and pinpoint them on the map, but it also takes a live picture, which you can view if you hover over it. The report also suggests removing the obstacles so it can return and clean only those areas. Pretty clever, huh?!

When it comes to mopping, while I can't see it replacing my regular mop, it still left my floors looking visibly cleaner (and the dirty water tank was proof of that). The fact that there's no elbow grease involved is a win for me. My kitchen floors see their fair share of spills and stains, so I was keen to see how the robot handled those.

As a test, I squirted tomato ketchup on my kitchen floor to see how well the mop worked. As with the cereal, the robot didn't clean it all up at once as you'd expect – instead, it actually looked worse before it got better! It mopped up a little bit before moving away to clean another area of my floor. Then, when it did find its way back, it effectively removed every trace of the ketchup in a few short passes. It's just annoying that it couldn't fathom how to do it at once, but the end results were impressive all the same.

Once the robot has finished a mopping session, it returns to the docking station where the mop pads are automatically washed at a high temperature (between 50-60 degrees) with steam and water, sanitised with steam, and then dried with 55 degrees hot air. It's worth noting that the process does take two hours, but the mop pads come out like new, and best of all, I don't need to lift a finger.

At the same time, it also empties the dust bag, refills the water tank and recharges the battery.

Cleaning and maintenance

One of the key features that sets the Samsung Bespoke Jet Bot Combo AI apart is its self-cleaning ability. After each session, the robot returns to the docking station where the mop pads are washed and sanitised, and the dirty water and dust are emptied into the designated tanks.

All I needed to do was empty the dirty water tank after each clean. The clean water tank lasted several cleans, which was impressive considering I used the robot at least twice (sometimes more!) every day during testing.

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As with most household appliances, it does require some basic upkeep. Samsung recommends replacing the dust bag every 2-3 months, and the fine dust filter should be changed every 12 months. Emptying the dust tank is quick and straightforward, and the roller brush pops out easily to be wiped down with a cloth. I did have to dig out a screwdriver once to remove some tangled thread in the spin brush, something noted in the manual, so I imagine it's a common issue.

The dustbin and filter within the robot also need to be cleaned occasionally, which is really straightforward. All I needed to do was lift the front cover of the robot, remove the dustbin by the handle and pop off the lid. I actually found it weirdly satisfying to see how much dust and debris had built up inside. I used the cleaning tool accessory, which was included in the box, to scrape down the filter before giving both parts a quick rinse. After leaving them to fully dry, I just slotted them back into the robot.

How does it rate online?

I was quite surprised to see that the Samsung Bespoke Jet Bot Combo AI didn't have the most positive reviews online, and reading some of the comments before purchasing could easily put you off. On the Samsung website, the product has earned 3.1 stars out of a total of 52 reviews, with 51% recommending it. Customers praise its mopping and vacuuming abilities and the auto-washing feature, but it draws criticism when it comes to its sensor issues and difficulty navigating and docking.

On Amazon, it has a more positive rating of 4.1 stars (out of 24 reviews), with one user commenting that it cleans 90% of their home effectively, and the app features are impressive. The overall size of the unit and the price, however, attracted negative comments.

Over on Argos, the product is rated 3 stars and has 36 reviews in total. While customers praise its efficient cleaning and modern features, other users reported issues with reliability and customer service.

How does it compare to similar models and its predecessors?

The Samsung Bespoke Jet Bot Combo AI builds on earlier Samsung models , most noticeably the Jet Bot AI+, with more advanced AI features for improved object recognition, floor detection and no-go zones. It's biggest upgrade is the addition of integrated mop and steam functions. It also includes a base that automatically washes, dries and sanitises its mop pads, while also emptying the dust-bin, making it a true 3-in-1 system.

In terms of other models, it holds similarities to the Shark PowerDetect NeverTouch as they both offer self-emptying, auto refilling functions and detailed app controls. For mopping performance, the Roborock QV 35s is a strong rival, while the Eufy Robot Vacuum Omni E25 offers far greater suction power when it comes to vacuuming.

The Samsung Bespoke Jet Bot Combo AI is an investment if you pay full price, so if you're after a more budget-friendly option, the Hoover HG2 Turbo Slim Hydro is an ideal entry-level model. However, it does lack the bells and whistles you'd get with a premium model, so you'll be sacrificing some of the advanced technology.

Verdict: Should you buy the Samsung Bespoke Jet Bot Combo AI+ 3-in-1 Robot Vacuum?

If you're looking for a robot that takes the manual effort out of cleaning floors in a busy home, then the Samsung Bespoke Jet Bot Combo AI could be the answer. It's clever AI detection impressively cleans around any clutter, and the detailed SmartThings app lets you customise and schedule cleaning routines to save valuable time and effort. The app can feel a little overwhelming initially ,but once you do get to grips with it, I think it has the potential to really transform your cleaning routine.

If you're after quick cleans, then this might not be the best contender, as cleaning cycles can sometimes take a while to complete. But, if you're happy to let it run in the background, the vacuum and mopping results are worth the wait.

It's an expensive model and takes up a fair amount of floor space, but for a hands-free, low-maintenance robot vacuum cleaner, I think it's a standout option that feels like a smart investment.