Eufy HydroJet S2 test: Ensures clean floors and clean air

With the S1 family, Anker subsidiary eufy has been able to start a small revolution in the field of robot hoovers. This was not least due to its impressive mopping performance thanks to the mopping roller and reliable navigation, which was convincing even without a LiDAR tower. Now the second generation is entering the world stage. It may hardly look any different from the first generation, but a lot has happened under the hood. A whopping 30,000 Pascal suction power meets an extended wiping function and even smarter navigation. What’s more, the S2 is a walking fragrance freshener. In the eufy HydroJet S2 test, we reveal how this pays off in practice.

Technical data

Scope of delivery

• Eufy S2 Robot Vacuum Cleaner
• Multifunction station
• Cleaning solution
• 3x perfume capsules
• 1x spare dust bag
• power cord

Eufy HydroJet S2 test: design and workmanship

The eufy HydroJet S2 resembles its predecessors Eufy S1 (Review | € 645.99 *) and Eufy S1 Pro (Review | € 1,394.99 *) like an egg to another. Accordingly, the Anker subsidiary’s latest robot vacuum is also visually very different from the industry standard. This starts with the robot hoover itself. It is not circular, but rather a square with rounded corners.

On the top, behind the company logo, there is an LED light ring that indicates the status of the robot. Just below this is the control bar with two physical buttons. This is where the Robo can be started and stopped or sent back to the station. One visual change compared to its predecessor is the cover plate on the top. This is slightly transparent and provides a view of the inner workings.

If you remove the plate, you can access the dust container, among other things. This differs significantly from its predecessor and reminds me more of the Eufy Robot Vacuum Cleaner 3-in-1 E20 (Review | € 375.46 *). There is also a small recess here, which has space for a new feature. The S2 can travel through your home as a walking fragrance freshener.

You then simply insert the perfume pads in the appropriate place. The charging contacts and tank nozzles for the internal water tank are located on the back. The camera technology for obstacle detection and sensors for navigating the smart household helper are located at the front. Turning the Robo upside down reveals the large mopping roller.

This can now be extended – a decisive advantage over its predecessor. We can also see the fully rubberized main brush here. This is now divided into two parts, which we know from competitors such as the Roborock Saros 10R (Review | € 899.00 *) and its DuoDivide brush. We can also see the two side brushes here.

In contrast to its predecessor, one of the two side brushes can now be extended, which should benefit corner cleaning. The housing itself now uses an exciting hydraulic system, which allows the Robo to lift its housing, enabling it to overcome obstacles up to 4.2 cm high. Some competitors such as the MOVA Z60 Ultra Roller Complete (Review | € 879.00 *) are more willing to climb.

The helpful companion of the Eufy S2 Hydrojet is the UniClean Station. This comes in the familiar pillar shape that we already know from its predecessor. The fresh and dirty water tanks are located in the upper section. The fresh water tank has an ozone-based water treatment system. We know this from the S1 Pro. There is also a small control unit on the top, which allows the Robo to be controlled in a rudimentary way without having to bend down.

However, the S2 also has a mini screen that illustrates the robot’s current task. There is a practical flap under the fresh water tank, under which the robot’s dust bag is hidden. The insert for the cleaning solution is also located here. In the lower area, we find the washing and suction area where the mopping roller is thoroughly cleaned and the collected dirt is sucked out of the internal dust container.

Eufy HydroJet S2 test: Setup with the Eufy app

Setting up is child’s play. Once you have found a suitable installation position for the smart household helper, all you have to do is connect the UniClean Station to the socket using the appropriate power plug. Now place the robot hoover in the charging station and you’re ready to go. Now take out your smartphone and download the eufy app for iOS or Android. Add the S2 as a new device here.

Thanks to practical step-by-step instructions in the app, the subsequent setup is quick and easy. Then it’s time for the first mapping. You start this by pressing a button in the app. After a few minutes, it’s done and you can view the final result in the app. If you want to make changes, you can make adjustments directly. But ease of use is not only evident during setup. The app is also impressive when it comes to operation.

Everything is clearly laid out and even newcomers should be able to find their way around straight away. The setting options are varied, but not overwhelming. For example, restricted areas or invisible walls can be defined in the app. You can also adjust the suction and mopping intensity. Cleaning schedules ensure that the robot vacuum goes on a fully automatic cleaning tour. You can also adjust parameters for the UniClean station, such as the drying time.

Eufy HydroJet S2 test: Navigation and obstacle detection

The eufy Hydrojet S2 does without a LiDAR tower but still promises reliable 3D mapping. At its heart is the CleanMind AI navigation system. And in practice, the plan works. It not only provides a detailed map. On top of that, the smart household helper systematically scans rooms. Once the perimeter area has been covered, the interior area follows. Here, the robot sweeps the floor in parallel paths.

3D Matrix 2.0 is designed to ensure reliable obstacle detection. The first generation of camera technology with subsequent AI evaluation already shone in its predecessor. In the second generation of 3D Matrix, the system has been significantly improved once again. The robot should be able to recognize over 200 different objects. Even the smallest obstacles should not be a problem. Eufy claims that objects as small as 1.0 × 0.5 × 0.5 cm can be reliably detected. In practice, the system did a good job, but not an outstanding one.

For example, the S2 avoided even complex obstacles such as carpet fringes or thin cables. However, very small obstacles were often overlooked and driven over. Some competitors are also noticeably faster. For example, the DJI ROMO P (Review | € 1,129.00 *). But 3D Matrix Eye 2.0 not only detects obstacles, it can also differentiate between types of dirt. If it detects damp dirt, it raises the side brush and lowers the mopping roller.

Eufy HydroJet S2 test: suction power

The Eufy S2 offers an impressive suction power of a whopping 30,000 pascals, putting it in the same league as the really big robot hoovers. It was able to transfer this impressive power to the floor quite well in practice. For the test, I had it vacuum a mixture of oat flakes, coffee beans and rice grains from various floors. On the hard floor, it collected 93% of the dirt.

The results on carpets were similarly good. The smart household helper achieved 89% on short-pile carpets. Slightly more remained on the long-pile carpet. Here it was able to vacuum up 85%. The performance of the side brushes was convincing The eufy was able to score points with very good corner cleaning, which it naturally owes to its extendable side brush.

The DuoSpiral main brush should put a smile on pet owners’ faces. This prevents tangled hair thanks to its two-part design. If hair winds up on the brush, it is simply rotated to the center, where it is reliably sucked up. A real highlight and upgrade compared to its predecessor is the new cyclone separation technology.

This not only ensures that you can watch the Robo at work during the vacuuming process thanks to the transparent cover. On top of this, eufy relies on a maintenance-free filter concept. Dust and dirt are reliably separated so that only clean air reaches the filter. This prevents it from clogging, which means it only needs to be serviced once a year and ensures consistently powerful suction performance.

Eufy HydroJet S2 test: mopping performance

When it comes to mopping, experience has shown that robotic vacuum cleaners with a mopping roller have the edge over models with mopping pads. And the eufy S2 is also convincing in this discipline. The mopping roller exerts a pressure of 15N on the floor, which corresponds to around 1.5 kg, and is constantly moistened with fresh water via 32 water nozzles.

Two squeegee lips in turn permanently wipe the dirt off the roller. The dirty water then ends up in the robot’s dirty water tank. Thanks to a width of 29 cm, the mopping roller works very efficiently as it covers a large area. It can be extended by 15 mm so that it can also provide comprehensive cleaning around the edges.

Although hot water is not used, eufy promises that the water treated in the UniClean station’s fresh water tank will provide antibacterial cleaning. But what does it look like in practice? I let the eufy HydroJet S2 remove a few stubborn stains. Jam and ketchup were no problem for the smart household helper.

And even after extensive drying, it was able to remove the stains quite well. It was then able to show off its strengths on the coffee puddle I had spilt. Thanks to the wiping roller, it simply sucked it up and the coffee ended up in the internal dirty water tank.

Unfortunately, the internal dirty water tank was overflowing, which is why a small trickle of coffee poured out over the entrance to the station when it entered the cleaning station. This should actually be prevented by appropriate sensors. If the dirty water tank is full, it first has to go into the station to be emptied again. Hopefully Anker will fix this problem with updates.

Eufy HydroJet S2 test: Cleaning station

The UniClean station lives up to its name and takes care of pretty much everything concerning the maintenance of the robot hoover. On the one hand, the internal dust container of the robot hoover is vacuumed, which is admittedly extremely loud. Secondly, the mopping roller is cleaned extensively. Hot water at up to 60°C is used for self-cleaning. This effectively combats bacteria, but some competitors already work with significantly higher temperatures.

This is how a Roborock Qrevo Curv 2 Pro (Review | € 849.00 *) cleans its mop pads with water heated up to 100°C. This may be important for stubborn grease stains, but 60°C is perfectly adequate for effectively combating bacteria and normal grease stains. The intelligent dirt detection in the station is also really smart. When cleaning the roller, the degree of soiling is analyzed and the cleaning process is repeated if necessary.

Hot water cleaning is followed by hot air drying with 55°C hot air. Another exciting feature is the water electrolysis that takes place in the station’s fresh water tank. This ensures that the water is 99.99% free of bacteria. This promises antibacterial cleaning of the floors. In view of the good tap water quality in this country, this is more of a gimmick, but it still looks cool.

The automatic addition of detergent should also be highlighted as a positive feature. The station not only refills the robot’s internal fresh water tank with the previously cleaned fresh water. It also adds detergent to the water, which should make floor cleaning even more effective. Last but not least, the station also vacuums the collected dirty water from the corresponding internal water tank.

Test results

Conclusion

The eufy HydroJet S2 is a successful further development of the S1 series and is clearly positioned in the upper class of modern robot hoovers. With 30,000 Pascal suction power, a very effective mopping roller and improved navigation, it delivers convincing results both when vacuuming and mopping. The powerful mopping performance, good corner cleaning and low-maintenance brush and filter technology are particularly impressive. Thanks to reliable camera-based navigation, smart obstacle detection and the comprehensive UniClean station, the S2 offers a high automation and convenience factor.

Another really cool idea is the small perfume pads, which really do provide a good room fragrance in practice. Small weaknesses such as the comparatively moderate cleaning temperature of the station are hardly an issue in everyday use. However, there are still some minor teething troubles, such as the slow speed when encountering obstacles or the risk of an overfilled internal dirty water tank, which tarnish the overall picture a little. Overall, the eufy HydroJet S2 is still worth a look if you are looking for a new flagship-class robot vacuum cleaner.