The Philips SpeedPro Aqua: A Handheld Vacuum Cleaner That Can Mop?
Cordless vacuum cleaners have become a staple in many homes, offering convenience and powerful cleaning capabilities. But when it comes to wet mopping, the options remain limited. Most of us still rely on traditional methods, leaving us yearning for a more efficient solution. The Philips SpeedPro Aqua promises to bridge this gap, offering a cordless, handheld vacuum cleaner with the ability to simultaneously vacuum and wet mop your floors. Priced at Rs. 35,999, it aims to become the ultimate versatile cleaning device for your home. But does it deliver on its promises? Let’s dive into our detailed review to find out.
Philips SpeedPro Aqua Design and Usage: A Curious Blend of Functionality and Style
Unlike some premium cordless vacuum cleaners from Dyson and Samsung that boast futuristic designs, the Philips SpeedPro Aqua takes a more practical approach. Its blue color might not scream “space weapon,” but it’s certainly pleasing to the eye. The device is entirely made of plastic, featuring a removable, transparent dustbin and a fixed 21.6V battery pack encased within the vacuum cleaner. With a weight of 2.1kg, the SpeedPro Aqua feels reasonably balanced in your hand, even with the pipe and fittings attached.
Handling and Controls: Simple and Efficient
Operating the Philips SpeedPro Aqua is straightforward. A single slider switch controls the power settings, offering two modes: low and high. The placement of the switch also allows for easy turning off by simply returning the device to its resting position. Above the switch, you’ll find a battery level indicator, and further above, the dustbin release switch. At the bottom, magnetic contact points securely hold the charger in place.
Dustbin and Filter: Adequate Capacity But Not the Most Convenient
The two-chamber dustbin boasts a capacity of around 0.4L, which is relatively small compared to options like the Samsung Jet 90 Complete. This means you’ll need to empty it more frequently. Cleaning the dustbin is not the most user-friendly process, requiring you to physically remove it and open the lid to dispose of the collected dirt and dust. Sometimes, you’ll even find yourself reaching in to untangle hair or other debris.
Fortunately, an air filter sits at the bottom of the dustbin, ensuring only clean air is exhausted. Both the filter and dustbin can be washed, but they need to be completely dry before reattaching to the vacuum cleaner.
Fittings and Accessories: A Focus on Essential Functions
Unlike some cordless vacuum cleaners with a plethora of fittings, the Philips SpeedPro Aqua keeps things simple. It comes with a motorised roller head with LED headlights for standard vacuum cleaning, and a combination head offering both vacuum suction and wet-mopping capabilities. A metal extension pipe can be used with either head, featuring an integrated flip-out brush fitting. While the pipe offers a fixed length, it can effectively deliver power to the motorised roller head when connected.
The charger is straightforward with an adapter for wall sockets on one end and a small magnetic contact on the other, which attaches to the vacuum cleaner’s bottom. A wall-mounted charging bracket is also included for added convenience. While the charging system might feel slightly cheap and basic considering the price, it performs its function without any hiccups.
The Unique Nozzle Design and Wet-Mopping Functionality
The SpeedPro Aqua’s main vacuum head features a unique design that enables it to capture dirt and dust at a 180-degree angle, allowing it to pick up debris even from the sides. LED lights illuminate the floor directly in front of the nozzle, making it easier to spot impurities, especially in dimly lit areas.
The wet-mopping functionality utilizes a simple, non-mechanical fitting combined with a vacuum head to achieve simultaneous wet and dry cleaning. The mop fitting is essentially a water tank with small openings at the bottom, allowing water to trickle onto the included mop cloth. It attaches and detaches quickly using hook-and-loop fasteners, offering flexibility and ease of use.
Two washable mop cloths are provided, allowing for effortless cleaning and maintenance. The vibrations of the vacuum fitting release water gradually, and you control the spread with your hand movements. This straightforward approach allows you to wet mop without excessive bending, making it comfortable and convenient. The water tank boasts a capacity of 0.28L and includes a foot pump to speed up water release as needed. Philips recommends using clear, non-foaming detergent mixed with clear water if you prefer a more intensive cleaning solution.
Performance and Battery Life: A Balancing Act of Efficiency and Versatility
In terms of pure vacuum cleaning performance, the Philips SpeedPro Aqua falls slightly short compared to premium offerings from Samsung and Dyson. However, it shines in its unique wet-mopping functionality, setting it apart from most cordless vacuum cleaners that solely offer dry cleaning.
Vacuuming Performance: Good for Basic Tasks but Struggles with Stubborn Messes
For everyday dust and dirt on hard floors, the SpeedPro Aqua performs acceptably. The lower power mode is ideal for minor cleaning tasks, but you’ll likely find yourself using the high power mode more frequently for a more thorough clean.
The vacuum cleaner manages basic cleaning tasks effectively, but struggles with more stubborn messes like food crumbs, paper scraps, and plastic bits. Rugs and carpets, unfortunately, pose a challenge for the SpeedPro Aqua, requiring multiple passes to achieve a satisfactory clean.
The lack of a dedicated head for fabric surfaces means you have to rely on the standard nozzle to clean sofas and furniture, which proves to be less efficient in removing deeply embedded dust and dirt. The integrated brush fitting on the pipe makes it a bit awkward to clean tabletops and counters, though it excels at cleaning objects at a height.
Wet-Mopping Functionality: A Different Approach to Manual Cleaning
Robot cleaners excel at wet-mopping due to their automatic nature, efficiently spreading water across the floor while navigating independently. The Philips SpeedPro Aqua, on the other hand, requires manual operation – but this also allows you to target specific areas, apply more pressure, and control the mopping process.
While the mopping functionality lacks any mechanical or electronic assistance, it works surprisingly well. It significantly surpasses the efficiency of manual mopping, especially in comparison to the 360 S7 robot vacuum (when considering the effort required). While not ideal for cleaning an entire house at once, the SpeedPro Aqua proves useful for spot cleaning or focusing on specific areas or rooms.
Battery Life: On Par with the Competition But Limited by Power
The Philips SpeedPro Aqua offers a battery life comparable to similar products, but it’s somewhat disappointing when you consider that competing models can achieve the same run time while operating with more power.
You can expect around 40-45 minutes of runtime on the low power mode when using the main vacuuming head, and about 50 minutes with non-mechanized fittings. Switching to the high power mode reduces the runtime to about 20 minutes. This is an average performance, allowing you to realistically clean only two or three rooms at a time, instead of your entire home.
Verdict: A Specialized Choice for Wet-Mopping Enthusiasts
At Rs. 35,999, the Philips SpeedPro Aqua sits firmly in the premium segment, competing directly with high-end models from Dyson and Samsung. However, considering its vacuuming capabilities alone, it doesn’t quite reach the performance level expected at this price point. It feels slightly underpowered and basic, lacking the diverse range of fittings and fixtures offered by competitors.
However, its wet-mopping functionality acts as a key differentiator and makes the SpeedPro Aqua an intriguing alternative to traditional cleaning approaches. It enables you to wet mop easily and conveniently, even surpassing robot cleaners in terms of targeted cleaning and control.
Ultimately, the Philips SpeedPro Aqua might be worth considering if wet-mopping is a crucial feature for you. But for pure vacuum cleaning performance, competing premium options offer more powerful and comprehensive solutions. Consider also cleaning robots with both vacuuming and mopping capabilities like the 360 S7, which is priced similarly.
Price: Rs. 35,999 (https://www.domesticappliances.philips.co.in/fc6728-01)
Rating: 6/10
Pros:
- Lightweight and easy to handle
- Effective wet-mopping functionality
- Good for cleaning hard floors
- Relatively quiet
Cons:
- Average build quality
- Not as powerful as competitors
- Limited fittings and fixtures
- Average battery life
