Trifo Max test: the robot vacuum cleaner that keeps an eye on your interior

Technical sheet Design Embedded technologies Application and managementPerformance and maintenance Daily use Video surveillance Price and availability ConclusionComments See the product sheetAvailable at €179

The Trifo Max is an entry-level robot vacuum cleaner which, like all its competitors, aims to be just as efficient that smart. However, it stands out from other robots with a surprising video surveillance function.

The Trifo robot vacuum // Source: FRANDROID / Anthony WONNER

Founded in 2016, Trifo is an American company that specializes in robot vacuum cleaners. Amusing particularity, each of its products is named by a first name, Lucy, Emma and Max, for the model tested here. A device a priori very classic, but which hides within it a video surveillance system to keep an eye on your interior. All for less than 200 euros. It remains to be seen whether he is as good a vacuum cleaner as he is a robotic security guard.

Trifo Max data sheet

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Model	Trifo Max
Obstacle detection	Yes
Weight	6000 grams
Colour	White
Dimensions	460 x 120 x 390 mm
Price	€179
	Product Sheet

This test was carried out using a product lent by the brand.

Classic in shape

The look of this robot vacuum cleaner is classic: a round shape, a bumper at the front. If we except the triangular-shaped cover with rounded corners and a second transparent triangle towards the front highlighted with a green border, there is nothing really original with its dimensions of 36 cm in diameter for 8.5 high. It can therefore easily slip under more furniture than its competitors, which are on average 9.5 cm high.

The Trifo robot vacuum // Source: FRANDROID / Anthony WONNER

The shell is made of white plastic between matte and lacquered. We see little dust that lands on it. On the other hand, black marks due to friction appear very quickly. Unlike the Viomi S9, you really have to rub with a wet wipe or cloth to make them disappear. Build quality is decent, but nothing exceptional.

The two physical buttons are placed on the front of the top shell. The one dedicated to switching on manually launches a suction cycle and the Home button makes it return to its base on its own. Under the transparent triangle is the security camera which does not intervene in the suction process.

The Trifo robot vacuum // Source: FRANDROID / Anthony WONNER

Underneath, the Trifo Max features a central brush that alternates rubber and nylon thread blades. A classic and coherent system for a product under 200 euros. High-end competition favors brushes with rubber blades, which are more efficient and above all more durable over time. A side brush with branches made of nylon threads of different lengths is responsible for bringing dust and debris to the central brush.

The two wheels have a good width and allow you to approach obstacles up to 2 cm in height without fear.

By lifting the triangular cover, we have on the left a small Reset button, another one which is used for Wi-Fi pairing. Just to their left, we find a USB port which allows us to recharge another device. We still wonder how this idea came to the minds of the designers. Who would think of using their robot vacuum cleaner to charge their smartphone…

Lift the triangular cover to access the dust bin // Source: Frandroid / Yazid Amer We still wonder why this USB port? // Source: Frandroid / Yazid Amer

The dust container is hidden under the triangular cover and has a good capacity of 0.6 L where the competition is generally limited to 0.4 L. We therefore have to empty it less often and rarely fills up in one vacuum cycle unless you have a pack of dogs at home.

The 0.6 l dust container does not require you to empty it after each suction cycle // Source: Frandroid / Yazid Amer The filter occupies the entire length of the dust container // Source: Frandroid / Yazid Amer

Finally, the charging station is very discreet with dimensions of 14 x 14 x 7.2 cm and we appreciate a space on the back dedicated to managing the power cable.

Numerous sensors for an average result

The Trifo Max has a camera associated with bumpers on the bumper. Under the robot, sensors must help it position itself in space. The result is quite questionable, because in the end it bumps a lot. Sometimes, he persists and tries anyway to pass through a piece of furniture before finally deciding to change his trajectory. He struggles, for example, with cat tree bases. He tries to pass over when he can't go any further and then asks us to help him get free. The mapping part is very limited, we will come back to it below. Trifo insists on embedded artificial intelligence, it is certainly present, but singularly lacking in education.

Under the upper triangle, on the front, hides a 1080p camera with a 45° tilt. It serves as a surveillance camera or to view the environment remotely on the mobile app. It is also possible to exchange with a person using the microphone and the integrated speaker.

A minimalist app

Once the Trifo app has been installed, our first action is to configure the robot on our Wi-Fi network. top right of the interface. It guides you step by step, from pairing under the hood to choosing the Wi-Fi network.

Then, you must have the surveillance camera read a QR Code that is displayed on the screen of your smartphone. It is necessary to wedge the base of the mobile in the gap made by the bumper and to tilt it at 45°. An audible signal tells you that the procedure has worked well.

The app asks you to identify the robot you want to install // Source: Frandroid / Yazid Amer Enter your Wi-Fi code so that the robot connects to it // Source: Frandroid / Yazid Amer Particularity of this robot, it must read a QR Code displayed on the app // Source: Frandroid/Yazid Amer Reading the QR Code works without a hitch // Source: Frandroid / Yazid Amer

The association is now complete. This is a little longer and more complex than with the majority of other robot vacuums, but nothing insurmountable. The ergonomics of the app is very simple. The first screen displays the list of installed Trifo robots. By pressing the one that interests us, we have an interface as simple as it is refined. The largest part of the screen is dedicated to mapping with an icon activating the manual control and a second in the shape of a fan to dose the suction power.

If you have several Trifo robots, the app asks you to select the one you want to control. // Source: Frandroid / Yazid Amer The interface is very clear and easy to understand // Source: Frandroid / Yazid Amer

We then have a banner with three pieces of information:

Then, three icons:

The Trifo Max does not save the cards, it generates a new one which is kept until the next cleaning cycle. There is no room identification or possibilities to save a card. The robot is supposed to learn with each cycle, something we didn't really see. Indeed, he always gets stuck on the same obstacles and seems to learn very little from his mistakes.

With each new suction cycle, a map is initiated // Source: Frandroid / Yazid Amer The creation of a map is progressive // ​​Source: Frandroid / Yazid Amer A finalized map remains far from the precision of higher-end products // Source: Frandroid / Yazid Amer

The Device Settings menu is identified by three small dots at the top right of the display. Features are few. Voice parameter allows you to choose the language with which the robot can inform you, a Silent mode disables voice alerts and finally you can adjust the power of the built-in speaker.

The options menu is easy to understand // Source: Frandroid / Yazid Amer There are few audio options // Source: Frandroid / Yazid Amer

Suction planning is used to program suction cycles. Suction history gives access to a summary of previous cleaning sessions with the surface treated, the suction time and even the map generated with each cycle.

You can program your suction cycles very easily // Source: Frandroid / Yazid Amer Each suction cycle is recorded, map included // Source: Frandroid / Yazid Amer

Maintenance informs us about consumables and tells you when the replace. Wear is calculated based on usage time and despite our mistreatment, the estimates seem fairly realistic. However, as often with products at this price level, do not wait to reach 0% to change the parts. Instead, aim for 30 to 50% to guarantee some effectiveness. Especially if you have kids and pets. Motion detection is used to activate monitoring and to program a monitoring time. Please note, it is not possible to create several per day, only one session that can be repeated every day of the week. Motion Detection Recording gives you access to all photos recorded during a Trifo alert.

Three consumables are to be monitored // Source: Frandroid / Yazid Amer Here, you launch the camera monitoring mode // Source: Frandroid / Yazid Amer

The app is really minimalist, quite clear, and goes straight to the point . There is no compatibility with Google Assistant, but Amazon Alexa is supported.

Performance: could do better

The central brush system alternating blades made of nylon and rubber threads generally has the disadvantage of clogging up very quickly and jamming quite easily when winding threads and hair. The Trifo brush therefore also knows this curse, even if it does quite well for a product at 200 euros. However, this damages the blades and affects efficiency. The side brush is also a wire and hair trap, without getting blocked too often. You will have to regularly unroll or cut them to maintain optimal dirt collection. By the way, we regret the absence of a tool to clean the nylon blades.

The wires easily wrap around the side brush // Source: Frandroid / Yazid Amer The accumulation of wrapped wires does not block the brush but easily damages it // Source: Frandroid / Yazid Amer

The dust bin filter is changed after 150 hours, which roughly corresponds to 60 days at the rate of a cleaning cycle of 2 hours per day. Replacing the parts does not pose any difficulty, Trifo has taken care of this aspect.

The 0.6 L dust container is very comfortable and lasts three to four cycles before having to clean it. If you have pets and children, you will empty it about every two vacuum cycles.

Effective and annoying at the same time

If we only talk about suction efficiency, the Trifo Max is a good product. It easily captures dust and various residues. While it's not as smart as it claims and its mapping isn't of any real help, it passes over the majority of accessible areas, but occasionally misses some. If you have a perfectly tidy interior and with almost no furniture too tight for him in height, everything will be fine. Otherwise, you will have to intervene regularly to unblock it.

The treatment of furniture edges is like that of very honorable skirting boards. It manages to clean the edges well if nothing comes to cut it in its course. But it is not certain that it goes beyond a single passage.

Cleaning skirting boards // Source: Frandroid / Yazid Amer Cleaning skirting boards on the first pass // Source: Frandroid / Yazid Amer

Cleaning baseboards third pass // Source: Frandroid / Yazid Amer

The suction quality on hard ground is very good. We scattered dust and various debris (polystyrene, grass, flower petals) on a floor. After one cycle, approximately 80-85% is vacuumed by the robot. On short-pile carpets, we get a result close to around 75%. Be careful, if the carpet is too thin, the side brush slips underneath and risks blocking the robot. We don't have this problem with a thick rug or one with long threads. In the latter case, the vacuum cleaner captures about 55% of the dust and residue that we have deposited on it. These tests were performed in average mode. Switching to Strong mode does not really improve efficiency, but plays more on speed.

The robot is not very noisy in the end with noise pollution at 5 cm of around 65 dB in silent mode, 71 dB in medium mode and 80 dB in Loud mode.

The advertised autonomy is 2 hours maximum and the robot works until it runs out of battery. In silent mode we can reach 115 minutes, in medium mode 100 minutes and in strong mode 90 minutes.

Video surveillance, a fun and sometimes annoying gadget

The on-board camera captures a 1080p image with a 45° angle. It therefore offers a low-angle video, which allows you to see what is happening at the "top" of the robot with a limited field of vision (90°). The video obtained is of average quality during the day and almost unusable in the dark with the absence of night vision. The motion detector is very effective, it reacts to the slightest movement and captures a photo to mark the occasion. However, it does not know how to differentiate between animals and human beings, which can lead to a very annoying avalanche of notifications. In addition, remember to regularly clean the transparent surface above the camera, otherwise the accumulation of dust interferes with the image.

The quality of the video is very average // Source: Frandroid / Yazid Amer When the robot turns, the image then becomes blurred // Source: Frandroid / Yazid Amer

If you want to check that it is not an intruder , just click the Surveillance icon to get real-time video. By clicking on Remote, you can walk into your house and go check window and door. If a person is present, the robot will have to be at least one meter away from them to successfully capture their face. You can then explain to him orally that he has been filmed, photographed and that you are calling the police. A burglar is unlikely to be suspicious of a moving robot vacuum cleaner and suddenly hearing it threaten can be a deterrent.

You can monitor your animals, if they are high // Source: Frandroid / Yazid Amer Otherwise you will only see their legs // Source: Frandroid / Yazid Amer

If you wonder what your animals are doing while you are away , the Trifo Max can be used to monitor them. In the end, the surveillance camera aspect here is a bonus, rather fun. A gadget which can however have a certain utility, especially that the robot remains under the bar of 200 euros.

Price and availability of the Trifo Max

The Trifo Max is marketed at the recommended retail price of 199 euros, from partner resellers such as Fnac, Amazon and Darty.