It might seem odd that a smart home specialist has never tested a roaming robot. The sheer size of the vacuum category meant that colleagues tested robot vacuums throughout my career. Fittingly, I’m finally breaking my streak with a security camera, something firmly in my wheelhouse.
My motivation for testing the Enabot Ebo Air 2 is to see if it can overcome the novelty of “being a robot” and if it stands a chance of replacing a traditional security camera. The focus on fun features could be a detriment or make it a worthwhile option for people with pets. Spoiler: My cat was not amused — but your pet may react differently.
Novelty features help the Ebo Air 2 play well
On the front of the spherical robot is a camera with a 137-degree field of view and 2K video resolution, which is common among contemporary security cameras.
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The eye lights make for a fun diversion
There are two simple LED displays on either side of the camera, which can display custom expressions — I tried things like “CNET” or “John” with varying degrees of success. You’ll also find a list of eye presets. Most presets feature different eye shapes, such as happiness and surprise, which add a nice dose of fun for people using this robot to play with pets and children. (Fair warning, I can imagine a toddler throwing this camera like a ball.)
Ebo Air 2 can display an expression when idle or turn off the eye light entirely. Personally, I like having the clock visible when idle –though I had to get used to the last number flashing to indicate seconds. One final point on the display: It shows a helpful camera icon when recording video or using the app.
My test drive was promising, but there are limitations
You’ll find two treads on the bottom of the Ebo Air 2 so it can move about the room. You can manually control it in the app, but preset movement patterns like a figure-eight or zig-zag are no doubt intended for play with pets. Mobility was the first major hurdle in my home office, which has a large rug and many uneven surfaces.
Hard floors provide the best control and stability, while high-pile carpet and the edges of rugs aren’t as great. For example, driving the Ebo Air 2 around on high pile carpet leads to a somewhat unstable video image — motion sickness is possible if you turn the movement speed up too high. The cause seems to be the unit’s center of gravity, which is just barely too high for the weight to stay firmly on the treads on my high-pile rug.
Upon checking the online resources, I saw that the Ebo Air 2’s maximum climbing angle is around 4 degrees, though you can somewhat overcome that with creative driving, like approaching a bump diagonally. It also can’t cross obstacles over 6mm, as I discovered when I high-centered it on an extension cord.
I intentionally drove it off my desk, and it handled the short drop without any issues — at least it seems durable enough to take small tumbles. Still, I wouldn’t intentionally make it over a tall staircase or repeat the same drop onto an uncarpeted floor.
Enabot Ebo Air 2 Plus turns up the dial on practically every feature
Shortly after the Ebo Air 2 launched, Enabot released the Ebo Air 2 Plus for $400, double that of the $200 base model. It upgrades every aspect of the Air 2. For example, the eyes are now full-color screens, it’s more maneuverable, has a better camera and includes a full suite of AI features — an assistant, tracking and advanced patrolling.
I might test the Ebo Air 2 Plus down the road, but my impression is that existing fans of Ebo robots will enjoy the massive upgrades. Still, the regular Ebo Air 2 is a better fit for new customers and still has a laser pointer for playing with pets — though I couldn’t get my cat to notice it.
Ebo Air 2’s security camera is good but limited by its location on the floor
When the camera isn’t in motion, the video quality is suitable for a 2K camera — I’d put it around Ring’s level. Still, it’s not as crisp as cameras I’ve used from Reolink, Eufy or Tapo. There weren’t any noticeable issues with daytime or nighttime recording conditions. But the elephant in the room is whether a floor-mounted security camera can be effective.
Ultimately, it’s a toss-up because while the lens is good enough to record people at a distance, you’ll miss out on facial features closer to the camera. Another potential issue is that even my recently decluttered home office presented obstacles for good visibility — namely that furniture can block the view compared with a wall- or ceiling-mounted security camera.
The low camera angle is exceptional if you have pets. If my cat were more keen to play with the Ebo Air 2, it could be a useful way to engage with him when I’m out of town. (Maybe he’ll warm up to it?)
Although you can record video manually in the app, the camera won’t record automatically unless you set up a schedule, including for motion-triggered videos and the 3-minute patrol. Importantly, the camera won’t run a schedule if you’re currently using the app or if you put the camera to sleep.
Beyond that, the app is handy for play sessions with plenty of presets for movement, sound effects and expressions — you can also use two-way voice to talk to your pet. Likewise, I found the settings menus to be relatively easy to navigate. However, check the Product Encyclopedia on the app’s Discovery tab to learn about each feature — the printed manual is only helpful for setup.
I love that it comes with a 32GB microSD card, which is plenty of storage for most people. It supports up to 256GB if you want to go on a recording spree. There’s no cloud storage, so your videos are private and easy to back up on your computer.
The charging dock generally bothered me — not the concept, but the execution. First, the manual recommends leaving a 1- to 1.5-meter radius around the dock to make it easier for the robot to return. This means finding over 6 feet of unblemished wall where the dock can sit — not possible in my apartment with surprisingly few electrical outlets.
I made it work by placing the dock in front of some closet doors for my temporary testing, but even then, the Ebo Air 2 seemed to do well until the last second before wandering away. My natural impatience meant it was far easier to pick up or manually dock Ebo using the app.
Plan on using the dock’s adhesive pad for best performance. This pad is likely better for solid flooring than carpets. Otherwise, the Ebo might accidentally push the dock around if it approaches from the wrong angle without the object avoidance kicking in.
Should you buy the Enabot Ebo Air 2?
It’s fair to categorize the Enabot Ebo Air 2 as more of a pet camera than a full-fledged security camera. By that standard, it’s a fun way to interact with your pet — if they have the temperament for it. There’s no treat launcher, and the laser pointer won’t match up with other pet cameras, but the mobility opens your possibilities for play.
Still, the video quality is good enough to work as a stand-in for a standard pan-tilt security camera in addition to pet camera duties. Anyone looking for a no-frills security camera can find a much better price than the $200 Ebo Air 2. I love the concept and look forward to seeing if camera robots (like the Ring’s invite-only Always Home Cam drone) can find a place in the smart home.
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