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Robovations
Robovations™
Robot Autonomy, Classified
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Comparison · 2 robots

Ecovacs Winbot Mini · Hobot 298

All robot window cleaners. Every measure below is plotted against the full class, so a difference can be read against how much the class itself varies.

  1. Ecovacs Winbot Mini
  2. Hobot 298
Ecovacs

Ecovacs Winbot Mini

Autonomy
II Assisted Autonomy
Score
60/100 Capable
Readiness
Promising Progress
Price
$239.99confirmed
HOBOT

Hobot 298

Autonomy
II Assisted Autonomy
Score
65/100 Capable
Readiness
Ready Now
Price
$199confirmed

Up to three

01 Classification

What each one does on its own.

The Autonomy Ladder is the same five rungs for every robot on the site. A rung describes the conditions a robot handles without you, not how good it is.

V
Generalized
Any task, any setting
IV
Environmental
Handles new obstacles without help
III
Conditional
Finishes familiar jobs on its own
II
Assisted
Runs preset routines, needs rescue
Ecovacs Winbot MiniHobot 298
I
Manual
One action, on command
02 Assessment

Where they actually differ.

The Robovations Score is nine inputs across three pillars, each weighted as shown and each scored so that more is better. A robot can lead on one and trail on another, which is the point of showing them apart. Cost of ownership and data handling are reported on each robot's own page and are never averaged into the score.

Capability

Task completion16% of score
Does it finish the job it is sold to do, unattended
  • Ecovacs Winbot Mini62
  • Hobot 29858
18median 72 across 354 scored robots100
Coverage and navigation10% of score
Does it work the whole area, and hold that between runs
  • Ecovacs Winbot Mini82
  • Hobot 29852
15median 70 across 344 scored robots100
Edge-case recovery10% of score
Does it recover from the failures its category presents
  • Ecovacs Winbot Mini60
  • Hobot 29856
18median 50 across 261 scored robots100
Operating envelope4% of score
How far conditions can vary before performance drops
  • Ecovacs Winbot Mini55
  • Hobot 29857
25median 70 across 320 scored robots100

Dependability

Field failure rate16% of score
Documented hardware failures per owner-year
  • Ecovacs Winbot Mini56
  • Hobot 29885
6median 70 across 344 scored robots100
Software stability14% of score
Whether updates fix more than they break
  • Ecovacs Winbot Mini65
  • Hobot 29871
15median 65 across 275 scored robots100
Support longevity10% of score
Committed parts, service and updates, with dates
  • Ecovacs Winbot Mini63
  • Hobot 29882
0median 63 across 354 scored robots100

Ownership burden

Routine maintenance12% of score
Hands-on time it asks for in normal operation
  • Ecovacs Winbot Mini34
  • Hobot 29832
22median 68 across 355 scored robots100
Consumables8% of score
Parts that must be bought to keep it working
  • Ecovacs Winbot Mini71
  • Hobot 29866
30median 69 across 354 scored robots100
03 Measured against the class

How far apart is a long way?

A number only means something next to the spread it sits in. Each track below is the real range across every classified robot in the class, with the median marked.

Price19 with a published figure
  • Ecovacs Winbot Mini$239.99
  • Hobot 298$199
$150median $365.80$850
Adhesion (mode not stated)15 with a published figure
  • Ecovacs Winbot Mini7,500 Pa
  • Hobot 2982,800 Pa
2,800 Pamedian 3,800 Pa8,000 Pa
Noise16 with a published figure
  • Ecovacs Winbot Mini72 dB
  • Hobot 29865 dB
63 dBmedian 68 dB75 dB
Weight16 with a published figure
  • Ecovacs Winbot Mini2.9 lbs
  • Hobot 2982.9 lbs
1.3 lbsmedian 2.9 lbs4.8 lbs
Height15 with a published figure
  • Ecovacs Winbot Mini2.2 in
  • Hobot 2983.5 in
2.2 inmedian 3.5 in9.4 in

Not compared, because fewer than two of these robots carry a published figure: Runtime, Charge time.

04 Ownership

What the numbers leave out.

The trade-off

What each design gives up to be good at what it is good at.

Ecovacs Winbot Mini

Lightweight and corded means a 3.5 m mains cable, not a battery, sets working reach; every pane needs an outlet within that radius, and the robot is placed and retrieved by hand.

Hobot 298

Mains power removes recharge cycles, and an embedded UPS holds the robot in place for 20 minutes through an outage, but the 4 meter cord ties the machine to a socket within a few paces of the pane.

Who each one is wrong for

Stated by the record itself. A robot being wrong for a household is a fact about fit, not a fault.

Ecovacs Winbot Mini
Large homes with frequent multi-story window coverage needs
Manual repositioning between floors and buildings is labor-intensive. The robot is designed for one pane per cycle; multi-floor properties negate the efficiency gain.
Windows you cannot reach to place and retrieve the robot
The Mini is set on each pane by hand and taken off the same way, and it works within reach of a 3.5 m mains cable. Exterior faces above ground level, skylights and any pane a person cannot safely load it onto fall outside what this machine addresses.
Exterior windows requiring consistent all-weather operation
Suction performance degrades with moisture and dust buildup. Exterior exposure demands daily pad inspection and rinse cycles.
Hobot 298
High-rise or multi-story installations requiring extended reach
The power cord is 4 meters and the supplied safety rope is 4.5 meters, so both the socket and the rope's indoor anchor point have to sit close to the pane being worked. Windows further from an interior socket than that are outside what this model reaches.
Homes without adjacent power outlets or outdoor outlets within cable run
Extension cord use is discouraged by manufacturer for safety. Interior outlet management becomes critical; wet-environment electrical safety is owner's responsibility.
Specialty or curved glass surfaces
Square pad geometry and fixed nozzle positioning leave corners uncleaned. Tempered or heavily tinted windows challenge optical edge detection; manual repositioning is frequent.

What stays your job

The upkeep ownership hands back to you, whatever the autonomy level says.

Ecovacs Winbot Mini
  • After every use: Rinse microfiber pad with distilled water to remove minerals and dust.
  • Weekly: Check motor intake for clogs; clean suction port with soft brush.
  • Monthly: Inspect safety tether for wear; wipe suction cups and magnets with damp cloth.
  • Every 3-6 months: Replace microfiber pads (~$15-20 per pair).
Hobot 298
  • Weekly: Rinse pad and inspect nozzle for mineral deposits; test suction by listening for motor speed consistency.
  • Monthly: Clean intake ports and motor filter with soft brush; soak nozzle in distilled vinegar if spray pattern weakens.
  • Every 3-4 months: Replace cleaning pads (~$20-25 per pair); inspect power cable for insulation damage.
  • Annually: Replace motor intake filter (~$15); deep-clean nozzle assembly by soaking in 50/50 vinegar-water solution.
  • As needed: Replace vacuum motor assembly if suction falls below specification (~$80, typical at 5-6 year mark with regular use).
05 Evidence

How much each of these is standing on.

Classifications rest on different depths of evidence. A pre-release assessment and a verified one are not the same kind of claim.

Evidence behind each classification
Robot Evidence status Sources reviewed Last assessed
Ecovacs Winbot Mini Verified 6 Aug 2026
Hobot 298 Provisional 3 Aug 2026

Robovations classifies robots; it does not rank them. Nothing on this page is a recommendation, and no manufacturer influences a classification or its placement here.