Electrolux Trilobite Review

What the reviewers like:
The Electrolux Trilobite robotic vacuum has a snazzy design, and experts say its overall quality (as befitting its price) is better than the iRobot Roomba. This robotic vacuum has sonar as well as bump sensors, lots of power, a large dust bin and a thick filter.

What the reviewers don't like:
As expensive as it is, the Trilobite still can't take the place of an ordinary vacuum, according to reviewers. Its performance on shag carpeting is only mediocre (though better than that of the Roomba). Furthermore, some say it's noisy, and it lacks a remote control. But the overriding concern in reviews is its astronomical price tag.

Electrolux Trilobite review highlights

The Electrolux Trilobite is the high-end competitor to the comparatively cheap (*est. $150 to $300) iRobot Roomba line of robotic vacuums. Owners and experts agree that the Trilobite has more power, more capacity and better sensors than the Roomba vacuums, but reports are mixed about its cleaning performance. Some sources say it cleans very well, while others say it's not much better than a Roomba. And all reviewers agree that even the high-priced Trilobite can't take the place of an ordinary vacuum.

We found the best review of the Electrolux Trilobite at The Wall Street Journal, which compares the Trilobite to two other robotic vacuums, the Karcher RoboCleaner and iRobot Roomba Discovery. We also found reviews at Everyday Robots and RobotAdvice.com, which evaluate the Electrolux Trilobite in depth. Only a dozen or so owners post their experiences with the Electrolux Trilobite on Amazon.com, but their comments are very revealing.

Also see full report: Vacuum Cleaners

*In order of credibility (see our Ratings Criteria).

1. The Wall Street Journal
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The Only Thing Latest Robot Vacuums Cannot Do Is Clean
Kara Swisher
July 15, 2004

In this roundup, Swisher tests and compares the iRobot Roomba Discovery, Karcher RoboCleaner and Electrolux Trilobite. She says none of the models perform particularly well, especially compared to normal upright vacuums.

2. EverydayRobots.com
Review: Electrolux Trilobite Robotic Vacuum
Lisa Gade
Sep. 8, 2004

Gade takes an in-depth look at the Electrolux Trilobite, praising it for its sonar and bump sensors, power, large dust bin and thick filter. She says the Trilobite cleans better than much cheaper vacuums in the iRobot Roomba line and is also better with shag carpeting. Her only criticism is the lack of a remote control.

3. RobotAdvice.com
Electrolux Trilobite 2.0
Editors of RobotAdvice.com

This brief overview of the Electrolux Trilobite lists this vacuum's pros and cons, presumably based on some testing. On the plus side (among other things) are its power, filter and design, but the unidentified writer says it's noisy and has trouble handling thick carpeting. The conclusion is that the Electrolux Trilobite can't replace regular cleanings using an upright vacuum cleaner.

4. Amazon.com
Electrolux EL520A Trilobite Robotic Vacuum Review
Contributors to Amazon.com

Only a dozen or so owners post reviews of the Electrolux Trilobite here, and the top two comments tell vastly different stories. What's interesting is that several people compare the Trilobite to the Roomba series of robotic vacuum cleaners.

Also see full report: Vacuum Cleaners