298
Limited evidenceRead the findings →An older square HOBOT window robot that runs on tracks and mists water ahead of itself. It plugs into the mains, and you move it between panes yourself. Owner reviews are poor, and its safety rope is rated lower than on HOBOT's newer robots.
See the alternatives below, or switch market.
Where it sits in HOBOT’s range
- 268Earlier model without the water tank
- 298This model
- 2SSquare model that sprays in both directions
- 388Round-pad model with the same fine mist
- S6 ProNewer square model with two scrubbing pads
Feedback
What we know
What we know comes from HOBOT's page, an overview by home&smart and owner reviews on ProductReview.com.au. Those owners were unhappy: they report marks left on the glass, a cloth fixing that came unstuck and poor route-finding. home&smart points out that if the spray nozzle fails, it's replaced together with the tank. HOBOT's own page covers the mist nozzle, the laser sensor for frameless glass and the safety rope.
What HOBOT claims
HOBOT says the 298 cleans a square metre in 2.4 minutes at 12cm a second, using a 24 by 24cm cloth. Its ultrasonic nozzle turns water into a fine mist, and a laser sensor measures the distance to the glass so it can work on frameless windows. It has three automatic modes, an app and a remote.
Owners aren't impressed
The owner reviews on the ProductReview.com.au listing average one star. One owner said it always left marks on the windows, even with a clean cloth and HOBOT's own cleaner, and that the strips holding the cloth, fixed on with double-sided tape, came off after a few uses. Another reported severe route-finding problems, with only 21 of 35 windows cleaned, at about an hour each. These are unverified owner posts, but they point the same way.
Nozzle and tank come as one
home&smart notes that if the spray nozzle clogs or fails, the whole water tank is replaced along with it, which it calls wasteful, especially in hard-water areas. HOBOT sells this as a feature: you swap the tank module or the nozzle with a screwdriver and it works like new. Either way, if your water is hard, budget for a spare, or use HOBOT's detergent or pure water.
A lighter-duty safety rope
HOBOT rates the 298's 4.5m safety rope to 150kgf, lower than the 200kg or 230kgf it quotes for its newer robots. It also lists a 20-minute backup battery to hold it on the glass if the power goes, and an anti-falling routine. On an upper floor, tie the rope to something solid indoors every time, as HOBOT says.
What's not checked yet
We couldn't find a finished independent test of the 298 to read. home&smart's article describes the robot from its specifications, and the ProductReview.com.au posts are unverified owner reviews. So these are still open: how well it really cleans, how loud it is, whether HOBOT's speed figures hold up, how it copes with frameless glass, and whether the backup battery and anti-falling routine work as described.
Our take
Should you buy the 298?
Best for: Large windows cleaned regularly, with a socket nearby. Skip it if: You want a stronger record in independent tests before buying.
Hard to recommend without a proper test, especially with owners reporting marks left on the glass and a flimsy cloth fixing. If you want a HOBOT, the 388 and the S6 Pro have been tested and did well on regularly cleaned glass. For a compact square robot, the Ecovacs WINBOT mini 2 is another tested option.
The 298 is one of HOBOT's older square window robots. It moves on two rubber tracks, wipes with a 24cm microfibre cloth and sprays a fine water mist from a built-in tank, so you don't have to wet the cloth yourself. It replaced the 268, which had no tank, and in Germany it's also sold as the Sichler PR-041 V4. HOBOT says a laser sensor lets it work on frameless glass.
It plugs into the wall, with a battery that only holds it on the glass for 20 minutes if the power goes, and you move it from pane to pane. Its safety rope is also rated lower than on HOBOT's newer robots. Owners report marks left on the glass and a cloth fixing that came unstuck. If the spray nozzle fails, it's replaced together with the tank, so hard water is worth planning for.
Before you buy
The questions people ask about this one
Will it work on frameless glass?
HOBOT says a laser sensor spots where frameless glass ends, per the specifications, and home&smart repeats this. We couldn't find anyone who has tried it on frameless panes, so treat it as the maker's claim.
What happens if the power cuts out?
HOBOT says a built-in battery keeps it on the glass for 20 minutes while an alarm sounds, and the rope is rated to 150kgf, per the specifications. None of that has been tested independently.
Does it leave streaks or edges?
No reviewer has tested this. One owner on ProductReview.com.au said it always left marks on the windows, even with a clean cloth and HOBOT's own cleaner. Expect to finish the glass by hand.
How long does one window take?
HOBOT claims 2.4 minutes per square metre, per the specifications. home&smart points out you still have to move it to every window yourself, and one owner on ProductReview.com.au reported about an hour per window, watching it the whole time.
Does it need a special cleaning fluid?
No. HOBOT says its detergent suits the nozzle but pure water works too, per the specifications. home&smart warns that a clogged nozzle means replacing the tank with it, so it's worth keeping hard water out of it.
Alternatives
Other window-cleaning robots to compare.
388
Why consider it: Two tests got clear, streak-free glass from a dry pass then a wet one.
The compromise: It's slow, loud, tied to a socket and leaves the corners.
S6 Pro
Why consider it: I'mTech found it the best window robot it had tested, with streak-free results on well-kept glass.
The compromise: It's loud, and you still wipe the edges and move it between panes.
WINBOT mini 2
Why consider it: A compact square robot whose corner brushes aim to reach the frame.
The compromise: It's also mains-powered and loud, and you stand beside it while it works.
Specs
Full specifications
Each specification names its source. Manufacturer claims are not independent test results; unconfirmed figures are labelled.
Owner reviews
Do you own the 298?
Tell people how it’s held up: cleaning, maintenance, faults and support. Owner accounts are shown separately from independent reviews.
Sources
Where this page’s findings come from
Sources
Videos
- TecTimmy: Hobot 298 UNBOXING and Review 🪟✨ BEST Window Washing Robot? ↗
- Home Robot USA: HOBOT-298 Window Cleaning Robot with Ultrasonic Water Spray (Short video 31 sec) ↗
- Search YouTube for HOBOT 298 ↗Search results may include company demonstrations or similar models. Check the source and model name; a demonstration is not an independent performance test.