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Irish Examiner

Ebo Air 2 review: The adorable home robot that watches, chats, and plays

The Ebo Air 2 is one of the more charming pieces of home tech I've tested this year. This pint-sized robot from Enabot is designed to be a mobile security camera, pet entertainer, and remote communication tool — all while looking like it belongs in a Pixar short. But while the Ebo Air 2 brings some serious upgrades over its predecessors, it's not without a few quirks. Design and build Roughly the size of a tennis ball, the Ebo Air 2 is compact enough to slip under furniture and cute enough to be mistaken for a toy. Available in Robin Pink, Dove White, and Jay Blue, its glossy finish and emoji-style LED 'eyes' give it plenty of personality. The body feels durable, and even my cat's occasional swats didn't cause it to fall over and play dead, thanks to its topple-resistant design. Navigation is impressively precise for its size, thanks to infrared sensors and a six-axis IMU that help it manoeuvre around obstacles without getting stuck. That said, it occasionally struggled with dark rugs and tight corners, sometimes needing a bit of manual repositioning. The little bot is quite agile, but unfortunately, it couldn't get over my door saddle boards. Camera and app The upgraded 2K camera is genuinely sharp for a robot this size. The 137° field of view is wide enough to scan entire rooms, and the IR-CUT night vision is a strong performer in low light. Whether I was checking in on my cat or keeping an eye on the front room while out, the video feed was consistently clear. The only unusual aspect of the video is its floor-level point of view, which can take a bit of getting used to. The companion app is intuitive, with customisable controls, real-time movement, and two motion modes (Steady and Sport). I found the 'Sport' mode responsive and fun to use, though it occasionally made the Ebo spin too fast for precise manoeuvres. Notifications for motion detection were reliable, and the ability to review footage through smart playback worked well, if a bit laggy at times, depending on the connection. Pet interaction My older cats were curious but not enough to play with the annoying little robot. However, I can see younger cats getting more excited by the cute Ebo robot. The built-in laser pointer was fun for one of my cats, and the movement skills offer a decent distraction for pets when you're not home. I liked the ability to speak through the robot — the two-way audio is surprisingly clear, thanks to AI noise cancellation. You can also schedule playtime, add custom light-up expressions, and even make it "wink" or 'laugh,' which adds a fun human touch. It's less of a serious pet-training tool and more of an occasional companion, but one that works. Although both my dogs were uninterested in the Ebo, it was excellent to be able to check in on them and use the two-way communication feature. Battery and charging One of my favourite features is Ebo's self-charging. When the battery runs low, it smoothly finds its dock using infrared tracking. You can also set charging schedules so it's always ready when you need it. Over two weeks of testing, I barely had to think about battery levels. While docked, the Ebo displays the time — a nice little touch that adds to its charm and functionality. Privacy and connectivity With multi-user access, guest permissions, and a one-tap privacy mode to disable the mic and camera, Enabot clearly took data security seriously. The dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4GHz and 5GHz) ensured a stable connection throughout my home, and the setup was painless. Verdict The Ebo Air 2 is a loveable little robot that neatly and cleverly combines home security, pet entertainment, and remote communication. Its charm and practical features make it a worthy companion for modern households. €229