Hands-on Review: MOVA Z50 Ultra is the robot vacuum I always dreamed of

Review: Growing up watching Doctor Who, I always dreamed of having a robot of my own.

I know Daleks aren't technically robots - more like angry, mutant Kaleds in robotic shells - but that didn't stop me from imagining how brilliant it would be to have something intelligent and mechanical roaming the house, doing things for me.

Not a plastic toy or a voice assistant, but a proper, thinking machine - one that would take care of all the boring chores, glide around the house, and make life feel just a little more magical.

Years later, that dream has arrived in the form of the MOVA Z50 Ultra Wet and Dry Robotic Vacuum. But in our house, we call him Herbie - short for Herbert the Hoover.

Herbie moves with quiet confidence, navigating our home and dodging our black labrador's paws like he's lived here forever.

He picks up dog fur, crumbs, and dust with surprising efficiency - and somehow, still manages to feel like more than just a machine.

An intelligent cleaner with real personality

Herbie is smarter than any cleaning device we've ever owned.

He maps the entire house with pinpoint accuracy, navigating between furniture legs and under sofas, never once bumping into the dog. In fact, he moves around her with a caution that's almost sweet - as if he knows she came first.

The Z50 Ultra uses Triple AI Sensing to analyse dirt, detect mop condition, and adjust its cleaning strategy in real time. It doesn't just run blindly across your floors. It thinks. It sees. It acts.

And when it's done, it takes itself home - back to its base station, which we call its bed - plays a jaunty little jingle, and starts washing its own mop with 75°C hot water. I mean, honestly, who does that?

Floors so clean you'll want to walk barefoot

This isn't just a vacuum. It's a full floor-care system.

The mop heats water to a perfect 36°C - warm enough to dissolve grime but gentle on our hardwood floors - and scrubs with a track-style motion that applies real pressure.

The results are impressive. Our floors gleam, the air feels fresher, and there's no sticky residue or streaks.

MOVA's 6-step cleaning process sprays, scrubs, suctions and even fluffs the mop fibres mid-cycle to keep performance consistent. The EdgeXtend and FlexBrush features let Herbie reach into corners and along skirting boards better than any mop I've ever handled.

Even better? The system captures 99.5% of dust and debris with 19,000Pa suction.

Our home, once coated in a fine layer of dog fur and everyday dust, is now almost immaculate.

Simple to use and easy to adjust to

Setup was a breeze, and Herbie came with floor detergent ready to go.

The base station alerts us when the water or dust bag needs attention, and everything is easy to change or refill.

Voice commands work well too. We just ask, and off Herbie goes. He listens. He understands. He obeys. That's more than I can say for most appliances (or even pets).

What are the drawbacks?

Of course, he's not perfect. Herbie often needs to recharge between vacuuming and mopping, which breaks the illusion of full autonomy. The suction, while good, isn't quite as powerful as a manual vacuum - especially on carpet, where I find he sometimes struggles.

Battery life could be better, too. After two or three rounds around the house, he's ready for a nap. But give him a full charge, and he's noticeably more effective.

On hard floors, though, Herbie shines. He's quieter on wood, a bit louder on concrete, but always gets the job done.

The future of cleaning is here

There's no doubt that the Z50 Ultra is a serious investment - but one that, in our case, has already paid off. We no longer need a cleaner. The house smells better, looks cleaner, and feels calmer. And we spend less time thinking about chores.

If you've ever fantasised about a robot to help around the house, this is it. MOVA's Z50 Ultra isn't just smart - it's dependable, intuitive, and strangely endearing.

Harvey Norman is currently offering a discounted price of AUD $2,099, meaning you can save $900 off the RRP.

We never expected to fall in love with a vacuum. But little Herbie has won us over.

He's not just our helper, he's also part of the family.