How to Create a Custom Instagram Photo Feed in WordPress
Do you want to create a custom Instagram feed in WordPress? An Instagram feed can keep your site fresh and engaging while also getting you more likes, shares, and Instagram followers. In this article, we will show you how to create a custom Instagram photo feed for your WordPress website. Why Include an Instagram Feed on Your WordPress Site? Adding an Instagram feed on your WordPress site lets you show fresh content to your visitors without lots of extra work. It also encourages readers to follow you on Instagram. Instead of manually adding images in the WordPress block editor, you can simply create a feed that updates automatically every time you post new photos to Instagram. You can even show other people’s photos on your site by creating a hashtag feed. In the following image, you can see an example of a brand that uses a custom Instagram feed to show user-generated content. In this way, you...
Do you want to create a custom Instagram feed in WordPress?An Instagram feed can keep your site fresh and engaging while also getting you more likes, shares, and Instagram followers. In this article, we will show you how to create a custom Instagram photo feed for your WordPress website.
Why Include an Instagram Feed on Your WordPress Site?
Adding an Instagram feed on your WordPress site lets you show fresh content to your visitors without lots of extra work. It also encourages readers to follow you on Instagram.Instead of manually adding images in the WordPress block editor, you can simply create a feed that updates automatically every time you post new photos to Instagram. You can even show other people’s photos on your site by creating a hashtag feed.In the following image, you can see an example of a brand that uses a custom Instagram feed to show user-generated content. In this way, you can use a custom Instagram feed to provide valuable social proof and make more money online. That being said, let’s see how you can create a custom Instagram photo feed in WordPress.
How to Create a Custom Instagram Photo Feed in WordPress
The easiest way to add an Instagram photo feed to your site is by using the Smash Balloon Instagram Feed plugin. It is the best Instagram plugin for WordPress that allows you to display content from your Instagram account in an instant.It’s also the easiest way to fix the Facebook and Instagram oEmbed issue in WordPress.We will cover several steps in our tutorial, and you can use the quick links below to jump to the different sections:
How to Connect an Instagram Account to WordPress
How to Customize Your Instagram Photo Feed
Showing a Feed of Your Instagram Photos in WordPress
Bonus: Let Customers Buy Your Products Through Instagram
How to Connect an Instagram Account to WordPress
First, you will need to install and activate the Smash Balloon Instagram Feed plugin. For more details, see our step-by-step guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.Note: In the guide, we are using the premium version of Smash Balloon, as it allows you to create a completely custom Instagram feed. with hashtag feeds and shoppable images. If you are just getting started or have a small budget, then there’s also a free Smash Balloon Social Photo Feed plugin.After you’ve installed the plugin, head over to Instagram Feed » Settings.You can now enter your Smash Balloon license key into the ‘License Key’ field.You can find this information in the confirmation email you got when you purchased Smash Balloon and also in your Smash Balloon account. After adding your license key, go ahead and click on the ‘Activate’ b***on.Once you’ve done that, you are ready to create a custom Instagram feed. To get started, select Instagram Feed » All Feeds and then click on the ‘Add New’ b***on.Smash Balloon will now show all the different types of Instagram feeds that you can create. Simply select the type of feed you want to add to WordPress, and click on ‘Next’.If you just want to display your Instagram photos, then you can use a Personal Instagram account. However, you will need a Business Instagram account if you want to create a hashtag feed or show the posts that your account is tagged in. Tip: Don’t have a Business Account? To convert your Personal Instagram account into a Business Account, simply follow Smash Balloon’s step-by-step instructions.If you select ‘Publish Hashtag’, then you will need to type in the hashtags you want to use. To show multiple hashtags in the same feed, simply separate each hashtag with a comma.Once you have done that, just click on ‘Next’.Do you want to show posts that your account is tagged in? You will need to select ‘Tagged Posts’ instead and then click on ‘Next’.No matter what kind of feed you are creating, you will need to connect WordPress to your Instagram account.To get started, click on the ‘Add Source’ b***on.After that, choose whether you want to show images from a personal or business account.If you select the b***on next to ‘Personal’, then Smash Balloon won’t include the Instagram avatar and bio in your header by default. However, you can always add the Instagram avatar and bio manually in the plugin’s settings.After choosing ‘Personal’ or ‘Business’, just click on ‘Login with Facebook’.You can now select the Instagram account that you want to feature on your WordPress website and click on ‘Next’.After that, check the box next to the Facebook page that’s linked to the Instagram account you want to use.With that done, you need to click on the ‘Next’ b***on.You will now see a popup with all the information Instagram Feed Pro will have access to and the actions it can perform.To restrict the plugin’s access to your Instagram account, simply click any of the switches to turn it from ‘Yes’ to ‘No’. Just be aware that this may affect the photos that appear on your WordPress blog or website.With that in mind, we recommend leaving all the switches enabled. When you are happy with how the feed is set up, go ahead and click on ‘Done’.You will now see a popup with the Instagram account you just added to your website.Simply check the box next to that account and then click on ‘Add’.Instagram Feed Pro will now take you back to the Instagram Feeds » All Feeds screen.To create a custom Instagram feed, just check the box next to the Instagram account that you want to use. Then, click on ‘Next’.The plugin will now create an Instagram photo feed that you can add to any page, post, or widget-ready area.
How to Customize Your Instagram Photo Feed
By default, Smash Balloon will open your feed in its editor, ready for you to customize.On the right, you will see a preview of your Instagram photo feed. On the left-hand side are all the settings you can use to customize the social media feed.Most of these settings are self-explanatory, but we will quickly cover some key areas.To change the layout, simply click on ‘Feed Layout’ in the left-hand menu. You can now choose from a Grid, Masonry, or Carousel layout. There is also a Highlighted layout that highlights every third photo by default. As you click on the different options, the live preview will automatically update to show the new layout. This makes it easy to try different designs and find the one you prefer.By default, Smash Balloon shows the same number of photos on desktop computers and mobile devices. You can preview how the Instagram feed will look on desktop computers, tablets, and smartphones using the row of b***ons in the upper-right corner.Smartphones and tablets typically have smaller screens and less processing power, so you may want to show fewer Instagram photos and videos on mobile devices.To do this, just type a different number into the ‘Mobile’ field under ‘Number of Posts’.By default, Smash Ballon will split your photos into 4 columns on desktop, 2 columns on tablet devices, and a single column on mobile.Do you want to use a different number of columns? Then just scroll to the ‘Columns’ section in the left-hand menu. You can now type a new number into the Desktop, Tablet, or Mobile fields. To make sure your Instagram feed looks good on mobile devices, it’s smart to view the mobile version of your WordPress website.After making your changes, click on the ‘Customize’ link. This will take you back to the main Smash Balloon editor, ready for you to explore the next settings screen, which is ‘Color Scheme’.By default, Smash Balloon uses a color scheme inherited from your WordPress theme, but it also has ‘Light’ and ‘Dark’ themes that you may want to use for your Instagram feed. You can even create your own color scheme by selecting ‘Custom’ and then using the settings to change the link color, background color, text color in WordPress, and more.By default, Smash Balloon adds a header to the Instagram feed, which is your profile picture and the name of your page. This can provide some useful extra context so that visitors understand where these images are coming from.To change how this section looks, return to the main settings screen and then select ‘Header’.On this screen, you can change the background color, show your Instagram bio, change the header size, and more.By default, the header includes your Instagram profile picture. However, you may want to show a different image, such as your site’s custom logo.To change the profile picture, click on ‘Add Image’ under ‘Show custom avatar’. You can then either choose an image from the WordPress media library or upload a new photo.You can also add a different bio. For example, you might add a call to action that encourages people to visit your Instagram page. To create a unique Instagram bio, simply type into the ‘Add custom bio’ box.When you are happy with how the header looks, click on the ‘Customize’ link to go back to the main settings screen.Now, you need to click on ‘Posts’.To start, you can switch between boxed and regular layouts for the individual posts inside the Instagram feed.To do this, select ‘Post Style’.You can now click to select the layout you want to use.If you select ‘Boxed’, then you can change the background color, add a box shadow, and increase the border radius to create curved corners.When you are happy with your changes, just click on the ‘Posts’ link to return to the previous Smash Balloon screen.This time, select ‘Images and Videos’.Smash Balloon automatically a***yzes your Instagram photos and shows them at the best resolution. We recommend using these default settings, as they are designed to boost your WordPress speed and performance. However, you can make the Instagram images bigger or smaller if you need to.To change the image size, simply open the ‘Resolution’ dropdown and choose one of the default WordPress image sizes from the list.Once again, click on the ‘Posts’ link to return to the previous screen. This time, select ‘Caption’. On the next screen, you can show the Instagram caption next to each image by clicking on the ‘Enable’ slider.If you add Instagram captions to your feed, then you can change the text size and color and set a maximum text length.With that done, just click on the ‘Posts’ link to return to the previous screen.The next setting is ‘Like and Comment Summary’.Here, you can add or hide the total number of likes and comments on each image. If your Instagram posts get a good amount of engagement, then these numbers can encourage people to visit your Instagram page or start following you on social media.As always, you need to click on ‘Posts’ to return to the earlier screen.The final option is ‘Hover State’, which is the overlay that Smash Balloon adds to a post when you hover your mouse over it.Here, you can choose the information that Smash Balloon shows when someone hovers over a post using the settings under ‘Information to display’.You can also change the color of the hover overlay.When you are happy with the changes you have made, click on the ‘Customize’ link. This takes you back to the main Smash Balloon settings page, where you can click on ‘Load More b***on’.Here, you can help the ‘Load More’ b***on stand out by changing its background color, text color, and hover state.You can also try adding your own messaging to the b***on by typing into the ‘Text’ field.While we recommend leaving this b***on enabled, you can remove it. For example, you might encourage people to visit your Instagram by limiting the number of photos they can see on your site.To remove the b***on, simply toggle off the ‘Enable’ slider so that it turns grey.If visitors like what they see, they may decide to subscribe using the ‘Follow on Instagram’ b***on that appears below the embedded feed.Since it’s such an important b***on, you might want to add some custom styling to help it stand out. To do this, select ‘Customize’ to return to the main settings screen. Then, select ‘Follow b***on’ in the left-hand menu.Here, you can change the b***on’s background color, hover state, and text color.By default, the b***on shows a ‘Follow on Instagram’ label.You can replace this with your own messaging by typing into the ‘Text’ field.Smash Balloon comes with a built-in lightbox that allows visitors to open your Instagram photos and videos without leaving your website.To configure this feature, go back to the main Smash Balloon settings screen and then click on ‘Lightbox’.Here, you can change how many comments Smash Balloon will show in the lightbox. If you don’t want to use the lightbox feature, then you can disable it using the ‘Enable’ slider.When you are happy with how the Instagram feed looks, don’t forget to click on ‘Save’ to store your changes.You are now ready to add the Instagram feed to your WordPress website.
Showing a Feed of Your Instagram Photos in WordPress
You can add the custom Instagram feed to your website using a block, a widget, or a shortcode.If you have created more than one feed using Smash Balloon, then you will need to know the feed’s code to use a widget or block.To get this code, you must go to Instagram Feed » All Feeds and then copy the text under ‘Shortcode.’ In the following image, we will need to use instagram-feed feed=4.If you want to embed the Instagram feed in a page or post, then you can use the Instagram Feed block.Just open the page or post where you want to embed your custom Instagram feed. Then, click on the ‘+’ icon to add a new block and start typing ‘Instagram Feed’.When the right block appears, click to add it to the page or post.The block will show one of your Instagram feeds by default. If you want to show a different Smash Balloon feed, then find ‘Shortcode Settings’ in the right-hand menu.Here, simply add the shortcode and then click on ‘Apply Changes.’If you are happy with how the custom Instagram feed looks, then you can go ahead and publish or update the page.Another option is to add the Instagram Feed widget to your website. This is a great way to show an Instagram feed on every page of your site. For example, you might add the Instagram widget to the WordPress theme’s sidebar or footer.To add the Instagram Feed widget to your site, head over to Appearance » Widgets. You can then click on the blue ‘+’ icon towards the top of the screen.In the panel that appears, type in ‘Instagram Feed’ to find the right widget. As you can see in the following image, there are two Instagram Feed widgets, so make sure you use the right one.Next, simply drag the widget onto the area where you want to show the Instagram feed, such as the sidebar or similar section.The widget will automatically show one of the feeds you created using Smash Balloon. If this isn’t the custom Instagram feed you just created, then type the feed’s code into the ‘Shortcode Settings’ box.After that, click on ‘Apply Changes.’You can now make the widget live by clicking on the ‘Update’ b***on. For more information, please see our step-by-step guide on how to add and use widgets in WordPress.Another option is embedding the Instagram feed on any page, post, or widget-ready area using a shortcode.Simply go to Instagram Feed » All Feeds and copy the code in the ‘Shortcode’ column. You can now add this code to any Shortcode block. For help placing the shortcode, please see our guide on how to add a shortcode.Are you using a block-enabled theme? Then you can use the full site editor to add the Instagram Feed block anywhere on your WordPress website.In the dashboard, go to Appearance » Editor.By default, the full-site editor will show the theme’s home template.If you want to add the Instagram feed to a different area, then click on either ‘Template’ or ‘Template Parts’.The editor will now show a list of all the template parts that make up your WordPress theme.Simply click on the template where you want to show the Instagram feed.WordPress will now show a preview of the design.To edit this template, go ahead and click on the small pencil icon.After choosing a template, just hover your mouse over the area where you want to add the Instagram photo feed.Then, click on the blue ‘+’ b***on.Once you have done that, you need to type in ‘Instagram Feed’.When the right block appears, click to add it to the template.As always, Smash Balloon will show a feed by default. You can change this feed by adding a shortcode following the same process described above.
Bonus: Let Customers Buy Your Products Through Instagram
If you have an online store, then you can also use your custom Instagram feed to easily sell your products. Smash Balloon Instagram Feed Pro allows you to tag your Instagram images with product links so that users are able to click on them and buy them directly instead of navigating through your product pages. This can increase sales and boost profits in your store.For more details, you can see our complete guide on how to add Instagram shoppable images in WordPress.We hope this article helped you learn how to create a custom Instagram feed in WordPress. You might also want to see our comparison of the best WordPress giveaway plugins to grow your social following and learn how to create an email newsletter. If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.The post How to Create a Custom Instagram Photo Feed in WordPress first appeared on WPBeginner.
OpenClaw promised a self-hosted AI a**istant I could actually leave running, but Hermes Agent is the one that delivers it
OpenClaw's security model is broken by design. The development process is a flood of AI-written PRs being merged with seemingly minimal review, and the maintainer's response to documented vulnerabilities was to say that the project is a hobby and that people should send patches if they want those things fixed....
OpenClaw's security model is broken by design. The development process is a flood of AI-written PRs being merged with seemingly minimal review, and the maintainer's response to documented vulnerabilities was to say that the project is a hobby and that people should send patches if they want those things fixed. Nvidia's NemoClaw improves the runtime posture around OpenClaw, but it doesn't make OpenClaw itself a well-designed trust boundary. It wraps the agent, and it doesn't change the fact that the core project trained users to connect a broad set of services to a system that historically treated local trust, stored credentials, and plugin execution too casually.
Clinton Ramos United Kingdom
Published by: aplhsindia.in
Microsoft is scrapping SMS 2-factor authentication because it’s “a leading source of fraud”
While having two-factor authentication (2FA) enabled is always safer than not having it, not all methods are equal. We're used to the trusty SMS 2FA method, where a company sends you a text during the login process and asks you to enter a code. However, when a security measure goes...
While having two-factor authentication (2FA) enabled is always safer than not having it, not all methods are equal. We're used to the trusty SMS 2FA method, where a company sends you a text during the login process and asks you to enter a code. However, when a security measure goes on long enough without any major revamps, bad actors find ways to get around it.
Sophia Wilson Atlanta
Published by: aplhsindia.in
LG will release the first 1000Hz, 1080p gaming monitor this year
If you just can't choose between refresh rate and resolution, LG's next gaming monitor could solve your problem, as the UltraGear 25G590B monitor is the first one announced that will be capable of a native 1000Hz refresh rate at 1,920 x 1,080 resolution. So far, the 1,000Hz models we've seen...
If you just can't choose between refresh rate and resolution, LG's next gaming monitor could solve your problem, as the UltraGear 25G590B monitor is the first one announced that will be capable of a native 1000Hz refresh rate at 1,920 x 1,080 resolution. So far, the 1,000Hz models we've seen have only been capable of 720p at the most, but this 24.5-inch IPS display does not have that limitation, as the company says it's ready for esports competitors (whether they're in an FPS or Excel), who need maximum responsiveness.We were already asking if anyone could feel the effect of higher refresh rates a few years ago when they hovered around 360 …Read the full story at The Verge.
Nemanja Ćirić Serbia
Published by: aplhsindia.in
Google I/O 2026: How to watch and what to expect
Google's annual developer conference has arrived. We're expecting plenty of updates to Gemini, Search, and every other product that Google has stuffed AI inside of. The keynote kicks off later today - here's what to expect. When Google I/O will happen and where you can watch it Google I/O starts...
Google's annual developer conference has arrived. We're expecting plenty of updates to Gemini, Search, and every other product that Google has stuffed AI inside of. The keynote kicks off later today - here's what to expect.When Google I/O will happen and where you can watch itGoogle I/O starts at 10AM PT / 1PM ET today, May 19th, with a keynote presentation, which will be livestreamed on Google's YouTube channel and on the Google I/O site. Unlike last week's Android Show, the I/O keynote is usually pretty long, around two hours, so plan accordingly if you're hoping to watch the whole thing. The Verge will also be covering the event liv …Read the full story at The Verge.
Christoffer Olsen Denmark
Published by: aplhsindia.in
Marshall brings ANC back to its smaller on-ear wireless headphones
Marshall’s latest headphones carry forward the brand’s distinctive textured leather finish. | Image: Marshall Marshall's first headphones with active noise canceling were the Marshall Mid A.N.C. first launched in 2018. Its current lineup only offers noise canceling on its larger over-ear Monitor III A.N.C. headphones, but its new Milton A.N.C....
Marshall’s latest headphones carry forward the brand’s distinctive textured leather finish. | Image: Marshall Marshall's first headphones with active noise canceling were the Marshall Mid A.N.C. first launched in 2018. Its current lineup only offers noise canceling on its larger over-ear Monitor III A.N.C. headphones, but its new Milton A.N.C. bring the feature back to Marshall's smaller and lighter on-ear options. The wireless headphones are available today for $229.99 through Marshall's online store, but availability will expand to other "select retailers" starting on May 27th.That makes the new Milton A.N.C. $70 more expensive than the on-ear Marshall Major V, which have a similar compact design and offer over 100 hours of wireless playtime. Th …Read the full story at The Verge.
Jerónimo Llamas Mexico
Published by: aplhsindia.in
Xbox fans want exclusives, more backward compatibility, and free online multiplayer
Microsoft launched a new Xbox Player Voice portal yesterday, aiming to collect feedback from fans and "make it more visible." It certainly hasn't taken long for Xbox fans to make their feedback very clear. The most upvoted feedback on Xbox Player Voice demands exclusive games for Xbox consoles, more backward...
Microsoft launched a new Xbox Player Voice portal yesterday, aiming to collect feedback from fans and "make it more visible." It certainly hasn't taken long for Xbox fans to make their feedback very clear. The most upvoted feedback on Xbox Player Voice demands exclusive games for Xbox consoles, more backward compatible games, and free online multiplayer.Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has already promised that she's "reevaluating" the approach to Xbox-exclusive games and windowed releases of titles, but there has been no firm commitment to reverse the decision to port games to PlayStation and Nintendo Switch. "Xbox was built off of great game exclusi …Read the full story at The Verge.
سارا حیدری Iran
Published by: aplhsindia.in
AMD keeps following Nvidia’s playbook, and it’s setting back Radeon years of progress
When you look at a market, you gauge whether it is healthy or not based on two things: the choice that exists for consumers, and the value that's offered to them. To an extent, it's also defined by meaningful differentiation between competitors, with healthy pricing emerging as a natural consequence...
When you look at a market, you gauge whether it is healthy or not based on two things: the choice that exists for consumers, and the value that's offered to them. To an extent, it's also defined by meaningful differentiation between competitors, with healthy pricing emerging as a natural consequence of competition rather than tacit alignment between the major players in it. When these criteria are met, the consumer benefits.
Coşkun Erginsoy Turkey
Published by: aplhsindia.in
I tested every AI vibe-coding tool to finish a real project, and they all choke at the same point
Vibe-coding tools have been having a moment, and honestly the appeal makes a lot of sense. As a novice designer who's actually studying design right now, I've been pulled toward them the same way everyone else has - there's something genuinely interesting about watching a natural language prompt turn into...
Vibe-coding tools have been having a moment, and honestly the appeal makes a lot of sense. As a novice designer who's actually studying design right now, I've been pulled toward them the same way everyone else has - there's something genuinely interesting about watching a natural language prompt turn into a working interface. And the demographic is broad. Developers use these tools, people who've never touched a terminal use these tools, and somewhere in the middle is me, dragging design briefs into the chat to see what comes out.
Olivia Miller Seattle
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Microsoft finally admits the Copilot key wasn’t a great idea, and it’ll let you change it back soon
Back when Microsoft was going all-in on Copilot, we saw an update to the Windows keyboard for the first time in years. The update took the Right Ctrl key and turned it into a Copilot key. That way, you always have easy access to Microsoft's AI assistant; just give the...
Back when Microsoft was going all-in on Copilot, we saw an update to the Windows keyboard for the first time in years. The update took the Right Ctrl key and turned it into a Copilot key. That way, you always have easy access to Microsoft's AI assistant; just give the Copilot key a press, and it'll pop up.
Boris Hass Germany
Published by: aplhsindia.in
These are the robot vacuum-mops I recommend for every type of home
Me and my friends. | Photo: Rose Tuohy / The Verge Inviting a robot vacuum-mop into your life is a big decision. An autonomous floor-cleaning machine roaming your home is equal parts glorious and intrusive. But if it does its job well, you may forgive it for eating your rug...
Me and my friends. | Photo: Rose Tuohy / The Verge Inviting a robot vacuum-mop into your life is a big decision. An autonomous floor-cleaning machine roaming your home is equal parts glorious and intrusive. But if it does its job well, you may forgive it for eating your rug tassel, running over your Apple Watch, smearing strawberry jam across your carpet, or chattering to you in Chinese at 3AM — all things that have happened to me in my six years of testing these things.Over that time, I’ve learned that the best robot vacuum-mop is the one most likely to consistently vacuum and mop your floors with the least intervention. And doing that depends far more on your house than on a spec sheet. The first thing I ask someone who wants to buy a robot vacuum is to describe their house. What is your flooring type, how many rugs do you have, what’s the furniture style, are there big room transitions, and how is the home laid out? All these details factor into which robot will work best for you.Here, I’m going to tell you which robot vacuum-mop I would pick for my home and why, and then go through those I would choose for other common home scenarios — from all-wood floors with the occasional throw rug to a home with wall-to-wall carpet and tile floors. These recommendations aren’t from lab tests or spec sheets; they’re based on actually living with these bots. First, let’s set expectations. Robot floor cleaners have improved significantly in the last few years, especially for mopping. Many can now “scrub” your floors instead of just dragging a damp cloth around your house. But they still don’t clean as well as picking up a vacuum and a mop yourself, and they are far from hands-off. Most still struggle with corners, baseboards, tight spaces, and dried-on messes, and all of them need maintenance — mopping robots even more so than vacuum-only models. But if these tradeoffs are worth it to you, these robots will keep dirt, dust, and pet hair under control with far less effort on your part.The biggest decision when choosing a robot vacuum-mop is the mop design. In my testing, spinning mops work best on textured flooring like tile; roller mops are excellent for hardwood or vinyl; and flat vibrating pads are gentler and use less water, making them better for floors that require a delicate touch. Each design has its tradeoffs, but the best choice comes down to which one is most likely to get the job done in your house.Other things I look for in a capable robovac that can mop are:reliable obstacle detectionautomatic carpet sensingthe ability to remove, cover, or raise the mop when on carpeta mop that can extend into corners and along edges a dock with hot water washing and hot air dryingI’m not convinced by the new AI-powered stain detection feature several models offer; in my tests, it’s been inconsistent. And while some have neat pet-specific options, all the robots I recommend do a good job cleaning up after your critters — I have two cats and an 80-pound dog who will agree.For this article, I tested 16 robot vacuum mops, and these are the ones I recommend.The robot vacuum mop I would buy for my complicated house The house: I live in an older three-story house with mostly small rooms, hardwood floors, and several high-pile rugs, including a thick tasseled one in my living room. I remember thinking it was the ideal robot trap when I bought it. We have four bathrooms, all with different tile floors and some with incredibly high transitions. I have pets and live with my spouse and two teenage children — so clutter and dust devils are a daily battle. I work from home, which is a big consideration when buying a robot vacuum mop — many are noisy and need to be shut off during important meetings.MaticScore: 9ProsConsExcellent on carpet, great moppingSuperb mapping and navigationMaps and processes data locallyMops up large wet spillsThe least annoying robot vacuum you can buyProprietary, expensive bagsCan’t get under low furnitureEdge cleaning is spottyCan’t mop and vac simultaneouslyWhere to Buy: $1245 at MaticThe robot: The Matic is the best robot mop for my house because of its superb navigation, impressive vacuuming power, methodical mopping using a long roller mop, and unmatched skill at not being deeply annoying. It gets the job done 9 times out of 10, which is better than any other bot. The only thing that trips it up is when its bag is full, but it will still vacuum if its water tank is empty, something only a couple of other models will do.As someone who runs a lot of robots around her home, I appreciate the Matic because it’s the lowest-maintenance bot on this list. Instead of a big multifunctional dock that most mopping bots use, it carries its water tank around and dumps dirty water into its onboard dust bag, where it’s absorbed by diaper crystals. This means no dock to clean or dirty water tank to empty. The Matic does require regular refilling, but it will park itself at the sink when it needs water.SpecsHeight: 7.8 inchesMop type: rollerBrush type: single, rubberSuction power: 3,200Pa Matic’s large wheels mean it can traverse nearly all the transitions in my home and get onto my big rug — though it did win a battle with one of my rug tassels once. It also handles multiple floors smoothly, and it’s easy to carry up and down the stairs. Another bonus is that it doesn’t require Wi-Fi to work, and all mapping and processing is done locally.The downsides are that the Matic doesn’t do edge cleaning well. Its bags are proprietary and expensive, and it won’t run without one. Its mopping is slow, and it can’t mop and vacuum simultaneously. But the Matic is so quiet that you can let it run all day without it being annoying. Its height means it doesn’t get under my beds, but it does get under my coffee table and can push its head under the edges of my couch. I’ve largely given up on letting bots under there, as they all get tripped up by my high-pile rug and end tables that are a robot vacuum’s worst nightmare. Read my full review for more of my thoughts on Matic.For the clean, minimalist homeThe house: A clean, contemporary space with large, open-plan rooms, minimal clutter, lots of smooth engineered or vinyl floors, and some low-pile throw rugs.Narwal Flow 2Score: 7ProsConsSuperb mopping with warm waterWide, flat track mop for more coverageEffective obstacle detection and navigationGood dirt detection featureStruggles with higher pile rugs / transitionsOnly 10mm mop liftThought my tile floor was a carpetWhere to Buy: $1499.99 $1299.99 at Amazon $1499.99 $1299.99 at NarwalThe robot: The Narwal Flow 2 is my recommendation for a home with lots of hard floors, an uncomplicated layout, and the occasional rug. It’s an excellent mopping bot, something Narwal is known for, and it’s the only model on this list with a wide-track roller mop, so it covers more surface area. It’s also a very good vacuum that did well in all my tests, with impressive lidar- and camera-based navigation and obstacle detection. It’s a better option than the Matic if you want a bot that will get under low furniture, but it struggled with taller transitions and thick carpets. It navigated my test area — my lower floor, mostly hardwood with one low-pile rug, one tile room, and minimal furniture — without getting stuck or lost.SpecsHeight: 3.5 inchesMop type: roller mopBrush type: single rubber/bristleSuction power: 30,000Pa As with most of the new roller mops, the Flow 2 is self-cleaning, helping avoid cross-contamination by spraying fresh water on the mop as it works. This also means fewer trips back to the base station than bots with spinning mop pads, which need to go home to clean them. Roller mops cover more area than spinning mop pads, which can sometimes leave faint streaking from the gap between them, and the Flow 2 uses hot water to mop, which did a better job on my sticky jam tests than any other model. The downside is that roller mops can’t be removed like spinning pads, and the Flow 2’s can only lift 10mm, so it’s not a good option if you have thicker rugs and carpet. Roller mops don’t clean edges as well, and corners and baseboards are largely neglected. Even with the mop extension on the Narwal that gets close to the wall, it’s not as effective as spinning mop pads. Like all roller mops, the Narwal is heavier and bulkier than other vacuum-mop combos because it has to carry the infrastructure to continuously clean the roller, which is why it does best in less cluttered homes without big transitions to navigate. But if you have a large area of wood flooring with low-pile rugs, it will keep them spotless. I particularly like Flow 2’s dirt-detection feature, which goes back over areas it “sees” have heavier stains or debris. It’s neat to see it stop, back up, and tackle a spot more thoroughly. I’ve tried a few models that claim to detect stains or dirt, and Narwal is hands down the best, though it’s far from perfect.The Narwal’s sleek gray base station fits well in a more contemporary living space, and it features hot-water washing and hot-air drying. This is an important feature for bots with multifunctional docks — without it, base stations get gross fast.One quirk to be aware of: the Narwal kept thinking my hexagonal-tiled bathroom floor was carpet, so it wouldn’t mop there. No matter how many times I told the app to ignore the “carpet,” it kept seeing it again in every run. A cheaper alternativeRoborock Qrevo Curv 2 FlowScore: 9ProsConsLong, self-cleaning roller mopImpressive pressure gets up dried stainsCompact, sleek dockRobot is bulkyCan get stuck in tight spacesMiddling obstacle detectionWhere to Buy: $999.99 $849.99 at Amazon $999.99 $849.99 at Best Buy $999.99 $849.99 at RoborockIf a roller mop appeals but you have tiled floors that Narwal might mistake for carpet and higher-pile rugs, the Roborock Qrevo Curv 2 Flow is a better option. While it’s bulkier and has weaker navigation and obstacle detection, it is less expensive, has a nice dock design, and has a retractable mop cover, which will keep higher-pile rugs dry when vacuuming, where the Narwal might struggle. You can read more of my thoughts on the Curv 2 Flow here. For the house with lots of robot trapsThe house: A traditional ranch house with multiple floor surfaces, hard flooring, rugs, and tile that result in high transitions between rooms and over floor coverings. Low-profile furniture, such as couches and beds with under 4 inches of clearance, can also work here.Roborock Saros 20Score: 9ProsConsCan climb high transitionsBest in class obstacle detectionLow profile gets under most furnitureGood edge cleaningExpensiveRoller brush not as effective on carpetMops don’t get very wet on standard cleanWhere to Buy: $1599.99 at Amazon $1599.99 at RoborockThe robot: Roborock’s latest flagship, the Saros 20, is the first robot vacuum I’ve tested that can both make it over the two-level, 2-inch transition between one of my bedrooms and the bathroom and handle my big living room rug. It uses two small leg-like appendages to heave itself over obstacles, and at just 3.13 inches tall with no lidar tower on top, its low profile means it can go more places.This maneuverability, combined with Roborock’s best-in-class obstacle avoidance, is what you’re paying for in this flagship bot, and it’s worth it for a robot that can clean every room and not get stuck. It would be the bot I would buy for my house if I couldn’t get the Matic or if I really wanted a robot to clean under my couch. SpecsHeight: 3.13 inchesMop type: dual spinning mop padsBrush type: DuoDivide rubber/bristle brushSuction power: 36,000PaThe Saros 20 uses two spinning mop pads rather than a roller mop, and features warm-water mopping (although I couldn’t really tell much difference from cold-water mopping). It can remove and reattach them automatically, and its lack of a heavy roller mop mechanism is in part why it can maneuver so well. It doesn’t put down as much water as a roller mop on a standard clean, which is better for hard floors, and its dual-spinning mop pads do an excellent job on tile floors (you can set it to use more water in these rooms). In my testing, I find that the texture of spinning pads makes them better able to clean along grout lines than roller mops, and they can extend outward at a greater angle, resulting in a better (but not perfect) clean along edges. The Saros 20 is a superb vacuum on hard floors; only the Matic does a better job getting up pet hair and everyday debris. It excelled in all my tests, and its duo-divide brush never got tangled. This is a newer type of brush I’m seeing on a lot of bots that is two smaller brushes positioned together with a gap between them to allow hair and fibers through. I find this brush system less effective on thicker-pile carpet, but still good. If you have lots of carpet, however, check out my next rec.For the carpet peopleThe house: A home with lots of rooms where most bedrooms and smaller rooms feature wall-to-wall carpet. Larger communal areas — such as the living room and kitchen — have hard floors and large area rugs, and bathrooms and utility rooms have tile or vinyl.Dreame X60 UltraScore: 8ProsConsClimbs over high transitionsReally good vacuuming on carpetGood mopping with warm waterAlmost silent mop washing and dryingExpensiveObstacle detection can be spottyMops don’t get very wet on standard clean Where to Buy: $1499.99 $1349.99 at Amazon $1499.99 $1399.99 at DreameThe robot: The Dreame X60 Ultra does an excellent job vacuuming carpet thanks to its two rubber brushes that move in opposite directions to better dislodge pet hair and dirt. The industry pushed suction power as a metric for years, but what actually makes a robot vacuum good, especially on carpet, is a combination of suction, brush type, and agitation. In my testing, I’ve found that two rubber roller brushes, pioneered by Roomba, are the best for cleaning carpet.SpecsHeight: 3.13 inchesMop type: dual spinning mop padsBrush type: dual rubber/bristle roller Suction power: 35,000PaThe Dreame X60 is also very mobile, able to climb over high transitions, such as a thick carpet or from room to room. It has a similar leg-like mechanism to the Saros 20. It’s also an excellent mop, with spinning mop pads that can extend outward to clean along edges, and the entire robot can swing slightly to reach farther under cabinets and consoles. Like the Saros 20, it claims warm-water mopping — but it’s more like lukewarm. Still, it did slightly better on sticky messes. Its mops auto-detach for carpet cleaning and, like the Saros 20, you can program exactly how you want it to do this to avoid cross-contamination — for example, have it vacuum carpets first, then go back and mop.The X60’s 3.13-inch profile allows it to maneuver under low furniture, and while its navigation and obstacle avoidance aren’t as good as the Saros 20, it does very well, and its carpet vacuuming was superior in my tests. Another bonus is that its mop washing and drying process is almost silent, a rare feature. If you don’t have very high transitions, the less expensive Dreame X50 Ultra will suit you fine, although its edge cleaning isn’t as good as the X60 Ultra. Read more of my thoughts on the X50 here.For apartments, townhomes, and tight cornersThe house: An apartment, townhome, or condo with multiple rooms, small spaces, and a mix of hard floors and rugs.Eufy Omni C28Score: 7ProsConsGreat moppingCompact dockManeuvers well for a roller-mop botPoor obstacle detectionVery loudNo mop extension or mop liftWhere to Buy: $799.99 $499.98 at Amazon $799.99 $499.98 at EufyThe robot: The Eufy C28 is a more affordable, more compact robot vacuum-mop that still offers several flagship features, making it perfect for smaller spaces. Its navigation is very good, and it cleans well, but the biggest downside is its obstacle detection, which is not great. It got tripped by cables, socks, and more in my testing because it doesn’t use a camera, unlike all the other models here. This is also why it’s cheaper, and it will appeal to those who don’t want a camera in their robot. SpecsHeight: 4.3 inchesMop type: roller mopBrush type: duo spiral rollerSuction power: 15,000PaFor a roller-mop bot, it is very nimble and climbs over the spindly legs of my lounger, which routinely trip up bigger, fancier robots. It did a good job on my dried oatmeal and carpet tests, and its duo spiral roller brush was tangle-free after a week of running on hard floors and rugs.The robot and the dock have a more utilitarian design and a chunkier profile, and it’s noisier overall — my cat leaves the room in disgust when it starts washing its mops. But it’s one of the least expensive self-cleaning roller mops you can buy, and while it can’t handle high-pile rugs — it only lifts its mop 10.8 mm — it does a really nice job on hardwood floors. There’s no mop extension, but its more squared off shape does get into corners and along edges well, plus it’s narrower than a lot of the flagships here, so it can get into tighter spots. The multifunction dock does everything the fancier ones do, including hot-water washing and hot-air drying, but it’s much more compact, making it a better fit for smaller spaces.For those who don’t want to spend a fortuneAll of these robot mops will do a great job for the homes I outlined, but most are eye-wateringly expensive. While I do think they are worth the money for the convenience and cleaning they bring, I would definitely wait for one of the frequent sales on robovacs to knock a few hundred dollars off. If you can’t wait or need to knock off more than a few hundred dollars, here are my recommendations for a less expensive robot vacuum and mop that sacrifice some features, but will work well for most of the scenarios described. (Except for rooms with high transitions — you’ll just have to pick it up).Dreame L40 UltraWhere to Buy: $699.99 at Amazon $799.99 at DreameThe Dreame L40 Ultra is a great option for a home with a mix of carpets and hard floors. Like the X60, it can auto-detach its spinning mop pads as well as extend them to reach along edges and under low furniture. It can’t climb over high transitions, but it has great obstacle detection and navigation for this price range. Its vacuuming prowess was similarly impressive, doing well on both carpet and hard floors. SpecsHeight: 4.10 inchesMop type: dual spinning mop padsBrush Type: Single rubber/bristleSuction power: 11,000paThe L40 Ultra’s multifunction dock also has hot-water washing and hot-air drying to help keep the dock cleaner and fresher. It’s a great all-rounder at a good price, and as is often the case, buying an older model from an established brand gets you many of the same features as a flagship model for less money. The L40 launched in 2024, so it can be hard to find. Dreame has since released the L40s and the L40 Gen 2, which are worth considering if you can find them on sale, which they nearly always are. They have most of the same features and increased suction power.Roborock Q10 S5 PlusScore: 8ProsConsInexpensiveGood moppingAI obstacle detectionAuto mop lift and auto carpet detectionVery wide botManual water fillingDocking can be spottyWhere to Buy: $549.99 $279.99 at Amazon (with Prime) $549.99 $279.99 at RoborockThe Roborock Q10 S5 Plus has many high-end features, including good obstacle detection and navigation, as well as automatic carpet detection. It also lifts its mop pad 8mm to go over rugs, none of which are features you’ll find in other bots at this price. My main caution with this robot is that it is very wide, so it is not great for more cluttered homes, but it will do well in open-plan spaces. SpecsHeight: 3.9 inchesMop type: flat, vibrating padBrush type: single, rubber bristle Suction power: 10,000PaThe Q10 S5 uses a different mopping system from the other picks: a flat vibrating pad. This is one Roborock has used for a while, and I’ve always found it to be very effective, especially for more delicate floor surfaces that you don’t want to get too wet, as the vibration lets it clean effectively with less water. (For a more advanced, more expensive robot with this flat-pad mop system, check out the Roborock Saros 10.)The Q10’s dock will recharge the bot and automatically empty its bin, but that’s it. It won’t refill the bot’s water tank or clean its mop pad, so you’ll have to do those chores yourself. If you don’t mind emptying the bot yourself, too, you can save $60 to $100 by opting for the model without the dock. Read my full review for more.Photos and video by Jennifer Pattison Tuohy / The Verge
Nils Brunet France
Published by: aplhsindia.in
Gemini is in danger of going full Copilot
I actually use the Gemini app quite a bit on my phone, but let’s not get carried away. Gemini has a creep problem. A few years ago, that little sparkle icon started showing up in all of our Google apps. Gemini in your inbox! Gemini in your Google Drive! It...
I actually use the Gemini app quite a bit on my phone, but let’s not get carried away. Gemini has a creep problem.A few years ago, that little sparkle icon started showing up in all of our Google apps. Gemini in your inbox! Gemini in your Google Drive! It was slow at first, and easy enough to tune out, but something has changed in the past few months. Gemini is creeping. It's showing up in all kinds of places at a relentless pace, and personally, it's starting to really cheese me off. The AI-everywhere fatigue is familiar to anyone who has ever used Windows 11. Microsoft went absolutely bananas putting Copilot shortcuts onto every surface it could find, to the extreme irritation of many users. Likewise, we will doubtlessly …Read the full story at The Verge.
Olivia Miller Seattle
Published by: aplhsindia.in
I run Snapcast on a Raspberry Pi, and it’s a Sonos replacement that cost me nothing
For multi-room home audio, I’ve had my eyes on Sonos for a while. Though expensive, the reviews said that it just works. When the Sonos app redesign removed features that many had been using for years, I paused my plans. Then, I learned about quiet cloud dependency. That makes you...
For multi-room home audio, I’ve had my eyes on Sonos for a while. Though expensive, the reviews said that it just works. When the Sonos app redesign removed features that many had been using for years, I paused my plans. Then, I learned about quiet cloud dependency. That makes you realize that you don’t really own anything, even after paying for it.