Eko Astro slim sensor bin review: gadget bathroom upgrade drops to £39.99 (aff)
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This affordable motion sensor bin delivers quiet performance clever design and a surprisingly premium feel for under £40
I never thought I'd get excited about testing a bin before. But this is no ordinary bin, it's a gadget bin.
It's the Astro Slim Sensor Bin by Eko, and it's one of the most affordable sensor bins I've seen.
It costs just £39.99, if you can catch a deal on the Eko website, and it's one of the best-quality sensor bins I've used. I've got a couple of similarly-priced ones in my house I bought from Amazon, and they're a world apart.
It's also a very appealing shape. For a 10-litre bin, it's nice and slim, with a curved top and a smart display on the front.
When you take it out of the box, you'll find some instructions, a roll of liners, and some instructions.
What you don't find, is a pair of AA batteries. And that's a shame, because it needs really decent Alkaline batteries. No getting away with cheap cells from the pound shop.
The liners that are included are really high quality, and you don't need to replenish them with Eko branded bags, but I think I might.
Pop your pricey batteries in and you're all set up. By default it starts in a sensor mode, which is incredibly intelligent. It reacts instantly to your hand moving towards it, but unlike some sensor bins it doesn't trigger accidentally.
There's a manual opening mode which leaves the lid open, but you'll mostly be using the sensor.
And, when you do, you'll be amazed by how quiet it is. For all intents and purposes the retraction of the two-part lid is completely silent. It's really impressive. It opens quickly and smoothly, and nobody knows you're using it.
Changing the liner is a doddle, thanks to the internal liner ring that holds it in place.
I've always been a fan of gadgets that just sit quietly and do their job reliably, whenever you need them to. And this is definitely in that camp.
Barring the expensive taste in batteries, there is absolutely nothing to dislike about this bin. It's the cheapest in a big range of sensor bins sold by Eko, and if you need to go bigger, prices can top £200. But for just £39.99, this is a fabulous addition to a bathroom.
Eko's free delivery kicks in at £40, so the Astro Slim Sensor Bin unfortunately just undercuts that while it's on offer. But there are so many nice products in the range you might find yourself tempted to add something else to your basket. I know I would be.