Oneisall Ease S1 review: Finally, a smart litter box that doesn’t cost an arm and a paw

Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source, fist announced at CES earlier this year, seemed to be exactly what I (and I think many other cat parents) are looking for: a smart litter box that can scoop, sift, and sort clean litter from waste for you.

Also: Whisker Litter-Robot 5 Pro review: This $900 litter box may be almost too high-tech for me

In theory, robot litter boxes sound great, but this market is so small, there are few options to compare. Also, they are usually pricey. Whisker’s Litter-Robot 5 Pro retails for $899, and the older Litter-Robot 4 for $699. My cats are spoiled beyond belief, but those prices were out of the question — even for me. 

The Oneisall Ease S1, however, is on sale on Amazon for $229

The inside “scoop” 

Here’s the thing. I love my pets, but I have no desire to track their individual bathroom habits or weights, which are some of the more advanced features offered by the Whisker Litter Robot 5 Pro and other models. 

That’s not to say these tools aren’t helpful for some cat families or for disabled or ill kitties, but it’s not a necessity for me, so there’s no reason to consider a $600+ robot litter box when, at the end of the day, I just want a reliable box to scoop and sift so I don’t have to. I think that’s what the market had been missing — a fairly priced, functional robot box that just scoops and sifts — no extra bells and whistles or app setup required.

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The Oneisall Ease S1 sifts and sorts clean litter from waste, either on manual command or automatically, five minutes after a cat uses the box. And it really sifts. The hinged compartment swings all the way upside down to get everything out. The first time I saw the sifter in action, I felt like I was watching a rocket launch. It was a modern marvel, for me at least, and my cats were enthralled, too. It’s quiet (less than 45 dB), quick, and, most importantly, clean. 

A large gripe with other auto-boxes is the cleaning process. Even though these boxes can scoop for you, they still need regular cleaning and maintenance. And it can be tricky to clean such large, heavy boxes with electrical components. Oneisall’s open design makes this process quite easy. 

Also: Everything you need for a smart pet setup

The stainless steel sifter can be hosed off, and since the rest of the box is modular, every crevice and corner can be cleaned. Elevated touches like the silicone pan liner help make cleaning easier, too. Another bonus of the Oneisall S1 system is replacements of all the accessories