Hector: the connected cube test

Have you ever looked at the weather, prepared according to its forecasts, and realized that the weather is completely different from what was predicted? This is very frustrating and yet quite common. The solution? Have your own weather station. This is what Hector offers, the 100% French multi-functional connected cube.

A connected cube that can predict the weather is the main idea behind the Hector. In theory, this small machine should allow you to avoid the usual inconveniences when organizing an outing. A blue sky is announced? You can be sure it will rain. Thus, this product is intended to handle the forecasts itself. While he sometimes manages to surprise, it can be said that he does not keep all his promises, far from it.

• Brand: Hector
• Category: weather station, hydrometer and thermometer
• Connection: Bluetooth
• Compatibility: iOS and Android
• Price: 49€90
• Tested with: iPad

Unboxing of the Hector

This unboxing is intended to be temporary. Indeed, we were able to meet the creators of the small connected cube: Morgan Lavaux and Valentin Roy. They told us that they were rethinking the communication around their product. Indeed, rather than selling it as a weather station, they now plan to call it: a multi-functional connected cube.

The difference? The object is not only used to give weather forecasts, but also to manage places where the temperature is important, such as a cellar, a refrigerator or a baby's room for example.

As a result, the packaging will have to change, we have had exclusive access to the visuals of the next packaging.

For this test, we will unbox the current product packaging. It is a transparent plastic box through which the cardboard box containing the Hector can be distinguished. On the plastic box, information about the product's features is displayed on two sides.

The cardboard packaging, on the other hand, summarizes its contents, as well as the available connections and product compatibility. It contains the Hector, the suction cup to attach it where you plan to use it, a flat battery to operate it, and the user manual.

This is a very classic packaging for a product that is placed in an average price range. It will be necessary to see how the next packaging transforms the identity of the product and what quality it offers.

Design and ergonomics of the Hector

The Hector offers a very efficient design that stands out from the competition. It is a black and white cube pierced through and through on its white faces. The name of the product is written in white on one of the black faces with the typography of the product, which imitates handwritten writing.

It is a beautiful product that will perfectly fit into any interior. It is also very ergonomic. Its small size, coupled with the hole that runs through it, makes it easy to handle. In addition, it allows you to intelligently conceal the trapdoor that contains the battery.

The suction cup allows the product to be placed exactly as you wish (as long as the surface is suitable, of course). It will hold perfectly, even on the side. So if you don't have a place to put the Hector, you can always put it horizontally on a fridge or glass.

Unfortunately, these good points are not worth much when faced with a major problem: long-term use. And when we say "long-term", we are actually talking about a few months, or at least less than a year. Indeed, the device deteriorates quickly and a battery change does not solve the problem. So we quickly find ourselves with a non-functional machine, which is already not very resistant to rain. Thus, despite the promise of "being able to install it where you want", there is no waterproof protection. All it takes is one shower for the cube to be completely unusable.

Conclusion

The Hector has plenty of ideas: a small cube for forecasting the weather is a useful gadget. Its application is easy to access and its minimalist design is quite pleasant to the eye. In practice, however, the product is not convincing. Its construction is very unreliable and the device fails within a year of purchase. Far from resisting water, it deteriorates very quickly. In addition, there are real connection and usage problems that further affect the experience. Finally, the application, which offers little content, has an unfortunate tendency to close regularly for no reason. All these problems make an attractive price at the base too high, adding another black spot to the Hector.