Xiaomi Robot Vacuum Cleaner Review (“Xiaomi”) Mi Robot Vacuum: a confident application for leadership

Manufacturers of household appliances are pleased with the original models of robotic vacuum cleaners, which greatly simplify cleaning indoors. The well-known Chinese company Xiaomi, which promotes its product created on the basis of the Mijia ecosystem, is also trying to keep up with its competitors.

One of such high-tech developments is the Mi Robot Vacuum. The device stands out from the competition of powerful batteries, a well-thought-out orientation system and the ability to control via a smartphone. Agree, there are a lot of arguments in favor of the unit, so for those who are looking for such an assistant, we advise you to take a closer look at it.

We offer an overview of the operation of the Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum vacuum cleaner with a description of its appearance, functionality and specifics of operation. User assessment and comparison of the model with its closest competitors will help to decide on the feasibility of buying robotics from Xiaomi.

Appearance and features of use

Having bought the device, you will get a considerable box with a vacuum cleaner, a brush for the dust filter, a charger and an instruction manual.

As for robotic vacuum cleaners, the design is pretty standard - a kind of white plate with a diameter of about 35 cm and a height of 10 cm.

The only significant difference in the appearance of the Xiaomi vacuum cleaner robot is the appearance of a laser sensor. It is placed on a small platform that carries out 5 revolutions in a second.

The sensor analyzes the placement of objects in the room and draws up a cleaning plan. The sensor is safe for both humans and pets.

The motor of the robotic vacuum cleaner produces a minimum of noise.It ensures the efficient operation of the device even with the most problematic soiling of floors and carpets.

To control the robot, the manufacturer provided two buttons: “Turn on” and “Home”.

Features of their use are as follows.

1. If you click on "Turning on", Then the vacuum cleaner will clean the room.
2. If you hold down the "Turning on»The device turns on or off.
3. Pressing the button "Home"Causes the device to return to base.
4. If you hold down the "Home"Within a few seconds, the vacuum cleaner will clean the area near it - a square with sides 1.5-2 m².
5. When you press and hold the two mentioned buttons, it will disconnect from the Internet.

On the rear panel there are 2 contact platforms. One is for cooling by removing warm air from the appliance. The second is the speaker, which informs about the mode of operation.

The front of the robot is a small bumper. The latter is equipped with two important elements: an impact sensor and an ultrasonic radar.

On the side there is a compartment with a distance sensor from the walls. The device operates at a distance of 1 cm from the latter. Using a side brush, removes dirt and dust near walls.

The basis of the vacuum cleaner is three different processors. They collect, analyze and store information together. Cleaning takes place on the most efficient route

If you open the lid of the device, you will see a plastic dust tank. It is transparent, so it is easy to control the level of fullness.

The container is easy to reach - a small finger hole is provided. To keep the container firmly attached to the frame, there is a rubber insert. A special sensor prevents the system from starting if the container is not in place.

The device is equipped with 12 sensors:

• laser rangefinder LDS;
• placement sensor relative to the walls;
• collision sensor with objects;
• a sensor that signals the ingress of large particles into the device;
• laser distance meter LDS;
• dust sensor;
• ultrasonic radar;
• electronic compass;
• accelerometer;
• drop sensor;
• speedometer;
• fan speed sensor.

A little above the control keys contains a miniature light bulb. It glows blue when connected to a Wi-Fi network. If there is no Internet access, it blinks.

On the bottom of the device is a standard sticker from the manufacturer. It states that the power of the device is 55 W, and in order to recharge it in the network there must be a voltage of 14.4 V.

When the charge of the robotic vacuum cleaner ends, he returns to the "parking" without the intervention of the owners. When the device is charged, it returns to the place where the cleaning was interrupted.

The placement of the wheels of the robot provides a sufficient distance between the lower part of the housing and the floor. The vacuum cleaner overcomes small obstacles that do not exceed 2 cm.

The main brush is floating. It provides removal of dirt from the surfaces having roughnesses. To clean the brush, you need to remove it.

To do this, click on the special mounts, which are indicated by small red arrows. The disadvantage of the model is one side brush.

The battery life of the device is 2.5 hours, which is enough to clean a room of 250 m2. There is a battery with a capacity of 5200 mAh

Functionality and Features

Unlike others models of robotic vacuum cleanersThe device is equipped with an improved orientation system. It is able to receive data on the location of obstacles, 5 times per second by analyzing changes in the range of 360 °. The scanning speed is 108 thousand samples per minute.

To identify obstacles, many other models of vacuum cleaners come close to them. The robot determines the distance to things from a distance of 6 m, and the error is less than 2%

The application language is Chinese. However, information about the operating time, cleaning map and battery charge level is quite simple to find.

An application is used to control the robot vacuum cleaner Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum Cleaner Mihomethat runs on Android and iOS.

A few minutes are enough to download it. Next, you need to press both working keys and release them after a beep. The Wi-Fi lamp should light up. Go into the application, find the device and connect.

Since the robot remotely determines the placement of objects, it is able to form a map of the room. It also analyzes where it is relative to other things and where is the base station. The system remembers which places have already been removed and which are not.

Lidar - the sensor that is responsible for detecting obstacles - works at a certain height from the floor. Some things he is not able to detect.

However, for obstacles that are placed in the lower blind zone, a bumper with an ultrasonic sensor is provided. The manufacturer did not offer a solution to the problem regarding the upper range, which the main sensor does not see.

A robotic vacuum cleaner is a rather miniature device. Since it also weighs less than 4 kg, it is convenient to transport it, for example, to the cottage

The axles of the driving wheels are on the same radius - 175 mm. This feature allows the robot to deploy on the spot and is a prerequisite for excellent maneuverability.

Driving wheels have a small diameter - only 70 mm. But the hinge stroke is almost 30 mm. The device is capable of overcoming obstacles with a small height or depth.

The tread of the wheels is made of rubber-like material that does not slip on the surface.

About sensors, control buttons, wheels and other elements of a vacuum cleaner:

The task of the front side brush during cleaning is to slip the debris to the central one. Its base is flexible and resilient wires that have solid lugs.

The central brush is the main element that is responsible for garbage collection. The latter, together with air, enters a special tank. Gases are vented through an opening on the back of the device.

The brush speed is easily adjustable. The robot gently cleans soft carpets and mercilessly removes dirt from tougher surfaces

The robot vacuum cleaner kit also contains a comb tool and a blade. These items are designed to clean brushes.

The central brush placement compartment has a 9 mm free play. This allows you to repeat surface irregularities and provide the most effective cleaning.

Unfortunately, the manufacturer does not provide a sensor signaling that the dust tank is full. Since the capacity is small, you will often have to check it. The dust collector has a cover that needs to be removed and the contents shaken out.

A crossed-out drop is shown on the dust collector body - this means that the dust tank must not be washed. But wipe with a damp cloth still does not hurt

The manufacturer used a fan with a brushless motor made by a Japanese manufacturer Nidec. The maximum power of the element is 0.67 m³/ min The highest discharge rate is 1800 Pa.

The fan is powered by a powerful battery, which is located below. It is necessary to unscrew 6 screws to get to it. Having removed the bottom of the vacuum cleaner, you can quite easily replace the brushes and wheels.

A vacuum cleaner, like any other equipment, must not be used in a humid room.Dust with water may cause it to malfunction or require long-term cleaning.

The robot has three cleaning modes: quiet, standard and intensive. They are selected in a special management application. Conveniently adjust the features of the device to the level of pollution in the room

The unit does not need to be turned on and set up daily for cleaning. The system allows you to set a work schedule. It is necessary to note the days of the week and the time of cleaning.

The manufacturer recommends starting the launch from the base, then two cases are possible:

• FirstlyThe vacuum cleaner can clean the room completely;
• Secondlyif the battery charge level drops to 20%, then the device returns to the base, is powered up and continues cleaning from the place where it was completed.

Planning for cleaning in space provides a magnetic strip. It can be laid directly on the floor or hidden under a thin coating.

Unfortunately, the manufacturer did not include this addition in the vacuum cleaner kit. Those who want to use it should buy on their own.

The approach to orientation in space in a vacuum cleaner is similar to the technology used in unmanned vehicles. This once again emphasizes the originality of the model.

The device signals visually about its condition using an LED indicator. The system also tries to inform the user using words written in Chinese. However, voice messaging is easy to turn off.

Management is carried out using an application from the company and a mobile device based on iOS or Android. Unfortunately, there is no official Russian-language version, but you can use the unofficial one. In the second case, you also need to download a special add-on.

One of the few disadvantages of the device - it is difficult for him to clean the corners of the room. This is due to the round shape of the vacuum cleaner. He just physically cannot call into the corner of the room

Immediately after installing the application, you need to establish control of the robot. The latter should be located in the network coverage area and be connected to the Internet. Management is carried out not directly from the application, but through the intermediary - a remote server.

You can give a command to a vacuum cleaner from any piece of land with Internet access. However, if you have been disabled access to the Web for several days or have problems with the service, it will be impossible to make new settings.

The main section of the application contains information about the state of the robot, cleaned area, map and battery charge. In the lower part are placed the return key to the base, the fan power settings and the start of cleaning the room.

One of the most useful features of the application is working with a room map. The cleaning sequence is a vacuum cleaner system. But the user can correct the trajectory and increase the efficiency of the device

Consumer reviews about the model

Users are actively discussing the possibilities and features of using a robot vacuum cleaner. At the same time, both strengths and weaknesses are considered.

In particular, the benefits include:

• significant cleaning efficiency;
• automatic continuation of cleaning the room after recharging;
• setting the desired fan power;
• advanced approach to determining the location of the robot and the route of work;
• significant cleaning area without recharging;
• work in accordance with the established schedule;
• use of magnetic tape to limit harvesting area;
• convenient control based on a mobile application.

A robotic vacuum cleaner has many strengths. However, it is far from ideal. But there are far fewer negative aspects in his work than positive ones.

Vacuum cleaner software sometimes crashes. This negatively affects the duration and effectiveness of cleaning. Also, regular problems in the operation of the mobile application and the cloud service testify to the device’s disadvantage.

As the reviews about the Xiaomi vacuum cleaner robot testify, the device’s shortcomings are: the lack of an official version in Russian, minimal equipment, regular cases of loss of connection with the cloud service and the minimum size of the dust tank.

The disadvantages of the device still fade over its advantages.

You doubt the feasibility of buying a robot vacuum cleaner, then we recommend that you read the article -Should I buy a robot vacuum cleaner: features, opinions and reviews of the owners + the nuances of choice

We offer you to personally check the capabilities of a robot vacuum cleaner at home by watching a video that was kindly shared by one of its owners:

The main competitors of the Xiaomi robot

The considered smart representative of Xiaomi brand cleaning equipment has its main competitors, with whom potential customers compare it before finally deciding on a purchase.

Among competing robots, brand representatives iRobot, Clever & clean and iClebo. They are in the same price range, have excellent functionality and are pretty smart at their price tag.

Model # 1 - iRobot Roomba 681

The robot from the manufacturer iRobot, like all its developments, is distinguished by a solid assembly. Roomba 681 is able to work without stopping for a little over an hour, but this time is enough for it to cope with cleaning a medium-sized room.

Technical characteristics of the model:

• battery type / capacity - Li-Ion / 2130 mAh;
• dust bag - without bag (cyclone filter);
• side brush / soft bumper - yes / yes;
• virtual wall - included;
• dry cleaning;
• programming - yes, by day of the week;
• dimensions (diameter / height) - 33.5 / 9.3 cm.

This robotic assistant is different capacious container capacity for dust, the volume of which is 1 liter. For robots, this is a very good indicator that allows you to cope with a polluted room without user intervention.

Also, its advantage is the excellent quality of the cleaning performed - it very thoroughly cleans the room.

Among the shortcomings, the owners point to plastic, not rubberized bumpers, insufficient battery life and problems with cleaning sand brought from the street, the inability to build a map of the room.

Also, iRobot Roomba 681 does not clean well near the base - he tries to get around it. Therefore, it should be located on a less soiled floor. And the price tag is 4.5-5 thousand higher than Xiaomi.

Model # 2 - Clever & Clean AQUA-Series 01

Another competitor of the Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum model is the Clever & Clean AQUA-Series 01 robot. Despite the fact that this vacuum cleaner is sold for the same money, it is able to perform not only dry, but also wet processing indoor surfaces.

And his equipment fluid collection function allows you to run an assistant in the kitchen / living room where they spilled juice / coffee or a pet accidentally made a puddle. Already this robot will cope with the elimination of this kind of trouble without consequences.

Operating parameters of devices:

• battery type - NiCd;
• dust collector - without a bag (cyclone filter), with a capacity of 0.50 l;
• side brush / soft bumper - yes / yes;
• display - is;
• cleaning - dry and wet;
• programming - yes, by day of the week;
• dimensions (diameter / height) - 34 / 8.5 cm.

Of the advantages, the owners note the excellent quality of surface cleaning, especially the presence of wet cleaning. Moreover, its carrying out is not associated with abundant watering of the floors with water - the robot performs really wet rather than wet cleaning.

Of the minuses, users indicate the inability to turn off the voice menu, which sometimes causes irritation.

Especially if the robot informs about its condition when the owner does not care about this issue. Therefore, during sleep, it is not recommended to run a cleaner.

Model # 3 - iClebo Pop

iClebo Pop, as well as the previous competitor, knows how to perform wet cleaning, in addition to dry. True, its price tag is a couple of thousand rubles higher. It is equipped with infrared sensors that control its movements in a particular room.

Technical features of this model:

• battery type - Li-Ion;
• dust collector / container - without bag (cyclone filter) / о, 6 l;
• side brush / soft bumper - yes / yes;
• display - included;
• cleaning - dry and wet;
• working / charging time - 120/110 minutes;
• dimensions (diameter / height) - 34 / 8.9 cm.

The iClebo Pop robot can be controlled using the remote control supplied by the manufacturer. Of the pros, owners point to an excellent build, a reliable battery and long working time, which is enough for cleaning a medium-sized room.

Also, users note that with his appearance in the house it became much cleaner.

Of the minuses, the need for regular care of the robot with the cleaning of its working elements is called. I do not like that the comb for cleaning the brush does not cope with its strong pollution and you still have to pick up devices that will help remove all debris.

Conclusions and the best deals on the market

The Xiaomi brand robot vacuum cleaner is distinguished by a good spatial orientation system - it detects obstacles at a considerable distance using a special laser sensor. The device features a powerful battery, the ability to change the fan power and control using a mobile application.

The latter allows you to see the automatically determined trajectory of the robot and change it if necessary.

Have experience using the Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum Cleaner or a competitor model? Please share with your readers your impressions of the operation of robotic technology. Leave feedback, comments and ask questions - the contact form is below.