Review of the Xiaomi robot vacuum cleaner (Xiaomi) Mi Robot Vacuum: a confident bid for leadership

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

One of these high-tech developments is the Mi Robot Vacuum vacuum cleaner. The device stands out from its competitors with powerful batteries, a well-thought-out orientation system and the ability to be controlled via a smartphone. Agree, there are many arguments in favor of the unit, so we advise those who are looking for such an assistant 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 evaluation and comparison of the model with its closest competitors will help you decide on the advisability of purchasing robotics from Xiaomi.

Appearance and features of use

Having purchased the device, you will receive a large box with a vacuum cleaner, a dust filter brush, a charger and instructions for use.

As for robot vacuum cleaners, the design is quite 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 robot vacuum cleaner is the presence of a protrusion for the laser sensor. It is placed on a small platform that rotates 5 times per 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 minimal noise. It ensures effective operation of the device even with the most problematic floor and carpet stains

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

The features of their use are as follows.

1. If you click on "Inclusion", then the vacuum cleaner will clean the room.
2. If you hold down the "Inclusion» the device turns on or off.
3. Clicking the "Home» causes the device to return to the base.
4. If you hold down the "Home"within a few seconds, the vacuum cleaner will clean the area near itself - a square with sides of 1.5-2 m².
5. When you press and hold the two mentioned buttons, you will be disconnected from the Internet.

There are 2 contact platforms on the rear panel. One is designed for cooling by eliminating warm air from the device. The second is a speaker that informs about the operating mode.

The front part of the robot is a small bumper. The latter is equipped with two important elements: a shock 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 the side brush, removes dirt and dust near the walls.

The vacuum cleaner is based on three different processors. They jointly collect, analyze and store information.Cleaning is carried out along the most efficient route

If you open the cover of the device, you will see a plastic dust container. It is transparent, so it is easy to control the filling level.

The container is easy to reach - there is a small hole for your finger. To ensure that the container fits securely to the frame, there is a rubber insert. A special sensor does not allow the system to start working if the container is not in place.

The device is equipped with 12 sensors:

• LDS laser rangefinder;
• placement sensor relative to the walls;
• object collision sensor;
• a sensor that signals when large particles enter the device;
• laser distance meter LDS;
• dust sensor;
• ultrasonic radar;
• electronic compass;
• accelerometer;
• fall sensor;
• speedometer;
• fan speed sensor.

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

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

When the robotic vacuum cleaner runs out of charge, it returns to the “parking lot” without the intervention of its owners. Once charged, the device returns to the place where cleaning was interrupted.

The placement of the robot's wheels ensures sufficient distance between the bottom of the body and the floor. The vacuum cleaner overcomes small obstacles that do not exceed 2 cm.

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

To do this, click on the special fasteners, 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 characteristics

Unlike others robot vacuum cleaner models, the device is equipped with an improved orientation system. It is capable of receiving data on the placement of obstacles, analyzing changes in a 360° range 5 times per second. The scanning speed is 108 thousand samples per minute.

To identify obstacles, many other vacuum cleaner models approach them closely. 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 operating time, cleaning map and battery charge level is quite easy to find.

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

It only takes a few minutes to download it. Next, you need to press both operating keys and release them after the sound signal. The Wi-Fi light should light up. Go to the app, find your 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 located relative to other things and where the base station is. The system remembers which places have already been cleaned and which have not yet been cleaned.

Lidar, a sensor that is responsible for detecting obstacles, operates at a certain height from the floor. There are some things he can't detect.

However, for obstacles located in the lower blind zone, a bumper with an ultrasonic sensor is provided. The manufacturer has not offered a solution to the problem regarding the upper range, which the main sensor does not see.

A robot vacuum cleaner is a fairly miniature device. Since it also weighs less than 4 kg, it is convenient to transport it, for example, to the countryside

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

The drive wheels have a small diameter - only 70 mm. But the stroke of the hinges is almost 30 mm. The device is able to overcome obstacles with low height or depth.

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

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

The task of the front side brush during cleaning is to push debris towards the central one. Its basis is flexible and elastic wires that have hard tips.

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

The speed of the brushes is easily adjustable. The robot gently cleans soft carpets and mercilessly removes dirt from harder surfaces

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

The central brush compartment has a free stroke of 9 mm. This allows you to follow surface irregularities and ensure the most effective cleaning.

Unfortunately, the manufacturer does not provide a sensor to indicate when the dust reservoir is full. Since the capacity of the container is small, you will have to check it often. The dust bin has a lid that you need to remove and empty the contents.

There is a crossed out drop on the body of the dust collector - this means that the dust container must not be washed. But wiping with a damp cloth still doesn’t hurt.

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

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

A vacuum cleaner, like any other equipment, should not be used in a damp room. Dust with water can lead to its failure or the need for lengthy cleaning.

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

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

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

• Firstly, the vacuum cleaner can clean the room completely;
• Secondly, if the battery charge level drops to 20%, the device returns to the base, recharges itself and continues cleaning from the place where it left off.

Planning of cleaning in a space is ensured by a magnetic strip. It can be placed directly on the floor or hidden under a thin covering.

Unfortunately, the manufacturer did not include this addition to the vacuum cleaner kit. Those wishing to use it must purchase it themselves.

The vacuum cleaner's approach to spatial orientation is similar to the technology used in self-driving cars. This once again emphasizes the originality of the model

The device indicates its status visually using an LED indicator. The system also tries to inform the user using words written in Chinese. However, voice messages are easy to turn off.

Management is carried out using an application from the company and a mobile device based on iOS or Android OS. Unfortunately, there is no official Russian 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 is that it is problematic for it to clean the corners of the room. This is due to the round shape of the vacuum cleaner. He simply physically cannot drive into the corner of the room

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

You can give commands to the vacuum cleaner from any piece of land where there is Internet access. However, if your access to the Web is disabled for several days or there are problems with the service, it will be impossible to make new settings.

The main section of the application contains information about the status of the robot, the area cleaned, the map and the battery charge. At the bottom there are keys for returning to the base, setting the fan power and starting cleaning the room.

One of the most useful features of the application is working with a room map. The cleaning sequence is determined by the vacuum cleaner system. But the user can adjust 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 its strengths and weaknesses are considered.

In particular, the advantages include:

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

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

The vacuum cleaner software sometimes crashes.This negatively affects the duration and efficiency of cleaning. Regular problems in the operation of the mobile application and cloud service are also not in favor of the device.

As evidenced by reviews of the Xiaomi robot vacuum cleaner, the disadvantages of the device 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 pale in comparison to its advantages.

If you doubt the advisability of buying a robot vacuum cleaner, then we advise you to read the article - Is it worth buying a robot vacuum cleaner: capabilities, opinions and reviews of owners + nuances of choice

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

The main competitors of the Xiaomi robot

The smart representative of the Xiaomi brand cleaning equipment in question has main competitors with whom potential clients compare it before finally deciding on a purchase.

Among the competing robots are representatives of the brand iRobot, Clever&Clean And iClebo. They are in the same price range, have excellent functionality and are quite smart for their price tag.

Model #1 - iRobot Roomba 681

The robot from the manufacturer iRobot, like all its developments, is well-built. The Roomba 681 can work non-stop for just over an hour, but this is enough time for it to clean an average-sized room.

Model specifications:

• battery type/capacity - Li-Ion/2130 mAh;
• dust collector - without bag (cyclone filter);
• side brush/soft bumper—yes/yes;
• virtual wall - included;
• cleaning - dry;
• 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. This is a very good indicator for robots, allowing them to cope with a contaminated room without user intervention.

It also has the advantage of excellent quality of cleaning – it cleans the room very thoroughly.

Among the shortcomings, owners point to plastic, rather than rubberized, bumpers, insufficient battery life and problems when cleaning up sand brought in from the street, and the inability to build a map of the room.

Also, iRobot Roomba 681 does not clean well near the base - it tries to get around it further away. Therefore, it should be placed on a less contaminated area of ​​the floor. And its price tag is 4.5-5 thousand higher than that of Xiaomi.

Model #2 – Clever & Clean AQUA-Series 01

Another competitor to 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 capable of performing not only dry, but also wet processing surfaces indoors.

And its equipment liquid collection function allows you to launch an assistant in the kitchen/living room where juice/coffee has been spilled or a pet has accidentally made a puddle. This robot will cope with eliminating this kind of trouble without consequences.

Operating parameters of the devices:

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

Among the advantages, the owners note the excellent quality of surface cleaning; the presence of wet cleaning is especially pleasing. Moreover, its implementation is not associated with abundant watering of the floors - the robot performs really wet, not wet cleaning.

Among the disadvantages, users point out the inability to disable the voice menu, which sometimes causes irritation.

Especially if the robot notifies about its condition, when the owner does not care about this issue. Therefore, it is not recommended to run the cleaner while sleeping.

Model #3 – iClebo Pop

iClebo Pop, like its previous competitor, can perform wet cleaning in addition to dry cleaning. True, its price tag is a couple of thousand rubles higher. It is equipped with infrared sensors that control its movements in a specific room.

Technical features of this model:

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

The iClebo Pop robot can be controlled using a remote control, which the manufacturer supplies in the kit. On the plus side, owners point to excellent build quality, a reliable battery and long operating time, which is enough to clean an average-sized room.

Users also note that with its appearance the house has become much cleaner.

One of the disadvantages is the need for regular maintenance of the robot with cleaning of its working elements. I don’t like that the comb for cleaning the brush can’t cope when it’s very dirty and you still have to select devices that will help remove all the debris.

Conclusions and best offers on the market

The Xiaomi brand robot vacuum cleaner has 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 fan power and control using a mobile application.

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

Do you have experience using the Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum Cleaner robot vacuum cleaner or a model from the list of competitors? Please share with readers your impressions of the operation of robotic technology. Leave feedback, comments and ask questions - the contact form is below.