As a child, I recall watching Runaway, a 1984 film starring Tom Selleck (trailer link). Set in a future where robots perform most tasks, the movie features a specialized police unit that deals with malfunctioning robots. The plot thickens when the villain, portrayed by Gene Simmons (of the band KISS), replaces robot control chips, turning them into deadly machines. One scene depicts a home-help robot, strikingly similar to modern robot vacuum cleaners, wielding a revolver. The film accurately predicted technologies like tablets, surveillance cameras, and drones. Consequently, I’ve harbored a degree of skepticism, albeit jokingly, toward robot vacuum cleaners and similar autonomous devices.
Therefore, I was intrigued when I had the opportunity to evaluate the X20+ Robot Vacuum from Xiaomi. I was keen to experience having a robot handle my cleaning needs.
The X20+ Robot Vacuum is more than just a vacuum; it includes a comprehensive base station for charging, self-cleaning, and water refilling. This distinguishes it from previously tested models like the Roborock S8 and the Neato D8. However, such features are becoming standard in higher-end models such as the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. The question is: can the Xiaomi X20+ compete effectively, given its lower price point?
Upon unboxing, a quick start guide provides clear instructions on setup and placement. The product exhibits a solid and premium feel. The water compartment is constructed from durable material, minimizing the risk of leaks. The design is also intelligent, with a transparent fresh water container and a tinted dirty water container, facilitating easy differentiation and preventing incorrect placement.
While filling the water tank, I proceeded to download the necessary app (available for both Android and iOS) to operate the Xiaomi X20+. An initial issue arose: despite downloading the app from the Swedish App store, the default language was set to Chinese. This appears to be a known issue, as numerous online comments report the same problem.
Using Google Translate, I located the language and region settings and successfully corrected them. The experience raises concerns about accessibility for users unfamiliar with such workarounds. The first task for the Xiaomi X20+ is to map the environment. For optimal results, it is recommended to remove obstacles such as chairs to ensure an accurate map generation.
Once the map is created, it can be edited within the app. Users can divide and name rooms, create virtual “walls” to prevent access to areas like under TV cabinets where cables are present. Carpeted areas can also be designated to ensure the robot only vacuums, and not mops, those surfaces. One limitation is the inability to define diagonally oriented carpets.
Prior to its initial cleaning run, the battery requires a full charge. The battery provides approximately 180 minutes of runtime, sufficient for cleaning my home. The robot autonomously returns to the base station for charging and mop cleaning as needed.
The Xiaomi X20+ offers a suction power of 6000Pa, four cleaning modes, and utilizes LDS laser navigation for efficient route planning. The robot can be configured to gently contact walls for thorough cleaning or to navigate without touching walls at all. It effectively adapts to changing conditions and reroutes when encountering obstacles.
My home features low thresholds, which generally benefits robot vacuum cleaners. However, cables secured to the thresholds with clamps presented a challenge. The robot demonstrated persistence in overcoming these obstacles, eventually finding a successful route. The threshold was easily navigated from the opposite side, where no clamps were present.
The Xiaomi X20+ functions as both a vacuum cleaner and a mop. The mop cleaning and drying cycle at the base station generates considerable noise, comparable to the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. The sound resembles a combination of an industrial vacuum cleaner and a coffee maker undergoing descaling. This noise persists for a period, followed by a lower hum from the base station. While not a critical issue, it is worth noting, especially in apartment settings during late hours. This aspect could potentially be improved, as the robot itself operates more quietly than a conventional vacuum cleaner. The significant noise generated at the beginning and end of a cleaning cycle is somewhat incongruous.
How effective is the Xiaomi X20+ at cleaning? The results exceeded expectations. The robot features a dust collection box for dry debris and mops the floors, depositing dirt into the dirty water compartment within the base station. After two cleaning cycles, the dust collection box was full, and the water was noticeably dark. The robot also effectively cleans up spilled liquids.
For particularly dirty areas, the Xiaomi X20+ can be configured to apply more water and mop with increased intensity, reducing the frequency of manual floor scrubbing.
The primary limitation of the Xiaomi X20+ is that it cannot completely replace a traditional vacuum cleaner. Certain areas remain inaccessible to the robot. However, the Xiaomi X20+ significantly reduces the need for manual vacuuming. For households with young children, scheduling the Xiaomi X20+ to clean up after meals is ideal for managing dropped food and freeing up time for other activities.
Initially, I considered robot vacuum cleaners to be somewhat of a novelty. However, after testing the Xiaomi X20+ Robot Vacuum, my perspective has changed. Its cleaning performance is impressive, and it offers significant time savings. Furthermore, the Xiaomi X20+ is competitively priced, making the occasional noise during certain operations a minor issue in light of its overall positive performance. While a direct A-B comparison with the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra was not conducted, based on colleague feedback, it is unlikely that the latter justifies its significantly higher price point. This makes the Xiaomi X20+ a compelling value proposition.
Xiaomi provided a review unit for this evaluation. The provision of review samples does not influence our editorial independence. Our reviews are always conducted independently, with a focus on the needs of our readers and consumers.
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