AFTER reviewing the Deebot X1 Omni robot vacuum, I thought that nothing could ever top it.
However, after trying out the Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum, I found that it is a close competitor to the 2-in-1 vacuum, but friendlier to the wallet.
The Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2 looks somewhat like a "bee" and has a minimalistic flair that suits modern home aesthetics.
The robot comes in the standard circular design that lays low on the ground and is white, which matches its charging dock.
It also features a water tank that has a 250ml capacity and a mopping pad.
PERFORMANCE
The Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2 does a great job of vacuuming and mopping at the same time.
I'm grateful that it could do both jobs simultaneously, which saves me time from vacuuming and mopping separately if I were to do it manually.
Although the robot starts vacuuming in standard mode on tiled floors, it works wonders at sucking up hairs, specks of dust and cat fur laying around areas I wouldn't have noticed.
Despite its strong suction capability for large surface areas, there is a limit to how far the Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2 can reach considering its bulky design.
That's where the single-side brush comes in.
Normally, a vacuum robot would have two side brushes that would cover a larger space for it to sweep dust from the edges towards the vacuum. But since there's only one, the vacuum has to make a second round to compensate for the lack of a second brush or leave a trail of unswept dust around.
It won't mop the floor squeaky clean, but it gives an adequate run through the whole house, which is better than nothing.
On rare occasions, it bumps into random things that weren't mapped in the app, such as boxes or wires. I had to constantly check if it was okay, but no major accidents have occurred during the review period.
THE APP
The Xiaomi Home app was not as intricate as I thought.
The app's interface is pretty simple for a first-time user like me and the help of Alexa and Google Assistant made it easier to use.
There's a remote control feature that lets you control the device from afar and you can also change the cleaning mode between silent and turbo, adjust the water level setting from low to high, schedule your cleaning time, and find your vacuum if it ever goes missing in your huge bungalow.
At RM1,099, the Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2 is perfect for those who are planning on getting a robot vacuum without breaking the piggy bank.
VERDICT: 3.7/5
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