Choosing an automatic home assistant is a task that requires careful analysis, especially when it comes to products from the Xiaomi ecosystem.The market is full of modifications, and it is easy for a beginner to get confused by the acronyms LiDAR, LDS and types of wet cleaning. Many users mistakenly believe that all devices are the same, but the difference in navigation and tank design can dramatically change the experience of operation.
In this article, we will discuss in detail how to buy a wet cleaning robot Xiaomi, so that it is perfect for your home. We will touch on the technical nuances that are often overlooked when buying, and help avoid common mistakes.
The main question to answer before buying is: which is more important - the perfect dry cleaning with map construction or the ability to wash the floor without human intervention?
Key differences between navigation and planning systems
The first thing to look at is the type of navigation, which older and budget models often use gyroscopic navigation or chaotic movement, which can get lost in space, skip sections, or look for a long base. For complex apartments, this option is already considered archaic.
The most efficient and modern solutions are equipped with a LiDAR laser rangefinder, which is a protruding tower on the body that scans the room and builds an accurate map in the Mi Home app. Only models with LiDAR allow you to create virtual walls and divide the map into spot cleaning rooms, which is critical if you have areas where the robot is not allowed to enter.
There's also the AI Camera visual navigation technology, which uses a camera to recognize objects, which complements the laser perfectly to help you traverse wires and socks, but in total darkness without backlighting can work less efficiently than a pure laser.
- 🚀 LiDAR: perfect map, work in the dark, high speed of route construction.
- 📷 AI Camera: recognizes small objects, avoids "surprises" on the floor, requires good lighting.
- 🌀 Gyroscope: moves with a snake, no map, possible skips of sites, suitable only for studios.
Types of wet cleaning systems: from passive to vibration
When you decide which wet-cleaning robot to buy, it's important to understand that wet-cleaning is different. The basic level is passive-wiping. In these models, water is dripped by gravity through the microholes in the tank. The efficiency depends on the weight of the tank itself and the speed of the robot.
More advanced models, such as the Xiaomi Vacuum-Mop 2 Pro series or the Roborock (included in the ecosystem), use a vibration platform. A special plate performs thousands of vibrations per minute, simulating hand movements when washing the floor, which allows you to wipe out old spots that the passive rag just smears.
⚠️ Attention: No trailer-trailer robot vacuum cleaner replaces full floor washing with a heavy-press mop, which is clean between general cleanings, not a complete solution.
Flagship stations like the Xiaomi Robot Vacuum X10+ offer automatic washing and drying of rags. The robot returns to base, washes dirt from the modules with hot water and dries them with hot air. This eliminates the unpleasant odor that inevitably arises when storing a damp rag in a tank.
Combined tanks against separate modules
The design of the water tank is another critical choice: the simplest models have a combined tank (2-in-1), it inserts a water tank, and on top of it you put a dust container, minus the small amount of water: water lasts for 10-15 minutes, after which you need to add.
A more rational approach is to use separate modules. It comes with a separate dust collector and a separate water tank. You just change them depending on the task. The volume of the water tank in such cases is usually 200-250 ml, which is enough for 100-120 square meters of area.
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If you have carpets all over your house, choose models with automatic cleaning module lifting or a removable tank so you don’t wet your textiles accidentally.
For owners of large houses or those who want to minimize contact with dust, Auto-Empty stations are relevant: they automatically blow garbage from the robot into a large bag on the base. In such models, the water tank often remains replaceable, but the dust collector is emptied every 1-2 months.
Comparison of popular models for different tasks
To organize the information, we've developed a comparison table of current devices that will help you quickly navigate the characteristics and understand which model meets your functionality and budget requirements.
| Model | Navigation | Type of wet cleaning | Self-cleaning the base |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi Mop 2 Lite | gyroscope | Passive | No. |
| Xiaomi Vacuum-Mop 2 Pro | LiDAR | Vibrational | No. |
| Xiaomi Robot Vacuum X10+ | LiDAR + AI | Rotating rags | Yeah (dust + water) |
| Roborock S7 | LiDAR | Vibrational | Optionally. |
The Mop 2 Lite is suitable for small studio apartments without complex planning, where the budget is limited. Vacuum-Mop 2 Pro is the “golden mean” for most users, offering excellent navigation and high-quality vibration wipe. The flagships of the X10+ or X20+ series are designed for those who want maximum autonomy.
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For apartments with carpets and complex layout, the choice is narrowed to models with LiDAR and the function of carpet bypassing or lifting the detergent module.
Integration into a smart home and management
All modern Xiaomi robots are controlled through the Mi Home app, where you can set your schedule, select a cleaning mode, and see the story. An important feature is the integration with voice assistants Yandex Alice, Google Assistant or Siri.
To start cleaning, you can just say, "Alice, turn on the vacuum cleaner." You can also create scenarios, for example, a robot can start cleaning when you leave the house (geolocation of the smartphone), or turn off when you open the front door in the evening.
The path to the menu to customize scripts:
Mi Home → Profile → Settings → Automation → CreateRemember to update your device's firmware regularly. Manufacturers often release patches that improve obstacle avoidance algorithms and add new modes of operation. You can do this in your device settings.
Maintenance and care of a robot vacuum cleaner
Even the smartest robot requires human attention. Clean the main brush of wound hair and hair regularly. In side-brush models, it also needs to be removed and washed occasionally, otherwise it will no longer effectively sweep garbage out of corners.
☑️ Weekly service
Pay special attention to filters. HEPA-filters can not be washed with water, they can only be gently knocked out or changed once in a while. 2-3 The wet filter will swell and lose its properties, and the engine may burn from overheating.
⚠️ Warning: Never pour hot water, chlorine or aggressive chemicals into a water tank, which will corrosion the internal pumps and cracks in the plastic tank. Use only cold tap water or special tools for robotic vacuum cleaners.