Choosing a smart cleaning assistant has become a challenging quest because of the sheer number of models launched under the Xiaomi brand and its ecosystem partners. It’s easy for a customer to get confused by names like Roborock, Dreame, Viomi and Mijia, which formally belong to the same technology family but offer fundamentally different functionality. This year, the gap between budget “blind” models and flagships with artificial intelligence has become especially noticeable.
To understand which robot vacuum cleaner is best to buy, you need to clearly define your priorities: whether you need the perfect navigation in complex layout, full-fledged floor washing function or an autonomous self-cleaning station. Budget options cope well with the wool on carpets, but can tow on the thresholds, while top devices are able to bypass toys and wires using 3D-We'll break down the key differences so you don't overpay for unnecessary features or buy a device that's too weak.
It is important to note that the Xiaomi ecosystem now operates as a single organism, where management often occurs through the Mi Home or Xiaomi Home app. However, firmware and servers can vary depending on the region of release of the device, which critically affects the stability of operation and the availability of voice control.
Do you know the ecosystem: Xiaomi, Dreame, Roborock or Viomi?
The first thing that customers face is branding, and many people mistakenly believe that all devices come under a single name, but in fact Xiaomi acts as a platform for many manufacturers. Roborock has long been considered a premium sub-brand with the best mapping algorithms, while Dreame (formerly known as Xiaowa) aggressively introduced innovations like cleaners and powerful engines.
The Viomi brand often focuses on smart home integration and specific features like ultraviolet sterilization, while the Mijia range is a folk model with the best value for money. When choosing, it’s important to look at the specific navigation characteristics and brush types rather than the logo on the body. For example, Dreame models often feature more powerful suction in the mid-range.
⚠️ Note: When buying devices from different sub-brands, make sure your Mi Home app supports the server region to which the device is attached (CN) You can not add to your European accounts without special manipulation of the region.
All of these manufacturers use a single smart home platform, but they have independently developed map-building and obstacle-avoidance algorithms, so that the navigation of Roborock can be smoother, and the object recognition system of the new Dreame can be more detailed. The choice of a particular vendor often depends on which feature is more important to you: dry cleaning or complex wet.
Navigation Types: Why LiDAR is More Important Than a Gyroscope
The most critical parameter that determines how comfortable a robot will be to use is navigation. Budget models still often feature gyroscopic navigation or even chaotic movement. They move from impact to impact, or build a primitive map that is easily confused by rearranged chairs. For small studios, this is acceptable, but for apartments, this approach is no longer effective.
The gold standard in 2026 is LiDAR, which is mounted into a characteristic turret on the body, and robots with LDS or dToF sensors scan the room with high precision, building a detailed floor plan, which allows the device to clean systematically, strip by strip, without missing sections or getting stuck in the same places, and in the app you see a clear map that can be divided into rooms.
- 🚀 LiDAR (LDS/dToF): Builds an accurate map, works in the dark, allows you to set virtual walls and zones of prohibition.
- 🧭 Gyroscope: Keeps a straight line, but the map is approximate, there may be skips of sites, it is worse orientated after returning to the base.
- 👁️ Visual navigation (vSLAM): Uses a camera, requires good lighting, is often found in older flagship models.
Modern flagships are also equipped with systems 3D-This allows the robot to see wires, socks and toys, by going around them, rather than getting entangled in them. If you have pets or children in the house throwing toys, you can see the wires and socks and toys. 3D-The camera is not just an option, but a necessity.
The Myth of Working in the Dark
When choosing, consider the height of the laser module, and some models have become more compact, allowing them to go under the low furniture where they used to be stuck, especially for owners of sofas and cabinets with standard clearance.
Dry and wet cleaning: the evolution of washing technologies
Whereas robots used to only wipe dust with a slightly wet cloth, technology has advanced far in 2026. The basic "wiping" function (where a water container drips on a napkin by gravity) is only suitable for removing fresh traces.
Roborock's VibraRise technology and other manufacturers' analogues not only allow for heavy floor rubbing, but also automatically lifting a rag when you're on a carpet. This solves the age-old problem of wet carpets. Other brands like Dreame use rotating discs that mimic circular hand movements when you're manually cleaning, which often gives you the best result in the kitchen.
And the robot has a huge station where it can get clean and dirty water, and it goes back to base, cleans the dirt off the rags, dries them with hot air, and continues cleaning them, and it eliminates the need for the user to wash their rags with their hands after each run, making the robot truly autonomous.
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If you have a predominantly carpeted home, choose a model with a Mop Lift function, which will keep your carpets dry without having to manually remove the wet cleaning module.
For laminate and parquet, it is better to choose models with electronic water supply control to avoid overhydration.
Autonomy and self-service bases
The era of daily manual cleaning of a dust container is being erased by self-cleaning bases, and Auto-Empty robots, after cleaning, drive into a station where a powerful vacuum cleaner blows garbage out of an internal container into a large bag. 60-90 Days, which makes the device maintenance minimal.
But there are different bases. There are just dust-collecting stations, and there are all-in-one solutions that also pour water into the robot, flush the mops and dry them. Automatic drying is a critical function for wet cleaning: if you don't dry the rags with hot air, they will get mold and smell bad.
Complex stations take up much more space than just a charging dock, and also provide access to a socket and, in the case of self-replacement models, the ability to connect to the water supply (although most still operate from removable tanks). The battery in modern models usually allows you to remove 200-250 square meters on a single charge, and the Recharge & Resume feature allows you to recharge and continue cleaning from the stop.
Comparison of popular models 2026-2026
To make it easier to choose, we've compiled a comparative table of current class members, and here are models that are setting trends in the smart cleaning market in the current period, and noting the differences in the types of obstacles and the characteristics of wet cleaning.
| Model | Navigation | Wet cleaning | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi Robot Vacuum X20+ | LiDAR + 3D | Rotating discs + Auto-lift | Full station, affordable price |
| Roborock S8 Pro Ultra | Precision LiDAR | VibraRise 2.0 (Vibration) | Two silicone brushes, better passability |
| Dreame L20 Ultra | dToF + AI Camera | Rotating discs + Auto-lift | Expansion of the side brush, object recognition |
| Xiaomi Vacuum-Mop 2 Ultra | LiDAR | Rotating discs | Budget Entry into the World of Auto Bases |
The X20+ was a hit thanks to the combination of flagship functionality and mid-range price. Roborock S8 remains the benchmark for reliability and dry cleaning quality thanks to a unique double brush that does not wind hair. Dreame L20 amazes with the ability to go on carpets with a raised mop and extend the side foot for cleaning along the boards.
⚠️ Note: Not all models support voice assistants Yandex.Alice or Marusya natively. Integration into a Yandex or HomeKit smart home often requires the use of gateways or servers with the Chinese region.
Replacement brushes, HEPA filters and especially dust bags and floor washing solutions can significantly affect the final cost of ownership. Original consumables for Xiaomi and Dreame are often interchangeable within the same series, making it easier to find.
Setup and management through the Mi Home app
After you buy, you'll have a customization phase, which Xiaomi's hardware usually runs smoothly but has nuances. The main app is Xiomi Home (formerly Mi Home). When you first launch, you'll need to select a region. If you buy a global version (Global/EU), choose your country. If you buy a Chinese version (CN), you'll have to choose China, which can slow down the response of the application if the servers are far away.
The app does all the magic: mapping, setting up no-go zones, suction schedules and power choices. No-Go zones prevent the robot from going under the chairs with legs or the animal tray, and you can create virtual walls and sequence the cleaning of rooms.
☑️ Checklist before first launch
Smart home integration is available for advanced users. Scenarios can be very flexible, such as running a cleanup when all family members' smartphones leave the home geozone, or stopping a robot if the TV is turned on. Check Settings → About Device → Update regularly, as the manufacturer often improves mapping algorithms through firmware.
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The key to a long life of the robot is to regularly clean the side brush and the main roller of wound hair, even if the model has an anti-mattel brush, which will prevent engine failure and the appearance of extraneous noise.