Xiaomi’s 2021 Robot Vacuum Cleaner: Which to Choose? Model Comparison and Expert Advice

Choosing a robot vacuum cleaner in 2021 has been a real headache for many buyers. Xiaomi’s lineup offers dozens of models with different features, price tags and capabilities — from budget options to premium gadgets with laser navigation and wet cleaning. But how can you not go wrong and buy the robot vacuum cleaner that will fit perfectly into your home?

In this article, we will analyze the TOP-5 Xiaomi models 2021 So, in the year, we'll compare them by key parameters: suction capacity, navigation type, operating time, wet cleaning support, and compatibility with smart systems, and you'll see which model is good for a large apartment and which one is good for cleaning in a small studio. We will also give unique recommendations for choosing depending on the type of coating (carpets, laminate, tiles) and the presence of pets.

Let’s not wait, let’s start the analysis!

1. Key criteria for choosing a Xiaomi robot vacuum cleaner in 2021

Before comparing specific models, we will determine what to pay attention to when buying:

• 🔋 Battery life is 60 to 180 minutes depending on the model. For apartments over 100 m2, robots with a battery of at least 5200 mAh are needed.
• 🌀 Type of navigation: gyroscopic (cheaper, but less accurate), laser (LDS) Laser models are better at oriented in complex interiors.
• 💨 Suction power - from 1500 to 4000 Pa. For carpets with long pile need models from 2500 Pa.
• 💧 Wet cleaning -- not all robots support this function. If it's important, look for models with a water tank and a microfiber wipe.
• 📱 Manage via app: Mi Home or Xiaomi Home. check compatibility with your country (some features may be blocked).

Special attention is paid to the mapping of the room. Laser-navigation robots (such as Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2 Pro) build accurate maps of the apartment, remember the location of furniture and can clean by zone. Gyroscopic models (such as Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum 1C) move chaoticly and face more obstacles.

⚠️ Note: If your home has stairs without fences, be sure to check for drop sensors.Some budget models may not recognize steps less than 8 cm high.

2.TOP-5 robot vacuum cleaners Xiaomi 2021: a comparative table

We selected five of the most popular models of 2021, which earned positive feedback from users, all of them officially sold in Russia and supported by Russian-language software.

As you can see from the table, the Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2 Pro is the leader in power and functionality, but also costs more than others. If you want wet cleaning at an affordable price, look at the Vacuum-Mop Essential or 2 Lite. For small apartments without carpets, a budget 1C will suit.

💡

Laser models (LDS) are better suited for large apartments with complex layouts, and gyroscopic models are better suited for small rooms with minimal obstacles.

3.The best robot vacuum cleaner Xiaomi 2021 for a large apartment (100+ m2)

If your apartment is over 100 square meters or has multiple rooms, gyroscopic models won't do the cleaning effectively, and you need laser-navigated robots that build accurate maps and can clean up zones.

The leader in this category was Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2 Pro.

• 🗺️ Multicartography – remembers up to 4 floors and automatically switches between them.
• 💦 Electronic wet cleaning control – you can adjust the intensity of the water supply through the application.
• 🔄 Automatic refueling – if the battery is dead, the robot returns to base, charges and continues cleaning from the same place.
• 📲 Voice control via Alice, Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa.

The downsides are the high price and noise at maximum power (about 68 dB), and some users note that the robot sometimes “lost” in rooms with a lot of glass surfaces (due to the reflection of the laser).

⚠️ Note: When buying Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2 Pro check the configuration – in some batches of 2021 there was no additional HEPA-filter that had to be purchased separately.

💡

If your apartment has a lot of carpets, before the first cleaning, turn on Max mode in the application - this will increase the suction power to 3000 Pa.

4. Xiaomi 2021 Budget Models: Should You Save Money?

Not everyone needs sophisticated robots with laser navigation. If your apartment is small (up to 60 m2) and you do not have pets, you can consider budget options:

• 💰 Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum 1C — the cheapest model with a capacity of 2500 Pa. Suitable for laminate and tile, but will not cope with long-haired carpets.
• 💧 Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop Essential – added basic wet cleaning, but navigation is gyroscopic (chaotic movement).

The main disadvantage of budget models is the lack of accurate mapping: the robot will drive around the apartment blindly, sometimes skipping corners or bumping into the legs of chairs, and they have less time (60-80 minutes vs. 100+ for laser models).

But there are also advantages:

• ✅ Low price (from 18 000 rubles.).
• ✅ Easy to use – no need to configure maps.
• ✅ Compact sizes – easier to clean under low furniture.

5. Xiaomi 2021 wet-cleaning robot vacuum cleaners: should you overpay?

Wet cleaning is not available in all 2021 models, but it is useful if you have:

• 🐾 Pets (robot will collect wool and wipe floors).
• 👶 Children (cleaning without chemistry).
• 🍲 Kitchen with tile (removal of fat spots).

The best models with wet cleaning in 2021:

1. Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2 Pro - electronic water supply control, 3 levels of intensity.
2. Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop P - manual adjustment, but cheaper by 7-10 thousand rubles.
3. Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2 Lite is a budget version with a laser.

It's important to understand that a robot is not a substitute for a full floor wash, it only moistens the surface slightly and collects dust with microfiber fabric, and for severe contaminants (such as sticky dirt), you will need manual cleaning.

⚠️ Note: When using the wet cleaning function on laminate or parquet, set a minimum water supply level so as not to damage the coating.

Fill the tank with distilled water | Check the purity of the microfiber wipe | Set the "Wash only" mode in the application | Remove long-pile carpets

-->

6.Compatible with smart home and voice assistants

All of Xiaomi’s 2021 robot vacuum cleaners support control via the Mi Home app (or Xiaomi Home for new models), but not all of them integrate with voice assistants:

• 🎤 Vacuum-Mop 2 Pro and Vacuum-Mop P are working with Alice, Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa.
• 🔇 Vacuum 1C Vacuum-Mop Essential supports only Mi Home (no voice control).

To connect to a smart home, follow the following steps:

1. Install the Mi Home app and sign up.
2. Add a robot vacuum cleaner through Add the device → Quick connection.
3. In the device settings, activate the voice assistant option.
4. Link your Mi Home account to Yandex or Google under Smart Home → Accounts.

After setting up, you can use voice commands, for example:

"Alice, turn on the robot vacuum cleaner in the living room."


"OK, Google, start cleaning the kitchen."

💡

If the robot does not respond to voice commands, check the region in the Mi Home settings. For Russia, choose Russia, otherwise some features may not be available.

7.Frequent problems of Xiaomi 2021 robot vacuum cleaners and how to avoid them

Even the most reliable models can be uncomfortable.-3 Problems faced by users and how to solve them:

1. The robot is not returning to base: 🔌 The base is installed in the corner or under furniture (the robot does not "see" it). 📶 Wi-Fi signal weak (for models with laser navigation).

Solution: Move the base to an open location at least 1.5 meters from the walls. Check the stability of the Internet connection.

It's not good collecting dust on carpets.

Reason: Suction power below 2500 Pa or clogged filter.

Solution: Enable Max mode in the app and clean up HEPA-filter (you need to do this once in a while) 1-2 month).

Leaves the divorces after wet cleaning.

Reasons:

• 💧 Too much water in the tank.
• 🧹 Dirty microfiber wipe.

If the robot has started to glitches (for example, rides in circles or does not respond to commands), try resetting it to factory settings via Settings → Reset in the Mi Home app.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions about Xiaomi’s robot vacuum cleaners 2021