When Xiaomi introduced their robot vacuum last year, I changed my view about Chinese robot vacuums.
The quality and performance were higher than other Chinese brands. And the best part is that it is cheaper than its direct competitor, Neato BotVac.
next was Roborock S5 It comes with a few options upgrades that extend its functionality. It also comes with a zone cleaning feature that allows consumers to clean the stain areas minus the virtual wall.
One problem with Roborock would be the price. This second generation will cost around $500++ more or less depending on where you buy it.
The Roborock S25 is a choice that falls between the first generation and the S50 in terms of price.
I have to admit, I thought this bot was a Xiaomi imitator but after doing some research, it wasn’t.
This bot is Xiaomi with a random navigation pattern if that makes sense. It doesn’t have a laser distance sensor, so it won’t have the same predictable pattern.
Quick look at the features
- It uses the same MI Home app which has the same functions as the S5 and The first generation of Xiaomi
- Adaptive random navigation relies on external sensors to map and choose the best cleaning path
- Large 640ml dustbin allows you to clean more without emptying it too often
- It comes with a Li-ion battery with a capacity of 2600 mAh which will work for 120 minutes
- It will take 2 hours to recharge
- 1600Pa suction
- 1 year warranty
Positives
- Cheaper than Roborock S5 and S6
- Decent size dirt container that has enough capacity to clean multiple rooms without having to empty them
- long term time
- good suction
- Good performance about furniture
- The app allows you to control this robot remotely
Negatives
- The lack of an LDS sensor means it won’t be as efficient as the first generation or the S5 RoboRock
- More expensive than the first generation of Xiaomi
Table of Contents
What do you expect from the Xiaomi Xiaowa robot vacuum?
Please watch this video as I open the case and show the different features of the Xiaowa robot vacuum. Please watch the video until the end because there is a cleaning test in the last part.
At first glance, you would think that this robot is not a Xiaomi product.
It lacks the familiar LDS sensor that came with the first generation and the S50 RoboRock which means this robot won’t have the same efficient navigation.
But it keeps the same color scheme and simple design.
top view
If you look at it from above, the interface is simple.
At the top there are three buttons that give you access to the Instant Clean function, Virtual Clean and the Docking function.
The all-white design is typical Xiaomi design that looks classic but gets dirty quite easily. This is an alert if you live in a dusty area.
Like previous Xiaomi robots, the door is also located at the top where the container is stored.
View from the bottom
Turn the robot upside down and you’ll see a familiar side brush diagram on the left.
This robot comes with the same beater bar as other Xiaomi robots.
There are two rubber wheels that surround the brush and are spring loaded. You can use this robot on carpets and bare floors.
Mobility
This is where the Xiaowa differs from the first generation Xiaomi and Roborock S5.
Since this variant does not have an LDS sensor, don’t expect it to go in a predictable back-and-forth pattern.
It does not have the high-tech SLAM navigation system that the other two Xiaomi robots have.
Instead, this robot uses a series of infrared sensors that Xiaowa calls an “adaptive random algorithm.”
Technical terms aside, if you look closely at how this bot navigates, it just goes in a random direction.
The good thing about this navigation is that it is through and will generally perform well in cleaning corners and edges.
Smartphone app
This is one of the very few robot vacuums in this price range that has as good (if not better) application than the Neato Botvac.
I’ll share some screenshots below so you get a feel for what the app looks like.
It won’t have the same features as the S50 which has area cleaning and real-time map updates. But it will get most of the other features like scheduled cleaning and status updates for consumable parts.
It also has a Carpet Boost mode that maximizes power for maximum performance on surfaces such as carpet.
Keep in mind that a robotic vacuum cleaner will not deep clean carpets, so please put your expectations in order. You will need a file upright vacuum for such a task.
Energy
This robot has the least amount of suction compared to Roborock S5 And The first generation of Xiaomi At only 1600 Pa. It won’t be a big problem when cleaning the bare floor, but it does affect the cleaning of rugs and carpets.
If your home has carpeting, you may want to consider the S50 because it comes with the most power.
2600 mAh battery
The other thing that has been pared down is the battery. To put things into perspective, both the first generation Xiaomi and the S50 have a massive 5200mAh Li-Ion battery.
So don’t expect this to last for long (just 2 hours max). And it will take about 2 hours to recharge.
dirt box
Xiaowa comes with a 640ml dustbin that is large enough to pick up dirt in a small to medium sized home. One potential issue would be design. The narrow opening makes emptying a little difficult.
Guarantee
Xiaomi supports this robot with a one-year warranty.
cleaning performance
Before I make my comment, let me show you some before and after pictures…
Overall, this bot did a decent job. The powder residue was a bit worrisome to me as this is indicative of a lack of energy.
But it picked up 36 out of the 50 grams of dirt that was on the floor. Another plus to this is cleaning up the edges although there was one area that left a lot of powder residue.
I have also successfully cleaned the dirt under and around the chair legs. I didn’t see much remains on that area.
Where can I buy this robot?
You can buy this robot from Amazon Under $300 It will be eligible for free shipping if you subscribe to Prime.
to finish
This bot is basically a Roborock S5 minus the expected mobility.
It’s a barebones version of the Roborock S50 because it doesn’t have an LDS sensor, SLAM algorithm, large motor and battery.
So don’t expect this to perform well but the difference is not as big as you think.
The good news is that you can still access the MI Home app which will allow you to remotely start and schedule this bot.
If you don’t mind the lack of efficient cleaning mode, large engine and other premium features in the S50, save yourself a lot of money with Xiaowa.
- Ease of use – 91%
91%
- Surface cleaning – 72%
72%
- Quality – 91%
91%
- Design – 92%
92%
- Values - 89%
89%
summary
The Roborock S25 is a good alternative to the S5 or S6 if you don’t want to spend a lot. It didn’t do well in my initial cleaning test, but consumer reviews have been favorable so far. I’ll do another round of testing to see how it works and update this article.