Xiaomi X20 Pro robot vacuum review: a brilliant budget buy
Xiaomi sweeping robot X20 Pro: two-minute review
The price of Xiaomi robot vacuum cleaner X20 Pro is very affordable. This robot vacuum sits on the cusp between budget and mid-range prices, but its features and specs are consistent with what you’d typically find on higher-end models. These include an all-purpose dock that not only empties the onboard bin, but also fills the water tank and washes and dries the mop pads.
After testing it, I found it works well at vacuuming. Although its suction power is smaller than some very small The best robot vacuum cleaners There, it’s powerful enough for most people’s needs and capable of light cleaning. Where it really shines, though, is its mopping capabilities. The rotating round mop pads have proven to be perfect for cleaning my hard floors, and they automatically retract when the robot senses it’s on carpet, which is very helpful. While I’ll discuss all of this in more depth later, know that you probably won’t be disappointed in the performance department here.
There are some issues that may be related to the cheaper price tag. For example, while its object avoidance is pretty good, when I threw a rug in front of it (selecting the setting to vacuum the rug), it still avoided it. And it also lacks the extra features found on truly premium models, such as the ability to use it as a security camera. However, these features will be redundant for most people, and what is the function of this robot? Do For its price, the offer is still impressive.
Maybe we’ll see prices drop across the board for this type of all-around model, but for now, it’s good value for money, maybe The cheapest robot vacuum cleaner I’ve tested it. Read on for my complete Xiaomi X20 Pro robot vacuum review.
Xiaomi X20 Pro robot vacuum review: Price and availability
- List price: £399.99 (approx. US$510/AU$780)
- roll out: September 2024
- Available: U.K.
X20 Pro will be released in September 2024. Available directly from Xiaomi in the UK and several European countries.
Perhaps the best feature of this robot vacuum is its price tag. It has the looks, most of the performance and features of other companies’ flagship robot vacuums, but at a more affordable price of £399.99 (about $510 / AU$780). That’s just at the top of TechRadar’s budget price range for robot vacuums.
You get very good performance and specs for the price: the 7,000Pa suction power is on par with higher-end models, and the multi-function base station is similarly more in line with what I’d expect from a more expensive robovac. There are some compromises – features are not quite consistent with the flagship model, e.g. Navarre Frio. However, for most daily cleaning and for most people, the difference isn’t a big deal. Overall, the Xiaomi X20 Pro is very cost-effective.
- Value for money rating: 4.5 points (out of 5 points)
Xiaomi Robot Vacuum Cleaner X20 Pro Specifications
| Maximum suction power: | 7,000Pa |
| Robot diameter: | 13.8 inches/35 cm |
| Robot height: | 3.8 inches/9.7 cm |
| Base dimensions (width x depth x height): | 13.39 x 16.54 x 22.17 inches/34 x 42 x 56.3 cm |
| Bin capacity (on board): | 0.32 liters |
| Bin capacity (bottom): | 2.5 liters |
| Water tank volume: | Not specified on board; 4L dock |
| Base type: | Charge, empty dust, add water, clean and dry mop pad |
| Maximum noise level: | 64 decibels |
Xiaomi robot vacuum cleaner X20 Pro review: Design
- Sweeping and mopping combination robot
- Integrated marina with water tank and mop cleaning
- Specs are in line with pricier models
When it comes to the design of Xiaomi X20 Pro, there is nothing unexpected. It comes in the same plastic white color as most high-end robot vacuums from Chinese companies (Ecovacs, Yeedi, etc.). The robot vacuum itself is round in shape with a raised center that looks like an ant’s control center.
If you flip it over, you’ll find a side brush, a center brush roller to avoid tangles (it does a great job at that), and two round mop pads that rotate and apply to the floor when in use pressure. They can also be raised up to 10mm when they go over carpet or rugs.
From the cleaning function point of view, it is quite comprehensive. There are four modes to choose from: vacuuming only, mopping only, vacuuming and mopping, and vacuuming then mopping. With smart carpet detection function, the mop pad will automatically rise to prevent the carpet from getting wet.
The base station is impressively packed with features. There are two large water tanks on top, both with a capacity of 4 liters, and a self-emptying dust bag that only needs to be replaced every 75 days (according to Xiaomi, depending on how much debris it picks up). Like other high-end sweeping robots with mopping capabilities, this base station is also equipped with mop pad cleaning and hot air drying functions to avoid the accumulation of bacteria in the mop pad. Of course, the mop pad can also be easily removed from the vacuum cleaner for manual cleaning if needed.
The tray for holding the mop pad and cleaning is removable, which is helpful since it tends to get dirty after a few weeks of use.
Scope and alternatives
Figuring out the Xiaomi range can be confusing, and one point in particular that deserves clarification is the relationship between the X20 Pro and the Xiaomi X20+. Despite the very similar names, these are two different models.
The Pro has higher suction power (7,000 Pa compared to 6,000 Pa in the Plus model) and a larger battery. Other features included in the Pro version but not in the Plus version include detecting carpets and automatically lifting the mop pad in response, as well as drying the mop pad in the base station. As you’d expect, the Pro is a little more expensive than the Plus, although both are very reasonable. Go to TechRadar Xiaomi X20+ review Take a closer look at the model.
- Design score: 4.5 points (out of 5 points)
Xiaomi sweeping robot X20 Pro review: Performance
- Good vacuuming ability, but poor mopping ability
- The sound is a bit loud
- Excellent object avoidance ability
Xiaomi X20 Pro is an interesting sweeping robot worth reviewing in terms of performance. Yes, it looks like all other premium robot vacuums and has many of the same functions and features. However, when it comes to how well it vacuums and mops, it performs slightly worse and slightly better respectively.
With a power of 7000Pa, it is one of the more powerful Xiaomi sweeping robots. However, some models, including the company’s own line, have more powerful features. This means its suction power isn’t comparable to something similar. Ecovacs Deebot T30S combination (It’s also a bit pricey).
To test the robot vacuum’s performance, I ran it every day for several weeks and completed a series of standardized tests with flour, sugar, and Cheerios. For each test, the Xiaomi Mi X20 Pro needs one additional pass to complete all tests. Now, I did put a lot of flour in so it came through in there, but it also dragged some of the cereal along with it instead of sucking it all up at once. A bit disappointing.
However, in day-to-day use, I found that it kept floors (mainly hardwood and marble) spotless. However, part of that can be attributed to its mopping abilities.
image 1 of 2
The Xiaomi Mi X20 Pro mops the floor very well. Not only was I able to choose from three different humidity levels (sometimes only two), but the X20 Pro left an even layer of water on all floors that dried relatively quickly. As a concrete test, I poured some milk on the floor and it wiped it clean in no time. My only small complaint is that it wiped off part of it, didn’t realize there was more, went on with the regular cleaning, only to come back very late and wipe off the rest, all while I was there . Trying to stop the French bulldog from licking it.
image 1 of 2
When running, the Xiaomi Mi X20 Pro is a bit louder than many robot vacuums I’ve used, reaching 64 decibels on its highest setting. While no robot vacuum is that quiet, it’s still a little louder than some other models I’ve tested.
Object detection here is very good. When it encounters a chair leg or even a Frisbee, it gets close enough without trying to push it, and then goes around it. I really have no complaints, although it did manage to somehow not detect the wheelchair and knock it down the steps. Of course, wires and cables remain the enemy of every robot vacuum, and the X20 Pro is no exception.
battery life
Battery life is a tough thing to write home about for a robot vacuum like the Xiaomi Mi X20 Pro, as it never really gets a chance to be fully utilized. That’s because, like most robot vacuums with mop pad cleaning capabilities, the X20 Pro keeps returning to its base station to clean the mop pad. When doing this, it will charge up a bit.
Still, it has a battery life of up to 160 minutes, enough to take care of four rooms without having to charge for long periods of time. If you’re particularly concerned and have a large space to clean, there are other models with battery life of over 200 minutes.
- Performance rating: 4 out of 5
Xiaomi X20 Pro sweeping robot review: app
- Easy to use and navigate
- Lighter than some competitors
- Good mapping editing skills
Using the Mi Home app is as easy as any other robot vacuum related app. It’s not necessarily the most attractive, but it’s nice and does most of the things you might need. The various settings for vacuum and mop intensity and mode are easy to access and adjust, and setting a schedule is simple. And there’s no deep learning curve to get further into the various settings.
Part of the reason, however, is that the X20 Pro eschews some features you might find on other high-end models. For example, you can’t use it as your own small video drone. Despite being billed as working with Alexa, Google Assistant, there’s nothing in the app itself to help you with this. Plus, it doesn’t have its own voice assistant like some (admittedly premium) models.
On the drawing side, it does allow me to subdivide a semi-open floor plan into separate rooms – I found this to be a 50% success rate on the robot vacuum I tested. Additionally, you can save multiple maps.
Should you buy the Xiaomi robot vacuum cleaner X20 Pro?
| property | notes | grade |
|---|---|---|
| value | Sitting on the cusp between budget and mid-range, its features and specs are consistent with premium models. | 4.5/5 |
| design | Combo models come with a spin mop pad and an integrated base station that takes care of most of the maintenance. | 4.5/5 |
| Performance | The vacuuming was great and the mopping was great. The sound is a bit loud. | 4/5 |
| app | The app and its mappings are easy to use, but a bit feature-less. | 4/5 |
Buy it if…
Don’t buy it if…
Xiaomi X20 Pro review: Alternatives worth considering
How do I test the Xiaomi sweeping robot?
To test the Mi X20 Pro, I used it to vacuum and mop my home’s hardwood floors and carpets for a few weeks. I tested every feature listed in the app, from maps to scheduling. I noticed how well the vacuum performed at vacuuming and mopping and how it handled obstacles.
Read more about How we test robot vacuum cleaners
- First review time: November 2024
