Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum - Is it worth it in 2020?

Xiaomi's robotic vacuum cleaners have been an undeniable hit with smart home builders in recent years. The first member of the range was released in 2016, and since then the series has undergone a number of updates. The question is, is it worth investing in a nearly four-year-old machine in 2020? Well, I'll try to answer that question.

I had been considering getting a robot vacuum cleaner for some time, mainly because it was love at first sight. A cute robot that cleans instead of... sorry, helps us clean. On the other hand, I love IoT devices, especially those that can be hacked. And this is just such a product. But more on that later.

Basically, the most popular cleaning machines available from Xiaomi are the Mi Robot Vacuum from Roborock and the S5x family, so it was obvious that I would choose from there. The S5 family does more than its predecessor, but frankly not enough to make up for the price difference, at least for me. And that brings me to the point.

Does it matter when it was published?

Sure, but... I don't think so. And it's a bit controversial, so let's see why. It's a vacuum cleaner. It's possible that you're still using a rocket because you don't like those EU comfort wankers, and it's still working today, right? Unfortunately it's not that simple, as it's also a computer, which are notoriously obsolete.

However: At the time, this hardware was designed to be far outsized for the times, with two processors - one of which is quad-core - so it's perfectly fine in that respect. So technologically it delivers. What it might lack is a mopping function, but I think it's better not to leave that to it if you don't want it to mop your carpet.

Why choose Mi Robot Vacuum in 2020?

Because it's cheaper. It's much cheaper, and that has settled the question for many people. It's not worth paying that much more for an S5, especially if you don't need the extra features. You can find our comparison table here, where you can decide which one is made for you based on technical data, or you can choose other ecosystem models. If price is the deciding factor, I think it's better to avoid Xiaowas, their functionality is much less than Mi Robot Vacuum.

Hacking possibilities

Both the 2016 and the Roborock S5 run a Linux-based Ubuntu system, which can be easily rooted. This allows you to cloud-enable it, i.e. use it only on a local network, Home Assistant or other smart home systems.

1 a 3

Also worth mentioning is an alternative software called Valetudo, which provides a mobile optimised interface and extra features for your cleaning tool, and is open source, and also easily explain the sound of the vacuum cleaner - but you can do this without root by following the instructions at the link.

Another interesting thing is that if you subscribe to Spotify Premium, you can also use the vacuum cleaner as a smart speaker, which gives it a nice extra functionality, and I've used it a few times myself, even though the sound is nowhere near "JBL" quality.

If you stick with Mi Home but want to get away cheaply, you can go for the Chinese version, as they have the same functionality and it's not that hard to make it an EU version if you don't mind the terminal.

It is important to note, however, that this category is only recommended for advanced players. With Linux accessibility, it is easy to brick the robot, and in any case, this change will result in a loss of warranty.

Overall

So Xiaomi's first robot vacuum cleaner is still a great choice if you want to make your everyday life easier. It won't replace cleaning (like no other robot vacuum cleaner on the market today), but it will definitely reduce the amount of work you have to do if you invest in one.