Xiaomi Robot Vacuum 5

Out of curiosity, I dug out the order for my first robot vacuum cleaner. I bought it in August 2020, and it's actually been with me ever since, through all those years in a house in Oslo and then on to a flat when I moved back to Sweden. It's done a lot of cleaning in that time and I christened the old workhorse R2-D2, because, as anyone who owns a robot vacuum cleaner knows, it needs a name.

But, as with all technology, progress happens, and even though that particular Roborock model was "the shit" back when it came out just over six years ago, a lot has changed. Above all, that type of automatic base station wasn't as widespread as it is today, where it's found on the slightly more expensive models from most manufacturers. So, it's this sort of upgrade I've now had sent to me, and my R2 has had to move in with his little brother, where he'll hopefully be cleaning the floors for quite a while yet.

Something you quickly realise when you pick up a model like this with a station containing a water tank and other bits is just how enormous it actually is. "It looks like a toilet", is a comment I've heard from quite a few people when they've laid eyes on it. Of course, there's not much you can do about the substantial size when considering the internal contents. Inside, there are two water tanks (one for clean water and one for dirty water), each with a capacity of four litres, as well as a 2.5-litre dust bag. Its capacity is substantial, but how long it actually lasts depends entirely on the frequency of cleaning and the size of the home. However, it quickly becomes clear that the built-in water tanks and the dust bag make this a handy solution for anyone who wants to avoid emptying it after every clean. Sure, sooner or later it'll need doing but compared to having to empty a container after every vacuuming session, this feels incredibly luxurious.

The first thing I noticed was that I was using the mop function far more now than I did with my old Roborock, simply because it works so smoothly to let it take care of this itself. It cleans (both the floors and the mops after every clean) and empties out the dirty water, then refills with clean. Everything about the automation is so wonderful and you quickly get thoroughly spoilt. The same goes for the dust collection itself, which you don't have to worry about emptying. The container inside the vacuum cleaner is quite small, but it empties itself when needed. However, you only get one of the included vacuum cleaner bags and it's not meant to be used more than once. Here, they could obviously have been a bit more environmentally conscious and instead provided a larger plastic container that could easily be emptied and reused.

The suction power of 20,000 Pa is incredibly impressive on paper, and after using it in the kitchen, living room, hall, and bedroom on various types of floors and carpets, I feel that my home has never been so spotlessly clean. You can adjust everything from how efficient or thorough it should be, how much suction power it should have, and whether it should just vacuum, wet mop, or a combination of both. The app is very user-friendly, although unfortunately it does tend to need restarting now and then to update its location. When the Robot Vacuum 5 whizzes across the floor, it picks up dirt virtually flawlessly. But there is one area where it isn't quite entirely effective, and that is corners. I've spotted a few crumbs left here and there, and noticed a bit of dust under a bookshelf where it really ought to reach with its extendable brush. Although it's just a tiny, tiny complaint, it's really the only thing stopping me from giving it top marks.

Even though the vacuum lowers its radar on the top to get under low furniture, it's a bit fussy in a way I never experienced with my previous model. The brush, which sits on a small arm, is designed to reach right into corners, but as I said, there are times when I've found a bit of dust or crumbs upon closer inspection. However, I find that the carpets come out incredibly clean and the floors as a whole are very thoroughly tended. With its built-in cameras, I also find that it very cleverly navigates around objects that might be left on the floor. I've now "optimised" my home specifically for robot vacuuming and I have no loose cables on the floor, and really, it's just a coffee table I need to move if I want the carpet in front of the TV to be fully vacuumed. But I can imagine it's quite nice for families with children not to have to pick up socks or toys from the floor every time you want to start it up. When I've tried placing objects on the floor, it simply navigates smoothly around them.

During the weeks I've been testing it, it's really only got stuck on two occasions. As the mops are like two round spinning discs, one of the discs ended up under the edge of a rug and came loose, which the vacuum cleaner kindly notified me of. All notifications pop up smoothly on the app, and when it was time for the first trip to refill at the station with clean water and empty out the dirty water, a notification also appeared. What's more, a light on the docking station flashed as a handy reminder when I went out into the living room a little later. Overall, the mops feel significantly more effective than the kind of cloth found on simpler models. They also extend a few centimetres to be able to wipe right up against the skirting boards.

It's really just minor issues that prevent a perfect score. After a final big test before writing this review, I walked around and scrutinised the house with a very critical eye. I spotted a few crumbs right at the edge under my sofa, and discovered some dust bunnies right up against the wall under a bookcase, so although the brush on the extendable arm should reach right into the corners, the cleaning isn't always 100% perfect. However, you do tend to notice these little things more, unlike with manual vacuuming where you usually just pick up what you can see. By my oven, for example, there's a small gap right down by the floor where crumbs tend to settle. With a traditional hoover, you can just use the nozzle to get rid of them, but here it's simply a blind spot that a robot hoover can't manage.

Despite the odd forgotten crumb, I'm otherwise extremely pleased with everything from how the impressive suction power leaves carpets sparkling clean to how the wet mopping keeps the floors spotless. The fantastic automatic docking station has been a joy to use and has worked absolutely brilliantly; after nearly three weeks of daily use, I've only had to empty/refill the water once and the dust bag is barely half full yet.