Xiaomi X10 Review: This Robot Vacuum Cleaner Can Become Your Daily Cleaning Companion

Robot vacuum cleaners are known more for being evolutionary rather than revolutionary. They all look similar on the surface level and perform the same number of tasks. Once you get into the nitty-gritty, you realise the large gulf between models.  

It’s also been a while since the heyday of robot vacuum cleaners during the good old days of the pandemic. Nonetheless, some companies are still churning out one robot vacuum cleaner after another. Let me tell you one thing that you may not instantly realise. These robot vacuum cleaners are getting much better year after year. 

The latest is from Xiaomi's house. Xiaomi’s Robot Vacuum Cleaner X10 is priced at Rs 29,999 (routinely discounted to Rs 24,999) and comes with a self-cleaning docking station, which is a first in this price segment. 

Robot vacuum cleaners have been made affordable by Xiaomi. Just look at their S10 model. But the X10, their flagship model, has some extra tricks up its sleeve. In short, if you’re in the market for a robot vacuum cleaner with a budget of Rs 30,000, the Xiaomi RVC X10, should be in your top three choices. 

Similar design; better hardware 

As I said above, RVCs all look the same. From brushes to wheels and a rounded design, RVCs haven’t innovated concerning design in years. What the Xiaomi RVC X10 has done though is to trim some of its fat. Overall, the RVC X10 looks slimmer and sleeker than previous models.  

The Xiaomi RVC X10 comes with 4000Pa of suction power, LDS laser navigation, a 5,2000mAh battery pack, three different power modes and a mopping function. The mop fixture clips onto the back of the device (where the tank is). The top of the RVC X10 has the laser navigation system’s emitter and receiver - used for navigation.  

What’s different here is the charging station. It isn’t your typical charging station. In fact, it’s bigger, better and much taller. First and foremost, this dock will charge your RVC. But it has an extra trick up its sleeve. It has a suction system that pulls out the dust from the on-device dustbin. It’s then stored in a disposable dust bag (capable of handling up to 60 full cleans), inside the docking station, that is easy to replace. Basically, it does all this without you having to lift a finger. 

However, there is one disappointing aspect about Xiaomi’s RVC X10. It uses a 16A power socket (instead of the more convenient 6A plug). This means that you’ll have to really think about where to place the RVC X10 before using it for the first time. 

Setting up and using the RVC X10 is a breeze. All it takes is a mere five to ten minutes and you’re good to go.  

As far as using the RVC X10, let me tell you that it is a breeze. All you need to do is download the Xiaomi Home app (available on Android and iOS devices), sign in, connect the RVC X10 to your home Wi-Fi network and you’re good to go. During its first run, the RVC X10 will create a map of your house and mark the individual rooms. You do need a little bit of manual intervention when creating these zones, especially if there are places you don’t want the RVC X10 to enter.  

The app itself is nicely laid out. There are the map, battery levels, and cleaning information upfront. More detailed menus give you the controls for self-cleaning dock settings, cleaning history, firmware updates, and much more.  

Unlike some previous RVCs I’ve reviewed, the Xiaomi RVC X10 had no problems navigating my room and the occasional bumps. One good thing is that even if your Wi-Fi gets disconnected, the RVC X10 will find its way home to the docking station. 

One good thing about the RVC X10 is that you can set it to operate at different power levels for different rooms.  

Just, make sure to not be in the room, when you set it to Turbo mode. It can get especially loud. Silent mode is never worth it unless you’re allergic to sound. Additionally, the self-cleaning docking station can be known to make a lot of noise. It may only be for half a minute, but it’s still annoying. 

The RVC X10 comes with a 5,200mAh batter, one of the largest I’ve seen in any RVC. It’s large enough to clean the whole floor and then some. 

What I didn’t like 

Here are two things I noticed about the RVC X10 that I didn’t like: 

- If you’re trying to vacuum carpets, then this will be a hurdle for the X10. First, it might make a few attempts before getting on top of the carpet. Second, the mop pad isn’t lifted when vacuuming carpets. And third, it will miss those fine particles. Simply put, just avoid vacuuming your carpet with the RVC X10. 

- After the mopping is done and dusted, the floor can be kind of sticky. 

Verdict 

Is this the best RVC under Rs 30,000? The short answer is yes. The RVC X10 proves to be one step ahead of all the previous vacuum cleaners from the company. The RVC X10 packs in a whole lot of features and has excellent battery life. The ease of use is where the Xiaomi RVC X10 shines.  

If you’re in the market for a high-end, yet affordable vacuum cleaner, then the Xiaomi RVC X10 will be well-equipped to handle the daily cleaning. I just wish the mopping performance was a tad bit better, and that there was a lift function for when I wanted my carpets to be cleaned.