Xiaomi rolls out a $250 robot vacuum cleaner

Xiaomi rolls out a $250 robot vacuum cleaner

Xiaomi isn't your average phone manufacturer. The Chinese company makes everything from air purifiers to hoverboards, smart rice cookers, smartwatches, body scales, power banks, routers, and even an electric screwdriver. Xiaomi brings these products to market under its Mi Ecosystem label, which sees the company facilitating startups across various categories by providing monetary assistance and connecting them with its supply chain partners.

The latest entrant in the Mi Ecosystem is the Mi Robot Vacuum, which will go on sale in China starting September 6 for ¥1,699 ($250). The vacuum cleaner features a laser distance sensor that is able to scan its surroundings up to 1800 times a second. The Mi Robot Vacuum uses its complement of 12 sensors — including an ultrasonic radar sensor, cliff sensor, gyroscope, and accelerometer — to map out the interiors of your house, and the Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) algorithm calculates the most efficient route for cleaning.

The robot vacuum comes with three processors that track its movements in real-time, and it features a Nidec brushless DC motor that has a suction rating of 1800Pa. To put that into context, the $900 Roomba 980 has a 1670Pa motor. The vacuum has two circular side brushes that direct dirt toward the main brush, which can adjust its height to create more suction with the floor.

The vacuum also syncs with the Mi Home app, allowing you to view real-time progress, change cleaning modes, set automatic schedules, and power on the device remotely. The vacuum comes with a 5200mAh battery that can clean for two and a half hours on a full charge, following which it will return to the base unit.

As with most products in the Mi Ecosystem, it is likely the Mi Robot Vacuum will be limited to China.