Lefant M201 Robot Vacuum Cleaner: Does It Really Clean or Just Another $100 Toy?

Hello everyone! The latest robot vacuum cleaner I've reviewed is the Lefant M201. It's priced at just $70 on AliExpress, so I was curious to see what this budget-friendly model can do, and what a robot vacuum cleaner under $100 is like. I've previously tested it. Bowai, which costs $25 and is essentially just a toy robot. Now we'll test a more expensive, but still very affordable, robot vacuum cleaner from China. And at first glance, it's the most functional robot vacuum cleaner of its kind. Let's take a look at the Lefant M201's design and how it performs its primary function. Let's get started!

Equipment

The robot vacuum cleaner arrived in a box like this:

The kit includes:

1. The charging base conveniently houses the dust bin and side brush cleaning brush.
2. Power adapter.
3. Operating instructions and warranty card (translated into Russian, which is a plus).
4. Spare side brush.
5. Spare HEPA filter.

The only thing missing from the package is a remote control, but it's worth noting that this robot is controlled via a mobile app, which is more convenient for many. It even comes with spare parts, which is great considering the robot's price! It's also worth noting that there are no accessories for wet cleaning, so the robot is only suitable for dry cleaning.

Appearance

Now let's take a look at the Lefant M201's design. It's black, with a textured top cover for a stylish look. The case's diameter is only 28 cm, allowing it to fit into tight, hard-to-reach spaces. However, the case's height is a standard 8 cm.

The company logo and a single start/pause button are located on the top. A QR code for downloading the mobile app and an on/off button are located on the side.

The Lefant M201 doesn't have a soft-touch mechanical bumper. Instead, it has three obstacle detection sensors: two on the sides and one on the front. Incidentally, this model also lacks a gyroscope, so navigation as such is not available.

Below, we see a single quick-release side brush, charging terminals, a swivel roller, and a central suction port. It's also important to note that three fall protection sensors are installed on the bottom of the housing, and they are functioning properly.

The dust container is located under the top cover. It has a sticker with potential malfunctions and troubleshooting steps. This information is also included in the manual.

The dust container is quite roomy, with a capacity of 500 ml. It contains a mesh filter and a HEPA filter. A protective shutter also prevents debris from accidentally falling out when the container is removed. A sticker on the top of the container contains the manufacturer's recommendations for the proper use of the container and filters. Do not rinse the HEPA filter with water.

Surprisingly, the Lefant M201's build quality is quite good. Even the case is hefty, suggesting the rather expensive components inside.

Technical specifications

Main characteristics of Lefant M201, declared by the manufacturer

• LFP (lithium iron phosphate) battery.
• Suction power up to 1800 Pa.
• Cleaning area up to 40 sq.m.
• Battery life up to 100 min.
• Dust collector 500 ml.
• Obstacle clearance up to 1.5 cm.
• Dimensions 280*80 mm.

Functional capabilities

Let's move on to an overview of the app's features. Installation and registration are straightforward; everything is quite simple, and each step is explained in Russian.

The main control panel features a joystick for manual control of the robot vacuum cleaner and automatic cleaning mode. The bottom row displays all the main functions:

1. Waking up the robot from standby mode.
2. Automatic cleaning mode, which is called intelligent.
3. Cleaning mode along walls.
4. Spot mode.
5. Forced return of the robot to the base.
6. And the settings section, where you can enable robot search by sound, view reports on past cleanings, and set up a cleaning schedule by selecting the time and day of the week.

These are all the features of the Lefant M201. In principle, they are sufficient for automatically maintaining cleanliness in your home.

Testing

You can watch a detailed review and test of the Lefant M201 in our video review:

Navigation

Let's move on to the tests. First, we'll test the Lefant M201's navigation in a room with obstacles. As a reminder, this robot vacuum cleaner navigates using only its sensors; there's no gyroscope on board.

Navigation is chaotic. The robot passes several times in areas it has already cleaned. It combines perimeter cleaning with random drives. It didn't get stuck on the dryer, and of course, it didn't clean around the box or chair legs. The Lefant M201 doesn't automatically end its cleaning cycle, so I had to force it back to its base to charge. It found its base without any problems, which is a plus.

As for navigating within multiple rooms, the situation is similar – movement is chaotic. The robot only returns to its base when its battery is depleted.

It doesn't have navigation, but at least it has anti-fall sensors and obstacle detection sensors. This prevents the robot from hitting furniture too hard. It's also worth noting that even with this navigation algorithm, it managed to pick up quite a bit of trash, even though the apartment was initially clean. So, for its price, the robot is capable of keeping small spaces clean. That's great!

Suction power

The suction power is decent. The robot can suck up debris from crevices up to 8 mm deep. This is a good result for a robot vacuum cleaner without a turbo brush. So the manufacturer's claimed 1800 Pa is very accurate; the motor is quite powerful.

Dry cleaning of laminate flooring

Dry cleaning performance on laminate floors was average. The Lefant M201 didn't sweep corners as well as most other round robots, but it did pick up most of the debris. Only a small amount of debris remained along the baseboards.

Cleaning the carpet

However, due to the lack of a central brush, this robot is unable to effectively pick up debris on carpets. It can crawl onto them and move freely, but it doesn't clean well, which is something to keep in mind.

Obstacle clearance

The Lefant M201's obstacle clearance is also average. It can overcome thresholds 15-17 mm high, but a 20 mm threshold is beyond its capabilities.

Driving on dark surfaces

But the robot isn't afraid of dark surfaces and moves across them without any problems, even if they're height differences. That's a plus.

Noise level

Finally, let's measure the Lefant M201's noise level. It's typically between 65-67 dB, but can occasionally reach 69 dB.

Given the high suction power, there are no major complaints regarding noise levels. The only thing I'd like to note is that the motor whistles slightly during operation, which may cause slight discomfort if you stand near the robot for long periods.

Let's sum it up

The Lefant M201 has been thoroughly reviewed and tested. our evaluation system he was only able to gain 20 out of 100 pointsThe result is quite consistent with its price. It's also worth noting that the evaluation algorithm is more objective for mid-range and premium robots. For such budget-friendly models, it's quite strict.

Overall rating of robot vacuum cleaners tested on robovac.washerhouse.com: https://robovac.washerhouse.com/en/rejtingi/robovac-obshhij-rejting-robotov-pylesosov-robo.htmlNow I'll express my own opinion about the device after a detailed examination and testing.

I liked the following:

1. Budget cost.
2. The quality of cleaning matches the price.
3. Suction power is above average.
4. Automatic charging is provided at the base.
5. Control via a proprietary mobile application.
6. Compact dimensions.
7. Good build quality for a budget device.
8. And a capacious dust collector.

Among the disadvantages, I would like to point out the lack of navigation and remote control included in the kit.

As a result, the Lefant M201 can be considered for purchase if your budget does not exceed $100, you are choosing a robot vacuum cleaner for cleaning one or two rooms, or you simply want to get acquainted with this type of equipment. If there was gyroscopeI had no complaints about the model at all. Anyway, I knew I was getting it for review, and the main thing was to understand whether it was a robot vacuum cleaner or just another toy from AliExpress. Well, the Lefant M201 can truly be called a robot vacuum cleaner.

The purchase link is below. If you enter the promo code MR9LOTRT2P5I, You will get an additional discount and this mini robot vacuum cleaner will cost about $62!

On that note, I'd like to end this video review. If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments. Happy shopping, everyone. Bye!