Xiaomi Robot Vacuum S20+: cloth lifting, 6000 Pa, object detection system

The latest robot vacuum cleaner I've reviewed is the Xiaomi Robot Vacuum S20+, model number B108GL. Priced between $250 and $300, this unit boasts an object detection system, suction power reaching 6000 Pa, and two rotating mopping pads that automatically lift when it hits carpets. Overall, it's a decent set of features for the price. Below, I'll thoroughly test the Xiaomi S20+, highlight its pros and cons, and then share my opinion. Let's get started!

Equipment

The robot vacuum cleaner arrived in a branded box like this:

The standard delivery package includes the robot itself, two holders with wipes, a charging base, a power adapter, and an operating manual in Russian.

Appearance

Now let's take a look at the design of the Xiaomi S20+. It comes in white and black. The case is round and 97 mm high.

A wall sensor is installed on the right side of the bumper, and a system of sensors for detecting and accurately avoiding objects on the floor is located in the center.

The main navigation device is the lidar. It is equipped with a spring-loaded cover to prevent it from getting stuck under furniture. Two mechanical control buttons are located next to the lidar.

 

The dust container is located under the top cover. It states that the filtration system, including the HEPA filter, is washable with water. The container contains two filters: the HEPA filter itself and a mesh filter. The dust container capacity is 450 ml.

The water tank has been enlarged compared to the Xiaomi S10+. It now holds 290 ml, compared to 200 ml in its predecessor. Electronic adjustment of the water flow to the wipes is also available.

The robot has four anti-fall sensors installed underneath. A carpet sensor has been added, which is very good. There's only one side brush: a three-beam, quick-release one.

The central brush unit is floating, which is a plus. The turbo brush has bristles and petals. Both sides can be removed to remove tangled hair and pet hair.

There are wipes installed behind the brush. They're designed in the usual way, held in place by Velcro.

It's important to note that the wiper holders automatically lift when the robot enters carpeted areas, moves to the cleaning location, and returns to charge. This eliminates any contact between the wet wiper and the floor while charging, which is a very good thing.

The pros and cons of the robot's design will be discussed in the final review, but for now, I can say that visually, the robot is very similar to the DreameBot L10s Pro Gen 2. While the differences between the robots are minimal, we'll see how they compare in test results.

Technical specifications

The main characteristics of the Xiaomi Robot Vacuum S20+, as stated by the manufacturer:

• Li-Ion battery 5200 mAh.
• Suction power 6000 Pa.
• Operating time: up to 170 min.
• Dust collector 450 ml.
• Water tank 290 ml.
• Obstacle clearance 2 cm.
• Robot dimensions: 350*97 mm.

The increased claimed suction power stands out here. This will be verified in tests. The other specifications are in line with similar devices in this price range.

Functional capabilities

As for the robot vacuum cleaner's functions, it's controlled via the proprietary Mi Home mobile app. It's entirely in Russian, as are the voice commands. Everything is convenient and intuitive. Since the version is European, you can select the Russian region when connecting.

All main functions are displayed on the screen:

• System for detecting objects on the floor.
• Saving multiple cleaning maps.
• Zoning of premises into rooms.
• Selecting areas and rooms for cleaning.
• Virtual walls and no-go zones.
• Suction power adjustment.
• Adjusting the water supply level.
• User mode.
• Cleaning log.
• Setting up cleaning according to a schedule.
• Voice notifications in Russian.
• Lifting napkins on carpets.
• Carpet bypass during wet cleaning.
• Yandex.Alice support.

As you can see, a wide range of options are available for flexible cleaning settings. A custom mode is also available, allowing you to set individual cleaning parameters for each room.

Testing

A detailed video review of the Xiaomi Robot Vacuum S20+, including all tests, has already been prepared and published on the channel:

Navigation

And finally, let's move on to the tests. First, we'll check the obstacle course navigation. After leaving the base, the robot navigates the perimeter of the selected area. The mirror introduced some error in the map, but this is normal for lidar robots. The robot didn't get stuck on the clothes dryer, carefully navigating around the legs. After traversing the perimeter, the Xiaomi S20+ begins cleaning the entire accessible area in a serpentine pattern. It also swept around the box and the chrome legs of the table, but didn't go under the table, even though it was physically possible to do so. Its touch on objects is very gentle, which is a plus.

Regarding house navigation, the robot cleans room by room, following the perimeter, then in a serpentine pattern. There were no uncleaned areas, and the cleaning speed was high, so this test was passed.

Passing under low furniture

Speaking about the minimum height for passing under furniture, a robot vacuum cleaner can pass under a 10 cm gap, which is good.

Autonomy

I also tested the battery life when running the robot at maximum power with wet cleaning enabled. It lasted 96 minutes, cleaning 108 square meters of usable space. In reality, that's nearly three full cleanings of a 70 square meter two-bedroom apartment. It also features a resume cleaning mode after recharging at the base, so this model is capable of cleaning larger areas.

Identifying objects on the floor

Regarding the object avoidance system, in good lighting, the robot was able to identify and accurately avoid 6 out of 6 objects on the floor. It was also able to accurately avoid 3 out of 3 socks, all 4 wires, and 4 out of 6 simulated pet surprises.

In complete darkness, the detection system is blinded, but not significantly. The robot was able to avoid four of the six standard objects. It chewed a wire and moved the simulated pet surprise. However, after moving it, it still made a careful detour around the trap. It also avoided two of the four wires on the floor, three of the three socks, and, what surprised me most, it avoided all six simulated feces traps in the dark.

The result is even better than the flagship Xiaomi Mijia M40In principle, this robot has one of the best object detection systems in the Xiaomi lineup, as well as compared to other brands in this price segment, such as its twin, the DreameBot L10s Pro Gen 2.

Suction power

There are some questions about suction power, however. In Silent mode, the Xiaomi Robot Vacuum S20+ was able to partially clean a 2 mm deep crevice. In Standard mode, the result remained unchanged. In Intensive mode, the robot managed to clean a 2 mm deep crevice slightly better. Unfortunately, in Turbo mode, the result remained unchanged.

So, in fact, this model's suction power is standard, not increased as claimed. For comparison, the DreameBot L10s Pro Gen 2, a similar model, achieved a suction power of 10 mm on the test bench, with the entire length of the gaps cleaned.

Dry cleaning

Cleaning performance on laminate floors is on par with similar robots—the Xiaomi S20+ generally doesn't sweep into corners, like most other round robots. Another caveat is that the object detection system is very sensitive and can even detect debris as obstacles, as was the case in my case.

You're unlikely to encounter this problem in a home environment, but the inability to turn off the object detection system or adjust its sensitivity is a bummer. The central brush became tangled with fur and hair, which is normal for this type of brush. Fortunately, it's easy to clean, as it can be removed from both ends.

Carpet cleaning

The robot cleans low-pile carpets without any problems. On medium-pile carpets, cleaning performance is good, despite the low power. The floating turbo brush unit and the well-designed brush itself came in handy here. Test passed!

Wet cleaning

Speaking of wet cleaning, a robot vacuum cleaner can remove light, dried-on stains, which is a plus. However, keep in mind that due to the lack of a washing station for these cloths, there's a risk that they will leave circular streaks when cleaning dirty surfaces.

Additionally, the napkin holder doesn't extend sideways, leaving a blind spot between the edge of the napkin and the baseboard. In this case, it's about 4.5 cm.

But in any case, the main thing is that the Xiaomi S20+ can vacuum and mop the floor at the same time, and the wet trail itself is much more visible with round cloths.

Wet cleaning and carpets

Regarding wet cleaning on carpeted floors, the robot vacuum cleaner's carpet sensor allows it to detect carpets, and the settings offer several options for interacting with carpets. The most optimal option is to raise the cleaning cloths when entering carpets. In this case, the robot will vacuum and mop hard surfaces and clean carpets with the cleaning cloths raised to avoid wetting them. You can also enable the robot to bypass carpets during wet cleaning or drive over carpets with the cleaning cloths raised without dry cleaning. This is called carpet transit.

Obstacle course

The robot vacuum cleaner easily navigates 2 cm high thresholds. That's a plus!

Driving on black surfaces

It's also not afraid of black surfaces, easily driving on completely black carpet. This is another advantage of the robot!

Noise level

Well, as for the noise level, it is in the range of 58.5-72 dB, depending on the selected power mode.

The noise level is increased, considering that there is no power as such.

Personal opinion

The Xiaomi Robot Vacuum S20+ robot vacuum cleaner has been thoroughly reviewed and tested. our evaluation system he managed to gain 138 points, and this is a very good result for this price segment. For comparison, Xiaomi Robot Vacuum S10+ was able to score 120 points, and Xiaomi Robot Vacuum S20 only 104 points. Moreover, the double DreameBot L10s Pro Gen 2 He still scored more – 147 points.

Overall rating of tested robot vacuum cleaners: https://robovac.washerhouse.com/en/rejtingi/robovac-obshhij-rejting-robotov-pylesosov-robo.html.

I'll highlight the pros and cons of the Xiaomi S20+, then share my opinion. I liked the following:

1. The object detection system is very well implemented. The robot more carefully touches obstacles in its path, and even avoids some at close range without touching them.
2. Automatic lifting of napkins when driving onto carpets.
3. High-quality dry and wet cleaning on various surfaces.
4. Complete Russification.
5. A large number of functions for flexible adjustment of cleaning parameters.
6. Good cross-country ability.
7. The robot vacuum cleaner is not afraid of black floor coverings.
8. Availability of warranty and service.

Among the disadvantages it is worth highlighting:

1. The claimed suction power was not confirmed in tests.
2. Doesn't scrub the narrow area along the baseboard.
3. Increased noise level at maximum power.

Overall, my main criticism is the power, and that's only relevant if you have medium-pile carpets. Otherwise, the robot is actually quite good for its price, which can't be said about its predecessors, the Xiaomi S10+ and S20, which I reviewed earlier and didn't leave such a positive impression. So, for a $250 budget, if a good object detection system and a cloth lift feature on carpets are important to you, this option is clearly one of the best.

On that note, I'd like to end this review. Thank you all for your attention, and happy shopping. Bye!