IMILAB V1: A new robot vacuum cleaner with self-cleaning, lidar, and wet mopping

This review will focus on the IMILAB V1 robot vacuum cleaner. IMILAB is a Xiaomi sub-brand and specializes in video cameras, intercoms, and other smart home security devices. This robot vacuum is the first in the company's lineup, and sales will begin in late August. The initial price is around $400, which is $300. A purchase link and a promo code for a small discount are provided at the end of the review. For this price, the device is equipped with a self-cleaning base, lidar, and even a wet mopping function. Below, I'll thoroughly test the IMILAB V1 and then express my opinion on whether it's worth buying. So, let's get started!

Equipment

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

The kit includes:

• Wet cleaning nozzle with a microfiber cloth installed.
• Set of disposable napkins (10 pcs.).
• 4 spare bags for the station, with one bag already installed inside.
• Spare side brush.
• Operating instructions in English.

It is important to note that the instructions themselves contain a QR code that links to a page with an electronic version of the instructions in several languages, including Russian.

Overall the package is not bad, the only thing missing is a spare HEPA filter.

Appearance

Now let's look at the appearance of IMILAB V1. Surely many see similarities with Roidmi Eve Plus and Lydsto R1, which I previously reviewed. Indeed, the robot is very similar, but it's not a complete duplicate of either one. Let's take a look at the differences.

The robot vacuum cleaner itself is white and looks no different from Lydsto R1The mechanical bumper has two wall sensors on each side and an obstacle detection sensor in the center.

The charging terminals are located in a combined container, not in the robot's body. The body height is 98 mm.

The control panel has two mechanical buttons: start/pause and forced return to the charging base. The lidar is equipped with a mechanical button that prevents the robot from getting stuck under furniture.

The combined container holds 300 ml of dry waste and 250 ml of water, according to the manufacturer. However, this container is identical to the one in the Lydsto R1, which claims a capacity of up to 250 ml of dry waste and up to 200 ml of water. However, this information is up to the manufacturer.

The dust compartment features a triple filtration system consisting of a mesh, foam, and HEPA filter. A pump is located in the water tank. Water flows through three holes in the nozzle to the cloth.

Let's take a look at the IMILAB V1's underside. Again, it's no different from the Lydsto R1. It has four anti-fall sensors, one side brush, and a central bristle-petal brush that can be removed to remove tangled hair and fur.

The self-cleaning base is different from the one included with the Lydsto R1. At first glance, it looks identical. Roidmi EVE Plus, but it has its own peculiarities. The most important is the docking point between the robot and the base. It's not as ugly as Lydsto's, but the recess isn't as deep as Roidmi's. However, the robot fits more compactly within the station.

This solution is a compromise between the two similar bases. The body features an LED display that shows the robot's status and battery level.

Ultimately, the IMILAB V1's design is somewhere between the Roidmi Eve Plus and the Lydsto R1. It roughly shares the Roidmi base with the Lydsto's body. The build quality is similarly average.

Technical specifications

The main characteristics of IMILAB V1, as declared by the manufacturer:

• Li-Ion battery 5200 mAh.
• Station power consumption: 950 W.
• Suction power up to 2700 Pa.
• Working time 100-250 min.
• Cleaning area >100 sq.m.
• Dust collector capacity is 300 ml.
• The water tank capacity is 250 ml.
• Obstacle clearance up to 20 mm.
• Dimensions: 350*98 mm.

Overall, the characteristics are quite standard and at the level of analogues.

Functional capabilities

Let me tell you about the IMILAB V1's main features. I received a test unit from the factory for review. It's controlled via the Mi Home app, but only in European countries. To connect the robot, I had to select the UK region, which meant the app interface was in English. The manufacturer claims that when the robot goes on sale, it will be able to connect to other regions, and the Russian language will also be available. In theory, a Russian voice package will even be included.

On the main control panel, IMILAB V1 creates a room map, automatically divides it into rooms, and saves the map to memory. Key features include automatic power boost on carpets and a do-not-disturb mode. You can set up a cleaning schedule by selecting the time, days of the week, suction power, and even specific rooms to clean.

You can also adjust the volume, select the self-cleaning frequency, view the cleaning log, monitor the status of consumables, manually control the robot, and select suction power and water flow rate. You can also change the robot's name and update the firmware if needed.

IMILAB V1 supports setting virtual walls and no-go zones on the map. You can even set separate no-go zones for wet cleaning mode. You can also set cleaning zones on the map, direct the robot vacuum to a specific spot, or select specific rooms to clean.

Overall, its capabilities are on par with other lidar robot vacuums in the Xiaomi family. It has all the necessary features for automatically maintaining a clean home.

Testing

A detailed video review of the IMILAB V1, including all tests, has already been prepared and published on our channel. I recommend watching it:

Navigation

Let's move on to the tests. First, we'll test the IMILAB V1's navigation in a room with obstacles. First, the robot vacuum cleaner navigates the room's perimeter, then cleans the entire accessible area in a serpentine pattern. It didn't get stuck on the dryer's legs, and it also swept around the box and chair legs. The test is passed.

As for navigation throughout the house, there are no complaints about the robot. It cleaned the entire area, room by room. There were no untidy areas left, and navigation was good.

Suction power

The suction power matches the stated 2700 Pa. The robot was only able to vacuum debris from a 2 mm gap, like most similar products. This power is sufficient for household cleaning, especially without fluffy carpets.

Dry cleaning of laminate flooring

Dry cleaning performance on laminate floors was also above average. Only a little debris remained in the corners, where round robots can't sweep. However, the bulk of the debris was collected, and the robot handled the job well.

Cleaning the carpet

As for carpet cleaning, that's no problem either. IMILAB V1 does a good job of removing hair, fur, and other debris from carpets.

Wet cleaning

This robot vacuum cleaner can remove dried-on dirt from hard surfaces without leaving streaks. There's only a small area along the baseboard that the robot can't reach, unlike its counterparts.

But overall, the quality of wet cleaning is above average, and IMILAB V1 can also vacuum and wash the floor at the same time, which is a plus.

Obstacle clearance

The robot is able to overcome thresholds up to 2 cm high, which is another advantage of the model.

Driving on dark surfaces

However, like most other Xiaomi robots, the IMILAB V1 is sensitive to dark surfaces. This is important to keep in mind.

Noise level

The noise level at minimum power is around 58-60 dB, in standard mode it reaches 62 dB, at medium power it reaches 71 dB, and at maximum power the peak was 73.6 dB. Yes, the noise level is above average.

Self-cleaning quality

Finally, let's test the IMILAB V1's self-cleaning capabilities. The dust bin was filled with various types of debris. The robot cleaned itself almost completely on the first try, and after restarting the self-cleaning mode, the amount of debris decreased even more.

I have no complaints about the self-cleaning performance of this model. However, it's worth noting that the Roidmi and Lydsto didn't perform as well. Perhaps this is a coincidence, but it's important to note that the IMILAB V1 station is 100 watts more powerful than the Roidmi and 50 watts less powerful than the Lydsto.

Let's sum it up

IMILAB V1 has been thoroughly reviewed and tested. our evaluation system he managed to gain 70 out of 100 pointsThis is 1 point higher than the Lydsto R1, but 8 points lower than the Roidmi Eve Plus. Overall, the result is above average, considering the price.

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

Among the advantages I would like to highlight:

1. Good navigation.
2. Simultaneous dry and wet cleaning.
3. Self-cleaning at the station.
4. All advanced functionality in the application.
5. The quality of cleaning is above average.
6. The robot automatically increases power when entering carpets.
7. Good obstacle clearance.
8. Optimal price considering the possibilities.

The disadvantages that were discovered during testing are that:

1. The robot is afraid of dark floor coverings.
2. The noise level is above average.

The comments aren't particularly critical, in my opinion. The only remaining concerns are my experience with the Roidmi Eve Plus and Lydsto R1 clones, and, of course, the less-than-positive reviews of these robots. After a few months of operation, they begin to experience various issues, most commonly related to navigation and a malfunctioning water supply system. Since the IMILAB V1 is new and there are no reviews, it's unclear whether the manufacturer has addressed the issues with its clones. I didn't notice anything suspicious during testing. So, ultimately, I have no particular complaints about the robot; it passed most of my tests and left a good impression, but how this model will perform in a few months remains to be seen. I hope history doesn't repeat itself. Whether to buy a robot or not is entirely up to you! For this price, there aren't many options that offer both lidar and a self-cleaning function. But we all know that a miser pays twice.

On that note, I'd like to end this review. Thank you all for your attention. If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments. Bye!