Liectroux ZK901: An affordable robot vacuum cleaner with lidar and wet cleaning

Greetings to all readers of the site robovac.washerhouse.comWe received the new Liectroux ZK901 robot vacuum cleaner for review from the Nova Shop Moscow store. The robot retails for $230. For that price, it features lidar for navigation, dry and wet cleaning, and helpful mobile app features. It's off to a good start. Let's take a look at how the Liectroux ZK901 works, what features it supports, and most importantly, how it cleans. So, let's get started.

Equipment

The robot vacuum cleaner comes complete with:

1. Charging base.
2. Power adapter.
3. Microfiber cloth attached to the attachment.
4. Spare napkin.
5. Separate water tank.
6. Replaceable suction module.
7. Operating instructions and a quick guide on connecting the robot to the app.
8. Spare HEPA filter.
9. Two spare side brushes.

Overall, the kit is complete, including all spare parts. Importantly, the kit includes documentation in English. The manufacturer offers downloadable instructions via QR code in any language, including Russian.

Appearance

Let's take a closer look at the robot itself. It's white, reminiscent of the popular first-generation Xiaomi robot vacuum. Mounted on top is a lidar sensor for navigation and two mechanical control buttons: Start/Pause and a forced return to the charging base.

The dust container is located under the top cover. It features a cleaning tool for the container itself and the central turbo brush.

The dust container lid opens for easy removal. A mesh and pleated filter are located at the rear for air purification. The dust container holds 450 ml, enough for several cleaning cycles.

Two side brushes and a central turbo brush are mounted underneath. The side brushes are three-pronged and feature a hair-tangle prevention system. The central brush is a non-detachable, bristle-petal brush. Only the side cap is removable.

The central unit with the main brush can be replaced with a direct suction module if needed. It's ideal for cleaning hard surfaces and those who don't want to constantly clean the brush of hair and fur.

The cloth is attached with Velcro and a pocket on the front. The nozzle itself is secured to the robot body with a clip.

To activate the wet cleaning function, replace the dust container with a water tank. The tank capacity is the same: 450 ml.

The tank has a sealed water inlet valve on top, and four holes underneath for wetting the cloth. It's worth noting that the water supply is electronically controlled, which is a plus.

Technical specifications

Let's move on to an overview of the characteristics of the Liectroux ZK901, of the main ones I would like to highlight:

1. Li-Ion battery with a capacity of 4500 mAh.
2. Suction power up to 3000 Pa according to the manufacturer.
3. Operating time up to 120 min.
4. Charging time up to 5 hours.
5. Dust collector capacity is 450 ml.
6. The water tank capacity is 450 ml.
7. The height of obstacles to be overcome is up to 2 cm.
8. Dimensions 340*99 mm.
9. Weight 3.1 kg.

The increased battery capacity and suction power are worth highlighting. Next, we'll look at how well the robot vacuum cleaner sucks up dirt. It's also important to note that dry and wet cleaning are separate. The robot can't sweep and mop at the same time.

Functional capabilities

Now let's move on to an overview of the features. To do this, you first need to install the mobile app and connect the robot to it. The instructions include a QR code that needs to be scanned to go to the website where you can download the app. I had no problems connecting; I followed the manufacturer's instructions. Immediately after connecting, select Russian in the settings. Enable the walkthrough feature so that the robot can create a map of the room and access all the features.

The map is now created. Let's take a look at the new features. In the bottom row, we see buttons for forced return to base, automatic cleaning mode, and suction power adjustment (3 levels). You can also set cleaning zones on the map. For example, you can create separate zones for each room or part of a room. You can also set no-go zones where the robot will not enter during cleaning.

There's a scheduled cleaning mode. You can select a time, day of the week, and a specific area to clean, such as a specific room. There's also a do-not-disturb mode, which prevents the robot from making voice alerts or starting cleaning at the specified time.

You can adjust the volume of voice alerts and turn off the robot's indicator lights. The cleaning log stores data on each completed cycle, with a map showing where the robot has and hasn't cleaned. You can view the status of consumables and even perform troubleshooting. Manual and voice control modes are also available. In the main settings, you can update the mobile app, firmware, select a language, and view additional information.

On the main control panel on the right, you'll find buttons for zonal and spot cleaning, as well as whole-room cleaning mode. In the top right corner, you'll find a button for accessing the notifications section.

When installing a water tank, instead of adjusting the suction power, it is proposed to adjust the level of water supply to the cloth; 3 wetting levels are also provided.

That's all the app's functionality. Basically, it has everything you need to conveniently control the robot and automatically keep your home clean. Let's move on to testing.

Testing

We demonstrate all tests in detail in the video review:

Navigation

We tested the Liectroux ZK901's spatial orientation. First, we tested the robot vacuum within a single room with several obstacles.

You can see that the robot covered the entire available area without any problems. It cleaned around each chair leg, around the ottoman, and in the darkened area behind the sofa. The mirrored closet door introduced an error in the mapping, but this didn't affect the cleaning performance. The robot didn't hit the mirror; it carefully cleaned alongside it and continued the cleaning cycle. It's also important to note that the robot cleans the available area in two passes, the second perpendicular to the first. This improves cleaning quality but also affects cleaning speed. In our case, the robot cleaned 11 square meters in 19 minutes.

Now look at how the Liectroux ZK901 navigates the entire house. We see that the robot cleans large areas in a single pass.

The mapping accuracy is high, and the cleaning speed is also good. The robot cleaned 32 square meters in 31 minutes. There are no complaints about the navigation.

Dry cleaning quality

It's equally important to see how the robot vacuum picks up various types of debris. In our case, these included crumbs, hair, fur, grains, and ground coffee grounds, which simulate dust. See how the Liectroux ZK901 handled the task.

The robot vacuum picked up most of the debris. However, it struggled in the corners and along the baseboards. This is likely due to the side brushes. They're not very flexible, so they don't pick up debris along the perimeter well.

Suction power

Watch how a robot vacuum cleaner sucks dust out of crevices of varying depths (with and without a turbo brush installed).

The robot vacuumed dust well from a 2 mm-deep crack (with the central brush installed), but failed to vacuum from other cracks. But most robot vacuums perform at a similar level, sometimes even worse. Oddly enough, without the turbo brush, it performs even worse in cracks.

Quality of cleaning on the carpet

We conducted two tests on the carpet. First, we checked how well the Liectroux ZK901 picks up sand from the carpet. We first weighed the empty dust container, which weighs 166 grams. We sprinkled 200 grams of sand all over the carpet.

Visually, the robot performed well. The dust bag weighed 241 grams after the test. This means the robot collected 75 grams of sand. From experience, I can say this is a good result.

Afterwards, we scattered fur, hair, and scraps of paper on the carpet. You can see that the robot picked up almost all the debris from the carpet, with only a small clump of fur remaining. Most of the debris was collected in the dust bin, and hair and fur were tangled around the turbo brush.

The test was passed successfully.

Wet cleaning

See how the Liectroux ZK901 cleans the floor. We stained the laminate with mud from shoes. The water flow to the cloth was set to level 3.

And you can see that the robot vacuum has cleaned away all the dirt effectively. Given the large capacity of its water tank, the robot can clean large areas in one go. The only drawback is that it doesn't vacuum.

Noise level

Using a smartphone app, we measure the noise level in different modes.

At minimum power, the noise level reaches 48.2 dB, at medium power it's just under 52 dB, and at maximum power it doesn't exceed 56 dB. Considering its high suction power, the robot is quiet.

Obstacle clearance

We tested the Liectroux ZK901's ability to navigate thresholds of varying heights. The manufacturer claims it can navigate up to 2 cm.

The robot vacuum cleaner easily navigates thresholds of 10, 15, and 20 mm. Its maneuverability is excellent.

Dark spots

Finally, we tested whether the Liectroux ZK901 was sensitive to dark areas on the floor. In our case, that was a black rug.

Yes, the robot doesn't drive on dark surfaces, at least in our test. Keep this in mind before purchasing.

Let's sum it up

The tests are complete, now let's evaluate the Liectroux ZK901 according to various criteria, taking into account the test results and the fact that this robot costs up to $250.

Navigation 9 of 10The robot vacuum cleaner is equipped with a lidar sensor, which accurately maps the room. The map is retained in memory even when the robot is picked up. There aren't many robots with advanced navigation in this price segment, especially those with lidar. If it automatically zoned the room into rooms, it would be a perfect score.

Versatility 8 out of 10Points were deducted for the separate dry and wet cleaning modes and the lack of a remote control. However, the robot does have a replaceable central unit, so it can clean on a variety of floor surfaces.

Design and execution 8 out of 10The robot is well-made, but the plastic quality is budget-friendly, especially the side brushes. But then again, this isn't a premium robot vacuum, so keep that in mind. For $250, the quality is acceptable. It also has two side brushes, and the dust bin and water tank are quite roomy.

Cleaning quality 8 out of 10The Liectroux ZK901 cleans carpets well, with strong suction power. Its wet cleaning performance is also good. However, the robot's poor performance picking up debris along walls and in corners somewhat marred its overall impression, which was reflected in its rating.

Functionality 9 out of 10There are no complaints about the features; all the advanced capabilities are present. As I mentioned earlier, automatic room zoning is missing. But we've already deducted a point for the latter. Now we're deducting a point for the lack of automatic power increase when entering carpets and the inability to set the power level when setting the cleaning schedule. But these aren't critical issues.

Manufacturer support 7 out of 10Liectroux positions itself as a German brand, but its factory is located in China. This company isn't well-known in the market and doesn't have regional offices in Russia, but some stores in Russia offer full warranty service and can sell consumables. I recommend choosing a store wisely and taking this into account. Returning to the brand itself, it's important to note that Liectroux specializes in robotic vacuum cleaners, with a lineup of about a dozen models, many of which have become very popular.

Total: 49 out of 60

Overall, this is a pretty good robot vacuum for the price. It's powerful, has excellent spatial awareness, and comes equipped with all the latest features. For a budget of under $250, it's definitely worth considering, especially if you have a large home and need wet cleaning.

That's all I have for now. If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments below. Happy shopping, everyone!

Analogues:

• Roborock S6 Pure
• Xiaomi Dreame F9
• Polaris PVCR 3000 Cyclonic PRO
• Ecovacs DeeBot OZMO 900
• Genio Navi N600
• iBoto Smart L920W Aqua
• iRobot Roomba 976