Robot Vacuum Cleaner Test 2021: Comparing Roborock, Ecovacs, Dreame, Mijia, Viomi, Roidmi, and Proscenic

Hello to all site readers! In this post, I've decided to conduct a comparative test of 2021 robot vacuum cleaners. The comparison included flagships from well-known companies, namely the Roborock S7, Ecovacs Deebot OZMO T9 AIVI Plus, Xiaomi Mijia Vacuum Cleaner Pro, Dreame Bot Z10 Pro, Viomi Alpha UV, Roidmi Eve Plus, and Proscenic M8 Pro. We'll compare the cleaning performance of these robots, as well as other important parameters, to determine which robot vacuum cleaner is the best in 2021, taking into account test results and final ratings. At the end of the article, you'll find links to detailed reviews of each of the compared models, as well as purchase links from trusted stores. Let's get started!

What are we going to compare?

To make the final opinion as objective as possible, I will compare the following parameters:

1. The amount of collected sand scattered in equal quantities on the tile.
2. The amount of sand collected and scattered in equal quantities on the carpet.
3. Quality of collection of waste of different structures on laminate.
4. Quality of collection of waste of different structures on the carpet.
5. Suction power or the maximum depth to which a robot vacuum cleaner can suck up debris.
6. Quality of dirt removal.
7. Avoiding obstacles on the floor.
8. Driving on dark surfaces.
9. Passability of thresholds.
10. Noise level.
11. Self-cleaning quality.

We'll also compare the robots' design features, specifications, functionality, and price. All data will then be compiled into tables, allowing you to easily compare results and choose the best option based on your needs and budget.

I'll also try to identify the winners and rank the flagships from best to worst, awarding points for each stage of the comparison. If you disagree with the scores awarded, please leave a comment explaining your scores for each test and what you think the final result should be.

Comparative tests

A detailed video review with all the tests has already been prepared and published on the channel. I recommend watching the video:

The amount of sand collected on the tile

Let's start with the most revealing tests. The first is how much sand each robot vacuum cleaner can pick up on tile floors. This test is particularly challenging because some sand gets into the grout between the tiles, and cleaning performance is affected not only by the brushes and navigation, but also by suction power.

Sand was spread in the same amount—200 grams—over the entire surface. Each robot vacuum cleaner was run in double-pass mode, covering the entire available area. After each test, I vacuumed the floor manually to ensure the initial conditions were as uniform as possible.

Here are the results:

Roborock	Ecovacs	Viomi	Dreame	Mijia	Roidmi	Proscenic
205/200 (103%)	189/200 (95%)	185/200 (93%)	103/200 (52%)	195/200 (98%)	177/200 (89%)	178/200 (89%)

Roborok managed to collect all the sand on the floor, and even more than had spilled. Apparently, a small amount remained on the floor that was not visually detected during the test preparation. It is the clear winner in this comparative test.

The Ecovacs performed slightly worse than the Roborock and Mijia because it followed the same pattern on repeat passes, rather than the perpendicular, serpentine motion of all the other comparison devices. This likely contributed to the poor results, as a small amount of sand remained in the grout between the tiles.

A strange situation has occurred with the Dreame. For some reason, the sand collection quality of this model on tile floors is extremely poor.

Results of the remaining test participants:

The first estimates will be:

Roborock: 2 Ecovacs: 1.5 Viomi: 1.5 Dreame: 0 Mijia: 1.5 Roidmi: 1 Proscenic: 1

The amount of sand collected on the carpet

A similar test was conducted on a carpet. 200 grams of sand was scattered over the entire surface before each run. After each test, the carpet was thoroughly shaken and cleaned with a powerful cordless vacuum cleaner. Obviously, it wouldn't be possible to collect all the sand, but at least it was visually free of any grains.

The results were as follows:

Roborock	Ecovacs	Viomi	Dreame	Mijia	Roidmi	Proscenic
69/200 (35%)	76/200 (38%)	50/200 (25%)	65/200 (33%)	32/200 (16%)	33/200 (17%)	30/200 (15%)

And we see that in this comparison, Ecovacs was able to catch up with its main competitor, Roborock, and showed a slightly better result, for which it received 2 points, while Roborock, like Dreame, earned 1.5 points.

Viomi followed with one point, and after that, all the other robots performed equally poorly, receiving half a point each.

Roborock: 3.5 Ecovacs: 3.5 Viomi: 2.5 Dreame: 1.5 Mijia: 2 Roidmi: 1.5 Proscenic: 1.5

Quality of waste collection on laminate flooring

Regarding the standard laminate floor tests demonstrated in reviews, it's important to note that all of the compared robot vacuums perform well at picking up pet hair, dust, cat food, litter, and other debris.

I can only highlight a few features. First, Ecovacs, Roidmi, Viomi, and Proscenic are slightly better at sweeping debris out of corners. I'll give them another point for that.

Here are the results of dry cleaning by other robots:

Secondly, Roborock and Ecovacs are better at removing tangled hair and fur thanks to their silicone center brushes. This is a fact. And for this, the robots get an extra point.

Roborock: 4.5 Ecovacs: 5.5 Viomi: 3.5 Dreame: 1.5 Mijia: 2 Roidmi: 2.5 Proscenic: 2.5

Quality of debris on the carpet

The same debris was scattered on the carpet, and it's important to note that all robot vacuums except the Mijia have superior pickup performance for debris of varying textures on carpet. This robot vacuum performs significantly worse on carpets.

In a separate review, there was also a minor complaint about the Roborock, which was that the previous version of the central brush demonstrated superior cleaning performance on carpets. However, in the comparative test, the Roborock clearly holds its own against its competitors. All but the Mijia receive 2 points for carpet cleaning, while the Mijia receives 1 point in this comparison.

Roborock: 6.5 Ecovacs: 7.5 Viomi: 5.5 Dreame: 3.5 Mijia: 3 Roidmi: 4.5 Proscenic: 4.5

Suction power

Suction power is tested on a test bench with gaps of varying depths. Here are the results of the compared robotic vacuum cleaners:

Roborock	Ecovacs	Viomi	Dreame	Mijia	Roidmi	Proscenic
10 mm	10 mm	2 mm	4 mm	2 mm	2 mm	2 mm

We see that the most powerful robots are Roborock and Ecovacs. For this, they each receive 2 points. The Dreame has inferior suction power, but it's still powerful and deserves at least 1 extra point. All the other robot vacuums have the same standard suction power, and for the purposes of this test, I don't see any point in awarding them any extra points.

Roborock: 8.5 Ecovacs: 9.5 Viomi: 5.5 Dreame: 4.5 Mijia: 3 Roidmi: 4.5 Proscenic: 4.5

Quality of dirt removal

In terms of dirt removal performance, Ecovacs, in my opinion, is equipped with the most effective design solution in the form of a vibration module.

Although Roborock also claims to have ultrasonic vibration, in reality it hasn't proven to be significantly more effective than the Viomi, Mijia, Roidmi, or Proscenic, which use a Y-shaped motion pattern in wet cleaning mode.

Therefore, in this comparison, I give 1.5 points to Ecovacs and 1 point to all but the Dreame. The Dreame doesn't have an advanced wet cleaning feature for more effective dirt removal.

Roborock: 9.5 Ecovacs: 11 Viomi: 6.5 Dreame: 4.5 Mijia: 4 Roidmi: 5.5 Proscenic: 5.5

Avoiding obstacles on the floor

Speaking of obstacle detection, Mijia has the best implementation, earning this robot an extra two points. It not only detects most objects on the floor but also recognizes them, displaying corresponding icons on the map. This means that artificial intelligence is incorporated, minimizing the risk of the robot chewing on a sock or cord while cleaning.

Dreame also has an object detection system based on a 3D sensor. However, it doesn't work very well and has issues when working on carpets. The sensor detects high pile as an obstacle, causing the robot vacuum to move erratically across the carpet.

Ecovacs has an active camera and integrated artificial intelligence, but the system currently requires some improvement, as the robot can't recognize all objects on the floor. However, there's at least a chance that a firmware update will resolve this issue.

All other robot vacuums are unable to detect objects lying on the floor in front of them, making them easily entangled in objects like sock or cords, which can become tangled around the turbo brush and block the robot. Therefore, it's fair to give Ecovax and Dreami one point each in this comparison.

Roborock: 9.5 Ecovacs: 12 Viomi: 6.5 Dreame: 5.5 Mijia: 6 Roidmi: 5.5 Proscenic: 5.5

Driving on dark surfaces

Robot vacuums have a problem with dark surfaces. Obstacle detection sensors can detect dark surfaces as height differences, causing the robot vacuum to back away and fail to access black tiles, carpets with black patterns, and other surfaces.

So, of the seven robot vacuum cleaners compared, only Roidmi and Mijia are resistant to dark surfaces. For this, they deserve an extra point each.

Roborock: 9.5 Ecovacs: 12 Viomi: 6.5 Dreame: 5.5 Mijia: 7 Roidmi: 6.5 Proscenic: 5.5

Threshold passability

When it comes to obstacle clearance, all robot vacuums without exception can cross 2-centimeter thresholds. It's a tie in this regard. However, there's one caveat about the Ecovax: during testing, it got stuck on a dryer leg and malfunctioned. All other robot vacuums either navigated over the legs without issue or were able to free themselves from the trap. Therefore, it's fair to deduct one point from the Ecovax.

Roborock: 9.5 Ecovacs: 11 Viomi: 6.5 Dreame: 5.5 Mijia: 7 Roidmi: 6.5 Proscenic: 5.5

Noise level

Well, as for the noise level, I entered all the measurement results into a table:

	Roborock	Ecovacs	Viomi	Dreame	Mijia	Roidmi	Proscenic
Minimum power	62-64 dB	60-62 dB	65 dB	60-62 dB	60-62 dB	57-60 dB	60-61 dB
Average power	67 dB	64 dB	69 dB	63.1 dB	65 dB	64 dB	66 dB
Increased power	71 dB	67 dB	72.5 dB	65.5 dB	67.5 dB	—	—
Turbo mode	74 dB	72 dB	74 dB	73.5 dB	68.5 dB	72 dB	73 dB

We see that the noise levels of all the compared robot vacuums are generally similar. Mijia is slightly quieter at maximum power, but at the same time, it's not as powerful as Roborock, Ecovacs, or Dreame. Still, I think it's fair to give it half a point to highlight its improved noise insulation compared to Viomi, Roidmi, and Proscenic, given that all of these robots have roughly the same suction power.

Roborock: 9.5 Ecovacs: 11 Viomi: 6.5 Dreame: 5.5 Mijia: 7.5 Roidmi: 6.5 Proscenic: 5.5

Self-cleaning quality

All but Mijia in this comparison are equipped with self-cleaning stations, and I'll cover this in a separate article. I compared these stations in detail, or more precisely, how well they unload waste of varying structure under similar conditions. I'll just briefly outline the results for further evaluation.

Although iRobot's station won the comparison, Viomi, Dreame, and Ecovacs still have relatively good self-cleaning performance. For this reason, they each receive 3 points, as the inclusion of a self-cleaning station is also evaluated. Roidmi's station performed averagely, so we'll give it 2.5 points. Roborock and Proscenic's stations don't empty the trash very well, but they're worth 1.5 points for their inclusion alone compared to Mijia, which doesn't have a self-cleaning station.

Roborock: 11 Ecovacs: 14 Viomi: 9.5 Dreame: 8.5 Mijia: 7.5 Roidmi: 9 Proscenic: 7

We compared the key parameters—these are the metrics that best reflect the cleaning quality and efficiency of robots. We see that Ecovacs clearly leads, followed by Roborock, and then all the other robot vacuums are roughly on par. Let's see how the picture changes after comparing additional parameters.

Specifications and Features

To visually compare the characteristics of robot vacuum cleaners, I entered all the data into a table. Here's the result:

We see that the robot vacuums are roughly on par in terms of performance. I'd definitely give the Roborock two points for its lifting mechanism on carpets. It's the only robot vacuum cleaner capable of vacuuming the entire area in a single pass, including carpets, while simultaneously mopping the floor, leaving the carpets dry. This is the key feature of the Roborock S7.

I'd give Ecovacs an extra two points for its ability to monitor your home remotely from a smartphone. I think this is a very useful feature that expands the robot's capabilities. It can be integrated into your home security system. By connecting to a camera, you can check the status of your apartment or house if needed.

I'd give Proscenic one point for the included remote control as an alternative control option. I'd also give Roidmi, Viomi, Dreami, and Roboroka another point for supporting Russian-language voice notifications. These robots also get another point each for being controlled via Yandex.Alice.

I'm deducting half a point from Ecovacs, Mijia, and Proscenic because the app interface is in English.

All other characteristics and functions were evaluated within the comparative tests.

Roborock: 15 Ecovacs: 15.5 Viomi: 11.5 Dreame: 10.5 Mijia: 7 Roidmi: 11 Proscenic: 7.5

Design features

The last thing I'd like to compare is the design features of the robot vacuums. Ecovacs and Roidmi have two side brushes. This is a minor improvement, but it still improves cleaning performance. It's fair to give these two robots a half point each.

Roborock: 15 Ecovacs: 16 Viomi: 11.5 Dreame: 10.5 Mijia: 7 Roidmi: 11.5 Proscenic: 7.5

All robot vacuums use lidar for navigation, so they're all the same height, a tie. The central brushes on each robot vacuum can be removed for cleaning tangled hair and fur, but as mentioned at the beginning, the Ecovax and Roborock have silicone brushes that clean better, which has already earned points. While the Ecovax's dual squeegee rollers are certainly worth considering, their effectiveness has been tested, and on tiles, for example, they weren't found to be significantly better than the Roborock's single roller.

Another important point to consider is the wet cloth's contact with the floor after the wet cleaning cycle. Roborock, Ecovacs, Dreame, and Roidmi enter the cleaning station, eliminating any contact between the cloth and the floor. Moreover, if you consider the Roborock without a self-cleaning station, the cloth automatically lifts half a centimeter off the floor after cleaning, which is a plus. Viomi, Mijia, and Proscenic's wet cloth will remain in contact with the floor until you remove it. This isn't ideal, as over time, this contact can damage the flooring, for example, if the charging base is placed on laminate flooring. Therefore, the first four robots receive an extra point for their gentler handling of the flooring after cleaning.

And the last important thing to compare is the dust collector's air filtration system. Ecovacs, Proscenic, and Viomi have a triple filtration system with a HEPA filter, a mesh filter, and a foam filter. They each get an extra point for this. Dreame and Mijia have a dual filtration system with a mesh filter and a HEPA filter. I'd give them half a point each. Roborock and Roidmi only have a HEPA filter, which isn't very good.

Roborock: 16 Ecovacs: 18 Viomi: 12.5 Dreame: 12 Mijia: 7.5 Roidmi: 12.5 Proscenic: 8.5

Manufacturer support

And now the final point I'd like to highlight is the manufacturer's support and the availability of the robot vacuum cleaner in local stores. Here, only Roborock can boast of being sold both on AliExpress and through official distributors in Russia. Moreover, not only the robot vacuum cleaner but also consumables, even genuine ones, are readily available in Russia. This earns it an extra two points.

Ecovacs presents the biggest challenges. At the time of this comparison, this model is only available for the Chinese market, so you won't be able to order it from local stores or distributors. You'll have to order it from AliExpress or Alibaba and wait about a month for delivery from China. All repair issues are also handled through the seller. Consumables will have to be ordered from China in a similar manner. This isn't very convenient, but for me personally, it's not a big deal, considering how functional and effective the robot is.

The situation with Proscenic and Mijia is almost identical to Ecowax, but at least there is express delivery.

Viomi, Dreame, and Roidmi, on the other hand, can be purchased both on AliExpress with express delivery and in local online stores. And supplies for them are much easier to find, so I'll give them another point.

Roborock: 18 Ecovacs: 18 Viomi: 13.5 Dreame: 13 Mijia: 7.5 Roidmi: 13.5 Proscenic: 8.5

Comparison results

As a result, Roborock and Eocvacs received the same number of points in this comparative test. They can rightfully be considered The best robot vacuum cleaners in 2021Personally, I prefer the Ecovacs Deebot OZMO T9 AIVI Plus, but I had to deduct points due to the manufacturer's weak support and the somewhat inconsistent object recognition system. However, it's definitely better designed and more functional.

Links to purchase Ecovacs:

The Roborock S7, on the other hand, has advantages such as a lifting cloth mechanism and better manufacturer support. It's up to you to decide which is more important. The price difference is significant. The Ecovacs with a self-cleaning station costs approximately $530-$550, while the Roborock with a base costs around $650.

Links to purchase Roborock:

Following them at a significant distance are the Viomi S9, Roidmi EVE Plus, and Dreame Bot Z10 Pro. The Viomi costs around $450, the Dreame is just under $40, and the Roidmi is around $300. Of these three robot vacuums, I would definitely choose the Dreame, as it has more power and an object detection system. Moreover, comparison of build qualityThe previously published review clearly demonstrated that the Dreame is clearly better built than the Viomi and Roidmi. So, despite its overall score being half a point lower than its competitors, it's still worth another point when comparing the three for build quality alone.

Dreame purchase links:

The Roidmi Eve Plus is a middling model with its own set of factory issues, but it offers the best value in terms of price and features. This robot vacuum, even with self-cleaning, will cost $250-$300.

Links to purchase Roidmi:

Incidentally, the Roidmi Eve Plus isn't much different from the Viomi S9 in terms of design, cleaning performance, or functionality. In some ways, it's even better. Therefore, given the choice between these two robot vacuums, I'd choose the Roidmi.

If you're still interested in the Viomi S9, here are the purchase links:

In my opinion, the Proscenic M8 Pro doesn't compete with its competitors, but it might be interesting because it comes with a remote control as an alternative control option. If the price is around $300 with the base, it might be worth considering.

Links to purchase Proscenic:

The Xiaomi Mijia Vacuum Cleaner Pro is the clear underdog in this comparison, as it falls short in both cleaning quality and other parameters. It also lacks a self-cleaning station. However, if you don't need one, and your floors are only hard surfaces, not carpets, and you're interested in the floor recognition feature, you might want to consider this option. The robot costs between $250 and $300.

Mijia Pro purchase links:

So, if I were to rank them from best to worst, I'd rank them like this:

1. Ecovacs DEEBOT OZMO T9 AIVI+
2. Roborock S7
3. Dreame Bot Z10 Pro
4. Roidmi Eve Plus
5. Viomi Alpha UV (S9)
6. Proscenic M8 Pro
7. Xiaomi Mijia Vacuum Cleaner Pro

I hope you found this 2021 robot vacuum comparison interesting and helpful in making your purchase decision. If you disagree with the conclusions or ratings, please let me know in the comments. I'd love to hear your thoughts and suggestions on how the robots should be ranked based on the test results. Happy shopping, everyone. Bye!