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Yeah I went from a Roomba 960 (2018) to a Xiaomi Roborock S7 and in my research it was eye opening to see the level of tech difference between the two, even the

Yeah I went from a Roomba 960 (2018) to a Xiaomi Roborock S7 and in my research it was eye opening to see the level of tech difference between the two, even the modern Roomba is using a vision only model, and poorly based on reviews. For the same price, Roborock has Lidar scanning, AI obstacle avoidance and mopping. The thing is, it actually works in the Roborock, it can even spot cords and other misc items around my house and avoid them entirely. Additionally since it maps using Lidar it completes a complete cleaning of my living room + kitchen area in 22 minutes, whole house in under 40 minutes. That is with it covering literally every square inch of carpet & tile instead of going around in random patterns...

Shaanie 4y ago
The Roomba j7+ cord and object detection is working well for me, although it's (probably) more expensive than the Chinese offerings. Regardless, it was a huge step up from my precis Neato Botvac connected (which was probably 5-6 years old though).
soco 4y ago
The only annoying Xiaomi moments are when it recognizes a sock as dog poo then refuses to do anything in that area (or I couldn't figure out how to reset it). Ah, and it constantly gets stuck on bar stools pedestals.
- mysterydip 4y ago
  When it comes to poo, I'd rather it be overly cautious than miss.
  - Bilal_io 4y ago
    Then it becomes a smear campaign.
    - moepstar 4y ago
      Can confirm, source: me, cat owner - had to take apart the Xiaomi / Roborock S5 (surprisingly easy), clean it up from cat vomit and also clean the living room entirely...
      - amelius 4y ago
        Why? The thing is supposed to clean dirt. My guess is it only cleans superficially anyway.
        lostlogin 4y ago
        Have you replied to the correct comment? The robot sucked up cat sick then smeared it around the room. Cleaning everything seems a reasonable thing to do.
  - jamesbfb 4y ago
    As a Roomba owner (with a Cat), I agree with this sentiment wholeheartedly.
    - darkwater 4y ago
      I'm picturing this now and it is not a nice picture.
  - matthewcford 4y ago
    My sister has a horror story with the Roomba and dog poo…
- Algent 4y ago
  I know mine still refuse to pass on an area where it got stuck once and I can't find how to reset this area to tell it's safe again.
- KptMarchewa 4y ago
  And dryer rack legs...
DoingIsLearning 4y ago
Do you have any insight on how much of the SLAM data is being shared in both the Roomba and Xiaomi robots? For example can you use them completely offline or do they 'need' to phone home to a remote server in order to work?
- moepstar 4y ago
  I've a Roborock (Xiaomi) S5 - processing should be done entirely local, but with the default firmware expect everything to be shared with a cloud. Enter Valetudo - everything is local, including a webinterface to control the bot - installation was pretty flawless, upgrades (one so far) as well. Check their list of supported robots: https://valetudo.cloud/pages/general/supported-robots.html https://valetudo.cloud/pages/general/supported-robots.html
  - april_22 4y ago
    In general, how is it owning a cleaning robot? Do they get stuck often? Are there any caveats? Do they clean good? How do they handle carpets? Been thinking of getting one for a while now...
    - adolph 4y ago
      My experience with a couple lower end ones and a sheddy dog is that they work well for what they are. Don't expect magic. Expect low effort daily maintenance cleaning that keeps things spiffy. Maybe the higher end ones are significantly better? My bet is that the cleaning isn't all that different since among a product line they largely use the same chassis--there is only so much sweeper/suction/storage they can have. The one upgrade that would be useful in retrospect is electronic fencing, but it isn't a big deal.
    - pferdone 4y ago
      We have a 120qm2 apartment, 2 cats, 1 dog and a child. We couldn‘t live without our Roborock S7. It runs everyday and sometimes even more. No big issues, vacuums, mops, would buy it again in a heartbeat.
gedy 4y ago
Sounds nice, do these Chinese brands depend on the cloud or are any local-only?
- anony999 4y ago
  they work locally(local network via app or physical buttons) unless you want to use it remotely via internet. The annoying thing is that it still forces you to "create an account" when you set it up. This was not required 4 years ago but it's required now.
  - deleted 4y ago
    [deleted]
- knowhy 4y ago
  I own a Xiaomi Vacuum Robot and that is by default very much not local only. However there is a project [1][2] to hack some of those devices and make them local-only. With limited functionality they work of cause without app and cloud connection. [1]: https://dontvacuum.me/ https://dontvacuum.me/ [2]: https://valetudo.cloud/ https://valetudo.cloud/
  - Fargren 4y ago
    Thanks for this, I had a pending action item to look for something like this for my robot. On a spin-off topic from this project: it says on his website > The Apache-2.0 license is a very permissive license and a lot of work is being shared for free here, so I trust people to not take advantage of that and sell Valetudo; especially not as their own work. Please don’t disappoint me. Thank you. I really don't understand why people pick licenses that specifically allow for things that they don't want to happen. It's specially baffling when the author is clearly aware of the limitation!
    - hypfer 4y ago
      See https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31684910 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31684910
mrep 4y ago
Wow, those both look incredibly slick. I've got a cheap like $150 chinese vacuum one and a mopping one but I might have to upgrade if they ever die. So do they actually handle floor vs carpet sweeping/mopping, don't get stuck on stuff on the floor, refill/empty, and you don't have to change the mop pads each time? That is wild as that basically handles all the prep I have to do for mine. Albeit, 1000-1500 is quite a bit more.
- bearjaws 4y ago
  Yeah it lifts up the mopping part when it senses carpet (stops + lifts up) then proceeds so it won't get stuck / drag the dirty mop on the carpet. There is a limit to raised carpets though from my understanding, I think anything over .5" (13mm) is too tall and it may not go onto it. The one downside is having to clean the mopping pads since I didn't buy the 2x the price auto cleaning station.
weird-eye-issue 4y ago
I've had great experiences with the Xiaomi products I've bought (34" monitor, earbuds, security cam, air purifier, soundbar). They are popular here in Thailand and at a really, really great price point
- april_22 4y ago
  While I really dislike the android skin they run on their phones, they also do built really nice phones
  - weird-eye-issue 4y ago
    Still happy with my Pixel 5 so I haven't gotten the chance to try their phones yet
horsestaple 4y ago
Xiaomi also has working home assistant integration. I have mine set up to start vacuuming when everyone leaves the apartment.
silverlake 4y ago
I have an S7 and it’s been ridiculously stupid. My old Roomba was less aggravating. The S7 takes 50 minutes to clean 800sqft, always gets stuck in a high rug or chair support. Frequently gets tangled on cables and toys. I can clean tht floor in 10 min with a stick vacuum. Anyone wanna buy an old S7? Barely used, frequently kicked.
- FutureZeitgeist 4y ago
windexh8er 4y ago
I've owned Neato, Roomba and Roborock. Hands down Roborock is what I recommend people to buy. Neato had such a great leg up when it first came to market by having the first, and best, Lidar implementation - but their product was marred by horrible customer support, batteries that are garbage and just general failures of hardware that are impossible / too expensive to fix. By the time I gave up on Neato I had 4 of the same robot that I was piece parting out as components died (again and again). Talk about a company that banks on eWaste to keep the sales cycle going. I'm thankful Amazon bought Roomba - one less reason to even consider them as an option considering all of the current gen vacs are sporting onboard cameras + CV (poop avoidance, is that really a huge concern?).
- hawaiianbrah 4y ago
  Poop avoidance is a big concern for me. I have two cats. I’ve had my robovacuum spread vomit all over the kitchen.

Shaanie 4y ago

The Roomba j7+ cord and object detection is working well for me, although it's (probably) more expensive than the Chinese offerings. Regardless, it was a huge step up from my precis Neato Botvac connected (which was probably 5-6 years old though).

soco 4y ago

The only annoying Xiaomi moments are when it recognizes a sock as dog poo then refuses to do anything in that area (or I couldn't figure out how to reset it). Ah, and it constantly gets stuck on bar stools pedestals.

mysterydip 4y ago
When it comes to poo, I'd rather it be overly cautious than miss.
- Bilal_io 4y ago
  Then it becomes a smear campaign.
  - moepstar 4y ago
    Can confirm, source: me, cat owner - had to take apart the Xiaomi / Roborock S5 (surprisingly easy), clean it up from cat vomit and also clean the living room entirely...
    - amelius 4y ago
      Why? The thing is supposed to clean dirt. My guess is it only cleans superficially anyway.
      - lostlogin 4y ago
        Have you replied to the correct comment? The robot sucked up cat sick then smeared it around the room. Cleaning everything seems a reasonable thing to do.
- jamesbfb 4y ago
  As a Roomba owner (with a Cat), I agree with this sentiment wholeheartedly.
  - darkwater 4y ago
    I'm picturing this now and it is not a nice picture.
- matthewcford 4y ago
  My sister has a horror story with the Roomba and dog poo…
Algent 4y ago
I know mine still refuse to pass on an area where it got stuck once and I can't find how to reset this area to tell it's safe again.
KptMarchewa 4y ago
And dryer rack legs...

DoingIsLearning 4y ago

Do you have any insight on how much of the SLAM data is being shared in both the Roomba and Xiaomi robots? For example can you use them completely offline or do they 'need' to phone home to a remote server in order to work?

moepstar 4y ago
I've a Roborock (Xiaomi) S5 - processing should be done entirely local, but with the default firmware expect everything to be shared with a cloud. Enter Valetudo - everything is local, including a webinterface to control the bot - installation was pretty flawless, upgrades (one so far) as well. Check their list of supported robots: https://valetudo.cloud/pages/general/supported-robots.html https://valetudo.cloud/pages/general/supported-robots.html
- april_22 4y ago
  In general, how is it owning a cleaning robot? Do they get stuck often? Are there any caveats? Do they clean good? How do they handle carpets? Been thinking of getting one for a while now...
  - adolph 4y ago
    My experience with a couple lower end ones and a sheddy dog is that they work well for what they are. Don't expect magic. Expect low effort daily maintenance cleaning that keeps things spiffy. Maybe the higher end ones are significantly better? My bet is that the cleaning isn't all that different since among a product line they largely use the same chassis--there is only so much sweeper/suction/storage they can have. The one upgrade that would be useful in retrospect is electronic fencing, but it isn't a big deal.
  - pferdone 4y ago
    We have a 120qm2 apartment, 2 cats, 1 dog and a child. We couldn‘t live without our Roborock S7. It runs everyday and sometimes even more. No big issues, vacuums, mops, would buy it again in a heartbeat.

gedy 4y ago

Sounds nice, do these Chinese brands depend on the cloud or are any local-only?

anony999 4y ago
they work locally(local network via app or physical buttons) unless you want to use it remotely via internet. The annoying thing is that it still forces you to "create an account" when you set it up. This was not required 4 years ago but it's required now.
- deleted 4y ago
  [deleted]
knowhy 4y ago
I own a Xiaomi Vacuum Robot and that is by default very much not local only. However there is a project [1][2] to hack some of those devices and make them local-only. With limited functionality they work of cause without app and cloud connection. [1]: https://dontvacuum.me/ https://dontvacuum.me/ [2]: https://valetudo.cloud/ https://valetudo.cloud/
- Fargren 4y ago
  Thanks for this, I had a pending action item to look for something like this for my robot. On a spin-off topic from this project: it says on his website > The Apache-2.0 license is a very permissive license and a lot of work is being shared for free here, so I trust people to not take advantage of that and sell Valetudo; especially not as their own work. Please don’t disappoint me. Thank you. I really don't understand why people pick licenses that specifically allow for things that they don't want to happen. It's specially baffling when the author is clearly aware of the limitation!
  - hypfer 4y ago
    See https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31684910 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31684910

mrep 4y ago

Wow, those both look incredibly slick. I've got a cheap like $150 chinese vacuum one and a mopping one but I might have to upgrade if they ever die. So do they actually handle floor vs carpet sweeping/mopping, don't get stuck on stuff on the floor, refill/empty, and you don't have to change the mop pads each time? That is wild as that basically handles all the prep I have to do for mine. Albeit, 1000-1500 is quite a bit more.

bearjaws 4y ago
Yeah it lifts up the mopping part when it senses carpet (stops + lifts up) then proceeds so it won't get stuck / drag the dirty mop on the carpet. There is a limit to raised carpets though from my understanding, I think anything over .5" (13mm) is too tall and it may not go onto it. The one downside is having to clean the mopping pads since I didn't buy the 2x the price auto cleaning station.

weird-eye-issue 4y ago

I've had great experiences with the Xiaomi products I've bought (34" monitor, earbuds, security cam, air purifier, soundbar). They are popular here in Thailand and at a really, really great price point

april_22 4y ago
While I really dislike the android skin they run on their phones, they also do built really nice phones
- weird-eye-issue 4y ago
  Still happy with my Pixel 5 so I haven't gotten the chance to try their phones yet

horsestaple 4y ago

Xiaomi also has working home assistant integration. I have mine set up to start vacuuming when everyone leaves the apartment.

silverlake 4y ago

I have an S7 and it’s been ridiculously stupid. My old Roomba was less aggravating. The S7 takes 50 minutes to clean 800sqft, always gets stuck in a high rug or chair support. Frequently gets tangled on cables and toys. I can clean tht floor in 10 min with a stick vacuum. Anyone wanna buy an old S7? Barely used, frequently kicked.

FutureZeitgeist 4y ago

windexh8er 4y ago

I've owned Neato, Roomba and Roborock. Hands down Roborock is what I recommend people to buy. Neato had such a great leg up when it first came to market by having the first, and best, Lidar implementation - but their product was marred by horrible customer support, batteries that are garbage and just general failures of hardware that are impossible / too expensive to fix. By the time I gave up on Neato I had 4 of the same robot that I was piece parting out as components died (again and again). Talk about a company that banks on eWaste to keep the sales cycle going. I'm thankful Amazon bought Roomba - one less reason to even consider them as an option considering all of the current gen vacs are sporting onboard cameras + CV (poop avoidance, is that really a huge concern?).

hawaiianbrah 4y ago
Poop avoidance is a big concern for me. I have two cats. I’ve had my robovacuum spread vomit all over the kitchen.