Good vacuuming robot with minor issues - Xiaomi Robot Vacuum 5 Pro review

The Xiaomi Robot Vacuum 5 Pro is a solid upper mid-range vacuum and mop robot that scores points with 20,000 Pa suction power and an AI-supported triple camera system plus dToF laser radar. The navigation system maps rooms precisely, recognises over 200 objects and navigates carefully through narrow passages, but fails in tests under beds, despite sufficient free space, or with small cables.

Its cleaning performance shines on hard floors, thoroughly removing dust and stains with rotating mops with variable water levels that cover up to 240 m² per tank; edges are effectively cleaned, but carpets require the maximum power level and multiple passes, as the standard mode tends to leave residue behind. The all-in-one station automatically empties the small dust container, washes mops at 80 °C and dries them, thus reducing maintenance and odours, but without cleaning agents it is limited to clear water.

When it comes to navigation, the Xiaomi Robot Vacuum 5 Pro usually does a good job. It maps rooms neatly, but in our test, the vacuum-mopping robot did not want to go under the bed, recognising it as a solid obstacle even though there was more than enough space (12 cm high) underneath. The Robot Vacuum 5 Pro had no problems with the sofa (15 cm edge height).

The cleaning process takes a relatively long time, especially when there are different types of flooring. We were somewhat surprised that it climbs onto a long-pile carpet and attempts to clean it, where it audibly struggles and repeatedly lets the suction unit howl. On the other hand, it stubbornly ignores the raffia doormat, even though it is somewhat flatter. Nominally, the robot can overcome obstacles up to 20 mm high, but it is not as climbable as a Mova Z60 Ultra. In narrow passages, the 5 Pro moves rather slowly and cautiously, rarely bumping into furniture and using its sensors to work its way through carefully without getting stuck.

At the front, there is an AI triple camera setup consisting of RGB and infrared cameras plus a 3D infrared dot projector, which is designed to detect more than 200 objects in real time. This usually works reliably in everyday use, but small Lego bricks are often overlooked and even a 1-pence coin ended up in the dust bag. During testing, the robot vacuum also had problems detecting a cable under the sofa.

For operation in the dark, LED night vision lights are integrated, which switch on automatically depending on the ambient light so that obstacles can be detected even in poor lighting conditions. In the Xiaomi Home app, the sensitivity of the obstacle detection can also be adjusted in stages, which helps to choose between maximum caution and a slightly more direct driving style, depending on the living situation.

In case of emergency, the Xiaomi Robot Vacuum 5 Pro can also be controlled manually via your smartphone. This is possible even without a direct line of sight, as the cameras are then used as eyes. The function can be protected with a security PIN, and when started, the robot announces that it is now being controlled remotely.

With up to 20,000 Pa of suction power, the robot removes dust and dirt from hard floors and carpets. However, this is only the case if the maximum suction power is selected in the settings. The Xiaomi Robot Vacuum 5 Pro operates at reduced power by default, which was not sufficient for us as some crumbs were left behind.

At full power, the robot vacuum cleaner is audibly louder, but also much more thorough. However, it generally struggles a little more on carpets. It is quite thorough when cleaning edges, thanks to its extendable mop and brush pad. Occasionally, however, it moves along the edges in a wave-like pattern, which can result in cleaning gaps.

The rotating mops with variable water levels remove most stains. However, if these have already dried, a second pass may be necessary. The dirt detection works quite well, but occasionally it registers stains that aren't actually there. When moving across carpets, the mops are automatically raised.

The dustbin is rather small, so the robot vacuum/mop needs to return to its charging station more frequently when cleaning large areas. The mops can also be automatically cleaned there with 80°C hot water. Unfortunately, the Xiaomi Robot Vacuum 5 Pro doesn't have a cleaning solution tank; instead, it mops with just water. We found the amount of water used out of the box to be quite low, which is why we ran most of the test at level 3. A full water tank in the charging station was sufficient for slightly more than 240 square meters.

The Xiaomi Robot Vacuum 5 Pro's 5,200 mAh battery lasted around 90 minutes in our review and took about four hours to fully recharge. The Xiaomi Home app displays the battery status as an icon, but without a percentage, warns of low battery, and schedules smart breaks.

Xiaomi specifies a standby power consumption of less than 0.5 watts. This is accurate, but only applies to the charging station, where we measured 0.47 watts. When the robot vacuum/mop is parked there, the power consumption is around 3.3 watts. During cleaning, the power consumption increases to slightly more than 300 watts.

During cleaning, the Xiaomi Robot Vacuum 5 Pro generates a sound pressure level between 38 and 44 dB(A), with brief peaks up to 54 dB(A). It's hardly any louder in the charging station; only when emptying the dustbin did we measure up to 61 dB(A).