DJI Romo P Review: Sky Master Takes on the Ground

As a long-time user of DJI drones, such as the Avata for fun and the Neo for travel, I was initially curious when the Chinese brand announced it was entering the robotic vacuum market.

Challenging established giants like Roborock, Ecovacs, or Dreame is no small feat, as these companies have spent years perfecting their devices.

However, DJI has that extra something: when they dive into a project, they really go all out and leverage their technology. And the Romo P, their top-tier, fully transparent model, is no exception.

Its design, revealing all its internal workings, immediately caught my eye. Still, I wonder: how will it age over time? Only time will tell. Meanwhile, I put it to the test for several weeks in my home, which has a mix of hardwood, tile, a few rugs, plus my two dogs and a cat with endless fur. Not to mention poorly stored children’s toys. In short, the ideal testing ground to see what it’s really capable of.

DJI Romo PVideo

We were able to witness the Romo in action in China, alongside this review.

DJI Romo PTechnical Sheet

For its first robotic vacuum, DJI has positioned the Romo P as a premium robot vacuum, with an impressive spec sheet that borrows directly from the technologies developed for the brand’s drones.

The suction power of 25,000 Pa places it among the most powerful on the market. The stated battery life of over three hours in silent mode allows it to cover significant areas.

What really sets the Romo apart is its multi-sensor detection system that combines stereoscopic vision and LiDAR, a setup usually found on drones. The base station also incorporates advanced features, including a high-pressure cleaning system and two compartments for cleaning fluids, a unique feature of the P model that allows for customized cleaning according to the rooms.

However, be aware that many of these technologies are already integrated into the robotic vacuums of the competition.

The unit for this test was provided by DJI.

DJI Romo PSetup and Startup

Unboxing the Romo P immediately showcases DJI’s ambition. The transparent base station is quite imposing, with its dimensions of 453 × 425 × 440 mm and weight of 10 kg, which makes you think carefully about its final placement. It’s not the largest, actually borrowing its rounded shape from the latest Roborock stations.

The package includes the robot, two bottles of cleaning fluid (degreaser and antibacterial), two side brushes, two pairs of central brushes, one of which is a spare, a single filter, and two mops already installed.

Physical installation begins by removing the protective foam blocks inserted in the robot and the station. DJI recommends placing the station on a flat surface, at least 5 cm from walls, and with a clearance of one meter in front.

Startup requires downloading the DJI Home app, available for iOS and Android. Here’s where I encountered my first difficulties: the app still displays many elements in English and Chinese, indicating that the French localization is not completely finalized. The voice assistant, a feature that’s been highlighted, is not available in French for now. The robot does speak English, though. Everything should be ready for commercial release, as we’re testing the robot a bit ahead of its launch phase.

The Bluetooth pairing process goes off without a hitch, followed by connecting to the Wi-Fi. The app then asks to fill the clean water tank of the station and install the cleaning fluid bottles. The mounting system for these is well thought out: just remove the seal and slide the bottle directly onto its holder, without any risk of leakage.

Once the robot is correctly positioned in its station, the first charge starts automatically. DJI announces 2.5 hours for a full charge. The 55 W quick charge feature allows enough battery recovery in 30 minutes to clean a room.

The stage of the first mapping is crucial for installation. The app prompts you to prepare the environment: open doors, remove loose items, ensure sufficient lighting. The robot then methodically explores each room, starting by tracing the walls before sweeping the central space. The operation lasted 11 minutes, which is reasonable. But be aware, here the robot wasn’t cleaning… it was scanning its work environment.

The generated map appears instantly in the app, with remarkable precision. DJI then allows you to name each room, adjust the contours if necessary, and even define no-go zones or virtual walls.

A final tip for installation: have a dedicated power outlet for the station, as its consumption can reach 1,100 W during hot water washing of the mops. Also, avoid placing it in direct sunlight or on a balcony exposed to rain.

DJI Romo PDesign and Ergonomics: A Robot That Hides Nothing

The transparent design of the Romo P is really something special. Where nearly all manufacturers hide the mechanics under opaque shells, DJI does the exact opposite: everything is visible, from the gears to the sensors to the circuits. It reminds me of those special edition transparent Game Boys or the recent Nothing phone, but applied to a robotic vacuum, it really stands out.

There are classic all-white versions for those who prefer something less flashy.

• Romo P: fully transparent (robot + base)
• Romo A: transparent robot, white base
• Romo S: classic white version

When you look closely at the robot, you discover all the complexity of what’s inside. The two fisheye cameras are clearly visible at the front, protected by their transparent dome. You can guess the motors of the side brushes on the sides, and the system that lifts the mops at the bottom. This transparency isn’t just for show: it allows you to check at a glance that everything is working properly and to easily spot if something is stuck, without having to dismantle anything.

The base station takes the concept even further. You can see the clean water tank, the mop washing system, the dust bag, even the electronics. DJI has really paid attention to the arrangement of all these components, and it’s obviously choreographed. Everything has been designed to look good.

It’s fascinating to watch with each cleaning cycle. However, I do wonder about the long term: any trace of dust or limescale will be immediately visible.

The robot maintains standard dimensions with its 35 cm diameter. It fits under most furniture provided there’s at least 10 cm of clearance. Weighing 4.4 kg, it’s quite solid, a sign of durability. The plastics used feel robust, with no strange noises or loose fittings.

The physical controls are kept to the essentials: a start button on top of the robot and a button to return to the base. Small LEDs indicate what’s happening with simple colors: white when everything’s fine, orange for a minor issue, red when you need to intervene. The station also has a button which, when pressed long, is supposed to activate the voice assistant, at least in theory, since it’s not yet working in English or French.

The extendable robotic arms are really what make a difference. Yes, it’s now very common. Unlike the classic side brushes that spin at a fixed position, those of the Romo P can extend up to 4 cm outward to reach baseboards and corners. It’s a system combining two side brushes mounted on articulated arms that deploy based on what they detect. The result is immediately noticeable: areas that other robots leave behind are here spotless.

The dual rotating mop system fits perfectly with this transparent philosophy. You can clearly see the two 20 cm discs with their thick mops, and the mechanism that automatically lifts them on carpets or when returning to the base.

In the center, there’s the main hybrid brush, a mix of soft rubber and bristles, specifically designed to prevent hair from tangling. It’s powered by a 9-blade motor inspired by drone turbines, which partly explains these 25,000 Pa of suction power. The two side brushes, mounted on articulated arms, rotate independently and adapt to floor irregularities. One of them is even retractable depending on the cleaning mode.

Everything has been well thought out. The dustbin is removed with a simple press of a button, no need to turn the robot over. The mops attach with velcro, super easy to change. The brushes are dismantled in seconds with a well-designed clip system. The filter in the bin takes a little finesse to remove correctly.

The three wide-angle LiDAR sensors and the pair of binocular fisheye cameras also occupy the underside of the robot. This is a direct heritage of DJI’s drone avoidance technology, and it shows. There are also four anti-fall sensors distributed at the corners, tilt gyroscopes, and even a small white LED projector that lights up in front of the robot to improve vision in dark areas under furniture.

The two drive wheels benefit from independent suspension with about 1.8 cm of travel, allowing the Romo to overcome thresholds up to 22 mm high. The front caster wheel handles precise rotations. All this machinery is visible through the transparent panels, with motors housed in mirror-polished housings and braided wiring. This should delight cable management enthusiasts.

And the all-transparent design? The upside: it remains visually impressive and allows you to keep an eye on the internal state at all times. The less fun part: I’m already noticing some condensation under certain transparent parts after the washing cycles, plus a fine layer of dust accumulating in the corners. Nothing dramatic, but it clearly requires more regular maintenance than an opaque model to maintain its original appearance.

DJI Romo PPerformance: Here’s What It’s Got Under the Hood

The 25,000 Pa of suction power of the Romo P isn’t just a number on paper. On my hardwood floors, it effortlessly sucks up crumbs, fine dust, and even the cat hairs that love to hide in the grooves. The silent mode is more than sufficient for daily maintenance, and turbo mode tackles tougher dirt in one go.

It’s just as effective on tile, with a special mention for its handling of grout. The two extendable side brushes really do their job in delicate areas, while the dual central brush brings everything towards the suction. I deliberately tested it with a variety of stuff: cat litter, bread crumbs, plaster dust. Each time, the first pass picked up over 95% of the debris.

Another important topic is the anti-tangle system for the brushes. With my long-haired cat, I’m used to spending time untangling the brushes of my previous robots. With the Romo P, DJI has used a double helix hollow design that guides the hairs towards the center where they are directly sucked up. I won’t say that no hair gets caught, but I found very few hairs wrapped around the ends of the brushes. On some models, I find dozens each time.

The sensors effectively detect concentrations of dirt and automatically adjust their power. When the robot detects a pile of dirt, it slows down and increases power to avoid scattering everything.

For washing, it obviously depends on the type of floor and the dirt involved. On slightly dusty tile, one pass in standard mode is enough for a flawless result. The mops exert a pressure of 12 N according to DJI, enough to lift traces without scratching. The onboard tank of 164 ml keeps the mops moist across the entire surface of my house.

The degreasing mode, exclusive to the P model, applies the cleaning fluid directly to the mops to treat kitchen floors. I tested this after spilling a few drops of oil: the robot actually removed the greasy traces in two passes, where a simple water wash would have done nothing. The system automatically adds cleaner before each pass over the affected area.

Obstacle avoidance is where you really see DJI’s drone heritage shine. The robot detects and maneuvers around objects as thin as 2 mm diameter charging cables or cards placed on the floor. For my test, I scattered various obstacles: shoes, cables, small toys. The Romo P avoided

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Maya Singh

Maya Singh is a senior editor covering tablets and hybrid devices. Her work explores how these tools reshape digital productivity and learning. She also contributes to feature editorials on emerging tech.