Xiaomi Robot Vacuum X20 Max Review: Top Features at a Low Price!

Xiaomi has made a name for itself by designing some of the most affordable products on the market, and its robotic vacuums are no exception. The X20 Plus and X20 Max exemplify this philosophy: they incorporate advanced features typically reserved for high-end models but at a fraction of the cost.

The X20 Plus and X20 Max offer a comprehensive and affordable solution, making autonomous home cleaning accessible to a broader audience.

Despite their aggressive pricing, these robots hold their own against more expensive models that can independently vacuum your floors and also wash and dry their mops without human intervention. On paper, the X20 Max competes with premium devices by offering features like hot water mopping and hot air drying. It also features a dock that can automatically clean the mopping pads and includes an extendable side mop for cleaning along baseboards. The X20 Plus retains most of these functions while making some concessions to achieve an even lower price.

Let’s take a closer look at how these two models perform and whether their competitive pricing has resulted in any compromises.

Xiaomi Robot Vacuum X20 MaxTechnical Specifications

Xiaomi Robot Vacuum X20 MaxA Simple and Functional Design

The design of the Xiaomi X20 Plus and X20 Max is understated and straightforward. The X20 Max sports a matte black finish with some silver accents, giving it a discreet and universal appearance. The X20 Plus, on the other hand, comes in white, presenting an even more streamlined look.

In both cases, the robot adopts a classic circular shape topped with a LiDAR dome. Two buttons are accessible on the top, alongside a flip-down lid that hides the removable dustbin. At the front, the X20 Max incorporates a 3D sensor for obstacle detection. The X20 Plus, however, relies on LiDAR and more basic infrared sensors for obstacle detection but generally maintains the same silhouette.

Underneath the robot, there are two rotating mops, one of which can extend about 4 cm to clean along baseboards and walls, available exclusively on the X20 Max. For suction, there is a hybrid roller brush that combines nylon bristles and rubber flaps to effectively collect dust on hard floors and tile crevices. With the X20 Max, Xiaomi also includes an anti-tangle brush, specially designed to reduce hair and pet fur entanglement, thanks to a sharp comb that cuts through the hair.

Additionally, a side brush sweeps debris along walls and furniture towards the central brush. However, unlike more expensive models, the X20 series does not offer an extendable side brush for better corner cleaning.

The docking station is vertical, with a lid on the top that hides two large 4-liter water tanks, while a removable panel on the front conceals the dust bag. On the lower part, there is a removable washing board for easy cleaning.

On both models, the overall build quality is solid. While the robots do not feel like premium products, the plastics are sturdy and well-assembled.

Xiaomi Robot Vacuum X20 MaxA Straightforward App

The X20 Plus and X20 Max use the Xiaomi Mi Home app. Setup is straightforward: once connected to Wi-Fi, the robots perform an initial mapping of the area using their onboard LiDAR. Rooms are well delineated but not automatically categorized. You can then edit the map, merge or split rooms, name areas, set virtual walls, and define no-go zones.

The X20 Max, with its 3D sensor, better detects floor objects, but neither model displays obstacles on the map. This is disconcerting, especially since they detect them quite well, as we will see below.

There is no automatic smart mode either, so you must manually choose among four modes: vacuuming only, mopping only, vacuuming + mopping, or vacuuming then mopping. Depending on the mode, you can adjust the suction power, water flow, schedule cleaning cycles, and set the order of room cleaning.

The app also allows you to set cleaning schedules and activate a “Do Not Disturb” mode. Similarly, you can decide how the robot should handle carpets, whether to avoid them or not. The X20 Max can also automatically lift its mops when crossing a carpet, which is not the case with the X20 Plus.

The app’s interface is quite straightforward but not very intuitive, sometimes requiring too many actions for simple settings. Fortunately, both robots are compatible with Google Assistant and Alexa, allowing you to bypass the app for daily operations.

Xiaomi Robot Vacuum X20 MaxAdequate Cleaning Performance for Daily Use

The X20 Max has a suction power of 8,000 Pa, compared to 6,000 Pa for the X20 Plus. On hard floors, this difference is negligible: both models do a good job daily of eliminating dust, crumbs, and debris. Their central hybrid brush, combined with the side brush, manages to capture dirt even in tile joints. However, the side brush tends to scatter large debris to the sides, requiring the robot to pass over them again to pick them up properly.

On carpets, the X20 Max can increase its power to better vacuum fine dust. However, it shows its limitations with animal hair or long-pile carpets, which generally require higher suction power. The X20 Plus, with lower power and no advanced detection system, struggles more to extract embedded dirt. Neither model is equipped with a dual roller, limiting their effectiveness on thick carpets.

However, the X20 Max stands out with its retractable mops, which automatically lift when crossing a carpet to avoid wetting it. The X20 Plus does not have this feature: it crosses carpets with active mops unless you remove them or restrict access to carpets.

For wet cleaning, both models use two rotating mops. The X20 Max distinguishes itself with hot water mopping and hot air drying, which enhances washing efficiency and limits bad odors and bacteria growth. Additionally, the X20 Max has an extendable arm for its right mop, allowing it to clean baseboards and corners better. This arm is not present on the X20 Plus, leaving a border of a few centimeters unwashed.

On both models, the mop pads are washed and dried automatically. The X20 Max has an onboard water tank that keeps its pads moist during cleaning. The X20 Plus, however, returns to its base more often to re-moisten its mops, which prolongs the cycles.

For light or fresh stains, the result is satisfactory. For more stubborn marks, a double pass is often necessary. Manually adding a bit of detergent to the water tank improves the outcome, but neither model has a dedicated compartment for automatic detergent addition. Unfortunately, dried or greasy stains resist even two passes and require manual cleaning.

In terms of noise, both robots operate at around 60 dB during standard operation. Drying produces a continuous 45 dB hum, which can last several hours, especially on the X20 Max. It’s noticeable, but not bothersome, especially if the base is placed outside of living areas.

Both models have similar battery life: about 120 minutes, sufficient to cover an apartment of 100 to 120 m². If the battery runs low, they return to recharge and then resume their task where they left off.

Xiaomi Robot Vacuum X20 MaxReliable Navigation but Basic Obstacle Detection

Both models rely on effective LiDAR-based navigation. The X20 Max adds a 3D sensor on the front, allowing it to avoid small objects like socks or toys with greater accuracy. The X20 Plus, more basic, uses only classic sensors but still performs well in most situations.

Their behavior is methodical: they map each room precisely and cover the entire area without missing zones or getting lost. They avoid most obstacles without difficulty, although the X20 Max is slightly more cautious thanks to its front sensor. However, they can sometimes struggle with thin cables or small objects, which can cause daily inconveniences if you tend to leave small items lying around.

Moreover, the X20 Max sometimes misjudges the height of certain passages, leading to slight scratches on the top.

Additionally, neither model displays the location of encountered obstacles on the map, unlike most competing models.

Xiaomi Robot Vacuum X20 MaxRelatively Simple Maintenance

The X20 Plus and X20 Max offer a highly automated floor maintenance experience, freeing you from most manual tasks. Indeed, both models are equipped with a station capable of automatically emptying the robot’s dustbin into a dust bag housed in the station, as well as washing the mops after each cycle and drying them.

The X20 Max, with its hot water washing system and more powerful drying, limits the proliferation of bacteria and mold. The X20 Plus remains very competent, as it can also wash and dry the mops, but without heating. The water tanks provide several days of autonomy without intervention, although it is advisable to empty the clean water tank frequently. Similarly, it is recommended to wash the mops in the machine about once a month to keep them clean. The washing board is removable, which facilitates cleaning in the sink.

However, hair and fur tend to wrap around the brushes over time, even on the X20 Max. Indeed, despite the dedicated brush, the efficiency is not there, and manual cleaning is therefore recommended once a week.

Xiaomi Robot Vacuum X20 MaxPrice and Availability

The Xiaomi X20 Plus and X20 Max stand out for their value for money and are traded at very competitive prices. Thus, the X20 Plus is sold for 370 euros on Amazon, Cdiscount, and Darty, while the X20 Max is negotiated at 525 euros on Amazon, Cdiscount, and Darty.

Find our guide to the best robotic vacuums at this address.