Xiaomi Robot Vacuum S12 vs. Roomba 692 – Brand quality or functionality?

Not all robot vacuum cleaners on the market have a high price, because not all of them have the same level of technological sophistication. Even Roomba, which is the premium brand par excellence, has more affordable models on the market, which can be a more interesting alternative for those looking for functionality instead of innovation. In this article, we compare the most important differences and similarities between two of them: Xiaomi Robot Vacuum S12 and Roomba 692.

It is no secret that the Roomba 692 is one of iRobot’s simplest robot vacuum cleaners, which makes it the most competitive with the basic ranges of other brands such as Xiaomi. Now, it is important to look at the benefits that this robot gives up, to check if, in relation to quality and price, it maintains the same competitiveness. Between the two robots that star in this review, there are numerous substantial differences. For example, the Xiaomi Robot Vacuum S12 can mop as well as vacuum, unlike the Roomba 692.

This also has a lower suction power, although it is true that, other things being equal, the Roomba motor has better performance. Another important difference is the navigation technology, which is laser in the case of the Xiaomi Robot Vacuum S12, and which is reduced to a set of sensors in the Roomba 692. As you can see, they are a set of changes that can greatly influence your decision. purchase, so we are going to analyze each model in detail to help you choose. Keep reading!

Xiaomi Robot Vacuum S12 vs Roomba 692 – Comparative table

In the following table, you can consult the characteristics of the two robot vacuum cleaners to see which one is closest to your expectations. Later, we will detail all the differences and similarities between them.

Are you more black or white?

One thing that Xiaomi and iRobot have in common is that they apply very corporate and easily recognizable designs on all their robot vacuum cleaners. We see a Xiaomi robot and we automatically know that it is a Xiaomi, and the same thing usually happens with Roombas. Therefore, at first glance it is easy to distinguish both models.

The Xiaomi Robot Vacuum S12 is sold in white, and has a small elevation on its top where the laser sensor is hidden. The two main buttons, the power button and the “Home” button, are located at the bottom. For its part, the Roomba 692 is black, and maintains circularity in its design. The buttons are located in the central part, along with the iRobot logo. The dimensions and weight are quite similar.

Suction power, a key difference

The aspect that we usually give the most importance to when we choose a robot vacuum cleaner is the suction power, because the suction performance depends on it. It must be taken into account that iRobot does not usually provide information about the suction power achieved by its robots in numerical data, as other brands do, which makes comparison difficult.

However, after having tested it several times, we know that the Roomba 692 has a suction power of between 600 and 1000 Pascals. To be fair, we have to say that 600 Pascals in the Roomba motor seem more than the same pascals in another motor, such as Xiaomi’s. Even so, the Xiaomi Robot Vacuum S12 reaches 4000 Pascals, a difference that is quite far from the power of the Roomba.

In addition, the Roomba 692 allows you to choose between 3 power levels, which the Xiaomi Robot Vacuum S12 raises to 4. Therefore, the vacuum performance is better on the Xiaomi, at least, in terms of maximum suction power. .

Two different navigation systems

Another key factor in choosing the robot vacuum cleaner is the technology it uses to move, and here, the victory goes to the Xiaomi. The S12 is a robot that moves using laser technology. This allows you to achieve greater precision when drawing the previous map, and also when identifying possible obstacles, although it does not have additional technology for this. In addition, the Xiaomi Robot Vacuum S12 can create interactive maps of various floors that we can edit from the app to personalize the cleaning. That is, we can choose the order, which one we want it to start with, or simply program it.

The Roomba 692 uses a set of sensors to move, but this does not allow it to carry out intelligent navigation, but rather random ones. It is fair to recognize that its sensors are of high quality, and they detect obstacles quite well, but it cannot draw maps that it later saves for personalized management.

One scrubs, the other doesn’t

The versatility of robot vacuum cleaners is usually measured by whether they can mop in addition to vacuuming. In reality, it is difficult to find a robot vacuum cleaner whose mopping is of quality; most of them use a damp mop to polish the suction, but they do not replace manual mopping.

This is what happens with the Xiaomi Robot Vacuum S12, which has a mopping mop and a 170 ml water tank. The fact that it mops in a zig-zag pattern gives it more order, but don’t expect to forget to grab the mop. For its part, the Roomba 692 cannot mop.

Battery performance

Knowing how long the battery of a robot vacuum cleaner lasts is key to calculating whether, with a single charge, it will be enough to clean the entire house. In this sense, the Xiaomi Robot Vacuum S12 is once again above the Roomba 692. The Xiaomi robot has a 3200 mAh battery capacity, compared to the 1800 mAh battery of the Roomba. This means that the autonomy of the S12 can reach just over two hours, when the Roomba 692 can only work for an hour and a half (for a Roomba, it is one of the highest autonomy).

Another aspect that seems important to us is that the Xiaomi Robot Vacuum S12 can go to the charging base to recover the battery and finish the scheduled cleaning. The Roomba 692 does not have this capability.

Sensor set

Both robot vacuum cleaners are equipped with a set of sensors that optimize their navigation, and, although they are not exactly the same, it means that both have a good ability to avoid obstacles. The Xiaomi Robot Vacuum S12 has slope sensors, collision sensors, speed sensors, induction sensors, a radar sensor, a gyroscope and a load sensor.

For its part, the Roomba 692 has slope and collision sensors, which are the most common, and to them it adds the Dirt Detect sensors. This is a technology designed by the brand itself that gives robots the ability to identify where there are high concentrations of dirt and automatically increase power there.

What are the main brushes and tanks like?

Before finishing, we cannot overlook the differences between the brushes used by each robot. The similarity we find here is that both have a single side brush that reinforces the action of the main ones.

The Xiaomi Robot Vacuum S12 has a multifunction central brush made of bristles and rubber. On the other hand, the Roomba 692 has two central brushes that rotate opposite each other. This makes the effectiveness of the brushes greater in the Roomba, which has a more intense double action.

As for waste tanks, it is also Roomba that takes the victory. The Roomba 692 has an internal tank with a capacity of about 600 ml, double the 300 ml that the Xiaomi robot can hold.

Which simple robot vacuum cleaner is most recommended?

We only have to decide which of the two robot vacuum cleaners we would choose, after having verified their differences and similarities. Honestly, we find that the Xiaomi Robot Vacuum S12 has a much more interesting quality-price ratio than the Roomba 692. It surpasses it in most parameters: it is a more powerful, more versatile robot, with a more precise navigation system. And, why not say it, it is somewhat cheaper (without taking into account specific offers).

The main strength of the Roomba 692 is the reputation of the brand, which guarantees trust and exclusivity even in the simplest models like this one. In fact, it is a robot that can be chosen by all those people who are loyal to Roomba and who do not want to try other models because they believe that none of them are up to the task. It is true that the vacuum quality that Roomba has is very good, but the Xiaomi Robot Vacuum S12 is a reflection that Xiaomi has improved a lot in this regard since its first robot vacuum cleaners.

From here, the decision depends only on you.