The SwitchBot S10 robot vacuum aims to redefine home cleaning with a unique design. Unlike most others on the market, it separates the functions of charging and dust-emptying from water management, offering a dedicated water station that connects to your household’s water supply and drainage. This setup aims to minimize manual intervention, but how well does it deliver on this promise?
Design and Features
The SwitchBot S10 features two distinct docks: one for self-emptying and charging, and another for water refilling and draining. The water station, for its part, is compact and can fit under counters, connecting directly to water pipes without needing a power outlet. This system allows the robot to manage its water tanks autonomously, significantly reducing the need for user involvement.
This is the main draw, and likely the reason the vacuum did so well on Kickstarter. With promises of being completely hands-off in terms of dealing with water, you’ll rarely have to deal with dirt and debris, too.
SwitchBot includes various connectors and seals to ensure compatibility with different household water supplies. For those who prefer not to connect directly to their plumbing, an optional kit with external water tanks is available.
Seriously, if you can set this unit up in a way to take advantage of the hoses, you’ll truly appreciate how mindless the concept of mopping becomes.
The S10 is equipped with a brush roller similar to those found in wet-dry vacuums, featuring built-in scraping and self-cleaning capabilities. This reduces the need for frequent returns to the dock for cleaning the mop. The roller brush washes and dries internally, which helps maintain a compact design and minimizes manual cleaning efforts.
Setup
Setting up the SwitchBot S10 is straightforward, thanks to the included connectors and detailed instructions. Connecting the water station to your household water supply is the most complex part, but it is manageable with the provided accessories. For those opting for the external water tanks, setup becomes even simpler.
General Performance
The SwitchBot S10 handles vacuuming tasks with reasonable efficiency. It uses a brush roller designed for wet-dry vacuums, equipped with self-cleaning capabilities and a built-in scraper. This design helps in maintaining the roller’s cleanliness and reduces the frequency of manual cleaning. The vacuum performs well on hard floors and low-pile carpets, effectively picking up dust, debris, and pet hair.
Mopping is perhaps the highlight feature of the SwitchBot S10, designed to make cleaning more efficient. Its rolling movement agitates dirt, and the downward pressure allows the mop to tackle dried stains like milk and spilled juice effectively. The option to add a few drops of cleaning solution to the water station strengthens its ability to deal with tougher grime — and adds a nice scent to the air.
However, it’s worth noting that the mop does not oscillate like the pads on some other high-end models which means it may leave some stains, like dirty paw prints, slightly visible. Despite this, the SwitchBot’s design prevents the mop from getting hung up on obstacles like rug tassels, cables, and room transitions. The mop raises 7mm over carpets, or can be programmed to avoid them entirely, or you can set keep-out zones around high-pile rugs.
The mop is easy to remove, sliding out from the side without needing to flip the robot. It stays clean during use and dries quickly. Replacement mops are available in a two-pack for $30.
- Pressure and Agitation: The S10’s mopping mechanism uses 10n of downward pressure and a rolling motion to agitate dirt effectively. This design works well for fresh spills and light stains but falls short on tougher, dried-on grime.
- Water Management: The robot’s water station allows for the addition of a cleaning solution, which helps in dealing with more stubborn dirt. However, water distribution can be uneven, occasionally leaving areas of the floor dry or inadequately cleaned.
- Design and Mobility: Unlike oscillating mops, the S10’s roller brush does not get caught on rug tassels, cables, or room transitions. The mop raises 7mm when crossing carpets to avoid wetting them, or users can create virtual no-go zones for high-pile rugs.
- Maintenance: The mop is user-friendly in terms of maintenance. It can be removed easily from the side of the robot without flipping it over, stays clean during use, and dries quickly. The mop is replaceable, with a two-pack costing $30.
One of the most noticeable aspects of the SwitchBot S10 is its noise level. The robot is quite loud during operation, particularly in mopping mode. The constant noise can be disruptive, making it less suitable for use in environments where quiet is preferred, such as during work-from-home situations or at night. The vacuuming modes are somewhat quieter, but still louder than many other robot vacuums on the market.
Obstacle detection is an area where the S10 could use improvement. Despite having visible sensors, the robot seems to rely primarily on LiDAR for navigation. It frequently bumps into furniture and other obstacles, sometimes pushing them out of place. Small objects and cables are particularly problematic, as the robot tends to vacuum them up, which can cause damage. This lack of effective obstacle avoidance can lead to interruptions in the cleaning process and potential issues with the robot itself.
As someone with a puppy in the home, I don’t yet have the confidence that I’d like to have in the S10 moving around various toys and obstacles. I have to go around pre-cleaning and prepping before starting the vacuum. Unfortunately I cannot start things remotely because I might get home to find the vacuum snagged on a charging cord or shoelace.
Maintenance for the SwitchBot S10 is relatively low compared to other robot vacuums. The self-cleaning brush roller and automated water management system reduce the need for frequent manual intervention. The robot automatically drains and refills its water tanks, minimizing the need for user involvement. The dedicated water station also helps keep routine tasks like dust emptying and water refilling automated. However, users will still need to occasionally replace the dust bag, refill the cleaning solution, and clean the filter.
App Experience
The accompanying app for the SwitchBot S10 provides basic controls and customization options. Users can create cleaning schedules, adjust suction power and water levels, and customize cleaning maps. However, the app lacks some advanced features found in other high-end robot vacuums. For instance, it does not provide detailed obstacle reporting or offer off-peak charging options. Customization for cleaning settings, such as mop dampness and self-cleaning frequency, is also limited.
Returning to the obstacle avoidance, unless you keep a pretty spotless home, you might want to avoid scheduled runs without being present the first few times.
Value
Priced at $1,200, with a current coupon reducing it to $800, the SwitchBot S10 offers good value for those seeking a low-maintenance robot vacuum. The optional external water tanks (coming soon) add flexibility for households not wanting to connect to their water supply. However, considering its performance limitations, particularly in mopping and obstacle detection, there are more effective options available at similar price points.
When you’re hovering at the $1,000 mark you should rightfully expect a solid experience if not an excellent one. All things considered, I would say that the S10 offers up a good one. And if you’re among those who’d prefer to go with the external water tanks, it gets harder to recommend this one for the price.
Anecdotally, my house isn’t designed in a way that allows for me to reap the true benefits of the S10. I’d ultimately end up getting the external tank if I kept this as my main unit. And so when I think about bang-for-buck, I feel like I’m not getting as much as I should here. The SwitchBot S10 comes with a standard one-year warranty, covering defects and malfunctions.
Awarded to products with an average rating of 3.75 stars or higher, the AndroidGuys Smart Pick recognizes a balance of quality, performance, and value.
Products with this distinction deserve to be on your short list of purchase candidates.
Conclusion
The SwitchBot S10 stands out for its innovative dual docking system and low-maintenance design. If you have a walk-in area off the garage where you can install it the way it’s intended, it shines rather brightly. It simplifies routine tasks by automating water management and reducing manual cleaning efforts and I can imagine becomes one of those features you can’t live without down the road. However, its effectiveness in mopping, noise level, and obstacle detection leave room for improvement.
I’d love to see this generally priced $100-$200 lower, or offered frequently as part of SwitchBot promos and sales. Then again, I might be singing a different tune if I never had to worry about refilling a water tank. At $800, and if you’re able to tap directly into your water source, this is one I’d be happy to recommend.
