The Switchbot S10 is a Standalone Robotic Vacuum Cleaner
One of the biggest obstacles that holds back robotic vacuums from fully independent operation is that humans need to occasionally change the vacuum bag or water tank. The recently launched S10 robot vacuum from Switchbot, whose products I greatly admire, aims to automate these tasks - and it works remarkably well. If you are ready to take on the task of installing the water connections (which is optional but suggested), the S10 can operate without human intervention for months on end.
The S10, a brand new vacuum robot by Switchbot, offers a unique feature that directly connects the water intake and outlet of the mop to your home's water supply, allowing the vacuum to refill and empty itself. While there are a few minor issues, I was generally amazed by the capabilities of the S10 and the future potential of robots in our homes.
Setting up the installation involves basic plumbing work
Before purchasing the S10, use Switchbot's compatibility checker to verify that you have a suitable place to make the water connection. Fortunately, the S10 can be tied into almost any water source in your home, be it the toilet, the washing machine, or a faucet. The S10 comes with all the necessary connections you could imagine.
To understand the S10's operation, picture it as having four components: the robot itself, a charging station where the vacuum empties and dries the waste, a dock where it fills and dumps water, and optional water tanks. Unlike other robo-vacs, these docks are not one large piece of equipment; they're separate, and although each is smaller than typical vacuum docks, I would've preferred only having to set aside space for one component.
It's crucial to understand that if you choose not to hook the S10 up to a water supply, you'll need to use with the optional water tanks instead. Although the tanks are smaller than those in most modern robots, this means you'll need to empty and refill them often - diminishing the convenience factor that makes the S10 so enticing.
Switchbot has made plumbing installation as accessible as possible to common persons, but it's still basic plumbing work - and you may encounter the same issue I did: lots of gadgets contesting access to the waterline. To join the S10 into my bathroom's plumbing system, I had to either give up my bidet or summon a plumber to add a connection. With the ever-increasing prevalence of smart technology, it's possible that this problem of devices demanding access to the waterline will become more widespread.
Simple installation and prompt mapping
Setting up the S10 was straightforward. First, the Switchbot app invites you to chart its two stations (water and dust collection). Subsequently, you let the S10 out to map your floor, which was a quick and precise process utilizing Light Detection And Ranging (LiDAR).
Following the mapping, you can personalize the robot with various settings to adapt it to your preferences. The main feature I enjoy on robot vacuums is the intensity setting, controlling the robot's suction or the mop's water and vibration. The S10 provides limited customization here, such as mopping alone, yet these aren't significant issues that can't be remedied in a future software update. The features I adore, such as remote control, monitoring the maintenance status of parts, and working with most voice assistants, are all present - plus, as the S10 has Matter support, there's a lifeline for Apple HomeKit users.
The S10 has a great mop, but its size may cause issues
I've frequently relied upon the Switchbot K10, one of my favorite robot vacuums, for both its astonishing debris cleanup capabilities and its tiny size. Its size allowed it to access places other bots couldn't, fitting into tight corners and making turns around furniture legs. However, the K10+ suffered in the mopping department.
The S10 has the opposite problem; it's quite large at 14 inches across. Due to its width, the S10 can't make those tight turns or slip into tiny spaces nearly as effectively as the K10+. It did, nevertheless, successfully remove the majority of small to medium-sized debris, although it failed my requirements for hoovering up fluff from a dog toy. (I like to test new robot vacuums by scattering a piece of dog toy fluff around the house and observing if it vacuums it away or engages it as an obstacle.)
In the S10, the mop is definitely what steals the show. It belongs to a new breed of robot vacuums that do more than just spread fresh water on the floor. Unlike the Eufy S1, the S10 cleans the mop while it's out and about, ensuring there is only clean water left on the floor while it sucks away the dirty water. Unlike the S1, the S10 did an excellent job cleaning up wet messes and tackling dried debris. I was astonished by how much cleaner my white tiles looked after a cleaning, and two passes managed to eliminate most of the dried stains as well.
That being said, this new set of features does come with a small flaw - they all quickly drain the battery. Consequently, the bot would often have to pause its duties to recharge at the dock. This could be a bigger issue if the robot required me to remove obstacles or refill water, but in most cases, we have managed to lead separate lives, which is what I appreciate about it in the first place.
Final verdict: solid value, great potential
The S10 was the device I was anticipating the most this year, and in many ways, it lived up to my expectations. There were zero issues with the refill and emptying station, and I'm eagerly waiting for more products from Switchbot to work with the S10 (the app already has humidifier settings available, but the hardware isn't out yet).
When it comes to mops, the S10 made a great impression on me, and while the vacuum wasn't as fantastic as some of my favorite Roborock models, it was still quite good. To enjoy the S10, one must have a bit of patience dealing with the multiple docks and how often it needs to recharge. Nevertheless, this trade-off usually means you'll seldom need to interfere in the robot's life.
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The Switchbot S10's standout feature is its ability to connect directly to your home's water supply, automating the refill and emptying process of its mop, making it a tech marvel in the world of robot vacuums.
In the realm of tech reviews, the Switchbot S10 Robot Vacuum review highlights its unique water connection feature, setting it apart from other robot vacuums on the market.
