Expert's Rating
Pros
- Water refills and empties automatically
- Excellent mopping performance
- Powerful suction
- Easy retrofit installation
Cons
- Robot size prevents it from getting into tight spaces
- Not a good option for renters because of plumbing requirements
- External water tanks require a separate purchase
Our Verdict
The SwitchBot S10 is an excellent cleaner and its unique water station brings an extra level of convenience. However, it’s plumbing requirements may make it unsuitable for some users.
Best Prices Today: SwitchBot Floor Cleaning Robot S10
Despite the proliferation of auto-emptying docks and self-cleaning mops, a completely autonomous robotic floor cleaner remains an elusive ideal. Eventually, someone must throw out a dust bag or empty and refill a water tank.
The SwitchBot S10 ($1,199.99) brings us one step closer to a hands-free-cleaning reality, though. This unconventional cleaner can hook into your home’s plumbing so the robot can fill and empty itself, allowing it to mop without human intervention.
After spending a few weeks with the SwitchBot S10, I can say hands-free floor cleaning is as great as you imagine it to be.
Design and installation
The S10 has four components. There’s the robot, a 2-in-I vacuum and mop that measures 14 inches across and 4.5 inches high; a charging dock with a 4-liter dust bag where the robot empties its dustbin and dries its roller mop; a separate water station for refilling and draining the robot; and an apparatus with individual clean- and dirty-water tanks for users who don’t want to hook up the water station to their plumbing.
This review is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best robot vacuum cleaners.
The water station can slide into most cabinet toe kicks.
Michael Ansaldo/Foundry
Why would anyone want to pass up the opportunity to completely automate a chore as distasteful as handling mop water? Because certain situations may preclude you from making the necessary plumbing modifications. Maybe your pipes are old or hard to access, or you are a renter, or you’re not particularly handy. Any of these scenarios would warrant using the water tank option for manually refilling and draining.
That said, you certainly don’t need to be a plumber to install the S10, and you can connect it to your sink, toilet, dishwasher, or washing machine water lines relatively easily. You’ll need your own tools, but SwitchBot provides all the plumbing accessories, including pipe tees, extensions, and gaskets.
It took me about 30 minutes to install the water dock in my bathroom using SwitchBot’s video installation guide. Once it was connected, I was able to slide the water dock into the cabinet toe kick and conceal most of the hosing behind the cabinet doors.
Setup and mapping
After installing the charging dock—it doesn’t have to be in the same room as the water dock—the SwitchBot app will run a quick mapping and then prompt you to mark the location of the water dock on the finished map.
The map is editable so you can modify the layout for accuracy and customize it with furniture, floor materials, cleaning areas, and virtual no-go zones.
The external tank apparatus sits on top of the water station.
Michael Ansaldo/Foundry
Performance
With its single roller brush and 6,500 Pa of suction, the SwitchBot S10 did well on my laminate floors and area rugs. It aced our rice test, pulling up the entire half-cup of rice I spread on the floor, and left it mostly free of dust, debris, and pet hair. I say “mostly,” because its size prevented it from getting under my kitchen cabinets where a lot of cooking detritus ends up, so I had to double back with a cordless vacuum. (Read more on how we test robot vacuums and mops.)
The mop is the marquee feature here, though, and it works very well. The downward pressure and spinning motion of the roller mop provide the agitation needed to lift dry, sticky stains as well as wet spills. And it rinses itself 300 times per minute while cleaning to ensure it doesn’t spread messes and bacteria around.
When the robot completes a cleaning job it stops off at the water station to empty its dirty water tank and refill itself with fresh water, then returns to its charging dock to empty its dustbin and dry its mop with 122-degree F (50-degree C) air.
The SwitchBot app allows map and cleaning customization.
Michael Ansaldo/Foundry
Should you buy the SwitchBot S10?
After spending a few weeks with the SwitchBot S10, I can say hands-free floor cleaning is as great as you imagine it to be. However, my endorsement comes with a few qualifications.
First, there’s no reason to get the S10 if you’re not going to connect it to your plumbing. If you do, you’re going to get the water station anyway and you’ll have to purchase the water tank add-on separately for $79.99. These tanks are smaller than those typically found on mopping robot vacuums, adding hands-on maintenance with more frequent emptying and refilling. So if you’re a renter or otherwise unable to modify your plumbing, you should look elsewhere.
If you are considering purchasing it, I’d recommend starting with SwitchBot’s compatibility checker to make sure you have viable installation options. The water station is compact enough to slip into most toe kicks, but it stuck out just enough in my bathroom that we all had to be mindful of our feet. A more ideal placement would be some kind of open area that’s out of the way of foot traffic, such as under a floating vanity.
Getting the space and installation requirements sorted before you buy will save a lot of headaches in the long run and ensure you get the most out of this innovative floor cleaner.
Best Prices Today: SwitchBot Floor Cleaning Robot S10
Author: Michael Ansaldo, Contributor
Michael Ansaldo is veteran consumer and business technology journalist. He’s been a contributor to TechHive since 2013, covering robot vacuums, home security cameras, and other smart devices. He previously served as PCWorld’s Small Business Editor, and his tech coverage has appeared in Wired, Macworld, Mac|Life, Mobile Magazine, Enterprise.Nxt, Executive Travel, and other publications.