Comparison Clever Panda X1 vs Clever Panda i5

The cleaning method determines whether the robot can only collect dry debris or also wipe the floor covering with water, and which methods are available for this.

— Dry. The robot cleans the floor with brushes and an airflow, directing dust, crumbs, hair and pet fur into the dust container. This option is suitable for carpets and hard floors, but does not remove stains and marks from the floor.

— Dry and wet. The device combines debris suction with floor wiping using a damp attachment. Depending on the design, this may be a simple cloth or an active washing module that can better handle fresh stains and shoe marks.

— Side brushes. Small rotating elements that sweep debris along walls, near furniture and out of corners towards the main suction opening. One side brush on the edge of the body sweeps debris along walls, near furniture and out of corners towards the central suction channel. This design is usually sufficient, as the robot most often moves along obstacles with one particular side. Two brushes operate on both sides of the body and cover a wider strip of floor in one pass. This setup is especially convenient when moving along walls and between furniture, although on smooth floors fast brushes can sometimes scatter light debris.

— Extendable brush. A mov...able side brush automatically extends beyond the body when cleaning corners and areas near walls. Compared to a conventional fixed design, it reduces uncleaned areas where the robot body cannot get close enough.

— Turbo brush. A motorized module at the bottom of the robot that picks up debris and directs it into the suction channel. The working part may consist of a roller with bristles, rubber blades, or a combined surface. This system collects pet fur, hair and dirt from carpets more effectively than a simple suction opening, but bristled elements need regular cleaning to remove tangled hair.

— Floor scrubber. An active washing module with rotating mops or a roller that does not simply glide over the floor but mechanically scrubs away dirt. This system removes stains and marks better than a regular cloth.

— Extendable floor scrubber. One of the rotating mops shifts to the side and extends beyond the robot body. This allows the floor to be wiped closer to skirting boards, furniture legs and corners, where a standard fixed floor scrubber leaves a narrow dry strip.

— Vibration wiping. The washing platform rapidly moves the cloth back and forth, increasing friction against the surface. In terms of effectiveness, this option is between a passive cloth and rotating mops, effectively removing light stains and marks.

— Cloth wiping. A damp fabric attachment is fixed under the body and pulled across the floor as the robot moves. This simple solution is suitable for regular removal of fine dust and fresh marks, but barely scrubs off dried dirt.

The dustbin capacity indicates how much dry debris fits in the robot vacuum’s built-in container before it needs to be emptied. Models with a 200–300 ml capacity are suitable for a small apartment and frequent cleaning cycles, while a 400–600 ml capacity is more convenient for larger areas, pets, or lots of hair. For robots with a self-emptying station, the size of the internal container is less important, as debris is automatically transferred to the docking station’s collection bin.

The tank capacity determines the water supply for moistening the pad, rotating mops, or cleaning roller. Compact tanks of around 200 ml are suitable for regular wiping of small areas, while 300–500 ml tanks allow fewer interruptions for refilling during cleaning.

Map building allows the robot vacuum to memorize the room layout, track covered areas, and plan a systematic cleaning route. The mapping method affects its accuracy, orientation speed, and the device's ability to detect obstacles.

— With sensors. The robot creates an approximate map using data from the gyroscope, motion sensors, wheels, and obstacle collisions. This system is more affordable, but less accurate at determining the exact location of walls and furniture, while accumulated errors may lead to repeated passes or missed areas.

— With a rangefinder. A laser rangefinder, or lidar, measures the distance to surrounding objects and creates an accurate map of the room even before completing a full sweep. It works reliably in low light, confidently detects walls and furniture, and also supports room division and no-go zones.

— With a camera. The camera analyzes the surroundings and navigates using visual objects, helping refine the robot's position and the room layout. Its advantage is the ability to distinguish individual objects, although performance depends more heavily on lighting.

— With a rangefinder and camera. The combined system uses lidar for accurate distance measurement and map building, and a camera to recognize small objects on the floor. Such a robot not only navigates rooms confidently in any lighting but also avoids cables, shoes, toys, and pet...bowls more effectively.

Cleaning area restriction lets you prevent the robot vacuum from entering certain rooms or selected floor areas. This is useful near pet bowls, fragile items, wires, children’s play areas, or surfaces that should not be wiped with a wet attachment. There are various methods.

— Laser sensor. A separate accessory that creates an invisible boundary — the robot detects it with its sensors and does not cross it. It can be moved between rooms, but the device takes up floor space and usually requires separate power.

— Magnetic tape. A strip is placed on the floor or under a thin covering, creating a physically defined no-go line. This is a simple and reliable method, but the tape may be noticeable in the interior and only restricts the area where it is laid.

— Mobile app. No-go zones and virtual walls are applied directly to the saved map of the room. This option does not require additional accessories, allows you to quickly change boundaries, and is usually the most convenient for regular use.

Smartphone control allows you to configure and start the robot vacuum cleaner via the branded mobile app. It usually offers mode selection, power and water flow adjustment, cleaning schedules, map viewing, and no-go zone creation. The app also lets you send the robot to a specific room, check the status of consumables, or receive a notification when cleaning is complete. For remote control, most models connect to a home Wi-Fi network.

The built-in underside UV lamp is designed for contactless treatment of floor coverings with ultraviolet light after or simultaneously with debris collection. The function may be useful for regular cleaning of the kitchen, bathroom, area near the entrance door, or places where pets often stay. The radiation is most effective directly on a clean, open surface, while dirt, gaps, furniture, and moving too quickly reduce the dose received. The presence of a UV lamp should be considered an additional hygiene measure, not a guarantee of destroying all bacteria and viruses.

Built-in camera with remote access turns a robot vacuum cleaner into a mobile video surveillance device that can be controlled from a smartphone. It is convenient for checking your apartment while away, monitoring pets, or inspecting a hard-to-reach area, while some models allow voice transmission through the built-in speaker. Unlike an obstacle detection camera, this camera displays images to the user in real time or saves them in the app. Recording, night mode, and privacy features depend on the specific model.

Battery capacity indicates the amount of charge available to the robot vacuum for navigation, motor operation, brushes, and the mopping system. A higher-capacity battery can potentially provide longer runtime, but it does not allow the exact cleaning time to be determined without considering the device's power consumption. Operating time is more strongly affected by the selected mode, suction power, floor type, use of mopping pads, and frequency of returns to the docking station.