IFA 2023: SwitchBot S10 vacuum robot

SwitchBot presented the S10, a new floor cleaning robot, at this year’s IFA. According to the manufacturer, it is the first corresponding fully automatic device with automatic water refilling and emptying.

Automatic water tank

The unique selling point with which SwitchBot primarily promotes the S10 is the automatic water refilling and emptying. This is to reduce the maintenance expenditure of the users in relation to other soil cleaning robots again clearly. All that is required is to connect the water inlet pipe of the water station to a corresponding water connection and the outlet pipe to a drain – similar to washing machines or dishwashers. In addition to the water station, SwitchBot also provides various adapters that allow the connection to different house connections.

Once the installation, which the manufacturer says should only take a few minutes, has been completed, the robot can connect to the water station on its own. Used cleaning water is then automatically drained and replaced with clean water. The water station is comparatively small, measuring around 39.9 x 16.5 x 10.1 centimeters. This is primarily due to the fact that it does not have a waste water tank because it is emptied automatically. In addition to the reduced space requirement, this has another advantage: it will not emit any unpleasant odors. SwitchBot is thus seamlessly continuing its previous concept of automating common household products. The S10 joins a portfolio of smart curtains and door locks.

Comprehensive floor cleaning

However, SwitchBot promises a lot with its S10 not only in terms of maintenance, but also in the core business of floor cleaning. The first thing to point out in this regard is that the floor cleaning robot can both vacuum and wet mop. This distinguishes it from conventional vacuum cleaning robots. It is equipped with a suction power of 6,500 Pa and a roller wiper that cleans itself, dries without manual intervention and automatically uses the right amount of cleaning agent. SwitchBot thus promises an all-around cleaning experience in which users no longer have to do anything manually. Only the vacuum’s dust bag needs to be manually changed or emptied after about 70 days.

The Lidar system used and AI support also ensure particularly effective cleaning. With these two functions, the cleaning robot measures the entire apartment and automatically detects obstacles. This ensures that it reaches every corner and does not get stuck on chairs or carpet edges. Due to the measurement of the entire apartment, it is also possible to have only individual rooms cleaned or to define no-go zones, which are in principle left out of the cleaning.

SwitchBot S10: price and availability

SwitchBot will launch a Kickstarter campaign in October to fund the floor cleaning robot. As part of that, it will be offered for $1,199.99. In addition to the SwitchBot S10, a humidifier will be offered that can be automatically filled by the cleaning robot.