SwitchBot has built up a strong reputation in the field of smart home solutions in recent years. In addition to smart curtains such as the SwitchBot Curtain 3 (review, € 89.99 *), smart door locks such as the Lock Pro (review, € 139.99 *) and other little helpers, the company now also produces vacuum robots. In the SwitchBot K10+ Pro test, we took a closer look at the manufacturer’s latest smart household helper, which not only impresses with its unusually compact dimensions, but also with its great cleaning performance.
- Looking for a robot vacuum? Our list of the best robot hoovers 2024 will help you.
Technical data
| Model | SwitchBot K10+ Pro |
| Suction power | 3000 Pascal |
| Dimensions | 248 x 248 x 92 mm |
| weight | 2.2 kg |
| Navigation and obstacle detection | LDS radar and PSD distance sensor |
| Wiping function | Yes, damp wipes |
| Dust bag volume | 4 l (90 days) |
| Smart Home | – Automation in the SwitchBot ecosystem – Matter – Alexa – Google Home – Siri Shortcuts |
| price | € 599.99 * |
Scope of delivery
- SwitchBot K10+ Pro
- Suction station
- Spare brush
- Spare filter
- Dust bag
- Wet wipes
- Quick-Start-Guide
SwitchBot K10+ Pro test: Pretty dwarf robot
By now, pretty much all manufacturers of robot vacuums have agreed on a common design language. Even if there are exceptions from time to time, such as the Eufy Omni S1 Pro (review, € 1,254.99 *) or the Rowenta X-plorer Series 220+ (review, € 521.85 *), the majority of models rely on a circular design. This is also the case with the SwitchBot K10+ Pro.
But there is one crucial difference. With a diameter of just 25 cm and a height of just over 9 cm, the smart household helper is significantly smaller than the competition. A feather-light weight of 2.2 kg also makes it easier to transport from A to B. The K10+ Pro looks just like its sibling, the SwitchBot K10+ (review, € 399.99 *).
The SwitchBot S10 (review, € 989.00 *), on the other hand, measures a good 10 cm more in diameter. In the middle of the top is a small turret containing the LiDAR technology. Above it are two buttons that can be used to switch the robot hoover on and off and send it home. At the front, SwitchBot not only places a bumper that is designed to dampen collisions and thus prevent damage to the robot vacuum and furniture. It also features obstacle detection technology.
Distance sensors and the ventilation can also be found on the side. The dust container can also be seen at the rear. This can be easily removed via the magnetically held lid on the top of the vacuum cleaner. If you turn the Robo upside down, you can see a side brush and the fully rubberized main brush on the underside. As a pet owner, I am delighted that SwitchBot has decided against classic bristles.
After all, experience has shown that less hair gets tangled up with solid rubber solutions. However, I am a little annoyed that the brush is not floating. This means it cannot adjust its height to the surface. Depending on whether you want to use the mopping function or not, the mopping unit can still be positioned here. There are also sensors on the underside to prevent the smart household helper from falling down stairs.
SwitchBot K10+ Pro test: Suitable suction station
Vacuum robots are primarily intended to make house cleaning more convenient. However, from time to time you also have to do it yourself and remove the collected dirt from the robot. The solution is a suction station. The SwitchBot K10+ Pro comes with a matching suction station which, despite its compact dimensions of 26 x 20 x 33 cm, accommodates a 4 liter dust bag.
According to SwitchBot, this offers sufficient volume so that you only have to dispose of it and replace it with a new one every 90 days or so. You can access the bag by opening the flap on the top. But there is another trick to be discovered here.
This is where you can conveniently store the robot’s mopping plate. Cool design decision! An LED on the front of the station also signals when the smart household helper is in operation. The suction station speaks the same design language as the robot hoover and therefore matches it perfectly.
In general, SwitchBot shines with a stylish and understated design and outstanding build quality for both the robot and the station. The K10+ Pro is particularly suitable for people who normally find robotic vacuum cleaners, including the suction station, too large.
SwitchBot K10+ Pro test: Setup and mapping
Setting up the K10+ Pro is quick and easy. Once you have found the right position, all you have to do is plug the power cable into a nearby socket. Now it’s time to download the SwitchBot app. This is used to connect the Robo to your home network. Once the K10+ Pro has an internet connection, it’s time for its maiden voyage.
On its first trip, the smart household helper creates a map of the home to be cleaned. You can choose whether the robot should only quickly map its surroundings or also carry out the initial cleaning. The K10+ Pro uses the LiDAR sensor on the top for mapping. Laser technology offers various advantages over optical alternatives.
LiDAR is not only extremely fast and accurate. On top of that, the system even works in complete darkness. The results are impressive. After an approximately eight-minute drive through my almost 50 m² upper floor, the map was ready. It can be viewed in the app and adjusted as required.
Although the result cannot keep up with market giants such as a Roborock Qrevo Master (review, € 1,299.00 *) or a Dreame L10s Pro Ultra Heat (review, € 943.99 *), the result will certainly be sufficient for most people. In practice, the LiDAR sensor works really well. It adheres to the usual working pattern. The edges of the room are scanned first. This is followed by the interior, which is scanned in tracks.
However, the SwitchBot K10+ sometimes operated according to a somewhat questionable concept. Instead of working through room by room, it sometimes cleaned half of one room before moving on to another. Only then was the first room cleaned completely. The smart household helper only works satisfactorily when it comes to obstacle detection. It was not uncommon for the robot to collide with my furniture.
This is where the bumper comes in handy, as it absorbs collisions and prevents damage. Unfortunately, the SwitchBot almost always overlooked cables and smaller objects. This is particularly annoying with cables, as they tend to get tangled up in the side brush and inevitably bring the robot to a halt. Anyone looking for outstanding obstacle detection should take a look at the Narwal Freo Z Ultra (review, € 949.00 *).
SwitchBot K10+ Pro Test: SwitchBot App
Strictly speaking, rudimentary control of the K10+ Pro is already possible using the two buttons on the vacuum cleaner itself. However, if you want to get the most out of the robot, you should definitely use the SwitchBot app. In the smartphone application, the manufacturer’s experience in the field of smart home gadgets quickly becomes clear. After all, the app is clearly structured and therefore easy to understand, even for non-experts.
This is already noticeable during setup. Here SwitchBot relies on practical step-by-step instructions. The usual settings can then be made via the app. For example, you can add no-go zones or invisible walls to the map. You can also make detailed settings for the suction power.
The schedule is also particularly practical. You can use it to set when the Robo should start its cleaning tour. If you already have other SwitchBot gadgets, you can easily integrate the robot hoover into your existing ecosystem and automate it. Fans of voice commands can also conveniently integrate the vacuum cleaner into the Alexa and Google Assistant systems.
SwitchBot K10+ Pro test: Practical test
Once the SwitchBot K10+ Pro was set up and ready for use, we took a closer look at it from various angles in the practical test. In addition to suction and mopping performance, battery life and maintenance also played a major role.
Suction power
Let’s move on to the supreme discipline – cleaning performance. Unfortunately, the SwitchBot was not able to fully convince us here. But let’s start from the beginning. First, I let the vacuum cleaner work on my hard floors. The smart household helper had hardly any problems on tiles, laminate and vinyl. It removed most of the rice grains, cat litter and the usual dust and pet hair from the floor. In the test, I mainly cleaned on the standard setting. There are a total of four different power levels to choose from.
When cleaning in corners, the SwitchBot can make full use of its miniature size. As it has a much smaller diameter, it not only fits into narrow niches, but also gets into the last corner. In the test, I particularly liked the fact that it fits between the legs of my dining table chairs. As a rule, I have to pull the chairs away from the table for a Robo to even fit underneath. This undoubtedly gives the SwitchBot a unique selling point.
However, if you have a lot of carpeting in your home, you should think twice about buying the SwitchBot K10+ Pro. This is not necessarily because the robot delivers a poor cleaning performance. Rather, with a suction power of 3000 Pascal, it simply lacks the necessary power to remove even deep-seated dirt from the fibers. What I did like, however, was the material of the main brush. Thanks to the fully rubberized design, there are hardly any tangled hairs.
However, it would have been better for the longevity of the main brush if SwitchBot had opted for a floating bearing. As it is constantly dragging on the floor, it was already showing visible signs of wear after just a few cleaning trips around my home. Once cleaning is complete, the Robo returns to the suction station and the collected dirt is removed. This only takes a few seconds and worked perfectly in the test.
Mopping performance
Nowadays, a mopping function is almost a must for robot hoovers. However, many mid-range models rely on rigid mopping surfaces, which in practice do a poor job of mopping. Unfortunately, this is also the case with the SwitchBot. If you want to use the mopping function, you have to install the mopping unit and wet wipe.
The Robo then recognizes the mopping unit and starts mopping. As the mopping unit covers the main brush and suction shaft, it is not possible to vacuum and mop at the same time. Unlike the majority of competitor models, the SwitchBot also does not have a water tank. This is simply due to its compact size. Instead, wet wipes are used, which cannot be reused.
The cloth is then dragged across the floor, leaving a thin film on it. As there are no vibrations as with a Roborock Q8 Max+ (review, € 349.00 *), only very light dirt is picked up here. However, the system with the wet wipes not only ensures poor wiping performance. On top of that, it is anything but environmentally friendly and causes further follow-up costs in addition to the dust bags for the suction station.
Battery and maintenance
The endurance of the small robot vacuum is quite good. As it still had around 50% battery power left after cleaning an area of just under 50 m², areas of around 100 m² should not be a problem. Some of its competitors can undoubtedly cover a larger area, which is not least due to its small size and therefore the small suction chute. Incidentally, you don’t have to worry about the Robo getting stuck in a corner of your home due to an empty battery.
As soon as the battery charge level drops to 10%, the vacuum cleaner automatically returns to its charging or suction station. Once the battery is fully charged again, it continues its cleaning tour. Maintenance of this little helper is quick and straightforward. Important elements such as the dust container and main brush can be easily removed. As SwitchBot offers consumables and spare parts for purchase, you should be able to keep the K10+ Pro going for a long time.
Conclusion
The SwitchBot K10+ Pro scores as a compact robot vacuum with practical functions, but also has some weaknesses. In particular, the small design with a diameter of just 25 cm allows the device to efficiently clean hard-to-reach corners and narrow areas, such as under chair legs. The suction power is solid – at least on hard floors. The robot’s navigation is based on LiDAR technology, which enables it to map and orient itself precisely, even in the dark. However, it is sometimes unstructured when following the room and obstacle detection could be improved.
The user-friendly SwitchBot app, which offers comprehensive control options, is a positive highlight. In terms of mopping, however, the SwitchBot K10+ Pro is disappointing. Instead of an integrated water tank, it relies on disposable wet wipes, which are not very environmentally friendly, only remove light soiling and do not allow simultaneous vacuuming. The suction station with a 4-liter dust bag, on the other hand, offers ease of maintenance. Anyone looking for a mini robot hoover should definitely take a look at the SwitchBot K10+ Pro. All others are better off with the larger models from the competition.
SwitchBot K10+ Pro
Design & processing
Ease of use
Cleaning performance
Equipment
Price-performance ratio
86/100
The SwitchBot K10+ Pro Test scores points with its small form factor, but in other important disciplines it cannot keep up with its larger competitors.
