In 2020, Xiaomi released its most budget model, the Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum Mop Essential (also known as MiJia G1). It has strong suction, navigates purposefully, and what's most important, the robot costs less than $361.62. Aside from the nice design, the G1 performs well on hard floors and carpet.
So let's see what the Xiaomi MiJia G1 brings to the table and how well it performs.
The Mi Robot Vacuum Mop Essential Main Features
- A big dustbin holds up to 600 ml of debris
- Navigates by using a gyroscope sensor
- Has strong suction
- Equipped with a HEPA filter
- The filtration system has three layers which prevent the filter from easily getting clogged
- A big electronic water tank allows setting water flow depending on mopping tasks
- Can be tracked in real-time
- Lasts up to 70 minutes on max power settings which is a great result
Design & Appearance
Unlike most robots that have a glossy lid, the MiJia G1 has a nice matte finish that, in my opinion, looks much better.
You can see the logo on the lid.
A relatively large dustbin (600 ml) would be ideal for those who have pets and a HEPA filter makes the robot suitable for anyone who suffers from allergies and asthma.
The cleaning brush has detachable side tips and handles hair with no issues.
Because of not having Lidar, the robot has a short body that fits under most furniture.
Underneath, the robot looks similar to the other Xiaomi robot vacuums.
The charging dock has room to hide the cord.
The robot has an electronic water tank that allows adjusting water levels depending on mopping tasks. I normally run it on the highest level.
One of the best things about this model is its strong suction, it delivers 2,200 Pa on max mode which is more than most robots out there do. Also unlike its sibling, the Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum Mop (MiJia 1C) which I tested on max mode and it managed to run for up to 40 minutes, the G1 does the whole 70 minutes which is a good result especially considering its strong suction and the price.
Related post: Xiaomi robot vacuums comparison
I didn't test the robot on low power but the manufacturer claims it can do up to 90 minutes so I assume there is no significant suction drop between low and max power.
I wouldn't recommend a gyro-guided cleaner for big homes, but for small places with a clean layout, this thing would be just perfect. The robot might not finish cleaning on one charge, so when the battery runs out of charge, it returns to the dock, recharges, and then continues cleaning until the job is done. Tho I still would not recommend buying it for large homes. Also keep in mind, with recharging and resumption cleaning might take half of the day.
Mapping & Navigation
The MiJia G1 has a gyroscope sensor that in tandem with other sensors helps the robot navigate around building a map of the cleaning area. With the map, the robot understands where it cleaned so it does not go over the same area twice.
Unlike the camera-based 1C, the G1 does not build an accurate map and also does not save it after cleaning so it basically builds a new map every time it starts cleaning. The map is creating by the robot bumping into obstacles which means the robot builds it as it cleans, unlike the Lidar that scans the surrounding first.
Comparing to those robots that navigate randomly, the G1 methodically covers the entire area which makes cleaning efficient. I would say that the G1 bumps into things a bit too harsh which is expected as it neither has a camera or Lidar.
Mopping feature
The robot includes a big (200 ml) electronic water tank so you can set water level output depending on mopping tasks. You can not shut off the suction and let the robot mopping only. It either can do vacuuming or vacuuming&mopping. I always set water flow on the highest settings tho. On low water level output, the robot can run for up to 120 minutes until the robot consumes all water.
As to mopping performance, I didn't see a big difference between it and most robot vacuums with the same water tank design. I would say the robot is good as a mop but would not be able to remove stubborn sains as most similar devices do. I think tho having a mopping feature is a nice addition as it keeps your floors clean for a longer period of time.
Cleaning performance
As to vacuuming on hard floor and carpet, the G1 really surprises me. Well, not as much as I have already reviewed the MiJia 1C and kind of knew of what to expect but still...
On hard floors, the robot scatters debris which is a common thing for most robots. Nevertheless, it picked up 95% of the debris in our test.
On low-pile carpet, it scored 96% which is way above average for the price. 94% was picked up on a medium-pile carpet which is also very good numbers. The biggest surprise came during the sand test on a low-pile carpet. The robot was able to pick up 79% of sand which is one of the best results so far. The robot's crossing ability is 17 mm but I didn't spot a difference between it and the 1C on carpet. It does the job well on a medium-pile carpet but probably wouldn't do as well on a shaggy carpet.
As to the cleaning results, the MiJia G1 showed great results especially if you keep in mind its price. For anyone who is tight on budget, the G1 would be a great option.
The app
The robot supports the Mi Home app. In the app you can do the following things:
- Start/stop the robot
- Send it to the dock
- Schedule the robot
- Set cleaning modes
- Set water level output
- Watch the G1 in real-time
- See cleaning history
- Manually control the robot's movements
The robot does not support no-go zones either zoned cleaning. You can't order it to work in a particular room too. It also does not resume cleaning after recharging.
Price & Where To Buy
The Xiaomi MiJia G1 on Aliexpress: $361.62
To sum up. Who is the Xiaomi MiJia G1 for?
The Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum Mop Essential is a perfect budget robot vacuum that performs well on both surfaces and has a good filtration system. It might not be as efficient as the ones that have Lidar but still does the job just fine. I would say much better than most robots I have tested. As to battery life and navigation, I would not recommend this robot for big cluttered areas, but it is ideal in small homes with a clean layout. The robot is also essential for pet owners and those who have long hair.
For the price of under $361.62, the Xiaomi MiJia G1 is the best in its segment.