Vexilar Cleanova W15 (robot vacuum cleaner Mopping robot with LiDAR navigation): our review

The carpet beneath the coffee table can hold onto yesterday's biscuit crumbs long after the mugs have gone. With suction rated at 10000 Pa, the Cleanova W15 sits among the stronger advertised ratings, giving carpet owners a reason to consider it. Would you rather spend Saturday morning vacuuming that patch again? We would put this specification on the shortlist for a carpeted sitting room, rather than choose it mainly for the mop.

Keep the figure in perspective. Manufacturers measure suction differently, so pascals help position a robot without promising how much dirt it will lift from your particular carpet. We like the ambition here, but a suction figure cannot settle the whole cleaning question. It earns consideration. If dog hair collects around the sofa, that specification suggests potential; it cannot tell you how thoroughly the robot will gather it.

Getting home with shopping bags is a poor moment to find another chore waiting under the dining table. The stated 180 min gives this robot scope to work through several rooms during a long cleaning run. That makes its endurance relevant to a busy household hoping to spend less of the evening reaching into the vacuum cupboard.

The advertised duration reflects operation at the lowest power setting; stronger suction or mopping shortens the available time. It does not establish how much floor a charge will cover. Turn up the suction, shorten the run. If the living room carpet needs more power than the hallway tiles, expect less cleaning time before charging. Our advice is to choose the cleaning mode around the dirt you need removed, rather than chase the longest possible session.

Want the floors attended to while you get on with something else? The app offers a way to interact with the robot, but its documented network support stops at Wi‑Fi 2,4 GHz. Check that your router provides a compatible connection before ordering. This is a buying requirement to settle early, particularly if you are unsure how your home network is configured.

LiDAR navigation gives the robot a means of finding its way around the home, alongside specified 3D obstacle detection. Room preparation still belongs in your routine: manufacturers advise clearing socks, charging cables and small objects before a cleaning run. The socks are unlikely to volunteer. A quick tidy before you leave for work is a reasonable exchange for handing over the vacuuming, provided that is the level of involvement you want.

The auto-empty station tackles an easily overlooked irritation: having to tip dirt out of the robot's dustbin yourself. This is the feature we would give most weight if repeated emptying would discourage you from using a robot regularly. Dustbin duty is still a chore, even when the vacuum has done the travelling. The station handles that transfer into a separate container, although the dock itself still needs upkeep.

Make room for the routine. Before ordering, check the dock's dimensions, replacement bags, brushes and mop pads, plus warranty, returns and support arrangements with the retailer. These practical details can decide whether ownership stays convenient after the initial enthusiasm fades. Our overall assessment places this model among the best on the site. The dock gives that favourable view a concrete household benefit: fewer occasions when cleaning the floor ends with another job for you.

After an after-school snack, the kitchen tiles may need more than loose crumbs collected. This robot includes mopping, making it relevant to households wanting a wipe as part of regular floor care. Keep the job proportionate. A mopping function alone gives no basis for expecting vigorous scrubbing of stubborn dried marks. For unfinished, waxed or poorly sealed wooden flooring, manufacturers advise checking that the surface can tolerate moisture first.

We would choose this combination when recurring vacuuming is the main chore you want to hand over and supplementary wiping would be welcome. The automatic emptying strengthens that case for someone who wants less involvement between cleaning runs. If forceful floor washing is your overriding priority, look for a robot with a documented active washing system instead. Choose around the chore you resent most. Here, the stronger argument is collecting everyday dirt with less dustbin handling.