DJI Romo A (robot vacuum cleaner): our review

The breakfast things are cleared, everyone heads out, and the hallway has already collected another sprinkling of grit. A long cleaning run is useful in that sort of house. With battery life of 180 min according to the maker, the Romo A has scope to work through several rooms while you get on with your day. That figure comes from the gentlest setting; stronger suction or mopping will shorten the run.

The recommended maximum coverage of 178 m² puts a house with several living spaces within its intended scope. Coverage is not a promise of finishing without recharging. Recharge and resume lets cleaning continue after a charging stop, while the stated 2,5 h recharge suggests a relatively quick turnaround between runs. Would you mind the job continuing later if it meant less vacuuming at the weekend? That is the useful way to think about this specification.

A dog settling onto the sitting room carpet after a damp walk can leave more behind than a comfortable dent. The advertised suction pressure of 25000 Pa sits among the stronger ratings, giving this model a promising specification for carpet and accumulated hair. Manufacturers measure suction differently, though, so the figure cannot promise how clean your carpet will look.

The main brush combines bristles and rubber, and the robot is designated suitable for homes with pets. Its 2 side brushes form part of the sweeping arrangement alongside the main brush. We like the combination for regular household cleaning, particularly where rugs share space with hard flooring. There is still brush upkeep to do: check for wound hair and remove it when needed. The dog is unlikely to volunteer. Choose it for the overall cleaning arrangement, rather than treating a large suction figure as the entire argument.

The robot's 260 mL dustbin is small, especially when pet hair starts filling it. Without frequent emptying, that leaves little room for the next collection of fluff. This makes the supplied 3-in-1 station (emptying + washing + drying) central to the appeal. Emptying, mop washing and drying tackle chores that would otherwise follow the robot around the house. For someone hoping to stop thinking about the floors every evening, that matters more than another impressive specification.

The robot's bin and the dock's collection container are separate. Automatic emptying helps move the routine along, but the station still belongs in your household maintenance plans. Mop pads and brushes need attention, and replacement bags belong on the upkeep checklist. Before ordering, ask the retailer to confirm the dock's footprint, compatible consumables, warranty, after-sales support and returns arrangements. A station needs a sensible home of its own; squeezing it into the only useful stretch of hallway would rather spoil the convenience.

Kitchen tiles carrying a few sticky marks and wooden flooring leading towards a rug make mopping more complicated than simply dampening everything. Rotating discs provide an active wiping action, while mop lifting on carpets addresses the transition between surfaces. That is a practical combination for mixed flooring, although it does not establish how thoroughly stubborn marks will come away.

Laser and camera navigation sit alongside 3D obstacle detection, intended to help the robot interpret furnished rooms. Follow manufacturers' preparation guidance by clearing charging cables, socks and small objects before a run. No-go zones let you exclude areas, and multi-floor mapping is useful when you carry the robot between storeys. Before using moisture on unfinished, waxed or poorly sealed wood, check that the flooring can tolerate it. A cleaner kitchen should not come at the expense of a floor you wanted to preserve.

At the maker's stated 65 dB, noise sits around the average: allow for audible cleaning rather than assuming it will disappear beneath a quiet conversation. If your Saturday starts with reading in the sitting room, another time may suit the cleaning better. Connectivity includes Wi‑Fi 2,4 GHz, Wi‑Fi 5 GHz, Bluetooth, covering familiar wireless connections. Before buying for a particular app feature, confirm that feature and any subscription requirements with the retailer.

The buying decision comes down to which chores you most want to hand over. Choose this model if automatic dock care, mixed flooring and mapping across storeys answer your daily frustrations. If your main aim is a simpler maintenance routine, give the station as much thought as suction. The overall assessment places it among the site's strongest choices. The convincing part is how its features join up: sustained cleaning, mop lifting over carpet and a dock that takes on several follow-up chores.