DJI ROMO review: No robot vacuum cleaner has ever navigated this intelligently!

ROMO S, ROMO A and ROMO P at a glance

DJI's ROMO series launches with three models: ROMO S, ROMO A, and ROMO P. Technically, they are largely identical. All three boast a suction power of 25.000 Pascals, utilize a dual fisheye camera system with solid-state LiDAR for navigation, and offer a runtime of up to three hours. The main differences lie in the design and features of the base station.

The ROMO S is the basic model in classic white. It offers all the essential functions, including automatic dust emptying and hot water cleaning of the mops. The ROMO A stands out with its transparent accents and slightly more premium materials. The top-of-the-line model is the ROMO P, which delivers the full technological package with a completely transparent housing, UV light for bag disinfection, and an odor eliminator for the floor.

DJI ROMO: Design and workmanship

For this test, we had the ROMO P, which, with its transparent casing, clearly stands out from anything we've seen before in a robot vacuum. The open design, with every screw, cable, and sensor visible, appears cool, futuristic, and almost organic. "Modern" would almost be an understatement. "Alien" is more accurate, as the initial impression inevitably evokes the sterile, technological aesthetic of the Alien films.

The ROMO P is guaranteed to be an eye-catcher in the living room. Those who prefer minimalist, homey design will likely find its transparent look less appealing. However, tech enthusiasts will get a real statement piece.

Aside from the transparency, the design language of the base station and the robot vacuum remains classic, but with a clear signature. The station features gentle curves and is vaguely reminiscent of the base station of a Roborock Qrevo.

The robot itself is also round and forgoes the typical LiDAR tower. While this makes it appear flat, at 9,8 centimeters tall it is almost two centimeters higher than, for example, a Roborock Saros 10R, which competes in the same premium segment. In practice, this can certainly be a factor when navigating under low furniture. On the other hand, the ROMO appears more stable, almost powerful in its build.

One aspect DJI should reconsider for the next model is the cable management. The black power cable on the back stands out prominently against the bright, transparent design and simply dangles without any guide. For a product that so clearly prioritizes aesthetics, this seems rather out of place.

DJI ROMO: Setup and App Control

Setting up the DJI ROMO is a breeze. After switching it on, the DJI Home app automatically detects the robot via Bluetooth and guides you through the process step by step. The ROMO is ready to use within minutes. Unlike many other manufacturers, including Roborock with its current series, the ROMO supports both 2,4 GHz and 5 GHz Wi-Fi. This ensures a stable and fast connection over short distances.

The app is clearly laid out and easy to use, so you can find your way around immediately. The map is displayed on the home screen, along with the most important cleaning options such as room selection, zone cleaning, and no-go areas.

Depending on requirements, the ROMO can vacuum and mop simultaneously, vacuum only, mop only, or perform a two-stage cleaning cycle with first vacuuming, then mopping. Cleaning schedules can be created flexibly, with freely selectable suction power, mopping intensity, and number of passes per room.

Right from the start, the ROMO wants to learn its surroundings, and after just a few minutes, a surprisingly precise room map appears, complete with walls, carpets, and larger pieces of furniture. In our test, it correctly identified and named the living room, bedroom, and hallway accordingly. Only the combined dining room and kitchen were grouped together as one room, but this could be easily separated and renamed in the app with just two taps.

 The ROMO automatically detects carpets and marks them accordingly on the map. If you want to exclude carpets from the mopping process, for example, this can be easily set via the selection on the map. In the map editing settings, you can also define no-go zones and pet areas where the robot navigates with extra caution.

DJI allows the ROMO to store up to five maps, making it easy to use in multi-story apartments or houses. Each map manages its own room names, no-go zones, and cleaning schedules.

In addition to its many cleaning functions, the robot vacuum also features a live camera view, transforming it into a mobile surveillance camera. This function is protected by a four-digit PIN. A virtual joystick allows you to control the robot through rooms, and two-way audio lets you speak and listen directly to the robot.

At the time of testing, the app still had some minor translation errors here and there, and some menu items seemed a bit rough around the edges. Furthermore, there was no option to change the voice output and the integrated voice assistant "Hey ROMO" to a language other than Chinese or English.

Smart home integration via Alexa, Google Home, Siri or Matter is also currently missing, but according to DJI it will be added in future updates.

DJI ROMO: Navigation and obstacle detection

When it comes to navigation, DJI pulls out all the stops. The Advanced Path Planning technology comes directly from the manufacturer's drone algorithms. The ROMO systematically plans its route, detects obstacles early, and navigates around them with millimeter precision. Dual fisheye cameras and a solid-state LiDAR assist it in this, creating a 3D map of the environment. In testing, the robot navigated so close to furniture and walls that only a hair's breadth remained, without making contact.

Spatial orientation is quick and fluid. It navigates systematically, making minimal corrections as needed and avoiding unnecessary maneuvers. Even in complex environments, it maintains an overview and dynamically adjusts its speed and angle. It handles narrow passages with finesse. Instead of stopping abruptly, the robot rolls past them in a controlled and elegant manner.

It can clear door thresholds of up to about 2 centimeters; with the optional ramp available from DJI, this can be extended to up to 4 centimeters. Other manufacturers can now achieve this height without any additional equipment, which is why DJI still has some catching up to do in this area.

In testing, the ROMO reliably detected cables, socks, shoes, and other small objects lying around and safely navigated around them without taking an overly cautious approach. It then marks the detected obstacles on the room map.

If enabled in the settings, photos of detected obstacles are also taken and can be viewed in the app. However, in testing, carpet edges were sometimes also recognized as obstacles, resulting in slightly more cautious driving behavior on carpets. DJI will likely correct such minor inaccuracies with future software updates.

Even in low light, navigation remains consistent. According to DJI, the sensors operate from as low as 0,1 lux, allowing the ROMO to navigate even in near-dark rooms. A small but bright LED on the front further assists with object recognition in the dark and ensures that you won't trip over the robot as it quietly makes its rounds, even at night.

DJI ROMO: Suction and mopping performance

With a suction power of 25.000 Pascals on paper, the DJI ROMO is one of the most powerful robot vacuum cleaners on the market, and it proves this in practice as well.

DJI includes two different main brushes with the robot. A two-part brush made of pure rubber fins is installed at the factory. This offers clear advantages in households with hair, as hair is virtually impossible to snag on it. Other manufacturers, such as Roborock, also use this two-part fin design in their current top models because it is more durable and requires less maintenance.

Alternatively, the box contains a combination brush made of rubber and bristle lamellae, which cleans slightly deeper on carpets and more effectively removes fine dust. Both brushes rotate in opposite directions. This automatically loosens hair instead of it wrapping around the shafts.

The ROMO performs at its best on hard floors. It effortlessly picks up both fine dust and larger crumbs. Optional particle detection can be activated, allowing the robot to automatically recognize larger dirt particles like cat litter and increase suction power accordingly. The ROMO is also capable of identifying liquids. When it encounters one, it raises its floor roller and activates the mopping pads to either avoid the area or clean it thoroughly, depending on the settings.

When moving over carpets, it quickly detects the change in surface and, if activated in the settings, automatically increases the suction power. It cleans short-pile carpets almost completely, but loses some effectiveness on high-pile carpets. This is a problem shared by most other top models. Despite its high performance, the ROMO remains pleasantly quiet. Thanks to the integrated noise reduction muffler, even at the highest suction setting, it sounds muffled and less shrill than many competitors.

When cleaning along baseboards, the ROMO's extendable mop head gets particularly close. While many models tend to leave a centimeter of space, it works much more precisely at the edge. The same applies to the extendable side brush, which effectively picks up dust and crumbs from the edges, but reaches its physical limits in corners.

When mopping, DJI uses an active high-pressure system that sprays water precisely onto the mop heads via four fine nozzles. The ROMO strikes the perfect balance between water and pressure. With a constant contact pressure of around five Newtons, it surpasses the average of other models and ensures even contact with the floor, even on slightly uneven surfaces.

At the middle of three dispensing levels, the floor in the test was neither too wet nor too dry, and was evenly moistened. The water dried quickly, and even after cleaning several rooms, there was still enough water in the tank for further cleaning.

To keep carpets dry, it automatically lifts its mop heads as it moves over them. However, this only works partially on high-pile carpets, as the mop heads still slightly brush against the fibers. Other premium models solve this more elegantly by allowing the mops to be completely laid down in the charging station. Unfortunately, the ROMO lacks this feature.

DJI ROMO: Station and Maintenance

After each cleaning cycle, the ROMO automatically returns to its station, where the mops are rinsed with 70–75°C hot water, then dried with hot air, and the robot's dustbin is emptied. The entire process is fully automated and, apart from the several-hour hot air drying, takes only a few minutes.

Behind a transparent front flap are two compartments for cleaning solutions and the 2,4-liter dust bag. DJI equips the ROMO P with a dual cleaning system, consisting of the ROMO Cleaning Solution and the ROMO Floor Deodorizer. This distinguishes the ROMO from most competitors, which only use a single cleaning solution.

The cleaning solution acts as the main cleaner and is automatically mixed with water in the correct ratio. It uses mild surfactants and siloxanes that effectively dissolve dirt without damaging sensitive surfaces such as parquet or vinyl flooring. Antibacterial additives also ensure that the dirty water tank remains odor-free even after multiple cleaning cycles.

The second additive, the Floor Deodorizer, is based on zinc ricinoleate, an active ingredient that binds odors before they develop. At the same time, it provides a slight hydrophobic effect on the floor, meaning liquids adhere less and the floor stays cleaner for longer. Both liquids are formulated gently, free of harsh chemicals, and leave only a subtle, fresh scent.

The cartridges themselves are sealed, disposable containers that cannot be refilled. Once they're empty, you have to buy new original DJI cartridges or add your own cleaning solution directly to the water tank. The ROMO Cleaning Solution costs €15,99; the Floor Deodorizer was not yet available separately at the time of testing.

There is no official information yet on the cartridges' lifespan, but depending on cleaning frequency, they should last for several weeks. Replacement parts such as brushes, filters, or dust bags are readily available from the DJI Store or Amazon.

The fresh water tank holds 4 liters, the waste water tank 3,2 liters. Both tanks are removable and equipped with sensors that automatically report when they need to be filled or emptied.

Unlike many other brands, the base tray is not removable. However, this is not a disadvantage, as the ROMO cleans its charging station very thoroughly on its own. Four high-pressure nozzles rinse the surface after each use, while the wide drain reliably removes dirt and hair. According to DJI, the system remains maintenance-free for up to 200 days before a manual deep cleaning is required.

In everyday use, maintenance proves to be straightforward. The app automatically reminds you of upcoming cleaning or replacement intervals, such as when filters, brushes, or dust bags are worn out. DJI recommends:

•  Dust bag: change approximately every 60 days
•  Filter: every 3 months
•  Main brush: every 6 months
•  Side brush: every 3 to 6 months

A three-stage noise reduction system with soundproofed chambers and long air ducts ensures quiet operation. According to the manufacturer, this reduces the noise level during extraction by up to 80 percent. In practice, the station is indeed noticeably quieter than models from other brands, although a background noise remains during washing, extraction, and drying.

DJI ROMO: Battery life

In everyday use, the ROMO's 5.000 mAh battery proves to be long-lasting. At the lowest suction setting, the robot lasts for around three hours before returning to its charging station. With combined vacuuming and mopping, it lasts approximately two hours, which is sufficient for 100 to 130 square meters of living space. If the highest power setting is used continuously, the runtime drops accordingly to around 90 minutes.

If the battery is empty, the ROMO automatically returns to the station, recharges there with 55 watts in about two and a half hours and continues the cleaning exactly where it left off.