All the small things... mini robo vacuum put to the test
While not as powerful as bigger rivals with comparable price-tags, the SwitchBot K10+ performs well for a small robot cleaner and its diminutive size means it's able to navigate through obstacles where more 'normal' sized robots may get stuck. The real selling point though is that it can be much more easily kept out of sight, making the K10+ less of an eyesore in your home. The mopping is naff, but the vacuuming is impressive despite the so-so suction rating.
Pros
- Nimble navigator
- Good vacuuming
- Auto-empty dock is also small
- Works with Google and Alexa
Cons
- Mopping is rubbish
- Initial mapping wasn't great
- Not very powerful
Key features
- Type: Vacuum with basic mopping
- Docking: Auto-empty dock
- Navigation system: LiDAR
SwitchBot (of Bot finger and auto curtain opening fame) announced the SwitchBot K10+ earlier this year at IFA 2023, and it’s now on sale.
New model: SwitchBot K10+ Pro review
Showdown: SwitchBot K10+ Pro vs. SwitchBot K10+
A much smaller, more compact robot vacuum cleaner than you’re more used to, SwitchBot has aimed the K10+ at smaller homes but also state that it’s better equipped to “clean in narrow spaces such as under beds and sofas, without leaving any corner unturned.”
Costing £400 / $400, for the K10+ itself and the auto-empty dock, it’s still pretty pricey – you could pick up a ‘full-size’ Roborock Q5+ for around the same price.
But SwitchBot are banking on its big (well, little) differentiator appealing to a people who don’t want a big robot vacuum cleaner and dock taking up space and, let’s face it, being an eyesore.
But does it do the job as well as its bigger rivals? Read on for our comprehensive SwitchBot K10+ review to find out.
Design and components
- Just 248mm in diameter
- Auto-empty dock holds 4 litres
- Wi-Fi 2.4GHz
With a diameter of just 248mm, it’s around two thirds of the size of a more regular robot vacuum cleaner like the Ecovacs Deebot T20 (362mm).
That makes it sound bigger than it appears; here’s a picture I took of the K10+ and the ‘normal’ sized SwitchBot S10 earlier this year at IFA:
Height wise, at 92mm, it’s not actually a great deal smaller than more regularly-sized models which usually come in around the 100-110mm mark, so it’s still not going to get under furniture with super tight gaps.
It’s not just the robo itself that’s small. The auto-empty station measures in at just 261 x 210 x 323 mm, so will require a much smaller space in your home.
Despite its diminutive stature that dock can hold up to 4 litres of dust and dirt.
When you unbox the K10+ you’ll also find a replacement filter, an extra dust bag, a spare side brush and package of disposable mop cloths – more on that in a bit.
Features
- Syncs with SwitchBot Hub
- Mapping features in the app
- Multi-floor cleaning available
The first thing you’ll need to do to get the K10+ up and running is to download the SwitchBot app and create a free account.
It’s the same SwitchBot account you’ll already be using if you’ve got a SwitchBot Hub 2 and/or any SwitchBot accessories you already have set up.
Simply turn the K10+ on using the on/off switch that is under the top flap, and go through the pairing process as described by the app.
The K10+ works over 2.4GHz Wi-Fi and I think this is why my initial setup attempt failed; I presume my phone was synced to my router’s 5GHz signal.
The good news is that, rather than having to disable your router’s 5GHz signal, there is a second Wi-Fi pairing method that syncs you directly to the K10+’s Wi-Fi momentarily, and this did the job for me.
Once you’re all paired up with the app the first thing you’ll need to do is send out the K10+ on an exploration mission where it goes out and works out a map for the areas it can reach.
Like all mapping features with robo cleaners, even from the bigger brands like Roborock and Dyson, the map didn’t manage to divide rooms up as they should so you’ll have to do a bit of manual editing in the app to create specific rooms (as well as adding things like invisible walls and no-go areas.)
You can save up to 10 different maps and you can even use the K10+ on multiple floors in your house.
When creating a map for the first time though, you will need to carry the charging station to each floor. But once the initial map is sorted you’ll just need to carry the K10+ up and down the stairs… and it’s only 2.3kg so you’ll be ok.
If you have a SwitchBot hub set up you can add the K10+ to automations involving other SwitchBot devices, such as having a clean start when a contact sensor indicates a door has been closed, or having the K10+ return to its base if you unlock your smart lock mid-clean.
You can add the SwitchBot K10+ to your Amazon Alexa or Google Home ecosystems for voice command controls and, talking of voices, the K10+ itself has a great one on board that says things like: “I’m stuck, please start me somewhere else,” and “Cleaning makes me happy.”
Performance
That 2,500Pa suction rating sounds pretty feeble in a world where the likes of the Roborock S8 has a 6,000Pa rating.
But it was only a couple of years ago that 2,500Pa would have been considered powerful. While it can’t rival its bigger, more expensive rivals, when it comes to suction on a deep carpet, it more than did the job in my testing area which comprises of hardwood flooring with rugs.
SwitchBot claims that, because it’s smaller than its rivals, it has a smaller turning circle so covers tighter areas better with an estimated 90% more cleaning coverage. In other words, you’ll see more lines, tighter together on the map when analysing the route the K10+ has taken post-clean.
Whether that 90% claim is true or not is hard to test but what I can say is that the SwitchBot really did take its time cleaning an area; taking nearly twice the time to clean my test area than the Dyson 360 Vis Nav.
It got into corners much better than larger machines and, because of its size, was able to navigate through gaps where bigger rivals may get into bother.
I also noticed that when selecting for the K10+ to clean a room twice, it varied the direction on the second clean for a more complete clean.
Battery life is impressive from the 3200mAh power pack and the robot will go back to the dock mid-clean to charge if needs be; although that wasn’t an issue for me.
With LiDAR mapping on board you are able to set no-go zones and invisible walls in the app.
There are four cleaning modes on offer but even on max the 48dB noise, kept quiet with SwitchBot’s SilenTech, made it one of the quietest robots I’ve ever tested.
If you do have a larger area to clean and you’re worried that the small size of the on-board dustbin might not be up to the job then fear not as it will return every 60, 75, or 90 minutes (depending on the mode) and have its dust sucked up into the auto-empty dock.
The recommendation is to replace the dust pack every one to two months but this obviously depends on how dirty your house is and how often you send it out to clan.
Mopping is a feature, but only in name really… do not buy the K10+ if you’re after a decent mopping robot.
Basically, it drags a wet wipe around, that you clip in place first and the K10+ isn’t capable of detecting hard floors versus carpets, so you have to set mopping areas in the map.
Putting on the mopping pad is a bit of a faff and then it essentially drags a wet wipe across your carpet, although you could manually lift it to areas.
Also, the K10 had trouble returning to base with the mopping pad on.
Long story short, I wouldn’t even bother with the mopping.
Final thoughts
The SwitchBot K10+ isn’t cheap and is nowhere near as powerful as similarly priced rivals but it is just so much easier to store and be kept discreet and it’s smaller stature does allow for nimble navigation and a good clean, particularly in smaller homes and areas.
How we test
When we publish our reviews, you can rest assured that they are the result of “living with” long term tests.
Robot cleaners usually live within an ecosystem, or a range of products that – supposedly – all work in harmony. And they are designed to offer a range of different cleaning options. Therefore, it’s impossible to use a robo cleaner for a week and deliver a verdict.
Because we’re testing smart home kit all day, everyday, we know what matters and how a particular smart cleaning machine compares to alternatives that you might also be considering.
Our reviews are comprehensive, objective and fair and, of course, we are never paid directly to review a device.
Read our guide on how we test robot vacuum cleaners to learn more.
SwitchBot K10+: Specs
| Type | Robot vacuum cleaner, white |
| UK RRP | £499.99 |
| US RRP | $499.99 |
| Size | 248 x 248 x 92 mm |
| Weight | 2.3kg |
| Release date | 2023 |
| Suction | 2500Pa |
| Ecosystems | Amazon Alexa and Google Home |
| Battery size | 3200mAh |
| Dock type | 261 × 210 × 323 mm (Auto-empty Station) |
