DJI ROMO P Review: A Robot Vacuum From the Future

For decades, sci-fi movies and classic cartoons promised us a future packed with sleek, see-through tech and personal robot maids. Well, the future is finally here, and it looks like DJI took those childhood promises personally.

Packing incredible obstacle avoidance, monster suction power, and a transparent aesthetic that looks straight out of The Jetsons, this is easily one of the most exciting consumer tech launches of the year.

After spending hands-on time testing its automated cleanup routines, here is our full breakdown of the DJI ROMO P.

DJI Romo P Robot Vacuum

Finally! A futuristic device that actually looks like it's from the future! A vacuum/mop combo robot should clean first and foremost (and this DJI model does an amazing job of that), but this little bot also decided to clean with style!

• $1,799 at Amazon.ca

Futuristic Tech That Actually Looks Futuristic

For the first time ever, I do believe I'm going to start the review by talking about the looks of a vacuum rather than what it does. But that's because this is the most unique smart vacuum I've ever seen.

The premium ROMO P model features transparent panels on both the main robot and its massive base station. Seeing the meticulously engineered internal components, internal water paths, and mechanical systems gives it an unmistakable retro-futuristic charm. It's the exact aesthetic we were promised back in the day, turning a standard household appliance into a legitimate living room conversation starter.

Beyond looks, the build quality feels substantial, sleek, and precision-crafted—exactly what you'd expect from a brand that built its reputation on high-end camera drones.

Drone Brains in a Living Room Vacuum

DJI didn't just throw a vacuum together. They literally ported over the millimeter-level obstacle sensing algorithms used in their flagship drones. The ROMO P uses a combo of wide-angle dual-transmitter solid-state LiDAR and high-performance dual fisheye vision sensors. And when it gets into a dark spot, it flips on its headlights to make sure it doesn't miss a speck of dust!

In real-world testing, the navigation is mind-blowing:

• Tiny Obstacle Dodge: It effortlessly navigates around stray 2mm charging cables, playing cards, and small LEGO bricks my twin boys leave around the house without getting tangled.
• Low-Light Navigation: Thanks to its solid-state LiDAR, it slides under dark beds, deep couches, and low-clearance coffee tables without getting lost or stuck in blind spots.
• Liquid Awareness: The vision sensors intelligently detect liquid spills, actively steering clear so it never drags a wet mess across your hardwood.
• Smart Edge & Furniture Cleaning: Instead of just bouncing off furniture legs, ROMO's dynamic side brushes and mops extend and retract in real-time to hug irregular chair legs, refrigerator bases, and tricky corners.

Effortless App Control & On-the-Fly Adjustments

A high-tech robot is only as good as its software, and the DJI Home app is delightfully straightforward.

Deploying the ROMO P to a specific room for a quick spill takes literally two taps on your screen. What impressed us most, however, was how quick and easy it is to override your normally scheduled cleaning routine for a sudden, one-off deep clean.

If you've got guests coming over or hit a messy weekend, you can instantly tweak settings on the fly. Jump into Degreasing Mode to have the dock dispense cleaning solution directly onto the mop pads for sticky kitchen grease. Or, trigger a quick room-specific deep clean with increased downward mop pressure (a heavy-duty 12 Newtons) to lift stubborn spots.

For pet owners, a dedicated Pet Area Mode automatically slows down the side brush rotation so granular mess (like cat litter) doesn't get scattered, while simultaneously cranking up suction to pull out stubborn pet fur.

Hurricane Power and Maintenance-Free Base

Under the hood, the ROMO P pushes a staggering 25,000 Pa of hurricane suction alongside an airflow rate of 20 L/s. Dust, heavy grit, and embedded dirt on carpets are pulled up in a single pass. Plus, the tangle-free dual roller brushes easily handle long hair without choking the intake.

When the job is done, the ROMO P returns to its base station using the optimal (fastest) path, not just a straight line.

The base station itself is a marvel of automation:

• High-Pressure Self-Flushing: Utilizing a 16mm waste suction port and a four-way high-pressure water flow, it flushes out the base tray and washes the mops automatically.
• 200-Day Maintenance: With self-sealing dust bags and automated mop washing/flushing, DJI promises up to 200 days of totally hands-free operation.
• Whisper Quiet: A 3-stage sound suppression system filters out up to 80% of dust-collection noise, meaning it won't scare your pets or drown out your TV when it empties.

Is the DJI ROMO P Worth It?

The DJI ROMO P is a rare piece of consumer tech that combines show-stopping design with genuinely incredible performance. By taking the sophisticated obstacle-avoidance technology refined in their world-class drones, DJI has built a robot vacuum that almost never gets stuck, misses a spot, or requires manual rescuing.

My only "issues" I had were the initial mapping failed (which was a bit of a pain because it couldn't locate the home base which was the final step in setup, and therefore I had to start again.

The other "issue" was, this thing was SO slick I actually had to look at the manual to identify how to properly access the components I'd potentially need to deal with on this mostly hands-off robot (example, how to open the little door where the dust bag and cleaning solutions go. Where to access the filter on the vacuum itself).

Geeking Out Shop

DJI ROMO Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Flagship Robot Vacuum and Mop

Borrowing advanced sensing algorithms directly from consumer drones, this high-end cleaner packs an impressive 25,000 Pa of suction alongside dual extendable robotic arms for thorough corner-to-corner coverage. It combines precision solid-state LiDAR navigation, dual spinning mop pads, and anti-tangle dual roller brushes with a low-maintenance self-cleaning base station. While its 98 mm clearance profile requires decent space under low furniture, the obstacle recognition and automated floor-care performance make it a powerful all-in-one cleaning hub.

• $1,799 at Amazon.ca

After tax, we're looking at a $2,000 investment. And while I think it's worth it (note I got this for free for testing purposes), the idea of telling someone to spend $2,000 on a vacuum is going to be an impossible pill for some people to swallow.

But if you ARE at a point where you just want clean floors and carpets at all times with twice a year maintenance required on your part, no matter the cost, this is an example where you get what you pay for.

If you are looking for an ultra-easy-to-use cleaning assistant that handles everything from light daily sweeps to heavy-duty custom cleans (and looks like a piece of sci-fi history while doing it) the DJI ROMO P is an absolute triumph.

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