Proscenic X1 Robot Vacuum Review: Feature-rich but spotty

The advent of the smart home has been a long one and few gadgets have had as long a ramp into the home as the robot vacuum. Since the first Roomba device over 20 years ago, they haven’t become as ubiquitous as expected.

That’s not to say the market isn’t hot – in fact, quite the contrary, with many gamers trying to get in the game. Among these is Proscenic and the X1 is its new top model. . It comes with a self-emptying docking station, mopping function and a host of other features. But is it as good on carpet as it is on paper?

Keep reading for the full commentary.

Design and build

• Pretty sleek self-emptying docking station
• Comes with remote control
• Touch controls on the robot

One of the problems with self-draining robot vacuums are the large charging bases, which can be ugly and hard to find.

The base itself is the Proscenic X1’s first win. Although it is not small at all, it manages to house the necessary components in an unobtrusive and somewhat elegant casing. This is a base that can fit into a number of different home layouts with relative ease and without drawing too much attention.

Sean Cameron / Foundry

On the base are a status light and a compartment containing the bag, into which the X1 is emptied at the end of each cleaning cycle.

As for the X1 itself, it’s the typical robot vacuum, meaning it looks like a giant, slightly malevolent hockey puck. It has a sturdy construction, with shock-absorbing plates placed around its body and a series of touch controls on its surface.

There is also a remote control included, which can activate the device and which allows direct control of the cleaning process.

There are slightly sleeker or more compact options, but for its price the Proscenic X1 strikes a good balance between style and functionality.

Performance

• Complicated setup
• Efficient mop
• Clumsy app

Of course, it doesn’t matter how good a robot vacuum is if it doesn’t make the cleaning process easier. So how does the X1 measure up?

When first activated, the setup process was a bit complicated. The mobile app refused to maintain a connection to the device on several occasions, including during a mandatory update.

Following that, the X1 went on the map for the first time and showed off a key advantage it has over some competitors: its LiDAR sensor. The same sensor sported on 3D scanners, newer iPhones and more, it allows for the creation of a more complex 3D map of one’s surroundings, which means – in theory at least – better overall navigation.

It was put through its paces with a hyperactive toddler who literally circled around him during this process, and it still worked fine.

Sean Cameron / Foundry

For cleaning, there are two sweeping arms which attract debris to be vacuumed underneath, and this proved more than enough to remove dust and dirt from laminate floors in our testing. Carpets also proved to be less of a problem thanks to the built-in “boost” mode which increases power on this type of surface.

An additional bonus can be found in the X1’s ability to clean. He was able to tackle a variety of stains and surfaces with relative ease, but again required some supervision to do so effectively.

As for general navigation, the X1 has a few issues with carpet edges, drops, and any step over 1.5cm high, but then these are common issues with many robot vacuums. As is usually the case, for best results it will require an unobstructed area to work from.

It also means that depending on your home, it’s a vacuum cleaner that will need to be rescued from time to time. That means it’s best to turn it on when you’re in it, which is a bit of a limitation.

The application for the Proscenic is unusual. Although presented attractively, it is a bit slow and not as reliable as it should be, showing a bit of a bug sometimes. It can store up to five housekeeping cards and it is possible to configure the cleaning of specific rooms in the app.

There are other options too, but digging deeper reveals another problem: poor translation and localization. Although we can guess that “Vibrationsmodus” is its vibrating cleansing mode, it would be nice not to have to search for it online.

While the app is certainly a definite plus, its somewhat clunky execution will cause you to use the remote in a lot of situations.

Battery life was around 30 minutes of cleaning time in any particular case before a charge was needed.

Overall, while the smart elements of the Proscenic X1 aren’t always up to snuff, it performs well as an automatic vacuum cleaner.

Price and availability

For its price, the X1 has a lot to offer. It is one of the most affordable robot vacuums to come with an automatic dump station. These cleaners can cost well over £1000.

That being said, if you can afford to spend a little more, Ecovacs’ T10+ has a similar feature set (read our review for more) but beats the X1 in quality in all departments. It’s currently discounted on Amazon at £599.

The Proscenic X1 is not available in the United States. In the UK there are two purchase options. It is available on Amazon and directly from Proscenic. As of this writing, Amazon has the best price by a comfortable margin.

Verdict

There are a lot of variables that go into making a robot vacuum successful. On some of the most crucial – cleaning ability and design – the Proscenic X1 scores clear wins. It was able to handle the general trash left by a dog and a three-year-old with aplomb, and blends into the background when not in use.

The fact that it offers a LiDAR sensor and mopping capabilities at its price only sweetens the deal. However, things are starting to fall apart when it comes to the app, a crucial tool for interacting with the X1. The app proved to be a bit confusing and often buggy, making the experience of using the device more frustrating than necessary.

If you’re looking for a mid-level smart vacuum, the Proscenic X1 might be a good choice, but it’s far from a flawless experience.

For more options and to see our most recommended robot vacuums, check out our roundup of the best robot vacuums we’ve tested.