Just as Rohnson informed me about its new robot vacuum, the Rohnson Mamba RM-05, the first thing they told me was: "Remember in the review of the Mamba RM-02 where you said you would like, apart from the dust in the base, to be able to empty and fill with clean water? Well, guess what!" And of course I replied, "I want it yesterday!" And I finally got it tomorrow, but I tried it and what happened you will read below!
First acquaintance
Inside the huge packaging box, there is obviously the robot vacuum and the base. The vacuum has two buttons on the top, one for turning it on and one for it to return to the base. The lid on the top, which attaches with magnets, is removable and underneath are the on/off switch and the switch to activate the camera. Yes, it also has a camera on the front.
Also under the lid is the removable 300ml dust collection bin. Hidden inside the vacuum and without the ability to remove is the water tank.
The battery is lithium and has a capacity of 5200mAh, with a theoretical maximum autonomy of 200 minutes and a time to full charge of 360 minutes.
The DTOF LIDAR sensors are now located around the perimeter and not on the top, as in some previous models of Rohnson and other companies, reducing its height and allowing it to fit more easily under furniture. In front of the sides, it has "bumpers" and sensors to protect furniture and itself.
There is a carbon fiber brush on the right and in the center is the main brush, which can be removed for easy cleaning. At the back are the two rotating discs where the round microfiber cloths for mopping attach. And of course, at the bottom are the two large wheels for movement and the small wheel for direction.
And we move on to the base of the Rohnson Mamba RM-05, which is not exactly a base but a whole workstation. On the left is the space where the dust collection bag is located, something like the bags of a traditional vacuum but smaller. And on the right is the removable water tank, divided in two. One side holds up to 2 liters of clean water and the other passes the dirty water from the cleaning process that takes place on the cloths.
At the bottom, the vacuum goes to rest, charge, empty the dust into the bag, fill with clean water, and clean its cloths.
Also included in the packaging are a spare brush, two additional cloths, a HEPA filter for the dust bin, an extra bag, and a brush for cleaning.
Test
I tested the Ronhson Mamba RM-05 in 3 different spaces. A 150sqm apartment with plenty of open spaces without obstacles, a slightly cluttered 60sqm apartment, and a storage/office space.
I did not encounter any problems in any case, the cleaning and mopping were effective, and the spaces at the end of the cycle were clean. It rarely got stuck somewhere, usually on very thin cables on the floor that got tangled in the brush.
It did not have difficulty on any type of floor, from thick and thin carpets, to tiles, marble, and parquet. The everyday types of dirt in a normal home such as dust, hair, cat litter, and crumbs were collected without leaving any residue thanks to the 6000Pa suction power, which is among the highest in the market and as much as allowed by a robot vacuum cleaner, compared to the most careful manual cleaning with a traditional electric vacuum cleaner.
Before starting its tasks, the downloading and installation of the Rohnson App is required. Then, the vacuum obviously needed to map the area it would be in. Up to 10 different maps can be stored for different spaces, such as the house, the vacation home, the office. The process doesn't take much time, much less than I would expect. Once this is done, you can define each room, give it a name, and set how you want it to be cleaned, in terms of power, mopping water, and their combination, for example, to clean and then mop or to do both simultaneously.
Of course, you can set points where it won't clean, such as under a table or in the area where some objects or pet food are located, and virtual walls that it won't pass through.
In terms of autonomy, the RM-05 does very well, as it cleans and mops a 150sqm area, in normal operating intensity, in 45 minutes.
The dust collection bag of the base is 2 liters and under normal conditions, it will definitely take about two months to fill up and need to be replaced. The water in the base tank lasts for about 220 square meters before needing to be refilled, at the maximum intensity of mopping and with cleaning on the cloths every 10 minutes.
The noise during its operation is normal, not particularly annoying, but it doesn't go unnoticed. You get used to its sound after a few days and you realize its presence when it returns to the base to empty the dust into it.
I was also impressed by its flexibility to "free itself" in cases where it got stuck due to cables or other obstacles. Not always, but it seemed more than expected to me. For anything that happens, the vacuum informs you, such as getting stuck somewhere, returning to the base, when you remove the water tank, etc.
And let's talk about one of the big bets of the Rohnson Mamba RM-05. Mopping! With the ability to add cleaning liquid for the floors (finally), we gradually achieve satisfactory mopping results. Is it the same as mopping with a traditional manual mop? No, definitely not. But it does a good job and allows you to increase the intervals at which you have to do this boring and often tiring task; definitely.
Oh, and when it goes on a carpet, the mopping cloths lift up and this function is interrupted.
The Rohnson App is rich, user-friendly, and has all the necessary settings and options for controlling and remotely managing the robot vacuum cleaner. The 3D visualization of the space is fun, as well as adding furniture.
It also has a camera on the front so you can monitor from its perspective what is happening, although there is no possibility of recording the video. The choice of HD High Definition doesn't seem to me significantly lower than HD, but it's not something that makes any particular difference.
Final Impressions
Let's see now if the Rohnson Mamba RM-05 robot vacuum cleaner is worth the current price of €750 as a new product.
Rohnson introduces a robot vacuum cleaner that competes with more established and well-known manufacturers. There are many models on the market with much higher costs and similar or even fewer features. There are also models with lower costs that could rival its capabilities and characteristics.
The decision is up to the end user in terms of the final amount they want to invest in a high-end robot vacuum cleaner and, of course, they will have to pay for it.
The Mamba RM-05 cleans exceptionally well and finally the mopping function actually works, without just being another impressive feature, like in many models without rotating mops. It has a long battery life, one of the highest suction powers on the market, and with its docking capabilities, you don't have to worry about much. You give it the command, you leave, and you come back to a dust-free and mopped house.
What would I like? A few more collection bags in the packaging, even though each one will last for more than 2-3 months with frequent use.