DJI’s First-Ever ROMO Robot Vacuum Review: From the Skies to Your Floors – A Game-Changing Leap?

A month ago, DJI officially unveiled its first-ever robotic vacuum series — the DJI ROMO. This long-anticipated move marks a major leap for the world’s undisputed drone leader, with rumors of its entry into the home-cleaning sector having circulated for years. The question now is clear: will DJI’s unmatched technological expertise allow it to dominate this market with a “dimensionality-reduction strike,” or does it have other strategies up its sleeve? IT Home got early access to the top-of-the-line DJI ROMO P model, and here’s our in-depth hands-on review covering design, cleaning performance, obstacle avoidance, self-maintenance, and smart controls. The ROMO series comes in three versions — P, A, and S — each available with either a water-tank model or an automatic water supply/drainage version. The distinction is easy to spot: S uses a white body with a white base, A has a transparent body with a white base, and P sports a fully transparent body and base. Our test unit, the ROMO P, features DJI’s signature all-transparent design plus premium extras like antibacterial cleaning fluid, UV sterilization for the dust bag, and a deodorizing module for the wastewater tank. This design is not just eye-catching — it’s groundbreaking for the category. The jellyfish-like clarity reveals the inner workings: control systems, noise-reduction structures, and dust channels, all accented with sleek silver components that exude mechanical elegance. Functional minimalism meets sci-fi aesthetics with thoughtful details such as a pull-out dust box, dual silver discs that spin in sync with the mop for dynamic visual flair, and a semi-circular transparent window on the retractable arm revealing the orange mechanism in motion. ROMO’s industrial design merges cutting-edge engineering with lifestyle elegance, and on design alone, it earns full marks. DJI’s move into robotic vacuums isn’t random. Many of its core drone technologies — advanced sensors, navigation algorithms, control systems, and communications — translate directly to home-cleaning robots. ROMO inherits drone-grade environmental perception and intelligent path planning, featuring high-performance dual fisheye vision sensors and three wide-angle solid-state LiDAR units. This setup lets ROMO detect cables as thin as 2mm and obstacles as low as 15mm. In testing, it easily avoided a thin data cable, marking it on the cleaning map. The ultra-wide fisheye view means fewer blind spots — even around chair legs, sofas, or irregular objects. It handles tricky areas with grace: braking and rerouting before hitting table legs, navigating dark spaces under beds, and recognizing transparent or black obstacles without trouble. ROMO’s obstacle avoidance feels intelligent and responsive — a direct result of DJI’s years of machine-learning vision development. Under the hood, ROMO packs serious suction muscle with a DJI-designed 9-blade metal impeller motor and straight-through airflow, delivering 25,000Pa of suction. That’s flagship territory, more than enough for hair, peanut shells, or even small pebbles. It also comes with dual zero-tangle rotating side brushes powered by high-torque motors and an extra set of rubber-bristle rollers for carpet and heavy debris. For mopping, the dual round mop pads are paired with intelligent edge cleaning. A flexible robotic arm uses real-time mapping to hug edges and corners, automatically extending and retracting as needed. Paired dual side brushes ensure sweeping coverage is always wider than mopping coverage, avoiding “wet-before-swept” mishaps. A large 164ml onboard water tank with smart water control keeps mops evenly moist, while stubborn stains are tackled by slowing down over them to allow more scrubbing time. DJI’s all-in-one self-cleaning base is both functional and refined. Inside, it integrates control systems, noise-reduction design, and UV-sterilized dust channels with neatly hidden wiring. Outside, user-facing modules such as water tanks, dust bags, and cleaning fluids are neatly arranged for easy access. Mop cleaning is handled by a single-piece mop tray, a 16mm wide suction port, and four high-pressure water jets, with hot water for better stain removal. In testing, dirty mops emerged looking nearly new. Drying is equally thorough, with full-path drying for both dust box and mops to eliminate dampness and odor. Silver-ion modules, deodorization, high-temp washing, and UV sterilization work together to keep bacteria at bay. Noise is impressively low thanks to a triple-stage silencing system, making dust collection noticeably quieter than competitors. The DJI Home App offers a clean, distraction-free interface with no intrusive pop-ups or ads. The UI is polished and intuitive, with smooth animations during cleaning and stylish buttons. Out of the box, you get multiple cleaning modes, and customization options let you define zones, no-go areas, cleaning sequences, and routines. Voice control works hands-free across scenarios and supports major smart speakers. You can also monitor your home remotely, talk to family, or interact with pets via the robot’s camera, with sharper and wider video than many rivals. For a first-generation product, DJI ROMO impresses. From core cleaning power to a well-thought-out self-cleaning dock and polished smart controls, it covers all daily needs without obvious rookie flaws. The transparent design is a true differentiator, and the execution shows DJI’s attention to detail. That said, in pure cleaning performance, ROMO doesn’t yet blow away top-tier incumbents like Ecovacs or Roborock. This is understandable — transferring tech from “sky to floor” takes iteration, and ROMO is already a strong debut. The robotic vacuum market is crowded and fiercely competitive, but DJI’s entry raises the stakes, pushing the industry toward better tech, user experience, and value — a win for consumers.