While Eufy provides impressive mapping capabilities, an intriguing design, and a satisfactory app experience, there are superior robots available at the same price point.
Eufy is a brand that I generally appreciate. They produce some of the finest security cameras in the market, and after trying various brands, Eufy’s Solocams are the ones I have chosen to install in my home. Their parent company, Anker, also manufactures some of my favorite power banks, and I am quite fond of my Eufy doorbell. Like many companies in the smart technology sector, they have also ventured into vacuum manufacturing.
The Eufy Robot Vacuum Omni S1 Pro stands out for several reasons. Despite being a well-established brand that has launched numerous products, including other robot vacuums, Eufy opted to return to Kickstarter for this model, where their funding goal was surpassed within hours. Additionally, instead of following the compact tower design that most brands have adopted for robot vacuums recently, the S1 sports a large retro tower appearance. Despite my loyalty to the brand, its fascinating design, and the vacuum’s reasonable performance, I cannot recommend the Omni S1 Pro; there is a gap between what Eufy believes they have created and what I experienced.
Eufy S1 Pro Features a Unique Design but Lacks Unique Functionality
Typically, robot vacuums and mops come with a docking station that refills clean water, empties dirty water, vacuums, and cleans the mop. These stations are hard to overlook due to their size, but brands usually attempt to make them generic-looking enough to blend in with the room’s decor. Eufy took a different route with the S1. The tower is tall enough that it could be mistaken for a stick vacuum and prominently features the word “MACH” on its front, which is also the name of the accompanying app. Constructed from molded transparent black plastic, the tower’s contents are partially visible but not entirely clear. While likely made from similar materials as those from other brands, which also utilize molded plastic, the see-through design can occasionally appear cheap. Additionally, despite its vertical height, the tower does not occupy much less horizontal space than typical robot vacuums. Its footprint is comparable; however, it cannot be easily tucked under tables or counters.
The robot itself shares similarities with many contemporary robot vacuums, equipped with a roller, rotating brushes, and mop brushes—and to its credit, Eufy includes sufficient replacement parts, such as extra rollers, brushes, and filters. However, Eufy has marketed this robot as a premium device at a premium price. Their promotional materials often use terms like “groundbreaking.” In fact, they previously claimed it was “The World’s First Floor-Washing Robot Vacuum with All-in-One Station” until I inquired about what set it apart from other floor-washing models, which have become quite common. This wording was removed from Kickstarter but remains on Eufy’s website. The issue is that it is not groundbreaking: while this robot was being developed, floor-washing robots became standard, with other brands offering advanced features such as extending brushes and mops, onboard video capabilities, voice assistants, and direct connections to water lines. Although the S1 has many features I appreciate in other robots—like an integrated cleaning solution compartment in the tower and an intuitive way to manage rooms in the app—most other premium robots offer these as well.
Most robots arrive ready for use right out of the box, and the S1 is no exception. After unboxing, it simply required filling with water and inserting a few brushes. In many robot mop combinations, you can mix cleaning solution with clean water; however, recent models like Roborock have introduced a solution bay in the dock for consistently optimal amounts. While Eufy provides this feature, it depends on their branded cleaning solution in a sealed bottle that must be purchased separately—other models allow you to use any cleaning solution of your choice. The MACH app is distinct from the Eufy Clean app; as I’ve previously mentioned, each of Eufy’s products utilizes a different app (Clean, Security, Pet, etc.), adding yet another to the collection. Nonetheless, it is a solid app with a user interface comparable to most brands. The robot creates a map using LiDAR during its initial outing, which you can then divide into rooms and customize names as desired. The S1 mapped my space better than most robots I’ve tested.
One feature I particularly liked was the ability to set cleaning preferences for individual rooms instead of per run and prioritize rooms rather than leaving it up to the robot’s discretion. If you want the kitchen floor cleaned multiple times while the hallway is only tackled once, you can do that. You can even instruct the bot to clean the bathroom last every time. The app includes scheduling options and standard settings you’d expect along with remote control functionality. However, it lacks two features commonly found in many robots today: pin-and-go or “spot cleaning,” and onboard video. While I don’t find video particularly useful, it’s still a feature included in other models. Pin-and-go functionality is genuinely beneficial—you can drop a pin on your map prompting the robot to clean that specific location.
The Eufy S1 Pro is Just Average
As a floor cleaner, the S1 performs adequately. This mirrors my experience with the earlier-reviewed Eufy X10 Pro Omni. It effectively vacuumed much debris but failed to pick up an intentionally placed onion peel in the center of my kitchen floor after three passes. The S1 does not closely follow walls; it lacks those extending arms that some other models now feature. As for mopping, it cleaned surface spills reasonably well but did not tackle grime effectively—my white tile still appeared dirty afterward. During eleven cleaning attempts at maximum settings—utilizing the highest suction and mopping levels—where I allowed it to cover each area twice, I would subsequently run my Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra once afterward to observe how much it picked up that the S1 missed repeatedly.
How Much Does the Eufy S1 Pro Cost?
To clarify, Eufy does not produce poor robot vacuums; they operate adequately. However, they seem to perform just adequately—not exceptionally. The S1 is marketed as a premium robot vacuum; however, given its current price of $999, I believe better options exist such as the Roborock S8 Pro available for $100 less right now.