The little robot vacuum is no joke
Introduction
SwitchBot is back in the robot vacuum world with the new K11+, successor to the compact K10+ Pro. As an experienced user of the entire series, I had high expectations: the K10+ Pro was already a surprising mini-robot for its small size and smart technologies, albeit with some compromises on suction power and mopping. In this technical review, we’ll see what the K11+ offers, comparing it directly with its predecessor K10+ Pro to highlight improvements, possible regressions, and significant differences. There will also be evaluations on value for money and a few remarks from a true enthusiast user of the K series. Let’s get ready to find out how such a small robot can really work so well.
SwitchBot K11+ Technical Specifications
Before diving into the analysis, here’s a spec sheet with some evaluations:
Robot Dimensions: 248 × 248 × 98.5 mm (diameter and height), an ultra-compact design (just over 24 cm wide), still one of the smallest on the market. The contained height (~9.8 cm) allows it to fit under low furniture, though not extremely low ones.
Robot Weight: ~2.3 kg. Solid and easy to carry if you need to move it between floors.
Auto-Empty Base: Dimensions 240 × 180 × 250 mm, incredibly compact, the base plus robot together take up less space than an A4 sheet, and it can easily hide behind furniture, making it easy to place even in tight spaces (though it’s so cute I’m sure you won’t). It holds a 4-liter antibacterial-treated dust bag, good for about 90 days of dust collection without maintenance. Of course, like all official stats, this is based on averages; in my case, after one month’s worth of dirt collected, I’d say I’m within the quoted range.
Suction Power: Max 6000 Pa, an extremely high value for a robot of this size. The K11+ uses a boosted “hurricane” system, doubling the suction compared to the 3000 Pa reached by the K10+ Pro, and far exceeding many competitors in the same price range, especially those much larger. This allows it to effectively vacuum dust, crumbs, and even larger debris that the previous model sometimes struggled with.
Brushes: Central Anti-Tangle rubber roller and, new to the K11+, the “Twin Brush” V-Shape side brush. This dual front brush reaches corners and edges better without getting caught in wires or pet hair. It also prevents the side brush from tangling in rug edges.
Navigation and Sensors: Advanced LDS LiDAR (Laser dToF) system for mapping and navigation, supported by front and side PSD sensors for detecting close obstacles and walls. Anti-drop sensors prevent falls down stairs. The K11+ can climb thresholds up to 1.7 cm, enough for rugs and small doorsteps. No-go zones and virtual walls can be set via the app. Laser navigation ensures accurate maps and optimized paths, and the K11+ saves and manages multi-floor maps in memory.
Battery: 3200 mAh lithium-ion. Declared runtime ~150 minutes in standard mode (enough for 120–150 m²); obviously in Max 6000Pa mode, runtime drops significantly. Full recharge takes ~5 hours. Intelligent recharge during cleaning: for large areas, the robot recharges just enough to resume and finish cleaning.
Suction Modes: 4 selectable levels (Quiet, Standard, Strong, Max) to balance power and noise. In Quiet mode, the K11+ is extremely silent (around 45–50 dB, one of the quietest in the category thanks to SwitchBot “SilenTech”), excellent for nighttime cleaning without disturbance.
Mopping Function: 2-in-1 mopping with disposable cloth. Like the K10, the K11+ uses a very basic system: you attach a moistened cloth (included) underneath the robot, which is dragged during cleaning to “wipe” the floor.
Smart Integration: Compatible with the SwitchBot app (iOS/Android) for full control: mapping, zones, scheduled cleaning (specific days/times), room selection, power adjustment, etc. Supports voice commands via Alexa, Google Assistant, pratically all protocols and, new, native Matter support. It’s one of the few robot vacuums already Matter-compatible without needing an additional hub, meaning instant control from Apple HomeKit (certified Matter 1.4 with Room Clean functionality) and better integration into advanced smart home scenarios. (By comparison, the K10+ Pro was Matter-compatible only via the SwitchBot hub.) Enthusiasts will love being able to include the K11+ in automated routines, e.g., “when I leave home, start cleaning the living room,” thanks to zone support in HomeKit.
Other: Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz + Bluetooth BLE connectivity, LED indicator and physical buttons (Start/Pause and Home buttons on the body), child lock enabled via app (prevents accidental starts by curious kids or pets).
Analysis of Main Differences with Predecessors
The K11+ keeps the ultra-compact form factor of the previous K10 models but introduces major improvements in suction and corner cleaning. The doubled 6000 Pa suction is the most striking upgrade ,miraculous, given its silence and size: medium-thick carpets no longer challenge it as the 2500–3000 Pa K10 sometimes struggled with heavy debris. The anti-tangle side brush further improves edge cleaning: where the K10 Pro sometimes left debris in corners or got tangled in wires and fringes, the K11+ no longer has these issues.
Navigation technology is similar, LiDAR and PSD obstacle sensor. The K10+ Pro impressed me with mapping accuracy, and the K11 also navigates efficiently without hard collisions. SwitchBot had already optimized the algorithm on the K10+ Pro to reduce bumps. Where the K11+ takes a step forward is stability and map management: thanks to more mature software, previous models sometimes lost maps over long-term use. The K11 reliably preserves your room-by-room cleaning settings. Both support multi-map and no-go zones configurable from the app.
The auto-empty base deserves special praise: the K10’s was already small, but the new K11 base is even more compact (45% less volume), yet it holds the same 4L bag and suction power. In my home, I fit the K11 base in a corner where the previous already sat, an advantage if you lack space. Also, the antibacterial bags (exclusive to the K10+ Pro, while the K10 base had standard ones) are now standard with the K11+, great for allergy sufferers. Plus, the real wood lid (not plastic painted to look like wood) adds a stylish touch that makes you want to showcase it rather than hide it away.
The mop function unfortunately remains unchanged: it’s an “extra” to freshen floors but don’t expect miracles. I would have liked maybe a small integrated water tank or vibrating pad, but that would probably require sacrificing size or cost, and space is so tight I honestly don’t know where they could have put it. So, the K11+ mops exactly like the K10: damp cloth and go, good enough for quick passes and small spaces, but not for stubborn stains. A consolation: at least the cloth is easy to attach (though a bit fiddly underneath, just like before). Again, nothing new here: no carpet detection in mopping mode, so remember to set no-go zones for rugs if using the pad. And like its predecessors, you can’t use vacuuming and mopping simultaneously.
Finally, on the smart/integration side, the K11+ shines: SwitchBot included native Matter support out of the box, enabling direct Apple Home control (even with room-specific commands thanks to Matter 1.4), something smart home fans will love. The K10 Pro already supported Alexa/Assistant and Matter via hub, but now one less thing to fuss with, no external bridge needed. Otherwise, the SwitchBot app offers the same features (scheduling, editable maps, etc.) on both models, continuously improving via firmware updates.
Value for Money
One of the SwitchBot K11+’s strongest points is indeed its value for money. At launch, the K10+ Pro cost about €599, a somewhat high price justified only partially by its upgrades over the K10 base. With the K11+, SwitchBot made smart design and production choices, reducing costs by 15% compared to the K10+ Pro while boosting performance. The K11+ is offered at about €399 on the official website, a highly competitive price for a LiDAR robot with auto-empty and 6000Pa suction. This positions the K11+ in the mid-range, where many rivals offer less and take up more space.
Upgrading from the K10+ Pro is “tempting” but not strictly necessary, unless you really want the new features or if your home has many carpets where the K11+’s extra power makes a difference. For those choosing a compact robot now, the K11+ offers excellent value: you get a concentration of advanced technology at an affordable price.
It’s worth mentioning that SwitchBot tends to run discounts during the year, and if your budget is very tight, the old K10+ base is often discounted around €300 or less: still a valid option for small apartments. But consider that with the K11+ you get 20–30% more in all key areas (power, cleaning efficiency, silence) for just a bit more money.
User Experience and Enthusiast Optimizations
After a month of daily use with the K11+, I can say the experience lives up to the promises on paper. Setup is simple: within 10 minutes I had the app installed, robot connected to Wi-Fi, and the first map created. Laser mapping is fast and accurate; I’ve always been impressed by the K series’ ability to fit into narrow spaces where other robots can’t, thanks to its reduced diameter. In an average apartment (~80 m²), it handles well, cleaning the entire surface in ~50 minutes in Standard mode, with such low background noise that I could easily take phone calls while it was running.
I greatly appreciated the software optimizations: for example, the K11+ seems smarter at handling complex spaces. Where the K10 sometimes repeated passes, the K11 completes perimeters and rooms with an optimized path, without missing spots. In fact, in some corners I see less residual dust than before.
I tested smart integrations: via the SwitchBot app, the K11+ can start cleaning just one room. I also set up an automation with a sensor: when I leave home, if no other cleanings are scheduled, the K11+ starts automatically. Similar features were possible with the K10 via SwitchBot app/hub, but now they’re more reliable and immediate with native Matter support. For those using Home Assistant or other hubs, the K11+ will be fun to integrate (there’s even control via SwitchBot HTTP/API commands for tinkerers).
Of course, it’s not perfect: the K11+ lacks advanced AI vision, so thin cables, socks left on the floor, or small unexpected obstacles may be dragged or cause it to get stuck (happened to me with a USB cable under the desk, my fault 😅). In this regard, more expensive models with front cameras and object recognition perform better, but those are at much higher price ranges. So my advice, as best practice, is to prep your home by removing problematic floor obstacles before scheduled cleaning, a general rule with all robots lacking cameras and advanced AI.
A note on the mop: its use is so basic that after a couple of tries I almost stopped using the damp pads, preferring to have the K11 vacuum daily and mop with other devices. Don’t get me wrong, for a quick refresh in narrow, hard-to-reach spots the K11’s mop is fine, but nothing more.
Conclusion
SwitchBot K11+ is, ultimately, a small but mighty robot vacuum. It keeps the DNA of its K-series predecessors, compactness, silence, and miraculous engineering, but fixes most of the weak points I had found in the K10+ Pro. More power, no more hair tangles in the side brush, fewer carpet struggles, and an even more discreet auto-empty base that doubles as stylish furniture. All enriched by high-level smart integrations for home automation enthusiasts.
In direct comparison, the K11+ outclasses the K10+ Pro in almost every major aspect, making the choice easy for those undecided between the two. Sure, some compromises remain (the basic mopping module being the main one), but considering the price and market positioning, they are acceptable compromises.
In conclusion, if you’re looking for a small but tough robot vacuum, suitable for compact spaces yet without sacrificing premium features like auto-empty, precise laser mapping, and full smart home integration, the SwitchBot K11+ will truly make you happy. As an enthusiast user, my experience so far has been extremely positive. The K11+ is proof that sometimes great potential comes in small packages, and SwitchBot has definitely tapped into that potential.
For any further questions, feel free to drop them in the comments.
And if you’d like you can join my socials and italian brand communities of NonSoloRobot™️
Wishing everyone a smart life!
