DJI Romo P2 Review: The Ultimate 36,000Pa AI Robot Vacuum (2026)

A New Chapter for Home Cleaning

The DJI Romo P2 is the clearest sign yet that the company that conquered the sky has set its sights firmly on the living room floor. In this DJI Romo P2 review, we look at what happens when the world’s leading drone maker applies its obsession with sensors, motors, and flight-grade engineering to a household chore that most of us would happily hand over to a machine. The result, which earned an award at IFA 2026, is not a timid second attempt but a confident redesign of almost every part of the first generation.

From Drones to Dustbunnies

DJI built its reputation on gimbals, cameras, and obstacle-avoidance systems that keep expensive aircraft from flying into trees. Those same skills translate surprisingly well to home robotics. A robot vacuum has to understand a cluttered, constantly changing three-dimensional space, make split-second decisions, and move precisely without human help. That is exactly the problem DJI has been solving for more than a decade, only now the obstacles are socks, charging cables, and the occasional dog toy instead of power lines and branches.

The first-generation Romo P proved that DJI could enter the category with credibility. The second generation goes further, and the engineers clearly listened to early feedback. Suction is dramatically higher, the base station can look after itself for far longer, and the robot can now step over obstacles that would have stopped many rivals in their tracks.

What This Review Covers

Robot vacuums are crowded, noisy territory, and marketing claims often outrun real-world behavior. So in the sections below we go through the design, the suction system, corner cleaning, hair management, the navigation stack, the climbing ability, and the base station in turn. We also compare the new model with its predecessor and finish with pricing and a verdict. If you are deciding whether this is the machine for your home, the goal is for you to have everything you need by the end.

Transparent Design and Build Quality

The first thing you notice about the Romo P2 is that you can see through it. DJI has leaned into a bold concept it describes as “made to be displayed,” and the transparent shell on both the robot and its dock exposes the mechanics inside. Where most robot vacuums hide their workings behind glossy plastic and try to blend into the furniture, this one invites you to look. For anyone who has ever stared at a gadget and wondered what is going on inside, that is a refreshing change.

A Showpiece Rather Than an Eyesore

Most households stash their cleaning equipment in a cupboard, but a dock that sits permanently on the floor is hard to hide. The Romo P2 treats that reality as a design opportunity. Visible gears, channels, and sensor modules give the base station a technical, almost laboratory-like charm. Placed in a hallway or beside a sofa, it looks more like a piece of modern industrial design than a utility appliance. Whether you love that aesthetic or find it too busy will come down to personal taste, but it is undeniably distinctive.

The transparency also has a practical side. You can glance at the water channels and see whether something looks wrong, and you can spot trapped debris without opening a panel. That kind of at-a-glance feedback is rare in the category.

How It Stands Apart

Against the usual crowd of black and white discs, any DJI robot vacuum feels like it comes from a different design philosophy. Competitors tend to chase a minimal, anonymous look, while the Romo P2 shows off its engineering. The materials feel solid, panel gaps are tight, and the moving parts operate with a smoothness you would expect from a company whose products have to survive vibration and wind at altitude.

Build quality is the area where a premium price should be most visible, and here it is. Nothing creaks, nothing rattles, and the dock feels heavy and stable enough that it will not slide around when the robot docks at speed.

DJI Romo P2 Suction Power: Why 36,000Pa Changes the Game

Suction figures are the headline of any vacuum launch, and the numbers here are bold. The leap from the previous generation is large enough that it changes what you can realistically expect from a robot on carpet, and it is the DJI Romo P2 that makes that leap feel less like a spec-sheet exercise and more like a genuine improvement in daily results.

A Record-Setting Motor

The 36000Pa suction power rating puts the machine at the very top of the current market. For context, the earlier model topped out at 25,000Pa, which was already competitive. Jumping by roughly forty percent in a single generation is unusual, and it reflects serious work on the motor, the airflow path, and the sealing of the dust channel. High suction is only useful if air actually travels through the system without leaking, and DJI has put effort into making sure it does.

In practice this matters most on dense rugs and low-pile carpets, where fine dust, sand, and pet dander settle deep into the fibers. A robot with modest suction skims the surface and leaves the real mess behind. A stronger motor pulls debris up from underneath, which is the difference between a floor that looks clean and one that actually is.

The Carpet Pressing Plate

Raw suction is only half the story. On carpet, the robot lowers a pressing plate that flattens the pile and creates a tighter seal around the intake. This forces the airflow to pass through the fibers instead of over them, which dramatically improves deep extraction. When the robot returns to hard floor, the plate lifts away so it does not drag or scratch.

This kind of mechanical adaptation is the sort of idea that sounds obvious once someone builds it. Rather than relying on a single fixed approach, the robot changes its own geometry depending on the surface. Combined with the stronger motor, it gives the machine a real edge on mixed-flooring homes, where one room is tile and the next is shag.

Real-World Expectations

As always, maximum suction is not a constant. Most robots run in a quieter standard mode and only ramp up when the sensors detect carpet or heavy dirt. That is how it should be, because running at full power continuously would drain the battery quickly and generate unnecessary noise. The smart approach is to let the robot decide, and the software here does a good job of escalating only when needed.

Cleaning Corners and Edges: The Robotic Arm

Every round robot vacuum shares the same weakness: corners. A circular body simply cannot reach into a ninety-degree angle, and the dust that collects along baseboards is a familiar frustration. DJI attacks this problem with hardware rather than software tricks, and the result is one of the most interesting features of the Romo P2.

A Reach That Goes Further

The robot is equipped with an extendable mechanical arm that swings out to a 123-degree angle and reaches 7.8 centimeters farther than the arm on the previous generation. That extra reach is what allows the cleaning head to get into tight spots where older designs would stop short. Instead of a side brush that flicks debris about and hopes for the best, the arm physically extends toward the wall and sweeps the corner.

The difference is easy to see after a run. Dust that previously lined the edge of a room, particularly in corners behind doors and under furniture, is gone. It is the kind of detail that makes a robot feel less like a gadget and more like a dependable cleaner.

How the Robot Judges Distance

Reaching a corner is only useful if the robot knows where the wall is. The LiDAR-guided robotic arm works by combining distance data from the laser sensor with the robot’s own map, calculating how far to extend and at what angle. Too little and the corner stays dirty; too much and the arm collides with the wall and wastes time. Because the calculation is continuous, the arm retracts smoothly when it meets an obstacle or a change in the wall line.

This precision is where DJI’s background shows. Positioning a mechanical part accurately against a moving platform is exactly what a gimbal does, and the same thinking has clearly informed this design.

Edge Performance in Daily Use

On long straight skirting boards, the arm works alongside the main roller to keep the robot hugging the wall without scraping paint or furniture legs. Around chair legs and table bases, it tucks in and out, tracing the shape of each obstacle. For anyone with a home full of awkward angles, this feature alone could justify the upgrade. The Romo P2 simply leaves fewer forgotten strips of dust around the room.

Hair and Pet Fur Protection

Anyone who has owned a robot vacuum and long hair, or a shedding dog, knows the chore of cutting tangled strands off a roller. It is the single most common complaint in the category, and it is the reason many owners give up on automation. The Romo P2 tackles the problem directly in its brush design.

Twin Rollers, One Direction

The DualSweep anti-tangle design uses two roller brushes working together alongside the side brushes. The rollers and sweepers are arranged to guide hair, fur, and fibers directly toward the vacuum nozzle rather than letting it wrap around the shaft. Because the debris is channeled inward instead of being flung outward or twisted around the axle, there is far less opportunity for a knot to form.

The central roller is shaped so that strands slide along its surface and are drawn into the suction path. Combined with the high airflow of the motor, hair is pulled off the brush before it can build up. In long-term use, that translates to far fewer manual interventions, which is exactly what you want from an autonomous device.

Quieter Operation

DJI also reports an 85 percent reduction in noise compared with earlier designs in the relevant operating mode. A quieter brush system means the robot is more comfortable to run while you work from home or while pets are sleeping. Pets in particular can be nervous around loud appliances, and a calmer machine reduces the stress for everyone. Lower noise also suggests smoother mechanics, with less vibration and fewer rattling parts.

Pet-Friendly Living

The combination of strong suction, tangle-resistant brushes, and a base station that handles most maintenance makes the Romo P2 an appealing choice for pet owners. Fur is among the most persistent forms of household debris, and the machine is designed to cope with it without constant supervision. You will still want to check the brushes occasionally, as with any robot, but the interval between checks should be significantly longer.

DJI Romo P2 Navigation: Drone-Grade Sensors and AI

If there is one area where you would expect DJI to excel, it is perception. The company has spent years teaching aircraft to see and avoid hazards at high speed, and the DJI Romo P2 applies that expertise to the far slower but far more cluttered environment of a family home.

The Sensor Suite

The robot combines 3D time-of-flight LiDAR sensors with a pair of fisheye cameras. The LiDAR builds a precise map of walls and furniture, while the wide-angle cameras identify objects on the floor and classify them. Together they give the robot both geometry and meaning: it knows where something is and what it probably is. That second part is what separates a smart robot from one that simply bumps into things and turns around.

Wide-angle lenses also help the robot see low and close, which is where the real hazards lie. Cables, slippers, and toys all sit within a few centimeters of the ground, and the camera placement is designed to capture them.

Seeing Dust in the Dark

One of the more clever additions is an integrated dust-illumination feature that lights up an area of about 2,000 square centimeters in front of the robot. By casting light at a low angle, it reveals fine particles that would otherwise blend into the floor, and it helps the cameras read the surface in dim rooms. This means the robot can operate under a bed or in a dark hallway without losing its ability to judge the situation.

From Flagship Drones to Your Floor

The technology borrowed from flagship quadcopters is the key to the system’s confidence. Millimeter-level obstacle sensing allows the robot to detect and avoid thin wires and even a playing card lying flat on the floor, objects that routinely defeat cheaper machines. That level of sensitivity is the reason it can pass close to hazards without bumping them, and it keeps cleaning efficient by letting the robot approach obstacles tightly rather than leaving wide margins.

In use, the effect is impressive. The robot slows, adjusts, and slips around items that would trap other models, and it rarely needs rescuing. For many owners, the most valuable feature of a robot vacuum is simply that it does not get stuck, and the sensors here deliver on that promise.

Smarter Over Time

The AI model that interprets sensor data can be improved through software updates, which means the machine should keep getting better. DJI has a track record of regular firmware releases in its drone line, and there is every reason to expect similar support here.

Climbing Thresholds and Obstacles

High thresholds are the silent enemy of the robot vacuum. A raised door strip, a rug edge, or a small step between rooms can confine a robot to one area of the house, forcing you to carry it or abandon part of the floor plan. This is one of the main reasons people dismiss robots as impractical, and it is where this model makes one of its boldest claims.

Legs Instead of Wheels Alone

The dynamic robotic legs are a lifting mechanism built into the chassis that raises the body over obstacles instead of relying only on wheel traction. Rather than pushing blindly against an edge and spinning, the robot detects the obstacle, adjusts its stance, and steps over it. The motion is surprisingly graceful, and it looks like a small animal deciding how to cross a ledge.

Because the legs shift the weight and the wheel position dynamically, the robot keeps traction through the climb and avoids scraping its underside. That matters, because a belly-scrape on a threshold can snag a brush or damage a sensor.

Single and Double Steps

The machine can cross single thresholds up to 4 centimeters high, which covers most door strips and rug edges found in a typical home. More impressively, it handles two-level steps up to 8.5 centimeters in total. That is a considerable height for a robot of this size, and it opens up homes with split-level layouts, raised bathroom floors, and sunken living areas.

For some households, this ability is not a luxury but a requirement. If your home has several small steps and a robot cannot cross them, you are left carrying it from room to room. The Romo P2 removes that friction, and for many owners it may be the feature that makes a robot vacuum finally practical.

Practical Considerations

Climbing quality still depends on the surface. Slippery floors, very soft rugs, and cluttered ledges can all affect performance, and you should test the robot at your own thresholds before relying on it. Still, the capability is a real step forward, and the engineering behind it is among the most convincing parts of the package.

The 365-Day Self-Cleaning Station

A good robot is only half of a good system, because the dock determines how much work you still do by hand. The base station on this model is ambitious, aiming to reduce maintenance to an occasional top-up rather than a weekly ritual, and the DJI Romo P2 promises up to a full year of operation without manual servicing.

Hot Water Washing

The self-cleaning base station washes the mop pads with water heated to 80 degrees Celsius, applying high pressure to flush away grease, dirt, and stains. Hot water is far more effective than cold at dissolving oily residue, and it also helps sanitize the pads. A dirty mop pad simply spreads grime around, so the quality of the wash directly determines the quality of the next clean.

After washing, the station dries the pads and prepares them for the next run. This prevents the musty smell that often develops in damp mops, a common complaint with older systems.

Automatic Dosing

The dock automatically dispenses cleaning solution and a floor deodorizer in the correct amounts, which removes guesswork and waste. You fill the reservoirs, and the system handles the rest. Over time, this feature saves money and effort, because you are no longer measuring detergent or worrying that the mop is too dry or too wet.

A Year Without Hands-On Care

The headline claim is an operating period of up to 365 days with minimal manual maintenance. That figure depends on usage and the size of your home, but even a significantly shorter real-world interval would be a strong improvement over the roughly 200 days of the previous generation. For busy households, the promise of cleaning that largely looks after itself is the whole point of owning a robot.

Reliability and Hygiene

Of course, any automated station needs occasional attention. Filters, water tanks, and drainage paths benefit from an inspection every so often, and the transparent design helps you spot issues early. The goal is not zero involvement but dramatically reduced involvement, and on that measure the dock performs well.

DJI Romo P2 vs Romo P: Is the Upgrade Worth It?

If you already own the first-generation robot, the obvious question is whether the new model justifies the cost. The short answer is that the improvements are substantial and well targeted, and in the case of the Romo P2 they address the most common complaints about the original machine.

The Key Differences

Feature	Romo P (1st gen)	Romo P2 (2nd gen)
Suction power	25,000Pa	36,000Pa
Base station autonomy	Up to 200 days	Up to 365 days
Obstacle climbing	Standard capability	Legs for 8.5cm steps
Corner cleaning	Earlier arm	Longer arm, 123-degree reach

Who Should Upgrade

If your home is mostly smooth floors with no thresholds, the first-generation machine may still serve you well. The extra suction and the longer autonomy are nice, but they are not transformative on flat tile. Owners with carpets, pets, and raised thresholds will see the biggest gains, since those are exactly the situations the new hardware was designed to handle.

Who Should Wait

If you are happy with your current robot and do not struggle with steps or rugs, there is no urgent reason to rush. Prices usually soften after the initial launch period, and the used market for the first generation will likely become attractive. For first-time buyers, however, the choice is easier: start with the newer model, because the improvements are significant and the price difference is modest.

Price, Packages, and Final Verdict on DJI Romo P2

After weighing the design, performance, and features, it is time to look at what the machine costs and whether it is worth buying. This is where the real decision gets made, because even the best robot needs to fit within a sensible budget.

Pricing and Packages

The DJI Romo P2 price in Europe starts at €1,099 for the standard Water Tank Version. A step up is the Clean More Combo at €1,149, which adds extra accessories and consumables for a modest premium. At these levels the robot sits firmly in the premium bracket, competing with the best flagships from established brands. The extra €50 for the Combo is easy to justify if you want to get started without ordering spares immediately.

Pros

• Class-leading 36,000Pa suction with a carpet pressing plate
• Transparent, distinctive design that doubles as a display piece
• Extendable arm that cleans corners and edges more thoroughly
• Tangle-resistant brushes and a notably quieter operation
• Drone-derived sensors that detect cables and even playing cards
• Climbing legs that handle thresholds up to 8.5cm
• Hot-water washing and a dock that can run for up to 365 days

Cons

• Premium pricing that puts it out of reach for budget shoppers
• A bold transparent look that will not suit every interior
• Real-world autonomy will vary with home size and usage
• Performance on very soft rugs and slippery surfaces needs testing in your own home

Final Thoughts

The machine delivers on its ambitious promises. It cleans carpets properly, reaches corners that others miss, steps over obstacles that would trap rivals, and looks after itself for months at a time. It is not the cheapest option, and it will not suit everyone, but for households that want the most capable automated cleaner currently available, it is an outstanding choice.

If you want a robot vacuum that brings drone-grade intelligence and genuine mechanical innovation into your home, the DJI Romo P2 is the one to beat in 2026.

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