Remember the Chinese appliance brand Little Swan’s crazy idea of marrying a washing machine to a robovac? Well, it has made it to the market—but this world-first debut of an innovative 4-in-1 home solution comes from Little Swan’s parent company, Midea. For the uninitiated, Midea acquired Little Swan in 2018, and it has been operating as Midea’s subsidiary since. Anyhoo, here it is: the world’s first washing machine that also vacuums, the Midea Washbot.
We’re not sure if it’s the best idea, given the complexity now that this one machine is technically a two-in-one. Midea is marketing it as a 4-in-1 solution, btw, but in reality, it’s two: a washer and a robot vacuum. As a washer, it also has a dryer function, and as a robot vacuum, it sweeps and mops. The Midea Washbot comes in a sleek, single-piece ultra-slim body (just 600 mm deep, if you really need to know). It needs only 15 mm clearance on each side if you’re customizing the cabinet around it. Because it’s a two-in-one (yes, I insist), it’s perfect for small homes where real estate is, well, prime property.
It now requires just an electrical outlet and an inlet hose for both machines to function. Obviously, you’ll need to provide drainage for the dirty water too (hopefully just one). It has a 2-in-1 control panel so you can manage both machines in one place. There’s, of course, app integration.
As a washer, it rocks TurboFoam Wash (a high-pressure, fully-premixed spray like the Mijia Mini Washing Machine), Air Fresh for fresh airflow, AI Smart Control (but of course), auto detergent dispensing, and a large 365 mm opening for easy loading and unloading. Meanwhile, the robovac—aka WashBot Robot—boasts 10,000 Pa suction and 7 newtons of downward force when mopping, with the trusty mop spinning at a dizzy 200 RPM.
It uses a cross-grid pattern for whole-house coverage. For navigation, this little guy is loaded with autonomous tech, including AI detection, an LDS navigation system, dual laser line, an onboard 2 MP HD camera, ultrasound rug detection, and smart sensors. As a boon, you can use the WashBot Robot’s onboard camera to remotely check on your pets. Snazzy. Or a security risk, depending on how you look at it.
Other standout features include auto-cut tangled hair, powerful water flow for thorough mop cleaning, strong air volume to fully dry the mop after every run, side brushes for edges, and stain detection (switches to mop mode for liquid stains). The robovac’s battery can cover up to 200 m² on a single charge. It also features auto-mop lift, raising the mops when returning to the dock so it won’t ruin freshly cleaned floors. Smart audio alerts provide status updates, and, amusingly, it will even auto-exit the base station to remind you that your laundry is done and ready to collect. Yes, really.
The Midea Washbot made its global debut in Singapore in September 2024, and it’s now available for pre-order in Singapore at an introductory price of S$2,499 (~US$1,951). The U.P. is S$3,999 (~US$3,122).
Images: Midea [SG].