Ultenic MC1 Robot Vacuum and Mop Review

About the Ultenic MC1 Robot Vacuum and Mop

• Weight: 8.7 pounds
• Suction Power: 5,000pa
• Dimensions: 13.94″ x 3.88″ (W x H)

The Ultenic MC1 is a robot vacuum-mop hybrid that can scrub hardwood floors and apply suction on carpets. It has a circular shape and measures about 14 inches across and a little under four inches tall. The MC1 uses Lidar to help navigate and create smart maps. With the app, you can use these maps to direct the robot to clean specific areas of the house.

How we tested

We test robot vacuums by placing them on a custom-made obstacle course that contains simulations of furniture legs, shelves, risers, and carpets. We place pet hair and ground-up cork on the course to simulate dirt and debris.

What we like

Its mopping capabilities are on point

The MC1 has circular rotating mop pads to lift stains, and it does a pretty good job, compared to the competition.

During testing, we had the Ultenic MC1 clean up some fine dust and squiggles of chocolate syrup off a linoleum floor. Its results are on par with models like the Ecovacs X1 Omni, which is also able to scrub sticky syrup off bare floors. These are great results considering that the MC1 costs between $200 to $500 less.

It self-empties its dustbin so you don't have to

The Ultenic MC1 joins a large group of robot vacuums that can empty their dust bins autonomously and a relatively smaller group of those that can self-clean their mop pads.

As Reviewed lab technicians, we believe the best robot vacuums require minimal hands-on interaction, and the MC1 fits the bill.

In addition to being easier to operate, the self-emptying feature is also more hygienic. When you empty a regular dust bin into the trash, a plume of dust often reintroduces detritus and allergens back into the air. Since the MC1 empties its dust into a self-sealing bag, there’s no plume.

The app covers all major bases

The MC1 is compatible with a free app that lets you control the unit via your smartphone. The app has the standard start, stop, and schedule features. Navigating the app is fairly intuitive, especially if you have previously owned a smart robot vacuum. It’s all a matter of learning what the symbols mean.

The app also includes the ability to create smart maps. When a robot vacuum can map your floor plan, it opens up possibilities, including the ability to clean specific rooms or even certain areas. You can also command the MC1 to avoid problem spots like pet bowls.

What we don’t like

The vacuum is good, but it's outdone by competitors

To test robot vacuums, we place them on a platform with simulations of various types of furniture like shelves and table legs. We place ground-up cork between or under each obstacle and let the robot vacuum loose.

On average, the MC1 picked up around 7.2 grams per run. The vacuum performance of this robot vacuum is by no means terrible, but the competition out there is strong. For example, the iRobot j9+ picked up 9.45 grams per run.

We should point out that the MC1 is doing a trade-off: While it has huge amounts of suction power, it doesn’t always put it to the best of use since it can’t navigate into tight spaces well.

For example, the Ultenic robot vacuum could not clean under our 4-inch shelf, even though its 3.88-inch height should have allowed it. That means in exchange for being more gentle on furniture and avoiding getting stuck in places, it’s missing out on cleaning some areas.

Its mop pads got in the way

While the mop pads are great at cleaning hard floors, you’ll want to remove them when it comes time to vacuum. A few times during testing, the mop pads got caught on stray cords. There’s also a strong potential for the MC1 to cross-contaminate between your hardwood floors and thicker carpets. What happens is that when the Ultenic MC1 transitions from hardwood to carpet, its wet mop pads can drag across the carpet fibers.

The only robot vacuum-mop hybrids we’ve tested that can completely avoid this are models like the iRobot Roomba Combo j7+ with its retractable mop.

What owners are saying

We reviewed the Ultenic MC1 Robot Vacuum and Mop early in its life cycle. Consequently, there aren’t many user reviews online yet. On Amazon, out of 101 ratings, the MC1 scores 4.3 stars out of 5.

Owners cite liking the quiet operation and the self-cleaning feature. However, some people are frustrated with its inability to get under furniture. We experienced this as well during testing—the MC1 could not clean under our 4-inch shelf, even though it’s short enough to clear it.

Should you buy the Ultenic MC1 Robot Vacuum and Mop?

Yes, if you want to save $100 versus a comparable competitor

The Ultenic MC1 is a competent robot vacuum-mop hybrid. It delivers on everything Ultenic advertises. It cleans up after itself. It has a powerful mop that can deal with stuck-on stains. Helping it do all this is an impressive array of technology. The app is nothing to sneeze at, and the navigational sensors are top-notch. However, the competition is fierce.

iRobot’s Combo j7+ has better vacuuming and a mop that won’t cross-contaminate. Ecovacs offers the X1 Omni, which has better smart features—including the ability to act as a mobile security camera. The price makes the MC1 more attractive. It costs about $100 less than the iRobot and about $300 less than the X1 Omni.

If this sounds like a good trade-off to you, check out the Ultenic MC1.