Autobot VX Pro Review

In this review, we’ll be looking at the Autobot VX Max mini handheld vacuum.

One niche growing in popularity is the mini handheld vacuum industry, with more and more brands joining the fray.

Autobot is one of them, and it has one unique feature not seen with its competitors, that’s the capability of cleaning floors with its extension and cleaning nozzle.

However, this variant is one of the expensive options, so my question before testing is, is it worth the price tag?

Pros

• Higher than usual suction versus a typical mini vacuum cleaner
• Lightweight and slim design
• Many tools out of the box
• Above-average cleaning performance on hard floors (mostly)

Cons

• Primary mesh filter clogs easily
• Leaked during the fog test
• Not usable on carpet
• No storage for the attachments

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Introduction to the Autobot VX Max Mini Handheld Vacuum

Mini handheld vacuums are growing with popularity as more brands have dipped their toes into this niche.

Autobot is the of the new brands coming into this increasingly crowded space.

It’s one of the more expensive options, and I’m curious if its performance justifies the high cost.

One selling point of the VX Max is the high 20 Kpa suction, and suction tests were impressive (more detail below) and exceeded the Dyson Omni Glide and Micro 1.5KG.

Another is the extended run time of up to 40 minutes (which it exceeded).

While most mini handheld vacuums are built for above-floor cleaning, the Autobot VX Max can clean floors thanks to the two extension tubes and floor nozzle.

So it’s possible to use this for vacuuming floors. But the question is, how practical is it for the task?

Let’s go through the features then I’ll share all the test results.

Lightweight, Cylindrical Design

Like most mini handheld vacuums, the Autobot VX Max has a lightweight frame (only 1 pound and 8.5 ounces).

This lightness makes this product very portable. It’s usable about anywhere inside your home or vehicle.

Unfortunately, one downside of mini handheld vacuums is the low dustbin capacity (only 200 ml for the VX Pro).

Interchangeable Tools

This handheld comes with a bevy of tools for cleaning different areas inside the home.

1. Autobot VX Pro handheld vacuum
2. Combination tool
3. Stiff bristle tool
4. Floor nozzle
5. Flexible hose
6. Crevice tool
7. Extension tube (2 pcs.)
8. Adapter for the extension tube
9. Charger
10. USB Type-C cable

The most helpful of these tools is the combination tool.

It combines a brush and upholstery tool in one. 

I’ve tried the other tools, but this works the best for light dusting, better than the crevice tool.

Unfortunately, Autobot did not include an adapter so that it’ll fit on the extension wand.

I believe this is an oversight. Hopefully, Autobot can address this oversight.

None of these attachments have a quick-release latch and only rely on friction.

I don’t think it’s a big issue as Autobot seems to use high-quality plastic resin, and there’s little risk of these tools cracking over time.

Also, there’s no bag included, so I just stored everything inside the box.

Charger and USB Cable

The Autobot VX Pro comes with a unique stand charger with a USB Type-C cable.

Underneath the handheld unit, three pins connect to the charger’s ports.

It doesn’t come with any plug, so you’ll have to plug it in your laptop’s USB port or use a mobile phone’s plug to recharge.

I tried using my Samsung plug to charge, but it took more than 5 hours.

Charging it on your laptop or power bank may be faster (I did not test).

Cleaning Head

Folks can use this mini handheld to clean floors thanks to the cleaning nozzle.

Unfortunately, it can only vacuum hard floors since it does not have a motorized brush.

It has a narrow inlet for debris pick-up but no visible seal behind it.

Also, it does not have any gates, so it’ll struggle with large piles of dirt.

Thanks to the ball mechanism, steering is decent, but the turning radius is lacking, based on tests.

Dustbin and Filtration

One drawback of a mini handheld vacuum is the small dustbin, and the Autobot VX Pro is no exception, with only a 200-ml capacity.

There are two layers of filtration inside. The first layer is the primary mesh filter.

Next is a cylindrical filter behind it. Both filters are washable, which is a good thing, but there are a few caveats.

The biggest is how the primary filter easily gets clogged.

You’ll notice the several holes at the bottom are plugged with debris, and you’ll need to clean this often or risk a performance decline.

The cylindrical filter easily gets soiled, and even if it’s washable, I’d recommend getting an extra filter since it’ll take 24 hours to dry.

It did not pass the fog test as there were visible leaks at the dustbin base and exhaust, but it wasn’t as bad as cheaper mini handheld options like the Brigii M1.

There are visible leaks, but it wasn’t as bad, so the filtration is quite decent.

How much power does the Autobot VX Pro have?

One aspect I was curious about with this handheld is power. Autobot says it has 20 kPa, which is a lot for a mini handheld.

So I did three tests to check the suction and airflow levels.

• Direct (water lift gauge): 54″
• Y-gauge (unsealed): 10″
• Y-gauge (sealed): 70″

Not as high as full-sized stick vacuums, but still impressive.

The unsealed result is higher than the Dyson Omni Glide and Micro 1.5KG.

And if you’ve watched my video reviews, you know that it’s the most accurate suction metric of the three since it has the least number of variables.

It represents the working suction of the vacuum and produces the most consistent results.

Airflow is another metric I measure with cordless vacuums.

Here are the results directly on the handheld inlet.

• Low: 21.51 CFM
• Mid: 26.64 CFM
• Max: 31.37 CFM

And the cleaning head.

• Low: 14.98 CFM
• Mid: 17.91 CFM
• Max: 21.94 CFM

It’s a touch higher than the Brigii M1 mini handheld, which is already a decent-performing option.

Consumers could increase the airflow for specific needs like vacuuming floors, something not possible with cheaper alternatives.

Cleaning Performance

Next, we’ll look at how well the Autobot VX Pro cleans various debris types.

I did the experiments using the combination tool and cleaning nozzle.

• Overall: 96.11%
• Hard floor: 89.45%
• Sand on hard floor: 99.2%
• Carpet: 99.7%

Some notes with these results. 

First is the hard floor tests are a bit skewed because of the extremely low quaker oats score.

I mentioned earlier that the VX Pro cleaning head did not have any gates, which affected pick-up.

Second, I only did carpet tests in handheld mode since this product doesn’t have a motorized brush.

Hard floor results (w/ cleaning head)

• Quaker oats: 34%
• Coffee grounds: 98.8%
• Quinoa: 100%
• Pet litter: 83.2%
• Sand: 99.2%

I wasn’t expecting too much with the cleaning nozzle, so the results are pleasantly surprising.

However, it struggled with quaker oats, which was expected since it didn’t have any gates.

Another struggle is with pet litter, but this shouldn’t be a shock since the nozzle relies purely on airflow.

It did very well picking up sand, picking up a 99.2%, great results for a low suction mini handheld in its stick vacuum configuration.

Hard floor (handheld mode)

• Quaker oats: 100%
• Coffee grounds: 100%
• Quinoa: 100%
• Pet litter: 99.6%

The primary strength of the Autobot VX Max is how well it picks up in its handheld mode.

You can see in the results it got 100% in three of the four tests.

Carpet (handheld mode)

• Quaker oats: 98.8%
• Coffee grounds: 100%
• Quinoa: 100%
• Pet litter: 100%

The results on carpet are similar to the hard floor scores, with 100% scores in three of the four tests.

These experiments show how this mini handheld has enough suction to pick up even heavy debris like pet litter.

Nonetheless, I noticed the performance degrading as I went along these tests.

It turns out that the filter clogs up at an accelerated pace since the holes on it are too wide.

Not only does heavy debris like pet litter clog them, but also smaller particles like dust.

So you’ll need to wash it often to sustain performance.

How long will the Autobot VX Pro run?

Autobot says that the VX Pro will run for up to 40 minutes and tests back up this claim.

• Low: 44:18 mins
• Mid: 23:13 mins
• Max: 12 mins

It exceeded the claims in the low and middle settings, which is a great sign.

Compared to the Brigii M1 (22:42 mins), it more than doubled the range.

How noisy is the Autobot VX Pro?

Next, we’ll look at noise levels, and this handheld is loud.

• Low: 69.9 dB
• Mid: 74.9 dB
• Max: 80 dB

Using it in the lowest setting would be sufficient for most tasks, so it isn’t bad. But for instance, the extra juice is needed, it will get loud.

Product Specifications

Where can I buy the Autobot VX Pro?

You can buy this mini handheld from online stores like Amazon. Check the link below for the latest pricing information.

• Autobot VX Pro on Amazon

Disclaimer: I’ll earn a commission if you purchase through the link above, but at no extra cost to you, so it’s a win-win for us!

Does the Autobot VX Pro offer excellent value?

While the Autobot VX Pro offers excellent cleaning performance, acing most of the tests, its current price tag gives me pause to recommend it fully.

Its priced at the same level as full-sized handheld vacuums from trusted brands that offer comparable if not better performance.

Here are 3 reasons why you should consider the Autobot VX Pro

1. It can vacuum floors: This model comes with an extension tube (two to be exact) and a floor nozzle, enabling it to clean floors.
2. Above-average dirt volume: The 0.2-liter capacity doubles the Brigii M1 and is considered huge for a mini handheld vacuum.
3. Excellent for small messes: It has enough suction and airflow to pick up even heavy debris like pet litter in a spot cleaning situation.

The Verdict: Excellent Cleaning Debris, But With a Flaw

There’s a lot to like about the Autobot VX Max, it runs as long as a stick vacuum (40+ mins), has good airflow (for a mini handheld), and cleans well enough to warrant consideration.

However, one oversight is the primary mesh filter where the holes were too wide, broad enough for pet litter chunks to stick.

This accumulation degrades performance and requires frequent washing, which could be a time-waster.

I tested it on heavy dusting tasks and found that dust can also accumulate, but at a slower pace.

If you don’t mind washing the filter or the premium cost, then it’s a decent option for small vacuuming tasks around the home.