Jimmy JV51 Review: Xiaomi’s Answer to the Dyson V8

The Jimmy JV51 is Xiaomi’s second cordless stick vacuum that they released in the market.

Currently, the Jimmy JV51 isn’t available on Amazon and has been replaced by the newer version, the JV83, which has a “pet” option with the standard brush roll included that will clean carpets well.

It’s somewhat similar to the Roidmi F8 that I reviewed a couple of months back in that it has interchangeable tools.

This interchangeability makes this vacuum a versatile machine that can clean different areas such as floors or upholstery.

However, Jimmy is closer to the Dyson than the Roidmi thanks to the trigger switch and soft roller head, which I like very much on hard floors.

It has excellent filtration, based on a fog test; it’s almost fully sealed but not as good as a Dyson. But considering the price, I would consider it excellent since none of the stick vacuums at this price range does as good a job at keeping the allergens inside the bin.

One of the biggest selling points of the JV51 is that it is less expensive than the Dyson V8 or even the V7. But can this Xiaomi product perform as well as its more premium counterpart?

We’ll answer those questions in this review.

A quick look at the features

Introduction to the Jimmy JV51

The Jimmy JV51 is a Xiaomi product that comes with several interchangeable tools that makes it a good versatile option for whole-home cleaning.

It has sufficient airflow with 24 CFM on low and 43 CFM at the highest setting, which is slightly below high-end options such as the Dyson V8 and V10.

Considering the price, the amount of airflow is excellent.

In terms of design, the Jimmy JV51 looks more like a Dyson cordless than a Roidmi.

It isn’t bad because anyone who shopped for a cordless knows that Dyson is a top dog in this niche.

So it isn’t a bad idea to copy a successful design.

Before I continue, please watch this video to know what this product is about, its performance, and everything else.

Xiaomi is aggressive in product launches over the past few years, and this vacuum is a reflection of that.

The packaging is good, with each component packed in a secure location. You know that Xiaomi is a quality brand in that they think about how they package their products.

Out of the box, you’ll get these items:

For the price tag, this is a pretty decent value.

You’ll get the following tools:

The main cleaning head looks very similar to the attachment found in the Dyson V8. This tool works well at picking up surface dirt on hard floors and carpets.

Xiaomi says that it will work on low pile carpets, and the tests I did confirm this claim. However, don’t expect this product to deep clean carpet since it lacks a standard brush with bristles.

Here’s a close look at the JV51 soft roller tool. It’s got lots of clearance and an excellent seal that gives it excellent pick up on crevices.

The high clearance enables this tool to pick up debris of various sizes, from dust to cereal sized dirt like Fruit loops.

This tool can go flat, so cleaning deep under furniture won’t be an issue. It also can swivel, which allows it to clean around furniture with ease.

You can attach it directly to the vacuum for cleaning stairs or on the wand in its stick vacuum configuration.

Here’s how the vacuum looks like with the wand and main cleaning head

It has substantial length – around 50 inches or so in my estimation.

Looking closely at the main cleaning head, it has the same soft roller bar found in the Dyson V8 and V6.

What makes this different from the Roidmi is the amount of clearance it has, which makes it better suited for cleaning big piles of dirt, as you’ve seen in the video.

In the Roidmi, since the standard brush and soft roller bar are interchangeable, it does not have as much clearance.

It isn’t a big issue since both tools work great on various surfaces, but it will have a slight snowplow effect.

This will not be a big issue for daily cleaning since you won’t be cleaning a mess this big daily.

Ergonomics

Like the Dyson V8, this cordless has a trigger switch. The difference is once you squeeze it, it’ll stay on.

To turn it off, you’ll need to squeeze it a second time. There are pros and cons to this approach.

The most significant advantage, of course, would be you don’t need to squeeze the trigger continually, so it’s easier on the finger and wrist.

However, not having the same trigger mechanism as the Dyson means less efficient use of the battery.

You’ll end up using more charge than what’s needed.

But for me, this isn’t a big deal because we’re just talking about seconds. The long run time somewhat makes up for this.

To access max power, press a button at the back.

Turning on the max setting isn’t hard. The responsiveness of the switch is pretty good.

Dirt bin

Unlike the Roidmi, Jimmy adapts the V6 bin design in which it is positioned vertically with a trap door at the bottom.

It does not have the hygienic mechanism found in the Dyson V8 that pushes the dirt down, which makes it somewhat messy to empty.

However, Xiaomi designed the bin such that it’s easy to take apart and thoroughly clean if necessary.

Filter

Like the Dyson V8, Jimmy also comes with a HEPA filter. However, you are limited to how many times you can wash it.

It isn’t a lifetime filter by any means, and you’ll need to replace it at least once a year.

I do not see a second filter, so you’ll have to keep this primary filter clean for the vacuum to function at its peak.

Mini turbo brush

To help you clean upholstery, this cordless also comes with a mini-turbo brush that will help you clean not just dirt but also pet hair.

The brush itself has its motor so that agitation will be decent. But it doesn’t go all the way to the sides.

If you compare it to a Dyson mini turbo brush, the bristles aren’t as stiff, but it will do a pretty decent job at cleaning fabric upholstery.

Removing the brush is easy – twist a lever at the side, then pull it out.

Other tools

Aside from the primary cleaning head and mini turbo brush, you’ll also get two other attachments, both of which are combination tools.

These tools have brushes that can be pulled back to reveal a second tool for cleaning loose dirt on upholstery.

However, these tools lack length, so reach isn’t very good. Another issue with these tools is the absence of a quick-release latch. It only relies on friction to stick on the vacuum.

This omission takes away some of the usability points of the JV51.

Battery and Run time

One of my favorite features with Jimmy is the removable battery that you can recharge even if it’s detached from the vacuum.

If you want to lessen the downtime, purchase a separate battery to double the run time. While you charge the extra battery, you can still use the vacuum.

According to Xiaomi, this cordless vacuum will run for about 45 minutes in normal mode.

I tested the run time and it exceeded the 45-minute (46:32 to be specific) mark using the suction-only attachment. In the max setting, it will run for up to 7 minutes and 40 seconds, again, with the non-powered tools.

Bare floor performance

Perhaps my favorite tool of the four that comes with this is the main cleaning head.

It has a similar soft roller attachment as the one found in the Dyson V6 and V8.

The high clearance makes it possible for this tool to clean piles of dirt you’ll see below.

If you have not, please watch the video above to more specific the cleaning performance section at the 14:20-minute mark.

You can see that the tool will suck dirt in. Aside from the dust clouds that were in front of the tool as it plowed through the big pile of dirt, it did quick work of this mess.

It is not something you’d want to use a traditional brush as it will just push dirt forward and not clean it.

Here are some photos after the test. Judge it yourself and see how this cordless did on the big pile of dirt.

This is how the mess looks like after just a single back and forth pass.

Impressive, isn’t it? And I didn’t need to use the max suction to pick up the big pile of dirt.

It didn’t take too much to clean this massive pile of dirt you saw above.

Usually, you’d not clean a big pile like this, but it’s nice to know that your vacuum is capable of handling such.

Rug performance

I don’t have carpets at home, so the closest thing I could test it on that resembles it would be a rug.

Here’s the before photo to give you a reference on what it has to clean.

I thought that the absence of a bristled tool would limit the effectiveness of Jimmy.

But surprisingly, it did a pretty decent job though I had to turn on the max to achieve these results.

After a single back and forth pass, this was what Jimmy was able to pick up.

It did leave a fair about of dust on the carpet.

So I decided to put it on max, and this was the result.

Not too shabby for a cordless vacuum. It was able to clean at least all of the surface dirt. Remember, though, that the rug is a shallow pile and expect the same performance if you have this type of carpet inside your home.

Don’t expect this to deep clean carpet because it isn’t equipped to do so.

Warranty

Xiaomi backs this up with a 1-year warranty.

Product specifications

Should I buy the Jimmy JV51?

The Jimmy JV51 is an excellent alternative to the Dyson V8 if you’re not willing to spend more than $300 for a cordless vacuum.

It’s got enough tools to clean not just floors but also upholstery, vents, keyboards, and much more.

Quality from Chinese vacuums has improved dramatically over the past few years. However, it still doesn’t match a Dyson in terms of overall performance and power.

This product lacks the standard brush roll that would have been a nice addition for it to clean carpets better. The Roidmi F8 has this feature, but I’m not a big fan of how the dust cup is designed.

You should buy Jimmy JV51 if you:

The verdict

The Jimmy JV51 should be on your shortlist if you’re looking for a product that can clean hard floors thanks to the soft roller attachment.

It has the same design cues as the Dyson V6 but at a lower cost.

Jimmy is an excellent alternative to the Dyson V8. It has the same power and will give you roughly the same performance as the British made cordless.

However, it lacks the bristled cleaning head that would have made it a great option on the carpet.

The good news is the soft roller head works pretty decently on low pile carpet or rug. It will clean at least the surface dirt. Set your expectations accordingly, as this will not deep clean carpet.

Warranty is rather short versus the Dyson at just one year, but the price difference is so big that it offsets the one year difference.

3 Reasons to buy the Xiaomi Jimmy JV51