WINBOT MINI
Ecovacs' first compact window robot, a flat 21.5cm square for panes the bigger WINBOTs can't fit. Testers found it mostly streak-free on ordinary windows, but it runs on a mains lead and misses the last few millimetres at the frame.
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The short version
The WINBOT MINI is the original small WINBOT. It's a 21.5cm square, 5.5cm thick, which Ecovacs says is much smaller and lower than the model before it, so it fits narrow panes, windows behind grilles and panes with handles close to the glass. It drops the bumpers along its sides so the pad reaches nearer the frame. The WINBOT mini 2 has since replaced it in some countries.
The small size comes with the usual compromises of a cheap window robot. It plugs into the wall, with a small battery that only holds it on the glass for a while if the power goes. You move it from pane to pane yourself and rinse or swap the pad as it gets dirty.
Don't mix it up with the WINBOT mini 2, which adds corner brushes and an edge-cleaning mode.
Our take: Buy it if you have small, narrow or awkward panes, a socket nearby and mostly routine dirt, and you want to stop stretching and climbing. Skip it if you have big glass walls or no sockets near the windows, where the W2S OMNI's battery station makes more sense. If both are on sale near each other in price, the mini 2 gets closer to the frame.
Where it sits in ECOVACS’s range
What reviewers found
Two German home tests. testen-mit-kopf.de found it left glass mostly streak-free after one pass and used it on tiles, mirrors and a steep roof window. Smart Home Fox got clear, shiny windows and large mirrors, and thought the corners were better than on the older W1 Pro, but saw dirt left in the last millimetres at the frame. Both say it's for small to medium panes near a socket. A third write-up, hausgeraete-test.de, adds little beyond the spec sheet.
testen-mit-kopf.de, hands-on, Mar 2025 · Smart Home Fox, hands-on, Feb 2025 · hausgeraete-test.de, hands-on (Mostly restates the spec sheet, with little test detail)
Clean glass on routine dirt
testen-mit-kopf.de found fingerprints, dust and light marks came off, with a streak-free finish in most cases and only a small damp mark where the robot is lifted off. Smart Home Fox saw fine dust and water spots gone after a deep-clean pass and hardly any streaks. Dried-on bird droppings needed several passes or a wipe first. Both suggest rinsing or changing the pad on very dirty glass. Use it to keep windows clean, not to rescue neglected ones.
Edges: close, not perfect
Without side bumpers, the pad overhangs slightly to reach towards the frame. Smart Home Fox thought the corners were visibly better than on the older W1 Pro, but found the last few millimetres at the frame weren't always reached, and sharp or rounded edges were out of reach. It kept a microfibre cloth to hand for the final touch. testen-mit-kopf.de reports Ecovacs asks you to start it at least 10cm from the edge. Expect a quick wipe round the frame afterwards.
Fits tight spots
testen-mit-kopf.de used it in a gap only 7.5cm wide and on a roof window tilted well back, as well as on bathroom tiles and mirrors. Smart Home Fox found smooth tiles and large mirrors worked well, but textured tiles and deep grout made it lose grip or miss dirt, and small mirrors under about 25cm square were too small for it. It's a good match for narrow, awkward panes, less so for anything uneven.
The cable is the catch
It needs mains power throughout. Smart Home Fox called the cable the biggest drawback, since you need a socket near every window and may need an extension for big panes. testen-mit-kopf.de lists a shorter cable than the larger models as a downside. hausgeraete-test.de wished it ran on a battery. The built-in battery only holds it on the glass if the power goes, so tie the safety rope to something solid, especially outside.
Simple to set up and run
Smart Home Fox had it connected to the Ecovacs app in under five minutes, and the single button starts the last-used mode. testen-mit-kopf.de says the app is optional but worth it, since without it you only get the automatic mode; with it you choose fast, deep or spot cleaning and can drive it by hand. Smart Home Fox found manual driving fun but of limited use.
Both main reviews are in German and cover the original WINBOT MINI (WIN-SLAM 3.0), not the mini 2.
Before you buy
The questions people ask about this one
Does it work on frameless glass?
Ecovacs lists it for framed and frameless windows, per the specifications. testen-mit-kopf.de says its corner sensors reliably spotted the edge of frameless surfaces such as shower screens and mirrors and turned it back. Keep the safety rope tied off anyway.
What happens if the power cuts out?
It runs from the mains. A small built-in battery keeps it stuck to the glass for 30 minutes after a power cut, per the specifications, and testen-mit-kopf.de says it sounds an alarm while it waits. It can't clean on battery, so tie the safety rope to something sturdy.
Does it leave streaks or edges?
Few streaks, some edges. testen-mit-kopf.de saw a streak-free finish in most cases, with a small mark where it's lifted off. Smart Home Fox found hardly any streaks but some dirt left in the last millimetres at the frame. Plan on a quick wipe round the edges.
Will it fit small windows?
It needs a pane of at least 22 by 25cm and is 21.5cm square and 5.5cm thick, per the specifications. Smart Home Fox found mirrors smaller than about 25cm square too small, while testen-mit-kopf.de got it into a gap just 7.5cm deep.
How long does one window take?
Ecovacs quotes about three minutes per square metre in fast mode, per the specifications. Neither German test timed a pane. The 60ml tank covers roughly 20 to 25 square metres of glass, by testen-mit-kopf.de's and Smart Home Fox's accounts, so refills aren't frequent.
Does it need a special cleaning fluid?
No. Smart Home Fox says it works with normal glass cleaner or even plain water, though Ecovacs' own solution gives a better result. testen-mit-kopf.de agrees that tap water works but the maker's solution is better. Avoid sticky cleaners that could block the nozzles.
Compare with
WINBOT mini 2
Its new corner brushes aim to reach the frame, and L&B Tech Reviews got good results on regularly cleaned glass.
It's still mains-powered, loud, and you stand beside it while it works.
WINBOT W2S OMNI
Its battery station frees it from the socket, and Trusted Reviews found it cleared dust and water marks inside and out.
It's much bigger, needs panes of at least 30 by 40cm, and you still rinse the pad yourself.
R3
Its narrow body suits slim panes, and CHOICE found it made a real dent in dirty windows.
Its round pads couldn't get properly into the corners, and it came off the glass once in testing.
Full specifications
Figures come from the manufacturer’s product page unless a source is named. A blank means nobody we trust has confirmed it.
Owner reviews
Own a WINBOT MINI?
Tell people how it’s held up: cleaning, maintenance, faults and support. Owner reviews are shown separately from expert tests and never mixed into the score.
Sources
Everything cited on this page. Expert scores are shown as the reviewer gave them.
- testen-mit-kopf.de: Ecovacs Winbot Mini im Test: Kann der kleinste Fensterputzroboter überzeugen? · 4.5 / 5Hands-on
- Smart Home Fox: ECOVACS WINBOT Mini Fensterputzroboter TestHands-on
- hausgeraete-test.de: Ecovacs Winbot Mini Fensterputzroboter im Test · 4.5 / 5Hands-on · Mostly restates the spec sheet, with little test detail (not counted towards our two-review minimum)
- ECOVACS: WINBOT MINI product page and specificationsManufacturer