N1
MOVA's compact, mains-powered window robot, small enough for narrow and divided panes. Testers found it cleans ordinary framed windows very well, but it's unreliable on frameless glass and leaves the corners to you.
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The short version
The N1 is MOVA's entry-level window robot and its first to reach shelves, sitting below the new T1 Station. It's a 21.5cm square, about 6cm thick and 1.3kg, so it fits smaller panes and slips through gaps in railings and grilles. Two misting nozzles spray the glass often as it goes, and a microfibre pad wipes it in neat rows.
It keeps costs down in the usual way. It plugs into the wall and only uses its small battery to stay on the glass if the power goes. You carry it from pane to pane, and there's no station to wash or dry the pad. Early units come with a remote, but MOVA says future ones will rely on the app.
Our take: Buy it if you have lots of ordinary framed windows, some of them small or divided, and sockets nearby. Skip it for frameless shower screens, glass balustrades or pool fences, where two testers had it slip, and for big glass walls away from sockets. The W2S OMNI's battery station suits those better.
Where it sits in MOVA’s range
What reviewers found
Three home tests. EFTM found it outstanding on framed windows, with no streaks, but it slipped on frameless pool-fence and shower glass. Macwelt agreed it cleans standard rectangular windows reliably and warned that it doesn't always spot frameless edges. homeandsmart liked its frequent spraying and light weight but found the corners need doing by hand. All three found the mains cable and safety rope a nuisance to manage.
EFTM, hands-on, Jul 2026 · Macwelt, hands-on, May 2026 · homeandsmart, hands-on
Great on ordinary framed windows
EFTM called it outstanding on traditional framed windows, better than they could manage by hand, with no streaks as long as the tank didn't run dry, even on plain water. Macwelt found it cleaned standard rectangular panes reliably and completely. homeandsmart credits its frequent misting for the good results, but warns the pad must be only slightly damp or it leaves streaks, since there's no drying pass.
Frameless glass is risky
EFTM tried a glass pool fence: the corner sensors kept it from driving off the top, but near the bottom it slipped off and had to be rescued. On a partly frameless shower screen it dived off entirely and the safety rope caught it. Macwelt also found it didn't always recognise frameless edges and warns it could fall. Stick to framed glass, or keep the rope tight and stay close.
Corners and edges need a wipe
homeandsmart points out that the corner rollers have no brushes, so corners need cleaning by hand. EFTM found it couldn't reach every edge perfectly and suggests running a damp sponge round the frame first. Sliding doors with insect screens also confused it, because its corner sensors didn't feel the edge before the body hit the screen. Plan on a quick finish round the frames.
Cable and rope to manage
It needs mains power throughout. Macwelt found juggling the power lead and safety rope occasionally annoying and left the rope off indoors, where it held reliably. homeandsmart saw the cable and rope snag on objects, which left it stuck, though it didn't fall. EFTM also skipped the rope on framed windows once it trusted the grip, but used it for frameless glass.
Modes, timings and the app
EFTM timed an 80 by 130cm window at just under 5 minutes in Quick mode, almost 9 in Deep and over 11 in Thorough. Macwelt took about 8 minutes for a 1 by 2 metre balcony door in Quick mode. EFTM found it always starts in Quick mode, so you switch modes afterwards with the remote or app. Macwelt's unit needed a firmware update that failed on an iPhone but worked on an iPad.
Macwelt and homeandsmart reviewed it in German; EFTM tested it in Australia.
Before you buy
The questions people ask about this one
Does it work on frameless glass?
Not reliably. EFTM had it slip off a glass pool fence and dive off a shower screen, caught only by the rope. Macwelt found it didn't always recognise frameless edges. Use it on framed windows, or keep the rope tied and stay close.
What happens if the power cuts out?
MOVA says it keeps its grip for 30 minutes after a power cut, per the specifications, and EFTM notes the built-in battery is only there for that, not for cleaning. homeandsmart reports a small battery for the same job. Tie the safety rope to something solid for high or outside windows.
Does it leave streaks or edges?
Streaks, rarely; edges, yes. EFTM saw no streaks while there was fluid in the tank. homeandsmart found an over-wet pad can streak, and that corners need doing by hand because the corner rollers have no brushes.
How long does one window take?
EFTM timed an 80 by 130cm window at about 5 minutes in Quick mode and over 11 minutes in Thorough mode. Macwelt needed about 8 minutes for a 1 by 2 metre balcony door. Add time to move it and rinse the pad.
Will it fit small windows?
It's 215mm square and 59mm thick and needs a pane of at least 30 by 45cm, per the specifications. Macwelt found it handy for smaller and divided windows. EFTM notes MOVA doesn't recommend it for panes under 30cm wide.
Compare with
WINBOT mini 2
The same compact size, with corner brushes that aim to reach the frame.
It's also mains-powered and 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 N1?
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.
- EFTM: REVIEW: The MOVA N1 Window Cleaning Robot – Making things crystal clearHands-on
- Macwelt: Mova N1 Fensterputzroboter im Test: Guter Einstieg, aber kein Alleskönner · 4 / 5Hands-on
- homeandsmart: MOVA N1 Fensterputzroboter Test · 82 / 100Hands-on
- MOVA: MOVA N1 Window Cleaning Robot product pageManufacturer