3i is making its first appearance at IFA 2025 this week with a clear message: smaller can still mean smarter and stronger.
The smart home brand, founded by robotic manufacturing heavyweight PICEA, will unveil two ultra-compact robot vacuums — the Q10 Ultra and the A10 — ahead of a planned Q1 2026 launch, alongside a showcase of its current “world-first” designs.
The theme, “First to the Future,” fits a line-up focused on space-saving hardware, aggressive suction claims, and hands-off maintenance.
Q10 Ultra: an ultra-compact flagship that aims to cover more, not less
At just 7.9 cm (3.1 inches) tall and 29.8 cm (11.7 inches) in diameter, the Q10 Ultra is unusually small for a flagship robot vacuum — short enough to slide under low sofas and shallow bed frames where many rivals simply can’t reach. 3i says that the footprint also makes it easier to store when it’s not in use.
The headline spec is 20,000 Pa of suction, the highest in 3i’s range, with the company claiming its carpet dust removal is now “more than double” that of comparable products. As always with Pa numbers, we’ll want to see how this translates in the real world — pickup on medium-pile carpet and in floorboard seams is where these claims are proven. Still, the package is ambitious for such a compact chassis.
Edge and corner coverage is a recurring pain point for robot mops; the Q10 Ultra tackles that with an UltraReach extendable mop that can push out up to 3.1 cm (1.2 inches) and an extendable side brush designed to get deeper into corners.
3i is also touting obstacle handling: the Q10 Ultra can climb thresholds up to 3.5 cm (1.4 inches), aided by a universal wheel and the brand’s AirLift tech. Navigation and avoidance rely on 3i’s proprietary DualRay system, which the company says is especially good at spotting small obstacles — think cables, pet toys, and rogue socks.
You’re also getting the conveniences we expect at the premium end: a multifunction base station that automatically washes and dries the mop, collects dust, and self-cleans. Noise is rated as low as 50 dB in operation.
In a welcome nod to interoperability, the Q10 Ultra will be 3i’s first model to support Matter, which should help it play nicely with Apple Home, Google Home, Alexa, and others.
A10: advanced features at a sub-$150 price point
At the other end of the lineup, 3i’s slimmest prototype yet, the A10, is aimed squarely at small spaces and tight budgets. The company says it will launch for under $150 while including features that typically sit higher up the price ladder: 10,000 Pa suction, simultaneous vacuuming and mopping, and an extendable side brush and mop that default to “out” for edge coverage and retract as they encounter obstacles.
Importantly for navigation — and rare at this price — the A10 promises laser-based mapping, multi-level maps, and smarter app controls like recommended no-go zones and scheduled cleaning.
If 3i can deliver reliable mapping and obstacle avoidance in a chassis slim enough to reach the spots your current robot misses, this could be one of the most compelling budget bots to watch in early 2026.
3i’s current “world-firsts” on show
Beyond the two debuts, 3i is using IFA to underline its existing innovations:
S10 Ultra: billed as the world’s first WaterRecycle floor-washing robot vacuum with fully automatic water change and a real-time self-cleaning roller mop — helpful for liquid spills and sticky messes.
P10 Ultra: a deep-clean model with 18,000 Pa suction, an extendable UltraReach mop, auto TangleCut to deal with hair, and 60°C hot-water self-cleaning to cut down on manual maintenance.
G10+: branded as the world’s first robot vacuum with patented onboard debris compression plus an extendable mop, designed to go up to 60 days without emptying; both the side brush and mop extend for what 3i calls true corner-to-edge cleaning.
The company's positioning is assertive, and it’s worth noting that 3i is backed by PICEA, which it describes as a global leader in robotic cleaning manufacturing since 2016, with over 30% of the high-end robot vacuum market.
The bottom line
Robot vacuums have become more capable and more complex — often with larger docks and taller sensor stacks. 3i’s focus on ultra-compact bodies is a useful counter-trend, especially for apartments and homes where under-furniture coverage is the difference between “looks clean” and “is clean.”
Matter support on the Q10 Ultra is another practical win; few robot vacuums have embraced the standard so far, and unified control is something readers consistently ask for.
There are still unknowns. Battery capacity, tank volumes, and maintenance costs are as critical as suction figures, and specs alone won’t tell us how well DualRay avoidance handles cables in low light or how consistently those extendable brushes make contact at awkward angles.
As ever, Pa ratings aren’t apples-to-apples across brands, and a 50 dB claim needs contextual testing — what mode, what surface, and what’s the noise profile of the dock while washing and drying?
We’re also keen to test the A10’s mapping — if laser navigation at under $150 holds up, it could reshape what we recommend in our best cheap robot vacuums guide.
For now, 3i’s IFA slate shows a clear direction: compact hardware, extended edge coverage, and docks that take on more of the messy work. If the real-world performance meets the promise, the Q10 Ultra and A10 should give established players something to think about in 2026.
Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button.
More from Tom's Guide
- New Ecovacs robot vacuum charges in minutes and climbs where others can't — say hello to faster cleaning
- How to use ChatGPT to redesign any room — see smarter layouts and picks for any space
- This brand new phone boasts a screen that cuts down on eye strain — and I wish it was more widely available
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.
