Lefant P1 Review

Pros

• Many features to help monitor pets
• Great hard surface cleaning performance with 98.1% debris removal
• Manages long hair with minimal tangles

Cons

• Not designed for carpets
• Lacking map management features

Scoring

In This Review

Cleaning Test | Hair Test | Pet Hair Test | Obstacle Test | Navigation Test | Cleaning Speed | Usability | Noise | Specs | Summary

Performance Tests

To test the cleaning performance, navigational efficiency, and overall usability, we put the Lefant P1 through a battery of 9 different tests.

Our testing series includes:

• Cleaning test
• Long Hair test
• Pet Hair test
• Obstacle avoidance test
• Navigation test
• Cleaning Speed test
• Usability test
• Noise test

Cleaning Test

The Lefant P1 is designed to clean hard floors, with that said, we still wanted to test it on carpet to see how well it performed. For our test,  we used 4 different debris types (sugar, kitty litter, rice, and cereal) across 3 different floor types (hardwood, low pile carpet, high pile carpet).

We lay the debris in the direct cleaning path of the robot vacuum and measure the amount of debris removed by weight. Here are the results:

Overall the performance was good for the Lefant P1, but not amazing. Across all floor and debris types it had a 92.9% removal rate. On average we see robot vacuums able to remove 96.3% of debris, so this puts the P1 slightly behind the average. 

Hardwood floors were where the Lefant P1 showed the best performance, beating the average. On average we see robot vacuums remove 97.8% of all debris, so the Lefant’s 98.1% is slightly better. 

On low pile and high pile carpets we didn’t expect the performance to be nearly as good, which was the case. That said, this robot vacuum isn’t designed to handle carpets or rugs so the performance it did show was surprisingly good. 

In both cases it left all types of debris behind, but it was still able to remove the majority of the debris.

If you have only hard surfaces the Lefant P1 is more than capable of handling the job. But, if you have carpets or rugs, it might be better to go with another option. 

Long Hair Test

To test how well the Lefant P1 managed long hair, we placed 1.0 grams of long strands in the direct cleaning path of the robot. We let the robot run over it 2 times on the maximum suction power. We then check the floor and brushroll to see how much hair remains, as well as  tangled around the brushroll.

Long hair performance for the Lefant P1 was fantastic, nearly perfect. Only a small amount of the hair remained tangled around the brushroll after the test. What did remain was easy to clean with the help of some scissors. 

While some did tangle, it is not enough to warrant concern and should be easily managed by checking the robot periodically. 

Pet Hair Test

Our pet hair test checks how well the Lefant P1 can clean pet hair from high pile carpet. We place 1.0 gram of pet hair, rub it into the fibers of the carpet, and run the robot over it on the maximum suction setting. After two cleaning cycles, we check the carpet and see how much remains. 

Pet hair performance was poor on the high pile carpet, that said, the Lefant P1 is not designed for carpet cleaning. If you look at our long hair test and hardwood floor cleaning performance, we can conclude that the P1 can handle pet hair fairly well.

If you are worried about pet hair on the carpet, this is not the robot vacuum for you. However, if you only have hard surfaces then it might be one to consider. 

Obstacle Avoidance Test

To test the obstacle avoidance capabilities of the Lefant P1, we place a shoe, mug, cord, and fake pet waste in a cleaning area. We then have the robot clean that area and watch to see how well it can avoid objects and navigate the space. 

Lefant states the P1 has obstacle avoidance capabilities, but our tests didn’t show any evidence of it. It is possible that it is not yet trained to recognize the objects we chose to test it on, but for now, it failed the test. 

The Lefant failed to avoid any of the objects we placed in its path. It is possible the object recognition will improve with updates. But for now, if you plan to have the Lefant clean your home, make sure to clear the floor first. 

Navigation Test

Our navigation test checks on a broader scale how well the Lefant P1 can clean the floor without getting stuck. We had the robot complete multiple cleaning runs in our office and studio space and then checked the results. 

The Lefant P1 was unable to successfully navigate our office and studio space. Our office is filled with filming equipment, other products, furniture, and much more, which makes it a less than ideal environment for robot vacuums. 

In the case of the Lefant, it got stuck the majority of the cleaning runs we had scheduled. Rarely did it make it back to the base successfully to charge. While in a more standard setting the P1 may be more successful, it often got stuck on cords and table legs in our tests, which are fairly common objects.

Once again this could be improved with software updates, until then, if you have cluttered floors you may want to choose another robot vacuum. 

Cleaning Speed Test

The Leftant P1 was able to clean our 1,000 sq. ft. office space in 80-90 minutes. 

This is longer than the average cleaning time, which comes in at 50-60 minutes, but the smaller size means it will need more time to cover the same area. 

Usability Test

Usability is what the Lefant P1 was designed for. The primary purpose of this robot vacuum is to be a hard surface cleaning device that you can use to monitor and interact with your pet. The smaller size, HD camera, and speaker system are all designed with this purpose in mind. 

Setup

Setup is fairly simple as the device comes mostly setup out of the box. It takes a single person only 5-10 minutes to have the Lefant P1 fully set up. 

Here is what is included in the box:

• Lefant P1 vacuum
• Charging dock
• Spinning side brush (2x extra)
• Filter (1x extra)
• Cleaning tool
• Power cord
• Boundary strips

The device comes partially charged, so you will want to make sure to fully charge the device before first use. 

In addition, further setup can be completed on the Lefant app. It is also a simple process and doesn’t take longer than 5 minutes. 

Controls

Physical controls are fairly limited on the Lefant P1. It has a switch under the cover to turn on/off the power, as well as two buttons on top.

One button will start/stop a cleaning cycle, while the other activates a preset timer. 

A more unique feature of this robot vacuum is the display and voice of the device. The display doesn’t offer numbers, but rather a face that tries to convey basic information about the robot through facial expressions. In addition, there is a childlike voice that will speak to you, notifying you of the status of the robot. 

While some may find this endearing, I found it rather creepy and was disappointed to find no way to turn the voice off or change it. It is possible this can change with software updates.

App

The app is where the majority of the features lie with the Lefant P1. As mentioned previously this robot is designed with monitoring your pets in mind. With the app you can view through the camera, communicate with your speakers, and even manually control the robot. 

I found in testing the manual controls are a little delayed, but the camera image is fairly clear and communication is possible. 

Beyond that, the app can allow the user to:

• Adjust cleaning settings
• Locate robot
• Set a timer
• Set a custom schedule
• View cleaning history
• Select between 6 cleaning modes

Unfortunately there is no map management in the app. You can view the map in the cleaning history, but even then I wasn’t able to have it show me the area it successfully cleaned. 

If you are looking for a map you can fully customize to your liking the Lefant may not be the right choice. However, if you want to monitor your pet, then it has a lot of useful features. 

Maintenance

Maintenance for the Lefant P1 is fairly standard. You will need to empty the dustbin as it fills and clean the device itself periodically. 

Noise Test

To measure the noise level of the Lefant P1, we first take a baseline measurement of the ambient noise in the room with a noise meter app. Next, we run the robot on each power setting, measuring the generated noise from about 3’ away.

Here are the results:

Power Level	Decibels
Ambient noise:	39.4 dB
Quiet:	67.1 dB
Standard:	70.1 dB
Powerful:	71.4 dB
Super Powerful:	73.5 dB

Our test showed the Lefant P1 to have a noise range of 67 – 74 dB. It is fairly average compared to other robot vacuums we have tested. At 67.1 dB I would still consider it too loud to have running in the same room as me while I sleep. 

Common noise levels

• 20 dB – rustling leaves
• 30 dB – whisper
• 40 dB – quiet library, babbling brook
• 50 dB – refrigerator, moderate rainfall
• 60 dB – normal conversation, dishwashers
• 70 dB – traffic, showers
• 80 dB – alarm clock, telephone dial tone

Specifications 

Type	Robot
Manufacturer	Lefant
Model	P1
Diameter	9.8″
Height	3.0″
Weight	7.57 lbs.
Floor Type	All (indoor)
Sensor	RGB
Suction Power	3,200 Pa
Run Time	230 min.
Dust Bin Volume	500 ml
Noise Level (Standard)	70.1 dB
Obstacle Avoidance	Yes
Zone Cleaning	No
Digital Mapping	No
Returns	Varies by retailer
Warranty	1-year
Check Price	Check Price

Should you buy the Lefant P1 robot vacuum?

I would recommend the Lefant P1 if you’re looking for the following features:

• Pet monitoring: The main focus of the Lefant P1 is monitoring and interacting with your pet. It can clean as well, but the HD camera, speakers, and manual controls offer an easy way to keep track of your pet and talk with them as well. 
• Hard surface cleaning: While cleaning performance wasn’t bad on carpet, the Lefant P1 is designed for hard surfaces and our tests showed that. On hardwood the Lefant removed 98.1% of all debris. For homes with only hard flooring the Lefant is more than capable of handling the job. 
• Long hair management: Our long hair test showed the Lefant P1 is very capable of handling long hair. All of the hair was removed from the floor and almost none of it tangled around the brushroll. If you, your partner, or your pet have long hair, then this robot can handle that with ease.

For more information or to buy the Lefant P1, click here.