Proscenic is a household manufacturer that we like to see. Whether it is a battery-powered mop vacuum, an air purifier or a vacuum robot with extraction station: The brand’s products are inexpensive and almost always good as well. With the new Proscenic M6 Pro, the Taiwanese try to implement exactly this credo. Here you can find out if it worked.
- Proscenic M6 Pro Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Technical data: Comparison to the M7 Pro
What we like about Proscenic, besides good value for money, is that the brand is always making progress with new models. However, after the M7 Pro, the cheapest vacuum robot with extraction station on the market, this is now not going to be easy. Let’s start with the tabular comparison.
| Proscenic M6 Pro
| Proscenic M7 Pro
| |
| Suction power | 2600 pa | 2700 pa |
| Navigation | Laser Space Survey | Laser Space Survey |
| App | ProscenicHome (Android, iOS) | ProscenicHome (Android, iOS) |
| Operating Volume | 50-67 dB (lowest suction level set to 50, highest set to 67 dB) | 70, 76, 88 dB (loud) |
| Battery | 3200 mAh | 5200 mAh |
| Dust chamber/water tank | 0.55 l | 0.6 l/ 0.11 l |
| Charging time | 4-5 h | 4-5 h |
| Working time | 2,5 h | 3 h |
| Weight | 3,4 kg | 4,35 kg |
| Dimensions | 35.0 x 35.0 x 9.4 cm | 33.0 x 33.0 x 9.65 cm |
| Inclination | 20°, up to 2 cm | 20°, up to 2 cm |
| CE marking | yes | yes |
| Features |
|
|
It’s not uncommon for Asian tech companies to not follow the correct numerical sequence when it comes to product designations. The M6 Pro is newer than the M7 Pro, but is it better?
Scope of delivery
After opening the travel-safe filled box, a slight plastic smell was noticeable, but this dissipated after a day or two. In addition to the robot itself, the scope of delivery includes
- Charging station with charging cable
- 0.55 l water tank, 0.55 l hybrid tank (vacuuming and mopping)
- two brush heads (one for underside)
- small cleaning tool under the flap
- mop attachment with attached microfiber cloth
- additional microfiber cloth
- additional HEPA filter (one already inserted in dust chamber)
- remote control with two AAA batteries
- instruction manual in English, German and other languages
We really can’t complain about the scope of the package. But haven’t we seen it all before somewhere similar?
Design and workmanship
Visually, when I unpacked the Proscenic M6 Pro, I had to think directly of the Viomi V2 or also V3, they all really resemble each other immensely. Controls, surface, construction … right?
Therefore, I come here to the same design assessment as back then with the V3: Chic and modern yes, but somehow the design does not really kick. Of course, this is a matter of taste. There are no manufacturing flaws; the plastic used is not cheap, but not as high-quality as the competition from Xiaomi or Roborock. The low price has to come about somehow.
With dimensions of 35.0 x 35.0 x 9.4 cm, the vacuum robot is of average height for a model with an LDS tower, but of course it cannot get under as many pieces of furniture as, for example, an 8 cm flat Dreame F9. There is a CE mark on the bottom of the robot, which clarifies any insurance issues and simplifies international sales.
Like the Viomi vacuums, the M6 Pro has its charging contacts in the back instead of the front. Accordingly, it also approaches the charging station to charge the battery backwards; it parks in reverse, so to speak (and does it better than I do with the car).
The M6 Pro offers a working time of 2.5 hours on the lowest suction level, which is a very good value even for modern vacuum robots. Of course, this value varies a lot with the change of the suction levels, but you do not have to worry that the working time would not be sufficient for areas of up to 200 m². After the work is done, the round household helper autonomously returns to its charging station. There, it then recharges the battery in 4-5 h.
Operation, sensors and navigation
Besides fall sensors and obstacle detection sensors, the most important sensor in an LDS model like the M6 Pro is the LDS (laser distance sensor). This rotates 360° at breathtaking speed and thus scans the premises. Obstacles are then displayed as lines, or outlines, on a virtual map in the ProscenicHome (Android, iOS).
In addition to the LDS, this live mapping is made possible by a SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) algorithm. This allows the robot to be sent to certain premises (selective room division), you can make areas inaccessible to it (no-go zones) and use it on multiple floors (up to five maps can be stored in the app).
The brush head on the underside rotates and pushes dirt and grime towards the V-shaped main brush before dust and co. find their way towards the 0.5 l dust chamber. The size of the chamber is completely sufficient for one pass and with a normal degree of soiling of the four walls.
Overcoming obstacles up to 2 cm is not a problem, but above that it would have to be rounded obstacles for the M7 Pro to be successful. Anyone who has installed door thresholds or cable covers should therefore measure in advance. Or build ramps.
Performance on hard floors and carpet
When it comes to suction power, the individual manufacturers have been beating each other up since the first model hit the market. If you were still taken by the 850 pa of an ILIFE X5 more than three years ago, you are no longer impressed under 3000 pa today. But I can tell you in good conscience: The 2600 pa suction power of the M6 Pro is more than enough for any hard floor. The four suction levels are listed with their respective noise levels:
- 1000 pa, 50 dB
- 1500 pa, 57 dB
- 2100 pa, 63 dB
- 2600 pa, 67 dB
The measured volume naturally varies depending on where you place the sound level meter. To be able to put the values in relation and estimate them: We humans converse at an average volume of 60 dB, so anything above 65 dB can be perceived as annoying or simply too loud. I am probably hardened due to my job and not the right person for this, but I find the Proscenic M7 Pro rather quiet.
What you can’t see in the video is that the M6 Pro can sometimes handle an obstacle a bit rougher, although it usually detects it early. However, it is fast and effective on hard floors, but unfortunately a bit less so on carpets.
Positive: It makes it over all carpet edges up to 2 cm and thus gets on the carpet at all.
Negative: It’s only really effective on carpets on the highest suction setting, so it could pull neat lint and dirt out of them.
The carpets in my home are not yet considered high-floor, but definitely thick-fluffy carpets, for which the carpet boost function, i.e. automatically switching up the suction power, would have been useful. So, as a carpet owner, you should always choose the highest suction level for the M6 Pro in everyday use.
Control via remote control
I know you are waiting for the app description. That’s understandable, since the app is the core of a robot vacuum with laser room measurement. But since we read in the comments here that some don’t want to use apps for privacy or other reasons, owners of the M6 Pro can also use the included remote.
Visually, this is loosely from the 90s and was originally sold as a TV remote, but it does offer a few functions:
- Start, stop, send robot back to charging station.
- Edge mode: the robot specifically scans walls and corners
- Scheduling of working hours (but is much easier in the app)
- Control via arrow keys
- Setting the time on the remote control
Unusually for Chinese deliveries, the two AAA batteries required for operation are even included. Good thinking, Proscenic! I would like it if you could always order remote controls for a small amount of money and thus have the choice whether to use them or not.
The Proscenic Home App
The ProscenicHome (Android, iOS) app continues to be in mediocre but understandable German, even years after my first Proscenic robot. So you can control the M6 Pro on the go and at home, as long as it’s turned on and connected to the home WLAN.
Unfortunately, you have to grant the app one or two permissions as usual, but you can revoke them in the smartphone settings after the first integration. The Wi-Fi integration is simple and fast.
As always, we would like to point out that the robot can only be connected to 2.4 GHz networks, but not to 5 GHz networks. If you have any difficulties with the connection write us in the comments.
Before the M6 Pro is allowed to work, we should get to know one or two settings and functions.
Functions and settings within the app
The app range of the M6 Pro is really impressive. You probably already know most of them from other vacuum robots, but some are at least unusual. Have a look for yourself:
- Virtual remote control (arrow keys only)
- Select suction mode: Quiet, Standard, Strong
- Vacuuming or wiping or vacuuming and wiping selectable
- Side cleaning specifically selectable (then drives specifically once walls and outer areas)
- Spot cleaning: Clean at specific spot
- Virtual wall/ Forbidden zones: Specify areas you don’t want the robot to clean.
- Schedule working hours
- DND mode (Do Not Disturb): time in which the robot should not work
- Save map, reset map and display map list
- Mute speech (“voice”) of the robot
- Display consumables status
- Zero calibration and reset to factory settings
- send back to charging station
- Download and install firmware updates (can be done automatically)
So the remote control is also available in virtual. One of the interesting features is the zero calibration, which allows you to “reset” the robot if it has orientation problems. What I am still most enthusiastic about after having tested dozens of models – and separates the wheat from the chaff – is the mapping.
Live mapping: Control from anywhere
One turn from the charging station, bam! The Proscenic M6 Pro has already scanned the area around it (seen on the left in screenshots). It briefly looks into the hallway and then has already recognized all walls and entered them into the virtual map. The laser distance sensor is of high quality and works extremely precisely.
This way, the user can see from anywhere (even on the go) where the robot is located in the four walls and has the opportunity to track whether the M6 Pro also travels through all areas and rooms through the mapping. It does, if it can reach them with its dimensions.
What I personally always like and find praiseworthy: Already during the very first cleaning, you can draw no-go zones on the map; ergo areas that the robot should avoid – which it does. This saves you the trouble of clearing away cables and toys that the robot does not recognize via laser. Tip: Zoom in for more accuracy when drawing in.
Provided the robot makes its maiden voyage under supervision, which is recommended. The no-go zones are the yellow boxes on the following screenshots:
Once the maiden voyage is complete and the robot has autonomously returned to its charging station (from which it should always start), a pop-up message asks us if we want to save the map. We would like to. This will allow us to take advantage of more handy app features and improve cleaning in the long run.
The M6 Pro updates the map on every turn, so it doesn’t get irritated by objects suddenly in the way.
I like two things about the mapping compared to other models here: it covers larger areas in one piece than most other robots. It’s also quite fast when doing so; the work rate is lower on some flagship models. It also didn’t cut its teeth on several carpet edges.
Still, the Proscenic M6 Pro cuts a good figure in the four walls.
Selective room division
These two somewhat unwieldy terms from the headline mean nothing other than that the M6 Pro can independently recognize room boundaries and color them on the virtual map. This then looks like this as a saved map:
If you are not satisfied with the automatic division of the robot vacuum cleaner, you can connect or separate the individual rooms. Except for one room separation, however, I was very satisfied with the result at my home.
The selective room division allows you to have only individual rooms cleaned, for example, if you messed around at breakfast or everything fell on the floor while chopping vegetables in the kitchen.
If you use Amazon’s Alexa or Google Home at home, you can start and stop the robot by voice (not tested). The activation word is “ProscenicRobot.”
The wiping function: nice to have
Yes, such a hybrid water tank is an exciting affair in itself. However, only if you really want to use the wiping function. And the M6 Pro’s wiping function isn’t exactly the best thing in the world.
The amount of water that is dripped onto the microfiber cloth can be adjusted in the app. And also whether the M6 Pro should also vacuum while wiping. All well and good, but the M6 Pro does not manage to exert enough pressure on the mop – a problem of many hybrid models. Of course, this also means the floor doesn’t get as clean as you’d hope.
A typical problem of the wiping function that we observe again and again. If you are looking for a vacuum robot with a good wiping function, you might want to wait for the new Roborock S7, which could bring a good wiping function. With the Proscenic, it is nice to have and does no harm, but could be far more effective.
Bottom line: buy Proscenic M6 Pro?
To be honest, I didn’t expect too much from the Proscenic M6 Pro. The fact that the review ended up being so long is simply due to the fact that it surprised me in a positive way. Sure, the material used is not all that great and carpet lovers do not quite get their money’s worth.
But the robot vacuum does a really good job: A wide range of functions in the app, good to very good navigation, and absolutely sufficient suction power for hard floors. One of the devices that can be left to work without supervision after setting up no-go zones. The floor gets clean, what more do you actually want for the price?
Yes, from $500-up flagship models you then expect carpet detection, high-quality material and even more sensitive handling of furniture. But otherwise? Well done, Proscenic!
- high suction power
- selective room division
- precise mapping
- CE mark, app in multiple languages
- material quality could be higher
- no carpet boost
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