DJI's Romo 2 Aims for the Living Room, But Can It Overcome a Privacy Crisis?
AI-generated image · Bay Street Wire
The drone giant's new robovac boasts 'legs' and massive suction, but the real test is whether users trust a company that previously exposed home floorplans and camera feeds.
DJI is attempting to pivot from the skies to our carpets with the announcement of the Romo 2 series at IFA 2026, as The Verge first reported. On paper, the hardware is a powerhouse: the new lineup features a transparent P2 model and an opaque A2 model, both boasting 36,000Pa of suction on carpet and an 85 percent reduction in volume compared to its predecessor.
According to reporting from The Verge, the Romo 2 introduces some genuinely clever hardware tweaks. The vacuum is equipped with two legs on the bottom, allowing it to climb over single steps up to 4cm (1.5in) in height, or even two steps at roughly double that height. While it won't be climbing staircases, it can cross room thresholds and small dividers. DJI also claims the devices feature improved navigation to avoid mirrors, glass, and obstacles as small as 2mm, alongside "human-like reasoning and concept transfer" to help the robot learn from past obstacles.
**Opinion: The Hardware Isn't the Story** As a reviewer, I can tell you that while the 'legs' and the extended mop arms are flashy, they aren't the point. The real story here is trust. DJI is trying to sell us a camera-equipped robot for our most private spaces—our bedrooms and living rooms—after the first Romo suffered a catastrophic security failure.
As The Verge reports, the original Romo had security flaws so severe that thousands of units worldwide were accessed, exposing microphones, cameras, and home floorplans, and even allowing for full remote control. DJI patched those holes, but the reputational damage was deep.
To combat this, DJI is introducing "Local Data Mode," which the company describes as a new industry standard for home robotics. This mode severs the DJI Home app's internet connection to prevent the syncing of camera feeds or photos. Users can also delete stored data and entirely disable the microphone and camera. This feature is set to roll out to the Romo 2 in Q4 of this year, with plans to bring it to the first-generation models as well.
Whether that is enough to win back consumers remains to be seen, especially given the pricing. The Romo P2 is priced at €1,299 (approximately $1,500), with the A2 costing €100 less.
Interestingly, those of us in the U.S. likely won't get a chance to decide. The Verge notes that a U.S. launch is unlikely due to existing restrictions on DJI products and a new FCC ban on foreign-made robot vacuums. This trend extends to other new hardware; the Osmo 360 II action camera, also announced at IFA, is skipping the U.S. market.