Alright folks, the Cloud Whale J5 has finally landed, and I took the plunge to check it out. Let’s dive into what’s improved and what still needs some TLC. Just a heads-up: this video might rain on the parade for some of you eagerly waiting for it. My thoughts are based on my own out-of-pocket purchase, so keep it rational!

The J5 keeps the signature Cloud Whale design—sleek and stylish at first glance. But upon closer inspection, it’s a bit of a mixed bag. While it’s mostly white, the front and back lean toward a cooler bluish white, while the middle is pure white. It’s like a rainbow of whites! And those extra design elements? A tad overdone, if you ask me. Personally, I still prefer the J4’s aesthetic. But hey, design is totally subjective!

Now, let’s talk about the base station. It has two compartments: one for cleaning solution on the left and… the right one? Still scratching my head on that! After pestering customer service, I learned it can hold dust bags if you’re not into floor care. For those who are, just peel off that sticker and plug in a floor care module.

Mapping had its hiccups during my first run. My bedroom has three zones that the system didn’t recognize. At first, I thought it was a bug, but after three tries and some back-and-forth with customer support, I was told to pause while scanning. Eventually, I had to manually split the areas, which wasn’t ideal, but at least it didn’t mess up the cleaning.

Props to their support team, though—they didn’t leave me hanging! Now, about that upgraded suction power of 15,000 Pa? Honestly, it feels pretty much the same. Once you hit 10,000 Pa, suction is all about the same. For big cleaning tasks, it’s stable and gets the job done—enough to roam barefoot at home. One downside? No onboard water tank, which isn’t great for larger spaces. But you can set it to clean a bit, then rinse.

Finally, the mechanical arm is here! It’s nimble along straight walls, with the mop about 5mm from the edge. It doesn’t hug the wall completely, but it cleans like a champ. Cleaning at an angle? No issues there! Just a tiny overlap when going around corners, and there’s a good chunk that doesn’t get covered. Manual intervention is needed, but it’s not a dealbreaker.

Now, about that fancy particle sensing system: when it detects more debris, the robot slows down, amps up the suction, and stops the side brushes to avoid scattering junk. I tested it a few times, and while it slowed down without a hitch, the extra suction was hit or miss. As for avoiding debris? Well, you gotta cross your fingers.

Tangled hair? The J5 doesn’t shy away from a challenge. I used about 30cm of hair for my tests (ladies, take note!). Let’s just say it struggled. The side brush folded in, but hair still got wrapped around the roller. Some might argue it’s an extreme test, but I dialed back the hair volume for a second try. Better, but still some tangles. I’m starting to wonder if this is what other reviewers were hyping up!

Obstacle avoidance? A step up from the J4! It navigates complex situations like a champ, though it still can’t detect cables, so stow those away. And for thresholds around 2cm, it’s a breeze. If yours is above 3cm, I’d recommend getting a ramp.

When it comes to noise control, Cloud Whale takes the cake. If you’ve got little ones or elderly at home, you can set the suction to the lowest in the app (aka “whisper mode”). It’s so quiet, you might not even notice it’s running—big thumbs up!

If you have pets that don’t leave little surprises around, be cautious. It struggles with small stains (like ketchup), so you might end up spreading messes instead of cleaning them up. For larger spills, though, it’s on the ball, tackling the mess in multiple rounds. The area where it cleaned? Spotless! But the edges it dragged through with a dirty mop? Not so much. Just remember, if you’re going to let it clean up a big mess, you’re basically babysitting it.

After all the hype around the Cloud Whale J5, I’ve got high expectations. Overall, I do recommend it! With the mechanical arm, it’s great for cleaning corners and edges, plus it’s upgraded suction and hot water washing are solid for everyday cleaning. If your home is around 1,000 square feet, you have sensitive ears in the house, and you keep things pretty tidy, the J5 is a worthwhile investment.

If this helps with your decision, I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments. Don’t forget to follow us for more awesome finds!