Robot Vacuums
A robot vacuum is a maintenance contract disguised as an appliance. Before the suction number, check what you'll be cleaning out of the dock every two weeks — that's the part owners actually complain about.
What actually decides a robot vacuum
1. Navigation, not suction
LiDAR handles dark rooms and long hallways better than camera-only systems; cameras handle objects and cables better than early LiDAR. Either can be fine — but a robot that gets stuck twice a week stops being used, and a robot that isn't used vacuums nothing.
2. Dock maintenance burden
Ask three questions: how often does the dust bag need replacing, does the mop wash with hot water, and does the dock have a removable tray you can actually reach. A self-emptying dock that requires disassembly to unclog is worse than no dock.
3. Edge and corner reach
Round bodies leave a 4–6 cm ring untouched. Extending side brushes help; extending mop pads help more. If you have wall-to-wall hard flooring, this is the difference you notice barefoot.
4. Consumables per year
Filters, side brushes, main brushes and mop pads typically run $60–$120 a year. A $599 robot with cheap consumables can beat an $899 one with proprietary parts — do the two-year math before deciding.
5. Whether you actually need a mop
Mop modules add weight, dock complexity and maintenance. On carpet, they add nothing. If more than half your floor is carpet, skip the mop and spend the difference on navigation.
Peak suction in Pa. It's measured at the inlet with a closed system, and every model above roughly 4,000 Pa already picks up what a domestic floor contains. A 20,000 Pa number tells you the marketing team had budget, not that your floor gets cleaner.
Buy lines by budget
| Budget | What you get | What you give up | Our pick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under $300 | Reliable vacuuming, basic app, manual dustbin | Self-wash, auto-empty, good obstacle avoidance | Buy a used mid-tier instead |
| $500–$700 | Self-washing mop, auto-empty dock, solid navigation | Object avoidance below flagship level, slower mapping | Roborock Qrevo S |
| $1,000+ | Best avoidance, extending mop arms, hot-water wash | Price; diminishing returns on cleaning | Only if you have pets and cables on the floor |
Start here
- Robot vacuum buying guide — the full criteria list and the two-year cost worksheet.
- Roborock Qrevo S review — where the $599 model cuts corners, and whether it matters.