Robot Vacuums Save Time but Fall Short of Human Cleaners, Engadget Says

Engadget said owners need to clear the floor before a robot vacuum cleans. Unlike a human cleaner, most robot vacuums lack arms and cannot move a chair or place a nozzle into a tight spot. Unmapped objects such as toys, charging cables left across the floor or pet messes can also become problems. Basic models use bump sensors and must physically collide with an obstacle, which can cause repeated passes over the same area. Better models may use infrared sensors, while the most expensive rely on LiDAR sensors and AI cameras to understand their surroundings.

Even advanced models cannot handle every obstacle well, according to the article. Loose cables can wrap around brushes or wheels and stop the vacuum before it finishes a run. Socks and lightweight rugs can be sucked in, unless the model is one such as the Roborock Saros Z70 that can move things out of the way. Engadget said users still need to check floors beforehand to make sure the vacuum will not meet a problem it cannot navigate around.

The type of dirt and flooring also affects performance. Engadget said picking crumbs off a wooden floor is within a robot vacuum's abilities, but pulling dirt from a thick carpet is much harder. Traditional vacuum cleaners often have a powered floorhead that can agitate and lift dirt embedded in carpet fibers, and a user can move back and forth. How well a robot vacuum does this depends on its brush design, and the advertised suction figure does not give a clear idea of cleaning quality, the article said.

Moving across different surface types is another challenge. Floors include tiles, rugs, carpets and wooden boards, and a raised rug edge or a doorway that bridges tile or wood and carpet can cause problems. Once the vacuum gets stuck, Engadget said, its suction power becomes irrelevant. Corners are a perennial problem because most robot vacuums are circular and carry their main brush underneath. Side brushes and extending brushes help pull in dirt, but tight corners remain difficult for most current-generation models.

Engadget said regular vacuums are still needed for stairs and upholstery. Current-generation robot vacuums are not cleaning staircases, although companies such as Roborock have shown prototype models that can climb stairs; those models are not on sale yet. The article said a robot vacuum is good for keeping on top of lighter dirt between bigger cleans, but it is not a full replacement.

Extra features raise the cost. Engadget said basic cleaning is one thing, but buyers pay a premium for reliable obstacle detection, self-emptying through a dock and wet cleaning with a built-in mop. The most basic models can cost less than $100, the article said, and extra features can cost considerably more.