When choosing a robot vacuum cleaner, start with your floors and the routes it will actually take around your home: furniture, cables, small objects, thresholds and rugs matter more than a single advertised power figure. Add a mopping function if it makes sense for your hard floors, then consider a station if fewer trips to empty the robot justify the extra space and maintenance. Also check what the app can do and what data it processes.
If you want to schedule the robot to clean around furniture, narrow spaces and objects on the floor, look at its navigation, the areas it can reach and the limits of its obstacle detection. Les Numériques and UFC-Que Choisir both list navigation among the factors to consider.
If your rooms have different floor coverings, compare results by floor type and check how the model handles rugs while mopping. UFC-Que Choisir tests vacuuming on several surfaces, including rugs, tiles and wooden floors.
If you’re happy to have a larger base in return for emptying the robot less often, check how much space it needs and how easy it is to access the tanks, bags and other consumables for your chosen model.
Choose this if: you want to pick up dust and debris regularly and prefer to mop by hand.
Bear in mind: this option doesn’t mop your floors, and you’ll still need to empty the bin unless you have a compatible station. UFC-Que Choisir and Les Numériques highlight the importance of performance on different floors and of good navigation.
Choose this if: you’d also like to schedule wet cleaning for your hard floors.
Bear in mind: mopping performance varies by system, so check how the robot handles rugs and what maintenance the wet-cleaning parts need. UFC-Que Choisir tests vacuuming on different types of flooring.
Choose this if: you plan to run the robot frequently and want to cut down on some of the work involved in emptying its bin.
Bear in mind: the station takes up space and needs maintenance of its own. The clearances iRobot specifies for the relevant AutoEmpty bases apply to those models only; they’re not a universal rule.
| Factor | What to check | Who should consider it? |
|---|---|---|
| Navigation and obstacles | Tests using obstacles like the ones in your home; clearance under furniture and the width of gaps. | If your home has cables, furniture close together or objects on the floor, you’ll want to know where the robot can go without your help. Around 31% of consumers prioritise navigation that avoids getting stuck. |
| Floors and mopping | Results on your floor coverings; how the model handles rugs while mopping. | If you have both hard floors and rugs, you’ll want to know whether the vacuuming and mopping suit each surface. Around 23% of consumers prioritise a model that adapts to different floor coverings. |
| Station and maintenance | Base dimensions and clearances; access to bags or tanks and other consumables. | If you schedule the robot often, you may want to empty it less frequently without running out of space for the station or forgetting to maintain it. Around 23% of consumers prioritise reducing the need for hands-on maintenance. |
| Running costs and repairability | Consumable and spare-part references; the repairability index for the specific model. | If you want to keep maintenance costs under control over time, compare consumables and repair options before choosing. Around 15% of consumers put running costs first. |
| App and data | Features available without an account; permissions, access settings and data deletion. | If you’d rather limit connected features or control what data about your home is collected, check the app and its settings before buying. Around 8% of consumers prioritise control over their data. |
A power figure on its own won’t tell you how the robot will perform on your floors, along skirting boards or when picking up debris.
Look for tests on the types of flooring in your home before deciding between models.
Mopping systems vary, and some models need particular care around rugs.
Check the mopping system and the guidance for the exact model, especially when it comes to rugs.
Depending on the model, you may also need to maintain and replace the mopping components.
A base may need specific clearance, and you’ll still need to manage its dust storage or tanks.
Measure the space according to the station’s instructions and check which consumables fit the model you’ve chosen.
Compatible bags and other consumables, where needed, add to the station’s maintenance requirements.
The Roomba Combo Essential is available as a vacuum-only model or with mopping; AutoEmpty base features apply to the corresponding compatible configurations.
The Qrevo range includes robots with mopping and a station; the Qrevo Curv 2 Pro is a different model from the Curv, CurvX and ProX.
The Aqua10 Ultra Roller Complete is a specific model to consider when comparing robot mops.
The Z50 Ultra is a separate model from the V50 Ultra Complete.
The X-Plorer Série 95 RR7987WH is a mapping and mopping model for which Rowenta publishes information about parts and repairability.
These Joybuy models are designed to vacuum floors, with mopping and station options for scheduled cleaning. Check that you have enough space for the base and what maintenance each model requires.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for a robot vacuum with a station to schedule floor cleaning.
The model name indicates 8 000 Pa of suction power and app control. Its advertised obstacle-avoidance feature doesn’t guarantee that it will detect every cable or small object.
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Worth a look if you want to combine vacuuming, mopping and a station for scheduled cleaning.
The model name indicates a mopping function, 16 200 Pa and hot-water cleaning at 75 °C. Check what care the mop pads and station need.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for a robot that vacuums and mops with a station to cut down on some of the work after cleaning.
According to the instructions for this model, allow at least 1.5 m in front of the station, 0.5 m on each side and 0.8 m above it to access the tanks.
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Worth a look if you’re after a robot with a mopping function and station for scheduled cleaning.
The model name indicates 16 600 Pa of suction power and an OZMO Roller mop. After cleaning cycles, you’ll need to empty the dirty-water tank, refill the clean-water tank if necessary, and clean the brushes and filters regularly.
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Worth considering if you want to combine vacuuming, mopping and a station.
The model name indicates 8 000 Pa of suction power. For rugs, the best brush-lifting results quoted for this model apply to rugs with a short or medium pile, up to 12 mm.
No. Mapping its route doesn’t guarantee that the robot will recognise every small object. Compare obstacle tests for the model you’re considering and move anything it might not detect.
Follow the station’s instructions and make sure you can reach the bag or tanks. For the iRobot AutoEmpty bases covered by its instructions, iRobot recommends at least 0.5 m of clearance on each side and 1.2 m in front; these distances don’t automatically apply to other brands.
No. It can reduce how often you empty the robot’s bin, but you’ll still need to manage its own dust storage and, depending on the equipment, the mopping components. Check which consumables are compatible with your model.
If you’re buying as an individual from a professional seller, the statutory legal guarantee of conformity applies and is separate from any commercial warranty. The DGCCRF says that household robots are among the product categories that must display a repairability index, including when sold online.
It can, if the model and its app process data. Check permissions, access settings and whether you can delete your data. The CNIL recommends securing connected devices, your phone and your Wi-Fi; this general advice doesn’t describe the practices of any particular brand.