People living in flats with lots of furniture
If your walkways are narrow or your furniture is low, compare the robot’s dimensions with the space in your home. Also check how it navigates around chair legs and items left on the floor.
Who will find these criteria useful?
People who want to schedule their cleaning
If you want to run cleaning cycles while you’re out, check the app settings, whether the robot can reach its docking station and what maintenance you’ll still need to do.
Homes with thresholds or rugs
Measure the transitions between rooms and check the stated conditions for the model you’re considering to cross them. If you’re choosing a robot mop, also check how it handles rugs.
What should you check before choosing?
Start with the areas that could block the robot, then consider items on the floor and what’s needed to run scheduled cleaning cycles.
| What to consider | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Low furniture | Measure the clearance at the lowest point and compare it with the robot’s height. Also check the width of the gaps between pieces of furniture. | I’d like the robot to clean under the bed or sofa, rather than leaving those areas out of its route. |
| Items on the floor | Check the detection features and which objects they’re designed to identify. See whether the app lets you set no-go zones; obstacle detection doesn’t guarantee that every cable will be avoided. | Shoes or small items might be left in the way when I start a scheduled cycle. I can put cables away and move fragile objects before I leave. |
| Thresholds and rugs | Measure the height, shape and depth of each threshold, then check the conditions under which the model can cross it. For mopping, check the rug settings and how the mop pads behave. | I want the robot to move between rooms and mop appropriately for the rugs in my home. |
| Scheduling | Check the app’s features, its connection requirements and the settings for each room. Keep the routes between rooms and back to the docking station clear. | I want cleaning cycles to fit around my schedule without having to guide the robot each time. |
| Docking station and maintenance | Check its dimensions against the available space near a power socket. Depending on the model, find out what’s involved in charging, emptying and maintaining the mop pads, and plan to keep an eye on the tanks and consumables. | I’d like to reduce how often I need to intervene, while keeping the docking station accessible for use and maintenance. |
What pitfalls should you avoid?
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Choosing based only on the stated suction power
A suction figure won’t tell you whether the robot can get under your furniture, cross thresholds or find its way back to the docking station. Les Numériques also looks at navigation and maintenance in its robot vacuum reviews.
Measure the routes around your home before comparing each model’s navigation, obstacle detection and docking station features.
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Assuming obstacle detection means you never need to tidy up
Les Numériques’ Saros 10 review reports that it avoids most obstacles, but not all of them. An item left in its path could still disrupt a scheduled cycle.
Put cables and fragile items away before running the robot unattended. If the model allows it, mark regularly cluttered areas as no-go zones on its map.
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Underestimating the space and maintenance needed for the docking station
A station that empties the dustbin or maintains the mop pads can reduce the need for some tasks, but it still needs to be accessible and plugged in. Les Numériques notes, for example, that the Saros 10’s station takes up a lot of space.
Check its dimensions, access to a power socket and what’s needed to maintain the tanks, tray, brushes and filters for the model you choose.
Depending on the model, you may also need to replace bags and other consumables.
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Taking a stated threshold height as a guarantee
The shape of a threshold matters just as much as its height. For example, Roborock gives separate figures for single and double thresholds for the Saros 20 Neo; these figures don’t cover every type of threshold in a flat.
Measure any tricky thresholds and compare their dimensions with the conditions stated for the exact model you’re considering.
A few brands to know
These examples highlight features to compare on a model-by-model basis; they’re no substitute for measuring your home.
Roborock
Some Saros models combine navigation and docking station features with a design intended to make it easier to move through tight spaces.
- In its Saros 10 review, Les Numériques notes its retractable LiDAR and ability to avoid most obstacles.
- The same review points out that the station is bulky and that mopping in corners isn’t perfect. Roborock’s stated threshold-crossing capabilities for the Saros 20 Neo apply to that model and its test conditions.
Dreame
The L40s Pro Ultra is worth considering if thresholds are a particular challenge and you want a station for vacuuming and mopping.
- Les Numériques reports a stated threshold-crossing capacity of up to 4 cm for this model.
- Its height is listed as 9,7 cm in the review specifications, so compare this with the space actually available under your furniture.
ECOVACS
The mapping, detection and docking station features on DEEBOT models may appeal to households that schedule cleaning cycles.
- ECOVACS presents obstacle detection as a way to help the robot move around objects and furniture.
- The manufacturer’s description doesn’t guarantee that every cable or toy will be recognised. For scheduled cycles, also make sure the robot is connected and has a clear route back to the docking station.
Robot vacuums for these needs on Joybuy
These models offer different combinations of navigation, obstacle handling, mopping and docking station features. Compare their dimensions and features with the route the robot will need to take around your home.
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Eureka E20 Plus, black
Worth a look if items are sometimes left in the robot’s path: the product name mentions 3D obstacle avoidance and a docking station. Its stated suction power is 8 000 Pa, but that alone won’t tell you whether it can fit under your furniture. Measure your thresholds too, and put cables away before running it unattended.
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ECOVACS DEEBOT X9 PRO OMNI
This robot vacuum and mop combines an OMNI station with OZMO Roller mopping. Its stated height is 9,8 cm, so measure the space beneath your furniture before choosing this model. The station also needs an accessible spot, and you’ll need to keep an eye on its tanks. Don’t assume it will detect every thin cable.
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JONR T5 Pro
Its laser navigation, stated obstacle recognition and all-in-one station are designed to support scheduled cleaning. The product name also mentions hot-air drying and a stated suction power of 8 150 Pa. Check the robot’s dimensions against your thresholds, and keep small items out of its path.
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ECOVACS DEEBOT T30C OMNI Gen2, black
This model focuses on mopping with its OMNI station; the product name specifies mop pad washing at 75 °C. If cables and small items are your main concern, check the model’s detection capabilities separately. Also measure the clearance under your furniture and allow for station maintenance.
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roborock Q7 L5+, black
LiDAR navigation and automatic emptying may suit regular cleaning across several rooms. This model also has a mopping function and a stated suction power of 8 000 Pa. Check its height, whether it can cross your thresholds and how the mop pad handles rugs. Don’t rely on it to detect every cable.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need Wi-Fi to schedule a robot vacuum?
To schedule cleaning cycles through the app described by ECOVACS, you need to connect the robot to Wi-Fi and the app. The features available without a connection depend on the model, so check its manual if this matters to you.
Where should you put the docking station in a flat?
Choose a level spot near a power socket and leave the robot a clear route back to the station. Measure the station before you buy too: it needs to be accessible for emptying and cleaning.
Can I leave cables on the floor if my robot detects obstacles?
It’s best to put them away before running the robot unattended. In its test, Les Numériques found that the Roborock Saros 10 avoids most obstacles, but that doesn’t guarantee it will avoid every cable. No-go zones can help if the model offers them.
How can I check whether a robot will fit under my sofa?
Measure the clearance at the lowest point, then compare it with the stated height of the exact model, leaving some extra room. For comparison, the review specifications from Les Numériques list a height of 7,98 cm for the Roborock Saros 10 and 9,7 cm for the Dreame L40s Pro Ultra.
What should I check if my flat has thresholds and rugs?
Measure the height, shape and depth of your thresholds, then compare them with the conditions under which the robot you’re considering can cross them. For rugs, check the available settings and what the mop pad does during a mopping cycle. A stated threshold-crossing capacity alone won’t answer either question.