The Best Robot Vacuum For Carpet
Whether you've got carpet with a high or low pile There's a robot vacuum for you. These smart devices are able to navigate your home on their own and pick up dirt and clean under furniture.
They have advanced features like mapping that help you navigate around your home and help you remember where furniture is. They also can increase the suction power in order to tackle dirtier surfaces.
iRobot Roomba 694
The Roomba by iRobot is a basic robot vacuum that works well on both floors that are unfinished and low-pile floor carpet. It has a decent suction and can clean most debris, however it struggles with larger debris like rice or sand. It also does a decent job of cleaning pet hair but it's not impervious to tangling as top Roomba models like the j7 or I6.
The Roomba is simple to use. It has three buttons on the top cover. Clean, which launches a cleaning session and 'Dock', which places it in its charging station, and "Spot," which initiates an individualized cleaning. It can be controlled via an app for smartphones that lets you to schedule cycles, stop/start them and adjust settings. It can also be paired with smart home devices like Alexa or Google Assistant for voice-controlled operation.
This vacuum cleaner is slower than others, but it is able to be able to reach the majority of corners and crevices. It has a large dustbin that is ideal to reduce the frequency at which you need to empty it. It is compatible with digital mapping and virtual barriers which lets you set the robot to avoid certain areas or stop cleaning altogether to prevent it from becoming stuck.
It's not the best in its price range but it's superior to other models. The Roborock E4 is more advanced than the Roomba 694, with a much better cleaning performance on carpets that are low and bare. It also follows a more efficient cleaning path and has longer battery life. It is also more durable, has fewer components that require regular maintenance, is priced less over its lifetime, and charges faster than 694.
It's also worth taking a look at other, more premium models from the iRobot line, like the 981 or the v7. The 981 and v7 are more expensive, but provide significant improvement in cleaning efficiency, for both bare and low pile floors. They also have a bigger dirt compartment and charge faster, move more easily, and are easier to pair with smart home devices.
Shark RV1001AE IQ
This self-emptying robotic cleaner and mop vacuum cleaner does a good job on low-pile carpet and hard floors. Its combination brush reaches corners and edges and automatically increases suction as soon as it senses carpet. It also excels at cleaning dirt that is embedded in mid-pile carpet. The IQ's small footprint for docks and its self-emptying feature are great features. However, if you wish to change floor levels on the map, or set no-go zones, you'll have to manually reset it to do so, which is quite a hassle.
The IQ's application has advanced mapping and automation features however, it's not able to access no-go zones that are available on iRobot models. Its smart-pathing navigation system provides greater maneuverability and its high-pile carpet mode cleans well, but it is prone to get caught up on rug tassels. Additionally, its iHome speaker lets you control the robot with voice commands.
In our tests during our tests, the IQ was capable of handling pet hair with ease, removing huge amounts of hair from floors that were not bare and moderate amounts from medium-pile carpet. It was a little less efficient on shag carpets, which was a struggle to reach dirt and dust that was embedded in the fibers. It was able to maneuver chair legs, small spaces, and even the base of an IKEA wooden step stool. It was a little slower on bare flooring however, it was able to recover speed and performed better than other robots we evaluated.
The IQ is a better option over the iRobot Roomba 694 for most uses. It has a bigger dust bin and lasts longer on charge and is capable of maneuvering itself over obstacles. It also comes with a mopping attachment that can deal with sticky debris. The iRobot on the other hand feels more sturdy and has less components that require replacement or maintenance, incurs less cost per year, and can create virtual no-go zones using its companion application. It can continue cleaning where it left off, even if its battery runs out before it finishes. The iRobot is also controlled by voice commands, which is a big plus for many users.
Eufy 11S
The RoboVac 11S eufy robot vacuum isn't one of the most features-rich models, but it does offer great cleaning power at affordable prices. It's a budget-friendly option for buyers who don't need a complicated mapping system or an app to control the device. The robot can run for more than an hour and includes an remote, cleaning tool, AC power adapter, charging base and extra filters.
The 11S is slim and sleek, with a tempered glass upper deck that covers plastic finished to appear like brushed aluminum. It's a nice change from the utilitarian and industrial designs of Roomba, Samsung and Neato.
The eufy11S was successful in our tests of removing larger particles and fine dust from floors. It was unable to thoroughly clean medium and high-pile carpets. The device has a tendency to bump into furniture and people in its path. However, it is able to detect obstacles using sensors. When it comes across them, it halts and emits a loud beep so you can manually guide it around the obstacle and then get back to work.
Another fantastic aspect of the eufy 11S is its BoostIQ mode that lets you set the robot to automatically adjust its suction power to match the floor type and level of the mess. It's also simple to use the remote to direct the 11S in the direction you want it to go.
If you don't have many furniture in the room you're looking to vacuum Single Room Mode is an excellent option. The eufy is capable of spending up to 30 minutes cleaning the space it is assigned.
You can also opt for Edge Cleaning that reduces the time spent in each location to 20 minutes for maximum battery life. If you select this option, the eufy will move in a spiral fashion to clean edges and corners for a thorough clean.
Miele Complete C1
The Miele Complete C1 canister robot is a great mid-range vacuum cleaner that is a winner on carpet. Its performance on floors that are not bare is also impressive. It can pick up fine debris like rice effortlessly and doesn't lose suction efficiency even as its dirt bin gets full. Its air-sealed and allergy-friendly design traps allergens to keep your family safe. It comes with an onboard HEPA filter and a self-emptying dustbin, which means you don't have to buy additional filters or a separate vacuum bag.
It's not as powerful as pricier models, but it's ideal for fighting dirt and deep cleaning. Its two front cameras deliver live images to your smartphone, and it comes with one of the most effective obstacle avoidance systems we've seen. It also has a large dustbin, a long running time and a speedy, bump-free clean-up.
Contrary to other robots unlike other robots, the Complete C1 can switch between the standard powerhead and the turbo head to accommodate different flooring types. The turbo head works best with high-pile or low-pile carpeting while the standard powerhead is ideal for bare floors and light rugs. It also has an automatic height adjustment system that allows it to adjust to different types of flooring without manual adjustments.
This model comes bundled with an SBD 285-3 Classic Combination Floorhead that can handle both hard floors and medium-pile carpeting. The powerhead is also easy to maneuver and can get into difficult spots. It has five different surface adjustments and a brushroll-off switch to prevent tangled hairs.
The Classic C1 has a self cleaning brush roll, it has a UtraClean Mode that cleans the same area up to three times and a self-emptying dustbin that can be emptied by pressing a single button. The noise level of this model is greater than other models. However its powerful motor with 1,200 watts and sturdy construction justify the extra cost.
If you're willing to pay a little more then the Miele Complete C3 is an excellent all-round robot vacuum that is more effective on carpet than the Classic C1. It is more efficient on all floors and feels more sturdy, and includes a HEPA filter.