Robot vacuums: what separates one that gets used from one that gets parked

Navigation type, the dock, mopping claims, and pet-hair reality — the four things to decide before comparing models.

Most robot vacuums end up in a closet for one of three reasons: it gets stuck, the bin is a chore, or it can't handle the floor it was bought for. Decide these four things first and the shortlist builds itself.

1. Navigation

• Lidar (laser) mapping: builds a floor plan, cleans in rows, lets you name rooms and set no-go zones. The standard for any home over one room.
• Camera / AI obstacle avoidance: the layer on top of lidar that dodges cables, socks and pet accidents. Worth it in a house with kids or pets; the cheapest implementations still eat charging cords.
• Gyroscope / bump: random-ish paths, no map. Fine for one open room, frustrating for anything else.

2. The dock

Self-emptying docks hold weeks of debris in a bag; this single feature decides whether the robot runs daily or weekly. For mopping models, look for docks that wash and dry the pads — a wet pad left in the dock smells within a day. Check the bag cost and whether third-party bags fit.

3. Mopping, honestly

A drag-along damp pad removes dust film, not dried spills. Rotating or vibrating pads with downward pressure do noticeably more. If you have carpet, make sure the pads lift (or detach) automatically; otherwise you'll be running separate vacuum-only and mop-only jobs.

4. Floor and pet reality

• Pet hair: rubber rollers tangle far less than bristle brushes. Look for a single rubber roller or dual rubber rollers.
• Thresholds and rugs: check the rated climb height (about 20 mm is typical) against your transitions. Tassels and thin rugs are a problem for every robot — plan no-go zones.
• Dark floors: older cliff sensors mistake black rugs for stairs; newer units handle it, but it's worth a search for your model.

Skip, usually

• Suction numbers in Pa — they aren't measured the same way across brands.
• Voice assistants and video calls through the robot.
• Extra-large water tanks unless the mop pads are the pressurised kind.

Timing

Flagships refresh each spring; last year's flagship with a dock usually beats this year's mid-range at the same price by late summer.

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