The Best Robot Vacuum For Carpet
Whether you've got carpet that is high or low-pile, there's a robot vacuum for you. These intelligent appliances can navigate through your home, pick up debris and even clean under furniture.
They come with advanced features such as mapping that helps them navigate through your home and remember where furniture is. They can also increase suction power to tackle dirtier areas.
iRobot Roomba 694
The Roomba 694 from iRobot is a robot vacuum for entry-level use that works well on carpets with low pile and bare floors. It has a good suction, but struggles with larger debris such as sand or grains of rice. It is capable of cleaning pet hair, but it isn't as strong against tangling as premium Roomba models like the j7 and I6.
The Roomba 694 is easy to use. It has a trio of buttons on its cover: 'Clean' launches an entire cleaning cycle and 'Dock' allows it to be put back into its charging station and 'Spot Clean' activates an targeted clean. It can be controlled with an app on your smartphone that lets you schedule and stop/start cycles, as well as adjust settings. You can also connect it with smart home devices such as Alexa or Google Assistant for voice-controlled operation.
This vacuum is a little slower than other models, but it's still able get into the most crevices and corners. It has a large dustbin that is ideal for reducing the frequency with which you must empty it. It is compatible with virtual barriers and digital mapping, which allow you to set it to avoid specific areas or stop cleaning altogether in order to prevent it from getting stuck on something.
It's not the top for its price, but it's better than the majority of other options. The Roborock E4 has a better cleaning performance than the Roomba 694 and it is able to clean both carpets with a low pile and bare. It also has a longer-lasting battery and a more efficient route. It also feels better-made and has fewer parts that require regular maintenance, is less expensive to own over the course of its life and charges more quickly than the 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 they provide significant improvements in cleaning performance, for both bare and low pile floors. They also have a bigger dirt compartment, charge faster, move more easily and are easier to pair with smart home devices.
Shark RV1001AE IQ
This budget self-emptying robot does an okay job on hard floors as well as carpets with a low pile. The combo brush can reach into corners and edges, and it automatically increases suction when it detects carpet. It is also effective at cleaning dirt embedded in the middle of the pile carpet. The IQ's compact footprint for docks and its self-emptying feature are both nice features. If you want to change the floor level or set areas that are not allowed to be used, you'll need to manually reset the map.
The IQ app provides advanced mapping and automated functions, however it lacks no-go zones. These are only available on iRobot robots. The smart-pathing system of the app permits for better maneuverability and the high-pile mode of its carpet cleaning mode is effective but it could get caught on rug tassels.
During our tests, we discovered that the IQ handled pet hair with ease. It was able to eliminate lots of debris on floors that robot cleaner with mop were unfinished and a decent amount of rug with a medium pile. It was less efficient with shag carpets, as it was unable to reach dirt and dust embedded within the fibers. It did a good job of maneuvering the legs of chairs and tight spaces as well as the base of a wooden IKEA step stool. It was slower on flooring that was not fully covered however, it was able to recover speed and was more efficient than the other robots we have evaluated.
The IQ is a better choice than the iRobot Roomba 694 for most uses. It has a bigger dustbin, a longer battery life and is more adept at navigating around obstacles. It has mopping tools that can clean up sticky messes. On the other side, the iRobot feels better-built and has fewer components that require maintenance or replacement and has lower recurring costs and creates virtual no-go zones using its companion app. It can continue cleaning from where it left off, even if the battery is out before it has finished. The iRobot can also be controlled via voice, which is a major benefit for many users.
Eufy 11S
The eufy RoboVac 11S robot vacuum isn't among 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 is able to last for more than an hour. It includes the remote control, cleaning tool and AC power adapter.
The 11S is slim, elegant and has a tempered glass upper deck that resembles brushed aluminum. It's a refreshing departure from the utilitarian and industrial designs of Roomba, Samsung and Neato.
In our tests, the eufy11S was extremely effective at removing larger debris and fine dust on hard flooring. It was unable to thoroughly clean high-pile and medium-pile carpets. The device is prone of bumping into people and furniture in its route. However, it can detect obstacles with sensors. It stops and emits a loud sound when it comes across an obstruction. You can then manually steer the device around it and restart it.
Another excellent aspect of the eufy 11S is its BoostIQ mode, which allows you to set the robot to automatically adjust its suction power to match floor type and the amount of mess. It's also easy to use the remote to direct the 11S in the direction you'd like it to move.
If you don't have many furniture in the area you want to vacuum Single Room Mode is an excellent alternative. The eufy is capable of spending up to 30 minutes cleaning the area it is assigned.
You can also select Edge Cleaning, which reduces the time spent in each area to 20 minutes to ensure optimal battery life. If you select this option the eufy can move in a spiral pattern, tackling corners and edges for an efficient clean.
Miele Complete C1
The Miele Complete C1 is an excellent mid-range canister robotic vacuum that can be a great performer on carpet. Its performance on floors that are not bare is also outstanding. It can remove rice and other fine debris effortlessly. The suction power doesn't decrease as the dirt bin gets full. Its allergy-friendly design and air-sealed body captures allergens to keep your family healthy. It has an onboard HEPA and self-emptying bin, which means you don't require additional filters or vacuum bags.
It's not as powerful as pricier models, but it's great for tackling dirt and deep cleaning. It has two cameras on the front that provide live feeds to your smartphone. It also comes with one of the most advanced obstacle avoidance systems. It also has a large dustbin, long runtime, and a fast and smooth clean-up.
The Complete C1 is unlike most robots in that it can switch between a standard head and a turbo to suit different types of flooring. The turbo head is great for low-pile and high-pile carpeting, while the standard powerhead works well on floors that are unfinished and light rugs. It also features an automatic height adjustment system which allows it to easily adapt to different types of flooring without any manual adjustments.
This model comes with a SBD 285-3 Classic Combination Floorhead that can handle both hard floors as well as carpeting with a medium pile. The motor can also be easily maneuvered and get into difficult areas. It comes with five different adjustments to the surface and a brushroll-off switch to prevent hairs from getting tangled.
The Classic C1 also has a self-cleaning brush roll as well as an UtraClean mode that cycles across the same area three times to give the best possible clean, and a self-emptying dustbin that can be empty at the press of a button. Its sound level is slightly higher than some other models, but its powerful 1,200-watt motor and solid construction make it well worth the extra cost.
If you're willing to spend some extra money then the Miele Complete C3 canister robot vacuum is a fantastic all-purpose robot vacuum. It is more effective on carpets than the Classic C1. It performs better on all types of floors and is more solidly constructed and comes with a HEPA filter.