The Best Robot Vacuum For Carpet
There's a robot for any carpet type, whether it's high-pile or low-pile. These intelligent appliances can navigate your home automatically and pick up dirt and clean under furniture.
Many have advanced features like mapping, which can help you navigate around your home and keep track of furniture place. They can also increase suction power to clear dirtier areas.
iRobot Roomba 694"
The iRobot Roomba 694 is an entry-level robot vacuum that performs well on both carpets with a low pile or bare floor. It has a good suction however, it struggles with larger debris like grains of rice or sand. It does a good job cleaning pet hair, but it isn't as strong against tangling as the premium Roomba models such as the I6 and j7.
The Roomba is easy to operate. It features three buttons on the top cover. 'Clean,' which triggers a cleaning process and 'Dock' that places it in its charging station and "Spot," which initiates an individualized cleaning. It is controlled by a smartphone app that allows you to program or stop/start cycles as well as alter settings. You can also connect it with smart home devices like Alexa or Google Assistant for voice-controlled operation.
This vacuum cleaner is slower than other models, but it can reach most corners and crevices. It has a large dustbin, which is great for reducing the frequency with which you must empty it. It is compatible with digital mapping and virtual barriers, which lets you set the robot to avoid certain areas, or even stop cleaning completely to stop it from getting stuck.
Although it's not the top model in its price range however, it's superior to many other alternatives. The Roborock E4 has a better cleaning capability than the Roomba 694, and it can clean both carpets with low pile as well as bare. It also follows a more efficient cleaning path and has a longer battery life. It is also more robust, has fewer components that require regular maintenance, is priced less over its life and charges faster than 694.
It's also worth considering other models that are more expensive in the iRobot range, such as the 981 or the v7. They're more expensive but they are significantly better than the 694 in terms of performance on both low and bare floors, follow the most efficient cleaning method and come with a larger dirt compartment, are more efficient to charge, can move more easily, and are more easy to connect with smart home devices.
Shark RV1001AE IQ
This budget self-emptying robot does a good job on hard floors as well as low-pile carpet. Its combo brush reaches into corners and edges, and it automatically increases suction when it detects carpet. It is also effective at cleaning dirt and debris that are embedded in carpets that are mid-pile. The IQ's small footprint for docks and its self-emptying feature are nice touches. However, if you want to alter the floor level on the map or set no-go zones you'll have to manually reset it in order to do so, which is somewhat of a hassle.
The IQ's app has some advanced mapping and automation features however it doesn't have no-go zones that are available on iRobot models. The smart-pathing navigation system provides greater maneuverability and its high-pile carpet cleaning mode cleans well, but it does have a tendency to get caught up in rug tassels. Its iHome speaker allows you to control the robot with voice commands.
In our tests, we found that the IQ handled pet hair well. It was able to get rid of a large amount of debris on bare floors and a decent amount of medium-pile rug. It was less efficient with shag carpets, where it was unable to reach dirt and dust that was embedded in the fibers. It was able navigate chair legs, small spaces, and even the base of an IKEA wooden step stool. We did notice that it was a little slower on floors that were not paved, but it regained speed and performed more thoroughly than the other robots we tested.
The IQ is a better option for the majority of users than the iRobot Roomba. It has a bigger dustbin, a longer battery life, and is better in navigating around obstacles. It also has mopping attachments that are able to handle sticky messes. The iRobot is, however, is better constructed and has fewer parts that need maintenance or replacement and incurs fewer cost per year, and can create virtual no go zones using its companion application. It can continue cleaning the point it started, even if the battery is out before it has finished. The iRobot can also be controlled with voice, which can be an advantage for many users.
Eufy 11S
The RoboVac 11S eufy robot vacuum isn't one of the most advanced models, but it offers powerful cleaning power at affordable prices. This robot vacuum is designed for consumers with a tight budget who don't need a complex mapping system, or even an application to control it. The robot can run for a long time and includes an remote, cleaning tool, AC power adapter, charging base and extra filters.
The 11S is slim, sleek and has a tempered-glass upper deck that resembles the brushed appearance of aluminum. It's a nice change from the utilitarian and industrial designs of Roomba, Samsung and Neato.
In our tests, the eufy11S was very effective in removing large particles and fine dust on hard flooring. It struggled to deep clean carpets with high and medium piles. The device is also prone to smack into furniture and people that are in its path however, it is able to detect those obstacles using sensors. When it comes across them, it ceases to move and emits a loud sound so you can manually guide it through the obstacle before getting back to work.
Another fantastic feature of the eufy11S is its BoostIQ mode that allows you to set the robot to automatically adjust its website suction strength to match floor type and the level of dirt. It's also simple to use the remote to direct the 11S to where you'd like it to move.
Single Room Mode is a great option if you have little furniture in the area you want to vacuum. The eufy will spend 30 minutes focusing on cleaning the area it's assigned.
You can also choose Edge Cleaning, which restricts the amount of time in each area to 20 minutes to ensure optimal battery life. With this option, the eufy will move in a spiral pattern, tackling corners and edges to ensure a clean.
Miele Complete C1
The Miele Complete C1 canister robot is a fantastic mid-range vacuum cleaner that excels on carpet. Its performance on bare floors is also impressive. It is able to remove rice and other fine debris with ease. The suction power doesn't diminish as the dirt bin gets full. Its allergy-friendly design and air-sealed body will trap allergens to keep your family healthy. It uses an onboard HEPA filter and a self-emptying dustbin, which means you don't need additional filters or a separate vacuum bag.
It's not as powerful as more expensive models, but it's great for tackling staining and deep cleaning. It comes with two cameras in front that provide a live feed to your smartphone. It also has one of the most advanced obstacle avoidance systems. It has a large bin, a long running time and a quick, bump-free cleanup.
The Complete C1 is unlike most robots in that it can switch between a standard head and a turbo to suit different kinds of flooring. The turbo head is best with high-pile or low-pile carpeting, while the standard powerhead is ideal for bare floors and light carpets. It also features an automated height adjustment system, which lets it easily adjust to different types of flooring without any manual adjustments.
This model comes with the SBD 285-3 Classic Combination Floorhead, which can be used on hard floors and carpets of medium pile. The powerhead is also easy to maneuver and can be used to reach difficult areas. It has five levels of surface adjustment as well as an off-brush switch to prevent hairs from getting tangled.
The Classic C1 also has a self-cleaning brush roll, an UtraClean mode that moves across the same area three times for the most thorough cleaning, and a self-emptying dustbin that can be empty at the push of one button. The volume of noise produced by this model is more pronounced than other models. However its powerful motor of 1,200 watts and durable construction make it worth the additional cost.
If you're willing to spend more it's worth it. Miele Complete C3 is an excellent all-round canister robot vacuum that is more effective on carpet than the Classic C1. It performs better on any type of flooring and is more robustly built and comes with a HEPA filter.