How we test
Mashable Shopping reporters, editors, and product testers have reviewed dozens of robot vacuums, and we’re testing more all the time. For this guide, we recently tested the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra, Eufy X10 Pro Omni, Roomba Combo j5+, Narwal Freo promotion).
When we review robot vacuums, we test the robot on a combination of floor types: hardwood, bathroom tile, thick carpet, shag rugs, bathroom rugs, and other surfaces that work. To test the robot’s agility, we deliberately littered the floor with a combination of cat toys, fringed blankets, clothing, and string. In addition to testing obstacle avoidance capabilities, we also evaluated the robovac’s overall cleaning capabilities. For this category specifically, we examined self-emptying trash cans to see how user-friendly and reliable these features are.
Other factors considered during testing include:
Smart maps and general navigation accuracy: An important component of how well a robot vacuum does its job is how well it understands your living space setup. After an initial Navigation/Mapping run, we measured the vacuum’s ability to move around furniture, slide between different floor types, and overall clean all required floor space. Compatible apps for robovacs prove whether mapping is truly “smart” and accurate – we made sure to keep in mind the differences between LiDAR (laser) and VSLAM (camera) navigation/mapping in robots.
noise: One thing that self-emptying robot vacuums have in common is that they are very noisy. As Mashable reporter Leah Stodart once said in a vacuum review, “Transferring debris from the robot’s bin to the dock’s bin can be loud enough to alarm nearby people or pets.” We Follow Every How important is the noise level of a vacuum cleaner and whether it will interfere with daily life in the long run, especially for those who share walls with neighbours.
App features: In theory, each robot has a companion app that allows users to easily control them. The most impressive apps include the ability to create “no-go zones,” or areas where the vacuum will increase its suction power; schedule cleanings in advance; and instantly view the vacuum’s progress (as well as detailed metrics on its performance after a successful cleaning run). We also tested the app with a relevant vacuum cleaner.
Actual vacuum performance: This is very intuitive. It raises a few key questions around us – does a vacuum cleaner really do what it’s supposed to do? Are they neatly arranged on the carpet for a thorough cleaning? Do they suck up all the dust lurking in the corners of the room, or the pet hair that accumulates during shedding season? Have they ever dealt with a larger, intentional mess, such as a large amount of leftover graham crackers or corn chips, or an intentional spill of rice, soil, or cornstarch? When in doubt, we look at the irrefutable evidence found in bins and self-emptying dock dust bags.
Avoidance: For robot vacuums that claim to be able to detect and avoid problem-causing obstructions (ie: pet poop and tangled cords), we made sure to verify this IRL. This feature is often reflected in higher price points, so it’s important to see if a robot vacuum can actually get around obstacles without panicking, or if it requires human intervention to help them out, relegating them to any other level.
Price/Value and Competition: For each robot vacuum we tested, we compared its price to that of its closest competitor currently on the market and assessed whether its extra features (or lack thereof) justified the price difference. Considering that many of the models in this roundup are frequently on sale, we conducted a cost-benefit analysis by asking one last question: Is this enough to wow us and throw X amount of money at it?
