9 Things to Check Before Buying a Robot Vacuum

A robot vacuum can hand you back hours every week — if you pick the right one for your home. Here's what matters.

1. How strong is the suction?

Higher suction (measured in Pa) matters most for carpets and pet hair. Match it to your floors.

2. Does it map your home?

Smart mapping lets the robot clean methodically, target specific rooms and avoid no-go zones.

3. Can it handle your floor types?

Check performance on hard floors, rugs and thresholds, especially if you mix surfaces.

4. Is it good with pet hair?

If you have pets, look for tangle-resistant brushes and strong suction designed for hair.

5. Does it empty itself?

A self-emptying base means weeks of hands-off cleaning — a big convenience upgrade.

6. Does it mop as well?

Many models now vacuum and mop. Check how well the mopping actually works if that matters to you.

7. How long is the battery and does it recharge and resume?

Bigger homes need longer runtime and the ability to recharge then finish the job.

8. How good is the app and smart-home support?

Scheduling, zone cleaning and voice control make the robot far more useful day to day.

9. How easy is maintenance?

Filters, brushes and bins need cleaning. Easy maintenance and affordable spares keep it running.

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Match suction and features to your floors and pets, and prioritise smart mapping plus a self-emptying base for true hands-off cleaning.