The Best Robot Vacuum For Carpet
Whether you've got low or high-pile carpet there's a robotic vacuum for you. These machines are intelligent and can automatically navigate through your home, pick up debris and even clean under furniture.
They have advanced features such as mapping that helps you navigate around your home and help you remember the location of furniture. They can also increase suction power to tackle dirtier areas.
iRobot Roomba 694"
The Roomba 694 by iRobot is a robot vacuum for entry-level use that performs well on both carpets with a low pile or bare floor. It has good suction and cleans up most debris, though it has trouble with larger debris like sand or rice. It also does a good job of cleaning pet hair however it isn't impervious to tangling as top Roomba models, such as the j7 or I6.
The Roomba 694 is simple to use. It has a trio of buttons on its top cover: 'Clean' initiates an entire cleaning cycle and 'Dock' allows it to be put back in its charging station and 'Spot Clean' triggers an targeted clean. It can be controlled with an app on your smartphone which lets you schedule or stop/start cycles, as well as alter settings. It is also possible to pair the device to smart home devices such as Alexa or Google Assistant to control it through voice.
This vacuum cleaner is slower than some other models, but it can get into the most crevices and corners. It comes with a large bin, which makes it easier to empty. It is compatible with digital mapping and virtual barriers, which lets you program the robot to stay out of certain areas, or even stop cleaning altogether to prevent it from becoming stuck.
While it's not the best model in its price range, it's better than many other alternatives. The Roborock E4 is more advanced than the Roomba 694 with better cleaning efficiency on both bare and low-pile carpets. It also follows an efficient cleaning route and has a longer battery life. It is also more robust, has fewer components that require regular maintenance, is priced less over its lifetime, and charges faster than 694.
It's also worth considering other models that are more expensive within the iRobot line, such as the 981 or the v7. The 981 and v7 are both more expensive, but have significant improvement in cleaning efficiency, both on low and bare pile floors. They also have a bigger dirt compartment and charge faster, move more easily and are easier to pair up with smart home devices.
Shark RV1001AE IQ
This budget self-emptying robot vacuum cleaner does an excellent job on carpets with low piles and hard floors. Its combination brush gets into corners and edges and it automatically increases suction when it detects carpet. It also does a great job of cleaning embedded dirt from mid-pile carpet. The IQ has a tiny footprint and also a self-emptying function. If you'd like to change the floor levels or set no-go areas, you'll need to manually reset the map.
The IQ's app has some advanced mapping and automation features however, it's not able to access no-go zones, which are available on iRobot models. Its intelligent-pathing navigational system results in greater maneuverability, and its high-pile carpet cleaning mode cleans well, but it does have a tendency to get caught up on 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 with ease. It was able to eliminate lots of debris on bare floors and a decent amount of medium-pile rug. It was less efficient with shag carpets. It had a hard time reaching 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. It was a bit slower on floors that were not paved however, it was able to recover speed and was more efficient than the other robots that we tested.
The IQ is a better option over the iRobot Roomba 694 for most uses. It has a larger dustbin and lasts longer on a charge and is more capable of getting around obstacles. It comes with a mopping tool that can remove sticky mess. The iRobot, however, is better constructed and has fewer parts that need maintenance or replacement and incurs fewer recurring costs, can create virtual no-go zones using its companion application. It is able to continue cleaning from where it left off, even if its battery runs out before it finishes. The iRobot can also be controlled via voice commands, which is a huge plus for many users.
Eufy 11S
The eufy RoboVac 11S robot vacuum isn't among the most features-rich models, but it offers great cleaning power at a low cost. This vacuum was designed for consumers with a tight budget who do not require a complicated mapping system, or an app to control it. This robot can last for more than an hour. It includes an remote control, a cleaning tool, and AC power adapter.
The 11S is slim and elegant and has a tempered glass upper deck that resembles polished aluminum. It's a nice departure from the industrial and utilitarian designs of Roomba, Samsung and Neato.
The eufy11S did well in our tests of removing larger debris and fine dust from hard floors. It was unable to thoroughly clean medium and high-pile carpets. The device has a tendency to bump into people and furniture in its course. However, it is able detect these obstacles using sensors. When it encounters them, it ceases to move and emits a loud beep so you can manually steer it around the obstacle and then get back to work.
The BoostIQ mode is another great feature of the eufy11S. It lets you set the robot up to automatically adjust suction strength based upon the type of floor and the amount of mess. It's also easy to use the remote to direct the 11S in the direction you want it to move.
Single Room Mode is a great option for those with small furniture in the space you want to vacuum. The eufy is capable of spending up to 30 minutes cleaning the area it is assigned.
You can also choose Edge Cleaning which restricts the amount of time spent in each area to 20 minutes for optimal battery life. This feature allows the eufy to move in a spiraling fashion by cleaning edges and corners.
Miele Complete C1
The Miele Complete C1 canister robot is a great view it now mid-range vacuum cleaner that is a winner on carpet. Its performance is also excellent on bare floors. It can pick up small particles like rice effortlessly and it doesn't suffer from suction performance even as its dirt bin fills. Its allergy-friendly design and air-sealed body traps allergens and keeps your family healthy. It comes with an onboard HEPA and self-emptying bin, so you don't need any additional filters or a vacuum bag.
It's not as effective as the more expensive models, but it's great for deep cleaning and tackling stains. It has two front cameras that deliver a live feed to your smartphone. It also has one of the most advanced obstacle avoidance systems. It also has a big dustbin, a long runtime and a speedy clean-up that is free of bumps.
Unlike most other robots, the Complete C1 can switch between a standard powerhead and a turbo head to suit different floor types. The turbo head is best on low-pile or high-pile carpeting, while the standard powerhead is suitable for floors with no flooring and light rug. It also features an automatic height adjustment system that enables it to adapt to different kinds of flooring without manual adjustments.
The model comes with an SBD 285-3 Classic Combination Floorhead that can handle both hard floors and carpeting with a medium pile. The motor can also be easily moved and get into difficult areas. It comes with five different surface adjustments and a brushroll-off switch to prevent hairs from getting tangled.
The Classic C1 has a self cleaning brush roll as well as a UtraClean Mode that can clean the same area three times, and a self-emptying bin that you can empty with a single button press. Its noise level is slightly higher than some other models, but its powerful 1,200-watt motor as well as sturdy build make it worth the extra cost.
If you're willing to pay more then the Miele Complete C3 is an excellent all-around canister robot vacuum that performs better on carpet than the Classic C1. It is better suited for all kinds of floors, is more solidly constructed and comes with a HEPA filter.