The Best Robot Vacuum For Carpet
Whether you've got carpet with a high or low pile, there's a robot vacuum for you. These smart appliances automatically navigate through your home, pick up debris and even clean under furniture.
Many have advanced features like mapping, which helps them navigate around your home and keep track of furniture positioning. They can also boost suction power to clear dirtier areas.
iRobot Roomba 694"
The Roomba 694 by iRobot is a robot vacuum for entry-level use that is able to work on carpets with a low pile or bare floor. It is able to suction well however, it struggles with larger debris like grains of rice or sand. It is capable of cleaning pet hair, but is not as resistant to tangling as the premium Roomba models such as the I6 and j7.
The Roomba is easy to use. It has three buttons on its top cover: 'Clean' initiates a cleaning cycle and 'Dock' allows it to be put back in its charging station and 'Spot Clean' activates an targeted clean. You can control it using a smartphone application that allows you to schedule cycles, stop/start the cycle and change settings. You can also connect it with smart home devices such as Alexa or Google Assistant for voice-controlled operation.
This vacuum cleaner is slower than others, but it is able to reach most corners and crevices. It has a big bin, which makes it easier to empty. It is compatible with digital mapping and virtual barriers, which allows you to set the robot to avoid certain areas, or even stop cleaning completely to stop it from becoming stuck.
While it's not the best model for its price however, it's superior to many other alternatives. The Roborock E4 is more advanced than the Roomba 694 with better cleaning performance for carpets with low and no pile. It also has a more durable battery and a more efficient path. It is also more durable, has fewer components that require regular maintenance, is priced less over its life and charges faster than 694.
It is also worth considering other models from the iRobot range, including the v7 or the 981. They're more expensive but they are significantly better than the 694 in terms of cleaning performance on both bare and low-pile floors, follow a more efficient cleaning route and have a larger dirt compartment, are more efficient to charge, move more easily, and are much easier to pair with smart home devices.
Shark RV1001AE IQ
This budget self-emptying robotic vacuum cleaner does a great job on low-pile carpet and hard flooring. The combination brush is able to reach corners and edges and it automatically increases suction as soon as it spots carpet. It is also effective at cleaning dirt embedded in mid-pile carpet. The IQ has a tiny footprint and also a self-emptying function. If you'd like 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's app has some advanced mapping and automation features however, it's not able to access no-go zones that are available on iRobot models. The smart-pathing technology allows for superior maneuverability and the high-pile feature of its carpet cleaning mode is very effective, although it can get caught on the tassels of the rug.
During our tests, the IQ was adept at handling pet hair effectively, clearing huge amounts of hair from bare floors and fair amounts on medium-pile carpet. It was less efficient on shag carpets, where it struggled to reach dirt and dust embedded in the fibers. It was capable of navigating chair legs, tight spaces, and the bottom of an wooden IKEA step stool. It was a little slower on flooring that was not fully covered, but it recovered speed and performed better than other robots we have test.
The IQ is a better option for the majority of users than the iRobot Roomba. It has a bigger dust bin and lasts longer on a charge, and does a better job of maneuvering itself over obstacles. It comes with a mopping tool that can clean up sticky debris. On the other side the iRobot is more durable, has fewer parts that require replacement or maintenance and has lower recurring costs and can even create virtual no-go zones with its companion app. It can continue cleaning the point it started, even if the battery runs out before it has finished. The iRobot can be controlled by voice, which is a huge benefit for many users.
Eufy 11S
The eufy RoboVac 11S robot vacuum isn't one of the most advanced models, but it offers excellent cleaning power for affordable prices. This vacuum was designed for consumers with a tight budget who don't need a complex mapping system, or an application to control it. This robot will last for over an hour. It comes with the remote control, 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 different from Roomba, Samsung, and Neato designs that are more utilitarian and industrial.
In our tests, the eufy11S was extremely effective at removing large particles and fine dust on hard floors. However, it struggled to provide medium and high robot vacuum pile carpets an effective deep clean. The device has a tendency to hit people and furniture in its course. However, it can detect these obstacles using sensors. If it encounters them it halts and emits a loud beep so you can manually guide it around the obstacle and get it back to work.
The BoostIQ mode is another fantastic feature of the Eufy11S. It allows you to set up the robot to automatically adjust the suction strength based on the type of floor and the amount of the mess. It's also simple to use the remote to direct the 11S in the direction you'd like it to go.
If you don't have much furniture in the room you'd like to vacuum, Single Room Mode is an excellent option. The eufy can spend 30 minutes intensely cleaning the area it is assigned to.
Edge Cleaning is another option that limits the time spent on each area to 20 minutes. This will increase battery life. By selecting 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 is an excellent mid-range robot vacuum that is a top performer on carpet. Its performance on floors that are not bare is also exceptional. It can remove small particles such as rice easily, and it doesn't lose suction performance even as its dirt bin fills. Its allergy-friendly design and air-sealed body will trap allergens to keep your family healthy. It comes with an onboard HEPA filter and a self-emptying bin, so you don't have to buy additional filters or a separate bag for your vacuum.
It's not as powerful as the more expensive models, but it's still great for tackling dirt and deep cleaning. It has two front cameras that provide live feeds to your smartphone. It also comes with one of the most advanced obstacle avoidance systems. It also comes with a huge dustbin, a long runtime and a quick, bump-free clean-up.
In contrast to other robots, the Complete C1 can switch between two powerheads, a standard one and a turbo head for different floor types. The turbo head is great for low-pile and high-pile carpeting and the standard powerhead can be used on unfinished floors and light rugs. It also has an automatic height adjustment system, that allows it to adapt to various kinds of flooring, without manual adjustments.
This model comes with the SBD 285-3 Classic Combination Floorhead, which can be used on both hard floors and carpets of medium pile. The powerhead is also easy to maneuver and can get into difficult spots. It comes with five levels of surface adjustments and a switch that lets you turn off the brushroll to avoid hairs getting caught in tangles.
The Classic C1 has a self cleaning brush roll as well as a UtraClean Mode that will clean the same area up to three times and a self emptying dustbin that can be emptied by pressing a single button. The noise level is slightly higher than that of other models however, its powerful 1,200-watt motor as well as solid construction make it well worth the extra expense.
If you're willing a bit more, the Miele Complete C3 is an excellent all-around canister robot vacuum that is more effective on carpet than the Classic C1. It is more efficient on all floors and feels more sturdy and comes with a HEPA filter.