The Best Robot Vacuum For Carpet
Whether you've got low or high-pile carpet there's a robotic vacuum for you. These smart appliances automatically navigate through your home, pick up dirt and clean under furniture.
They have advanced features like mapping that help you navigate around your home and keep track of where furniture is. They can also increase the suction power to take on dirtier surfaces.
iRobot Roomba 694
The Roomba 694 by iRobot is an entry-level robot vacuum that works well on carpets with a low pile or bare floor. It is able to suction well however it has trouble with larger debris like sand or grains of rice. It also does a decent job of cleaning pet hair but it's not resistant to tangling like the premium Roomba models like the I6 or j7.
The Roomba 694 is easy to use. It has a trio of buttons on its cover: 'Clean' launches a cleaning cycle, 'Dock' puts it back in its charging station, and 'Spot Clean' initiates the targeted cleaning. It can be controlled via an app for smartphones that lets you schedule cycles, stop/start them and adjust settings. It is also possible to pair the device to smart home devices such as Alexa or Google Assistant to control it via voice.
This vacuum is a bit slower than other models, but it is still able to get into the most crevices and corners. It comes with a large bin that makes it easy to empty. It is compatible with digital maps and virtual barriers which let you make it impossible to clean certain areas or stop cleaning altogether in order to prevent it from getting stuck on something.
Although it's not the most efficient model for its price but it's far superior to other options. The Roborock E4 has a better cleaning performance than the Roomba 694 and it's able to clean low-pile and bare carpets. It also follows a more efficient cleaning path and has 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 is also worth considering other models from the iRobot range, like the v7 and the 981. They're more expensive, but they offer significant improvements over the 694 in terms of performance on both low- and bare floors, follow an efficient cleaning path and come with a larger dirt compartment, are faster to charge, maneuver themselves more easily, and are more easy to pair with smart home devices.
Shark RV1001AE IQ
This budget self-emptying robot does a decent job on hard floors and carpets with a low pile. Its combination brush reaches the edges and corners and it automatically boosts suction once it spots carpet. It also does a great job of cleaning dirt from carpet in the middle. The IQ's tiny footprint for docks and the self-emptying feature are great features. If you want to change the floor levels or set zones that aren't allowed, you'll have to manually reset the map.
The IQ app provides advanced mapping and automated features, but it lacks no-go zones. These are available only on iRobot robots. Its smart-pathing system allows for superior maneuverability and the high-pile feature of its carpet cleaning mode is very effective but it could get caught on rug tassels.
During our tests, we discovered that the IQ handled pet hair well. It was able to get rid of a large amount of debris on floors that were unfinished and a decent amount of rug with a medium pile. It was less efficient with shag carpets, as it had a hard time reaching dirt and dust buried within the fibers. It did a decent job of navigating chair legs, tight spaces, and the bottom of an wooden IKEA step stool. We did notice it was a little slower on bare floors, but it regained speed and performed more thoroughly than other robots we tested.
The IQ is a better option over the iRobot Roomba 694 for most applications. It has a bigger dust bin, lasts longer on a charge, and is capable of moving itself over obstacles. It also comes with a mopping attachment that can tackle sticky messes. On the other hand, the iRobot is more durable, has fewer parts that require replacement or maintenance, incurs lower recurring costs, and can create virtual no-go zones through its companion app. It can even resume cleaning from the point it started if it runs out of battery before it has completed the task. The iRobot can be controlled by voice commands, which is a major benefit for many users.
Eufy 11S
The eufy RoboVac 11S isn't the most feature-rich robot vacuum available however it offers excellent cleaning power at the price of. It's designed for those who don't require a complex mapping system or an app to control the device. This robot will last for over an hour. It includes a remote control, cleaning tool and AC power adapter.
The 11S is slim and sleek, with an upper deck of tempered glass that covers plastic finished to look like brushed aluminum. It's a nice departure here from the industrial and utilitarian designs of Roomba, Samsung and Neato.
In our tests, the eufy11S was very effective in removing larger debris and fine dust on hard flooring. However, it struggled to give medium and high pile carpeting an effective deep clean. It is also prone to bump into furniture and people in its path however, it's able detect those obstacles using sensors. It stops and emits a loud noise when it encounters an obstruction. It is then possible to manually steer the device around the obstacle and restart it.
Another fantastic feature of the eufy 11S is its BoostIQ mode that allows you to set the robot to automatically adjust the strength of its suction to match 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'd like it to go.
Single Room Mode is a great option for those with small furniture in the area you want to vacuum. The eufy will spend up to 30 minutes cleaning the space it is assigned.
Edge Cleaning is another option that reduces the time that is spent on each area to just 20 minutes. This will increase battery life. This feature allows the eufy to move in a spiraling pattern, cleaning corners and edges.
Miele Complete C1
The Miele Complete C1 is an excellent mid-range canister robotic vacuum that is a top performer on carpet. Its performance on floors that are not bare is also outstanding. It is able to remove rice and other fine particles with ease. The suction power doesn't diminish as the dirt bin fills. Its design is a breathable one and its air-sealed body captures allergens to keep your family healthy. It comes with an onboard HEPA filter and self-emptying dustbin, so you don't need additional filters or a separate bag for your vacuum.
It's not as powerful as the more expensive models, but is still great for deep cleaning and fighting staining. It comes with two cameras in front that provide live feeds to your smartphone. It also has one of the most advanced obstacle avoidance systems. It comes with a large bin, a long runtime and an easy, bump-free clean-up.
In contrast to other robots, unlike most other robots, Complete C1 can switch between the standard powerhead and the turbo head to accommodate different floor types. The turbo head is ideal for low-pile and high-pile carpeting, while the standard powerhead can be used on unfinished floors and light rugs. It also features an automatic height adjustment system that enables it to adjust to different kinds of flooring without manual adjustments.
This model comes with a SBD 285-3 Classic Combination Floorhead that can handle both hard floors as well as medium-pile carpeting. The powerhead is also easy to move and can reach tough spots. It comes with five different surface adjustments as well as an off-brush switch to avoid hairs from getting tangled.
The Classic C1 also has a self-cleaning brush roll and an UtraClean mode that moves around the same area three times to ensure the most thorough cleaning and a self-emptying bin that can be empty at the touch of one button. The noise level of this model is more pronounced than other models. However its powerful motor of 1,200 watts and durable construction make it worth the extra cost.
If you're willing to spend a bit more it's worth it. Miele Complete C3 is an excellent all-around canister robot vacuum that is more effective on carpet than the Classic C1. It is more effective on all types of floors and is more robustly built, and comes with an HEPA filter.