The Best Robot Vacuum For Carpet
No matter if you have a carpet with a high or low pile There's a robot vacuum for you. These smart devices navigate your home automatically, pick up debris and clean under furniture.
Many have advanced features like mapping, which allows them to navigate around your home and keep track of furniture placement. They can also increase the suction power in order to tackle 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 has a decent suction and can clean up most debris, though it isn't able to handle larger debris such as rice or sand. It also does a good job of cleaning pet hair but it's not impervious to tangling as high-end Roomba models, such as the I6 or j7.
The Roomba is simple to use. It has three buttons on its top cover. Clean, which launches a cleaning session, 'Dock,' which puts it in its charging station, and 'Spot,' which activates a targeted cleaning. It can be controlled via an app on your smartphone that lets you schedule and stop/start cycles, as well as alter settings. It is also possible to pair the device with smart home devices such as Alexa or Google Assistant to control it through voice.
This vacuum is a little slower than other models, but it's still able 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 allow you to set the robot to avoid certain areas or to stop cleaning completely to stop it from becoming stuck.
It's not the top in its price range but it's still superior to other models. The Roborock E4 has a better cleaning efficiency than the Roomba 694 and it is able to clean both carpets with low pile as well as bare. It also follows the most efficient cleaning method and has longer battery life. It is also more durable, has fewer components that require regular maintenance, is priced less over its lifetime and charges faster than 694.
It's also worth looking at other models that are more expensive from the iRobot line, such as the 981 or the v7. The 981 and v7 are both more expensive but have significant improvements in cleaning performance, both on low and bare pile floors. They also have a larger dirt compartment, charge faster, move more easily, and are easier to pair with smart home devices.
Shark RV1001AE IQ
This budget self-emptying robot vacuum cleaner does a good job on low-pile carpet and hard floors. The combination brush is able to reach corners and edges, and then automatically boosts suction once it detects carpet. It also is effective in cleaning dirt embedded in the middle of the pile carpet. The IQ has a small footprint and has a self-emptying feature. However, if you want to alter the floor level on the map, or set no-go zones, you'll have manually reset it to do so, which is quite an inconvenience.
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. Its smart-pathing navigational system results in superior maneuverability and its high-pile carpet mode cleans well, although it does have a tendency to get caught up in rug tassels. Additionally, its iHome speaker allows you to control the robot with voice commands.
In our tests in our tests, the IQ was adept at handling pet hair with ease, removing huge amounts of debris from floors that were not bare and fair amounts on medium-pile carpet. It was less effective on shag carpets, as it struggled to get at dirt and dust that was embedded in the fibers. It was able to maneuver the legs of a chair, tiny spaces as well as the base of an IKEA wooden step stool. We did notice that it was a little slower on bare floors however it soon recovered speed and performed better than the other robots we tried.
The IQ is a better choice over the iRobot Roomba 694 for most applications. It has a larger dustbin and a longer battery lifespan and is more adept at navigating obstacles. It also comes with mopping attachments that are able to deal with sticky debris. On the other hand the iRobot is more durable and has fewer parts that require maintenance or replacement, incurs lower recurring costs and can even create virtual no-go zones using its companion app. It can even resume the cleaning process from where it left off in case it is unable to recharge its battery prior to finishing the job. The iRobot can also be controlled via voice, which is a huge plus for many users.
Eufy 11S
The RoboVac 11S by eufy isn't exactly the most feature-rich robot vacuum available, but it does offer excellent cleaning power at the price of. The RoboVac 11S is made for those who are budget conscious and do not require a complicated mapping system, or even an application to control it. This robot can run for more than an hour and comes with the remote, a cleaning tool, AC power adapter, charging base and extra filters.
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 change from the industrial and utilitarian designs of Roomba, Samsung and Neato.
The eufy11S did well in our tests at removing larger debris and fine dust from floors. However, it struggled to give medium and high pile carpets a thorough clean. It is also prone to bump into furniture and other objects in its path however, it is able to detect obstacles with sensors. It ceases and emits a loud ring when it comes across an obstruction. Then, you can manually guide the device around it and return it to working.
Another excellent feature of the eufy11S is its BoostIQ mode, which allows you to set the robot to automatically adjust its suction power to match the type of floor and the amount of mess. The remote control makes it easy to guide the 11S to the desired place.
If you don't have much furniture in the area you'd like to vacuum, Single Room Mode is an excellent alternative. 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. If you select this option the eufy moves in a spiral pattern to clean edges and corners to ensure a clean.
Miele Complete C1
The Miele Complete C1 is an excellent mid-range canister robotic vacuum that can be a great performer on carpet. Its performance on bare floors is also exceptional. It can remove rice and other small particles with ease. The suction power doesn't diminish as the dirt bin fills. Its air-sealed design and allergy-friendly design snuff out allergens, keeping your family healthy. It uses an onboard HEPA filter and self-emptying dustbin, so you won't need to purchase additional filters or a separate vacuum bag.
It's not as effective as the more expensive models, but it's great for deep cleaning and fighting the toughest stains. It has two cameras on the front that deliver a live feed to your smartphone. It also has one of the most advanced obstacle avoidance systems. It also has a large dustbin, a long runtime, and a fast, bump-free clean-up.
The Complete robot cleaner and mop C1 is unlike most robots in that it can switch between the standard head and turbo to suit different kinds of flooring. The turbo head is best with high-pile or low-pile carpeting, while the standard powerhead is ideal for floors with no flooring and light rug. It also comes with an automatic height adjustment system that enables it to adjust to different kinds of flooring without manual adjustments.
This model comes bundled with an SBD 285-3 Classic Combination Floorhead that can handle both hard floors as well as carpeting with a medium pile. The powerhead can also be easily maneuvered and get into difficult areas. It has five different adjustments to the surface and an off-brush switch to avoid tangled hairs.
The Classic C1 also has a self-cleaning brush roll as well as an UtraClean mode that cycles back and forth over the same area three times to ensure the most thorough cleaning and a self-emptying bin that can be emptied with the press of a button. The noise level is slightly higher than that of other models, but its powerful 1,200-watt motor as well as robust construction make it worth the extra expense.
If you're willing to pay more, the Miele Complete C3 is an excellent all-around canister robot vacuum that performs better on carpet than the Classic C1. It performs better on all floor types, feels more solidly built and comes with a HEPA filter.