Robotic Vacuums Get More Features as They Age

“You may find that the thicker the pile, the more difficulty the robot has and the more battery power it uses, which means it may dock to recharge before it has cleaned the entire space,” Booth says.

Some of these robots will do more than vacuum. A two-in-one model can mop floors, too. But these can be expensive to operate. Hales recommends buying this type if your home has less than 40 percent hard flooring.

They map your house as they vacuum

They won’t run into your stuff. Make sure the vacuum you buy is equipped with obstacle detection, Hales says. It will sense the location of furniture and other items on the floor and steer clear of them. Also look for a feature called lidar, a laser system the robot uses to create a digital layout of your home.

In 2021, Consumer Reports evaluated 39 robotic vacuums on data security and privacy. Because most need to be connected to Wi-Fi, they may have been among the first devices in your home that are part of the internet of things, which also includes home security systems, smart light bulbs and video doorbells.

All of the manufacturers that CR tested encrypt users’ sensitive information, such as usage data and logins, but don't rate as highly on privacy. That's in part because they are vague about what data they collect about you and your home and how it is collected, the nonprofit says.

If you have a dog or cat, vacuums with “poop detection” are good to have. They’re programmed to avoid pet waste, so you won’t find a bigger pet mess when you return home. (Enough said.)

Self-emptying dustbins can save effort. Vacuums with this feature empty their dustbin into a receptacle in the docking station, instead of hanging on to the debris for you to empty into the trash. You still need to clean out the docking bin but less frequently than with standard robots.

Expect to spend a few hundred dollars. While you don’t necessarily need to get a higher-end robot vacuum at $500 to $900, Hales recommends buying a model that costs at least $300, to ensure quality.