I’ve been testing robot vacuums professionally for nearly two years now, and during that time I’ve reviewed all kinds of different robovacs, from different brands and at different price points. There have been plenty of things that surprised me. Most of them have been positive – today’s best robot vacuums are truly capable, impressive gadgets that can save you plenty of time and effort.
In the course of my professional testing, I’ve also attended plenty of briefings and received countless press releases, and I know the lines all the big robot vacuum brands are peddling. Some of them are valid, and others less so. Here are the three biggest lies robot vacuum brands are telling us, so you can temper your expectations before you invest.
#1. It’s all about suction
Robot vacuum brands are currently engaged in a raging battle to have the highest suction specs. These are measured in Pascals (Pa), and things have gotten out of hand lately.
When I started testing robovacs, a low-end bot might have 2,000-4,000Pa of suction, while the fanciest and priciest models would have around 10,000Pa. Then, around the start of 2025, those specs suddenly doubled, and have been climbing at a dizzying pace ever since. Roborock’s new flagship has 35,000Pa of suction, as does Dreame’s latest addition.
The thing is, I didn’t see cleaning prowess improving at the same rate. 10,00Pa was plenty for a really capable clean, and in fact I’ve tested robot vacuums with far lower suction specs that did an equally good job when it came to day-to-day cleaning, and seemed to pick up a similar amount of fluff, hair and dust from my floors.
It’s natural to assume that the higher the suction spec, the better the robovac, but there are plenty of things that play into how well a bot cleans. The design of the roller, for one, and the accuracy of its navigation for another. Plus, remember the suction spec will be for the very highest cleaning setting, which probably isn’t the one you’ll typically be using.
2. They can identify any object – including cables
Claims around object recognition have also escalated of late. Modern bots can apparently spot and identify a dizzying array of potential obstacles, and then react appropriately for each one, every time they encounter it. Based on my testing, and that of my freelance writers, that’s simply not true.
Height is one big stumbling block – if an object is below, say, an inch / 2.5cm in height, a robot vacuum simply won’t spot it. I’ve never met a robot vac that didn’t want to eat all my cables, no matter how much that bot cost.
In fact, no robot vacuum has achieved a perfect score in TechRadar’s obstacle avoidance tests. I’ve tested plenty of bots that have meticulously circumnavigated that sock – even photographing it and correctly identifying it in the app – to then go on to drive straight into the shoe sitting a short way behind it. The next time, they might avoid the shoe but gobble down the sock.
It’s still worth looking out for decent object avoidance, but adjust your expectations, especially when it comes to consistency in behavior. And to be perfectly clear, I’d never, ever trust any robot vacuum to avoid dog poop.
3. You’ll never have to get your hands dirty
Today’s premium robot vacuums have ever more advanced cleaning stations, which not only empty the dust from the small onboard bins and replenish any water tanks, but also clean the robot’s mop pads (often with hot water, to cut through grease) and dry them off. Some can even clean themselves, too. The myth is that you’ll essentially never have to get involved at all.
That’s not true. A comprehensive clean station will lessen the amount of maintenance required, but it can’t take care of everything. Grime will still build up in the base where the bot docks, and need wiping out and disinfecting from time to time. You’ll still need to manually wash the mop pads on occasion to get them really clean (either in the washing machine or the sink, depending on the type). The side sweepers will still need removing, de-hairing and rinsing off, because grime will build up. These actions will help keep the robot performing well for as long as possible.
None of this is to put you off investing in a premium robot vacuum. There are tons more things that robot vacuums can do, and I wouldn’t be without one. But it’s important to know their limitations, to avoid disappointment.
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