How we tested
The Mashable shopping team has tested dozens of robot vacuums from brands such as iRobot, Roborock, Shark, eufy, Yeedi, and other popular smart home brands. In addition, we’ve also tested popular stick vacuums and cordless Dyson vacs. And because new flagship robot vacuums are released every year, we try to try out the latest models whenever possible.
For this guide, Mashable shopping reporters and contributors tested the Roomba s9+, Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1, Roborock S8+, Roborock S7+, Roomba j7+, and the Yeedi Vac Station. After careful research, the Wyze Robot Vacuum was included as a budget option, even though it hasn’t been hands-on tested like the others. Previously, we featured the Wyze robot vacuum in our guide to the best robot vacuums, and it’s one of the few cheap robot vacuums with LiDAR capabilities.
When conducting hands-on tests of robot vacuums, we consider how the product performs on multiple types of flooring, which can include hardwood laminate, area rugs, carpets, and tile. In searching for the best robot vacuum for carpets, we prioritized models that performed particularly well on carpets and rugs (obviously). We also considered how effectively these vacuums removed pet hair from those carpeted areas, as this is a common drawback with many robot vacuums.
In addition to analyzing a robot’s performance on carpet, we also thoroughly test its overall cleaning abilities as well as special features such as LiDAR mapping, mopping, self-emptying, or self-cleaning. With all of these factors in mind, we selected the six best all-around robot vacuums for carpet at a variety of price points.