Spec Explainers
Understand the specs before shortlisting. Every table here is built from the tracked model set, so thresholds come from real market ranges — not generic advice.
- Suction PowerPa ratings are manufacturer-specified, not measured airflow — but the distribution still shows where the market clusters and which models sit above it.
- Battery RuntimeRuntime in minutes, bucketed from real spec records. Longer runtime matters most for multi-room homes without a dock to return to.
- Dock TypesThe dock decides how often you touch the robot. From charge-only to omni stations, each step up trades money for weeks of hands-off operation.
- Mop SystemsMopping ranges from a drag pad to rotating discs washed and dried at the dock. The tracked lineup shows which systems owners actually talk about.
- Obstacle AvoidanceCamera and structured-light systems promise fewer rescues. Here is how the tracked models split on navigation hardware and avoidance claims.
- Cost of OwnershipObserved prices grouped into tiers, with the complaint themes owners actually report at each level. Prices are point-in-time snapshots.