Navigation, docks and what happens in year three.
By Daniel Reyes, Smart Home Editor · Published August 8, 2026 · 2 min read
Photograph: Jens Mahnke / StockSnap
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We ran both platforms in parallel across the same 140 m² test home, alternating weeks.
Both map reliably. The difference is what happens when something unexpected is on the floor — cables, socks, pet accidents.
Vibrating and rotating pads with automatic washing genuinely clean. Static pads drag dirt.
Check consumable prices before buying: brushes, filters and mop pads cost $80–$140 a year across both platforms.
A dock-everything robot vacuum with strong suction, genuinely useful obstacle avoidance and self-washing mop pads.
Best for: Mixed carpet and hard floor homes with pets
Price band last checked 2026-08-11. Live pricing arrives with our retailer feed.
The cordless benchmark: laser dust illumination, real filtration and enough power for whole-home cleaning.
Best for: Allergy households and hard floors
Price band last checked 2026-08-09. Live pricing arrives with our retailer feed.
| Price | $1,300 – $1,600 | $650 – $800 |
| Score | 8.8 | 9 |
| Best for | Mixed carpet and hard floor homes with pets | Allergy households and hard floors |
| Warranty | 2 years | 2 years |
The verdict
Roborock's flagship is the better machine today: stronger mopping, better obstacle avoidance and more local control. Choose the alternative if you value the simplest possible app and the widest service network.
Methodology
Every product here was tested in a working home against standardised tasks. Scores are the mean of five measured criteria and are never adjusted for commercial reasons. How we test · How we review.
The Home Brief
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We ran nine robot vacuums through the same messy house. Obstacle avoidance, not suction, separates them.
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Interaction rates collapse for most categories by week twelve. Four survive.