Robot vacuums, simply explained

Find the robot vacuum that fits your home

Ignore the spec-sheet arms race. The right robot depends on four things: your floors, your pets, your door thresholds and how much hands-off mopping you want.

Prices & specs checked Oct 23, 2026

Robot vacuums now range from under $200 to over $1,600. The extra money buys three things: a dock that empties, washes and dries the robot for you, stronger obstacle avoidance (think socks and pet accidents), and mops that lift or detach on carpet. Below are six picks across that range, with the makers’ own specs and store prices.[1][3]

Our six picks

We haven’t lab-tested these. Picks are based on the makers’ published specs and what each robot is designed for. Prices are the maker’s regular store price on Oct 23, 2026. Sales are frequent, so check the current price.

01

Best for high thresholds & clutter

Roborock Saros 20

Roborock

$1,599.99 Roborock store

Roborock’s flagship has 36,000 Pa of suction and a 3.14-inch-tall body, climbs double-layer thresholds up to 3.46 inches, washes its mop at 212°F, and recognizes over 300 types of obstacle.[1]

  • Suction36,000 Pa
  • Body height3.14 in
  • Max thresholdUp to 3.46 in (double-layer)
  • MoppingHot-water mop wash (212°F)
  • DockSelf-empty + wash + dry
Good
  • Climbs thresholds most robots can’t
  • Low enough for many sofas
Watch out
  • Premium price
  • More dock maintenance than a basic robot
02

Rival flagship, thin profile

Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete

Dreame

$1,699.99 list price, Dreame store

Dreame rates it at 35,000 Pa of suction with a 3.13-inch body. It climbs up to 3.47 inches and recognizes more than 280 objects.[2]

  • Suction35,000 Pa
  • Body height3.13 in
  • Max thresholdUp to 3.47 in
  • MoppingMop with auto-wash dock
  • DockSelf-empty + wash + dry
Good
  • Very low body for under furniture
  • Big threshold clearance
Watch out
  • Highest list price here
03

Roomba flagship with roller mop

iRobot Roomba Max 875 Combo

iRobot

$1,199 MSRP

Announced in September 2026, the Max 875 Combo has 35,000 Pa of suction, 20 L/s of airflow and a roller mop. It’s 9.98 cm tall, crosses 3.5 cm thresholds, and its AutoWash dock holds up to 90 days of debris.[3]

  • Suction35,000 Pa
  • Body height9.98 cm (3.9 in)
  • Max threshold3.5 cm (1.4 in)
  • MoppingRoller mop
  • DockAutoWash, up to 90 days
Good
  • A roller mop scrubs continuously instead of dragging a pad
  • Long time between dock emptying
Watch out
  • Taller body than Roborock/Dreame
  • Lower threshold limit
04

Best value with a full dock

Roborock Qrevo 2 Pro

Roborock

$799.99 regular price, Roborock store (often on sale)

20,000 Pa of suction and an all-in-one dock, plus automatic mop detachment so the mop pads stay off your carpets.[4]

  • Suction20,000 Pa
  • Body height—
  • Max threshold—
  • MoppingAuto-detaching mops
  • DockAll-in-one dock
Good
  • Hands-off mopping for well under flagship prices
  • Mops detach for carpet
Watch out
  • Less suction than flagships
05

Best budget LiDAR + self-empty

Roborock Q7 M5+

Roborock

$429.99 regular price, Roborock store (often on sale)

LiDAR navigation, 10,000 Pa of suction and a self-emptying dock with a 2.7 L bag that Roborock says lasts about seven weeks. It climbs 2 cm (0.8 in).[5]

  • Suction10,000 Pa
  • Body height—
  • Max threshold2 cm (0.8 in)
  • Mopping—
  • DockSelf-empty, 2.7 L bag (~7 wks)
Good
  • Precise LiDAR maps and no-go zones on a budget
  • Weeks between bag changes
Watch out
  • Low threshold limit
  • No mop-washing dock
06

Cheapest name-brand vac + mop

iRobot Roomba 105 Combo Robot

iRobot

$179.99 iRobot store

iRobot’s entry-level vacuum-and-mop robot, for small homes or a second floor.[6]

  • Suction—
  • Body height—
  • Max threshold—
  • MoppingVacuum + mop combo
  • DockCharging dock
Good
  • Low price from a major brand
Watch out
  • You empty the bin yourself
  • iRobot publishes few specs for it

Robot vacuum quiz

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Compare specs

Side-by-side, makers’ published specs
ModelSuctionBody heightMax thresholdMoppingDock
Roborock Saros 2036,000 Pa3.14 inUp to 3.46 in (double-layer)Hot-water mop wash (212°F)Self-empty + wash + dry
Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete35,000 Pa3.13 inUp to 3.47 inMop with auto-wash dockSelf-empty + wash + dry
iRobot Roomba Max 875 Combo35,000 Pa9.98 cm (3.9 in)3.5 cm (1.4 in)Roller mopAutoWash, up to 90 days
Roborock Qrevo 2 Pro20,000 Pa——Auto-detaching mopsAll-in-one dock
Roborock Q7 M5+10,000 Pa—2 cm (0.8 in)—Self-empty, 2.7 L bag (~7 wks)
iRobot Roomba 105 Combo Robot———Vacuum + mop comboCharging dock

Specs are the manufacturer’s published figures; “—” means the maker does not publish it. Click a column heading to sort.

Measure your thresholds first

Most stuck robots are stuck on a door threshold or a thick rug edge. Budget robots like the Q7 M5+ climb about 2 cm,[5] the Max 875 Combo 3.5 cm,[3] and flagships like the Saros 20 and X60 around 3.5 inches.[1][2] Measure your highest one with a ruler before you shop.

Which dock do you need?

  • Charging only: you empty a small bin after most runs.
  • Self-empty: the dock sucks debris into a bag. Weeks of hands-off vacuuming.[5]
  • All-in-one: also washes and dries the mop and refills water, for hands-off mopping.[1]

Does suction (Pa) matter?

Up to a point. Higher Pa ratings help on carpet and with deep debris, but brush design, airflow and navigation matter as much. Use suction to compare robots from the same maker, not across brands. iRobot also publishes airflow (20 L/s for the Max 875), which most rivals don’t.[3]

Is iRobot still safe to buy?

iRobot filed for Chapter 11 on December 14, 2025 and came under the ownership of its manufacturer, Picea, on January 23, 2026. It continues to sell and support Roombas and launched new models in September 2026.[3]

Questions buyers ask

Do robot vacuums work on thick carpet?

Low- and medium-pile carpet is fine for most. On deep shag, robots can struggle or get stuck, so check the maker’s guidance.

Will a robot vacuum replace my upright?

For daily upkeep, largely yes. Most homes still need an occasional deep clean, stairs and upholstery done by hand.

What is LiDAR navigation?

A spinning laser maps your rooms so the robot cleans in efficient rows and respects no-go zones, even in the dark. Even the budget Q7 M5+ has it.[5]

Are these sold on Amazon?

Most are, and prices there change often. We link to Amazon search results and to each maker’s store so you can compare.

Further reading

Sources

  1. Roborock Saros 20 (Roborock US store)
  2. X60 Max Ultra Complete (Dreame)
  3. iRobot announces new Roomba lineup (Sept 2, 2026) (iRobot newsroom)
  4. Roborock Qrevo 2 Pro (Roborock US store)
  5. Roborock Q7 M5+ (Roborock US store)
  6. Roomba robots (iRobot store)

All sources checked Oct 23, 2026. Prices and availability change often. The seller’s page is the final word. Spotted an error? Email [email protected].