Best robot vacuums

Start with the Ecovacs Deebot X11 OmniCyclone. It's the most complete all-rounder here: it vacuums and mops, empties and washes itself at the dock, and works with Alexa and Google — the pick for most homes with a mix of carpet and hard floors.

Who the others suit:

• Dreame X50 Ultra — the closest rival; strong on carpet and pet hair, and it takes Siri too.
• Roborock Qrevo S Pro — the safe, well-known choice if you want a big-brand mop-vac without the flagship extras.
• Dreame X40 Ultra — a step down in polish but still a full self-emptying mop-vac; good if you'd rather not pay flagship money.
• Tapo RV30 MAX Plus — the value pick: huge suction, LiDAR navigation and up to 90 days of hands-free emptying.
• iRobot Roomba 205 DustCompactor Combo — best for small flats and light messes; bagless, so no bags to buy.
• Dyson Spot+Scrub Ai — only if you want Dyson's scrubbing on spots and stains; its ratings are the weakest of the group.

Skip the Eureka and the Onson/eufy budget models if you want reliable navigation and app control.