AEG 7000 AR71UW2DG

Suction in pascal, as the maker measures it. More pascal helps on carpet, but it says little about how well the robot picks grit off a hard floor.

The dock empties the robot’s dust bin, usually after every run. You only empty the dock’s bag or bin.

The dock collects dust in a bin instead of a disposable bag. No bags to buy, but you empty it yourself.

How much the dust bag in the dock holds.

How long the maker says a dust bag lasts with daily use. With pets or a lot of carpet it is shorter.

The dock washes the mop for you, so you do not rinse it by hand.

The dock dries the mop afterwards, so it does not sit there wet and start to smell.

The dock mixes detergent into the water itself, from its own bottle.

The dock can be connected to the tap and the drain, so you never fill or empty a tank. It does need a connection nearby.

How the robot maps your home and follows that map. Lidar measures with a laser and works in the dark, a camera looks along and recognises more.

The highest threshold the robot takes, as the maker states it. Measure your own: the step into a bathroom or onto a balcony is often higher.

How tall the robot is. It decides whether it fits under your sofa, bed or cabinet.

How wide the robot is. Narrower gets between chair legs more easily, wider usually means a bigger dust bin.

How much dust the robot holds before you empty it. It matters less with an auto-empty dock, which empties the bin after every run.

The noise in decibels, in the setting its source names: makers mostly give the standard setting, shops often the highest. 65 dB is like a vacuum at half power, 55 dB like a conversation.

The capacity of the battery. It hints at the runtime, but how much the robot draws counts just as much.

How long the robot cleans on one charge, at its quietest setting. After that it recharges and carries on where it stopped.

The warranty the maker gives in the Netherlands. Consumer law here stands apart from it and can last longer.