iRobot Roomba 205 DustCompactor Combo

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.

What the roller under the robot is made of. Long hair and pet hair slide off rubber rather than wind round it, bristles reach deeper into carpet, and two rubber rollers turning against each other do both.

The side brush swings out in a corner or along a kickboard, so the dust there is swept in too. On this model: Assumed, not a stated fact: the maker's full specification does not name it, so we take it as no.

The robot notices when it drives onto a carpet. Most then raise their suction, and a mopping robot lifts its mop or leaves it at the dock.

How the mop is built: flat pads, a vibrating pad, two spinning discs or a roller. Discs press harder on dried-on dirt, a roller rinses itself while it works.

How far the robot lifts the mop when it drives onto a carpet. From about 10 mm a medium pile stays dry.

The pad slides out along a wall or a kickboard, so the last few centimetres are mopped as well.

The robot leaves the mop at the dock before it vacuums a carpet, so the carpet never gets wet. On this model: Assumed, not a stated fact: the maker's full specification does not name it, so we take it as no.

The robot returns to the dock during a run to rinse the mop, instead of pushing dirty water around. On this model: Assumed, not a stated fact: the maker's full specification does not name it, so we take it as no.

How much clean water the robot carries. It sets how long it mops before a refill, which a dock does by itself.

The robot or its dock works with steam. It loosens dried-on dirt and grease, or washes the mop hotter than water alone. On this model: Assumed, not a stated fact: the maker's full specification does not name it, so we take it as no.

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 long the maker says a dust bag lasts with daily use. With pets or a lot of carpet it is shorter. On this model: from the maker's product text, not from a specification table.

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.

Drying is done with warm air instead of cold. It is faster and it helps against 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. On this model: from the maker's product text, not from a specification table.

How the robot sees loose things on the floor, such as cables, socks or a pet accident. A camera with depth sensing sees more than a bumper that reacts on contact.

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.

An extending leg or wheel that carries the robot over a high threshold. Without one it usually stops at about 2 cm. On this model: Assumed, not a stated fact: the maker's full specification does not name it, so we take it as no.

An arm on the robot that picks up small loose things such as socks, so they are not in its way. On this model: Assumed, not a stated fact: the maker's full specification does not name it, so we take it as no.

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.

What the robot weighs. It counts most if you carry it up a staircase every day.

The noise in decibels while cleaning, 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. Emptying by the dock is louder and listed on its own. On this model: maximum noise level according to Coolblue.

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.

Matter is the standard that lets devices from different makers work together. With it you can run the robot outside the maker’s own app. On this model: Assumed, not a stated fact: the maker's full specification does not name it, so we take it as no.

Which voice assistants the robot works with, such as Google Assistant or Alexa. On this model: from the maker's product text, not from a specification table.

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

Whether the robot works with Home Assistant, the home automation software you run yourself. Official means the integration comes with Home Assistant itself, community that volunteers maintain it.