Rowenta X-Plorer Serie 580 Max RR9547

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.

A brush that guides hair to the side instead of letting it wind around the shaft. It saves the cutting work in homes with long hair or pets.

The side brush swings out in a corner or along a kickboard, so the dust there is swept in too. On this model: the maker names this feature nowhere on the product page, so we take it as no.

Whether the robot copes with pet hair: a brush that hair does not wind around and a dock that empties the bin for you. Where the maker does not say so itself, we read it from those two.

How the mop is built: flat pads, 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: the maker names this feature nowhere on the product page, 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. On this model: the maker names this feature nowhere on the product page, so we take it as no.

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.

The width, depth and height of the dock. Measure the spot you have in mind, and leave room for the lid and for the robot driving in.

How much free space the maker asks for beside the dock, so the robot can dock straight.

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.

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: the maker names this feature nowhere on the product page, 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.

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.

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: the maker names this feature nowhere on the product page, so we take it as no.