SwitchBot K11+

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: Assumed, not a stated fact: the maker's full specification does not name it, 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.

The filter the exhaust air passes through. A HEPA filter holds back fine dust and pollen, which counts if someone at home has an allergy.

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.

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

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.

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 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 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: Assumed, not a stated fact: the maker's full specification does not name it, so we take it as no.

When the battery runs low in the middle of a run, the robot recharges and then carries on where it stopped.

Sensors under the robot that see a drop, so it stops at the top of a staircase instead of falling down it.

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.

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.

How long an empty battery takes to charge fully in the dock.

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.

Which voice assistants the robot works with, such as Google Assistant or Alexa.

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

You set days and times, and the robot starts by itself, also when you are not at home.