Best robot vacuums for small flats

In its favour

• Onboard DustCompactor removes the need for a separate self-emptying station, and needs no emptying for up to 60 days.
• Bagless design, so there are no bags to buy or store in a small flat.
• ClearView lidar maps in neat rows even in the dark, and automatic carpet detection stops it mopping rugs.

Good to know

• The listing does not state runtime or a suction figure in Pa (only 70x a Roomba 600).
• Mopping is a simple pad with a micro-pump; there is no mop washing or drying.

In its favour

• Compact 32.6 cm base is 59% smaller than the previous generation, according to Xiaomi.
• 4 L bag lasts up to 90 days, so emptying is rare.
• 10,000 Pa suction and a five-step anti-tangle system aimed at long-haired pets.

Good to know

• Runtime of 100 minutes is the shortest listed here, though enough for many flats.
• Mopping is a basic pad and tank; the base does not wash or dry it.

In its favour

• Self-empties into a 3 L sealed bag for up to two months, according to Tapo.
• Climbs up to 22 mm, enough for most door bars between rooms.
• Listing states a 3 year manufacturer warranty and a UK support line.

Good to know

• 5,300 Pa suction is lower than most rivals here, best for hard floors and low to medium pile carpet.
• The listing does not give the base station's dimensions, so check the space it needs.

In its favour

• Compact base tucks under cabinets, and still empties into a 3.2 L bag for up to 90 days.
• Washes mops with 45°C water and dries them with cool air, according to Lefant.
• Dual-band 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi, useful in flats with crowded networks.

Good to know

• The listing does not give the base station's height or width in cm, so measure your cabinet gap carefully.
• A washing dock needs water tanks refilled and emptied by hand.

In its favour

• Bagless base holds 90 days of debris, and can switch to bagged mode if you prefer.
• Boosts suction on carpet automatically when the mop is removed.
• dToF lidar works in darkness, and PSD sensors detect objects as close as 4 cm.

Good to know

• When mopping it avoids carpets completely, so rugs need a separate vacuum run.
• The listing does not give base station dimensions.

In its favour

• AutoWash Dock gives 75 days of emptying, pad washing and heated pad drying.
• Mop pads auto-lift when carpet is sensed, so rugs in a living room stay dry.
• PrecisionVision AI recognises cords, socks and pet waste and steers around them.

Good to know

• A washing and drying dock is bulkier than the compact self-empty bases here, and the listing gives no dock size.
• No suction figure in Pa is given, only a comparison with older Roombas.

In its favour

• 200 minutes and up to 230 m² per charge, so a flat is easily covered in one run, per the listing.
• Bagless 4 L base holds up to 90 days and needs no spare bags.
• Quiet mode runs as low as 65 dB, according to Proscenic.

Good to know

• Small 300 ml dustbin and 200 ml water tank in the robot itself.
• The listing lists only three suction and water levels, fewer controls than some rivals.