CNET

How we test vacuums: Fake poop, lasers and robots

From simple straight line tests to astrophotography techniques to poop avoidance tests, here is how we gauge the performance of all types of vacuums to find the best model for you. We test upright vacs, stick vacs and robot vacuums in our custom-built lab. We used advanced calculations to measure how good they are at…

Published

4 years ago

November 16, 2021

CYBER TECH TV

From simple straight line tests to astrophotography techniques to poop avoidance tests, here is how we gauge the performance of all types of vacuums to find the best model for you.

We test upright vacs, stick vacs and robot vacuums in our custom-built lab. We used advanced calculations to measure how good they are at their primary job, and we also use long-exposure photography to capture the navigation methods of these robot models. Plus, we develop new tests all the time as the technology of the machines themselves advances.

0:00 Intro
0:55 Straight line testing
3:00 Navigation testing
5:10 Poop avoidance testing
6:20 Overall performance

Read about all of our favorite models here:

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Related Topics:CNET Eufy featured How we test iRobot Neato News Roborock Robot Vacuums Roomba Science Stick Vacuums tech technology Upright Vacuums

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30 Comments

Andrew Biggers

November 16, 2021 at 5:02 pm

First! What’s this about poop?

Reply
bill balls

November 16, 2021 at 5:06 pm

Awesome

Reply
Clark Mills

November 16, 2021 at 5:37 pm

The fake doggie poo reminds me of this *Top Secret* classic:

Reply
Omer Khan

November 16, 2021 at 5:48 pm

Job well done!

Reply
Cyan Kirkpatrick

November 16, 2021 at 6:10 pm

This is great news but, this is controlled environment, try a real life situations like a apartment/house with kids and a pet’s

Reply
Cyan Kirkpatrick

November 16, 2021 at 6:13 pm

With people walking over the mess, and embedding the dare I say it sand argh ????.

Reply
Joshua Thompson

November 16, 2021 at 7:14 pm

Will any of them detect a cats hairball or if the cat knocks over a vase with water or even if the cat or dog have runny poo? Would it still detect or go through it and smear? I can tell it looks for a mass on the poops you tested, but wondering if theres anything out there for the softer or more liquid issue. bleh.

Reply
- Denis Lara
  
  November 16, 2021 at 10:13 pm
  
  Most of the robots that claim pet waste detection only detect solid waste. No liquid waste
  
  Reply
MAJAZ Tech

November 16, 2021 at 7:49 pm

4:51 the moment I was just “ waaaaaw ????”

Reply
Dom Larry

November 16, 2021 at 9:24 pm

???? ????

Reply
Niko Pondexter

November 16, 2021 at 9:58 pm

I really don’t like robot vaccums because I had nightmare that the robot vacuum started to walk and just started taking over. but it’s just a dream

Reply
- Pedro Paulo
  
  November 16, 2021 at 11:10 pm
  
  thanks a lot
  
  Reply
luis acosta

November 16, 2021 at 10:00 pm

Ya pero, you are or you are not

Reply
- dangelo bolaños
  
  November 17, 2021 at 2:57 am
  
  jajajajajajaja
  
  Reply
AlexFoster2291

November 16, 2021 at 10:17 pm

I laughed out loud at the nutella

Reply
Antony Chong

November 16, 2021 at 11:30 pm

what is the behavior of the robo vacuum with water over the floor? ????

Reply
Selvakumar M

November 17, 2021 at 12:48 am

Nice effort????

Reply
Geoff Crabtree

November 17, 2021 at 1:06 am

Really.. Your thumbnail is your product heading for a presentation left by a kitty Kat…!!!!

Jeeez had enough of this landfill that prevents us from filtering and blocking words we try and post!!!

Wake the F up you minions!!!

Reply
Geoff Crabtree

November 17, 2021 at 1:08 am

Wake the F up and Un plug your self FRom the Matrix….!

Reply
Steve A

November 17, 2021 at 1:19 am

Would have been nice if you included the winning vacuums

Reply
- Ahmed Khan
  
  November 18, 2021 at 12:53 am
  
  Yeah On the website they recommended the company that paid them the most to fool people
  
  Reply
Gavin Miller

November 17, 2021 at 1:20 am

Yeah but if you’re testing the vacuums you didn’t tell us which ones had the best results Please. Thank you

Reply
- Ms L
  
  November 17, 2021 at 2:29 pm
  
  Click on the link
  
  Reply
- Ahmed Khan
  
  November 18, 2021 at 12:52 am
  
  They are waiting for the checks to clear from the manufacturer that paid for all this
  
  Reply
Selim Bennouir

November 17, 2021 at 10:09 am

We’ve got so many to vacuum so you better upgrade it

Reply
Altus Talent

November 17, 2021 at 5:26 pm

Useless test, it hardly mimics the nature of a spill or mess that would require a vacuum cleaner, even as equally useless are such vacuum cleaners, they’re only useful for a superficial mess on a small surface area, something you can clean yourself in 2 mins with a freaking dust pan and brush. Oh my gosh. Nobody buy this, it’s useless and gimmicky.

Reply
Buuboi214

November 17, 2021 at 6:35 pm

All this testing and they don’t say which one is the best vacuum! ????????‍♂️

Reply
E'Osiris

November 17, 2021 at 8:29 pm

Ok

Reply
Ahmed Khan

November 18, 2021 at 12:51 am

You forgot to mention the part where you only recommend the companies that pay you under the table or sponsor free products to your entire teams friends and family ????

Reply
Mike Coshan

November 18, 2021 at 10:48 am

Isn’t that a skewed test with the fake dog/cat poo as real poo would be smeared all over the floor by the robot vacuum cleaner

Reply

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With Apple turning 50 this week, Bridget Carey goes down memory lane with her CNET teammates on what it was like to cover the iconic company and how the products shaped our lives. Read more on CNET.com Apple’s 50-Year Legacy of Product Innovation, Through CNET’s Lens 0:15 CNET reporters share their favorite Apple memories 0:22…

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