The debate between robot vacuums and traditional uprights is one of the most common questions we get. For decades, the weekly ritual of dragging a heavy vacuum cleaner room-to-room was non-negotiable. But automation has finally matured.
The Reality of Suction Power
Historically, traditional vacuums held the crown for raw suction (measured in Pascals or Pa). A high-end Dyson might pull 100CFM+ of airflow. However, modern robot vacuums like the newer Aiper or ECOVACS models are now hitting 6,000Pa to 8,000Pa. While a plugged-in upright still wins on deep-pile carpet power, the robot wins on frequency.
The “Frequency” Advantage
A traditional vacuum only cleans when you decide to clean—usually once a week. A robot vacuum cleans daily. This prevents dirt from ever being ground into the fibers of your carpet. In our testing, a home cleaned daily by a “weaker” robot was consistently cleaner than a home vacuumed weekly by a powerful upright.
- Time Savings: You gain back approx. 2-3 hours per week.
- Consistency: Pet hair is removed before it accumulates.
- Under-Furniture Cleaning: Robots go under beds and sofas where uprights can’t reach.
Who Should Switch?
If you have mostly hard floors or low-pile carpets, the switch is a no-brainer. For those with shaggy high-pile rugs, keep your upright for a monthly deep clean, but let the robot handle the remaining 95% of the work.