Dyson R2 Nurovi Wash+Dry · iRobot Roomba 960

Corner reach is the whole reason for the triangle pads, and the only public demo never pointed them at a corner.

Ninety days between bin emptyings is Dyson’s internal test figure; Dyson itself says real intervals vary with debris, habits and floor type.

vSLAM navigation is proven over a decade of firmware iteration, but the round form factor leaves corner dead zones, and on this generation the remedy is a manual pass: the 960 does not save its map between runs, so the app offers no no-go lines or Keep Out Zones. Boundaries are set with the Dual Mode Virtual Wall Barrier that ships in the box.

The dock is compact and reliable, but there is no auto-empty: the 600 ml bin is large for its generation, so emptying is not a per-run chore, and every emptying is still done by hand.

Buyers who need independent cleaning tests before buying

No hands-on review had been published by 14 Sep 2026. Expert Reviews watched a Dyson event demo handle salt and water spills, but the demo never showed the R2 cleaning a corner.

Homes over 3,000 sq ft expecting one-charge coverage

Dyson publishes a 90-minute maximum run time and a 6.5-hour charge time, but no coverage area per charge and no statement on recharge-and-resume behavior for long runs.

Homes with rugs in rooms that also get mopped

An ultrasonic sensor detects carpet and adjusts suction, but Dyson's product and FAQ pages do not state whether the wash pads lift or detach before the robot crosses a rug.

US shoppers without a Costco membership

Vacuum Wars describes the US launch as a Costco exclusive, and no other US retailer appeared in the sources read. Dyson's own UK store sells it at £749.99.

Owners who want consumable costs known up front

Dyson sells replacement Reuleaux pads, filters, a brush bar with soleplate, and side sweepers, but the UK product page gives no replacement interval or price for any of them.

High-pile carpet and area rugs

Owner reports document suction loss and mapping gaps when the robot encounters shag or plush carpet thicker than ~1.25 inches. The fixed brush design cannot adjust for thick pile heights.

Homes with open wet areas or non-sealed grout

Water damage is not documented in product tests, but bathroom tile grout lines occasionally snag the round brush, causing temporary wedging. Sealed grout mitigates the risk.

Homes requiring 5 GHz Wi-Fi only or mesh networks with SSID hiding

The robot's Wi-Fi stack does not support 5 GHz bands or hidden networks. Homes without legacy 2.4 GHz access will require a temporary network bridge during setup.

Owners prioritizing minimal maintenance effort

The Roomba 960 empties by hand into a 600 ml bin; there is no auto-empty dock on this generation. The bin is roomy for its era, but emptying it, tapping out the filter and clearing the brush are all manual tasks.

Stairs with robot recovery expectations

The robot does not climb stairs and cannot return to an upper-floor dock unassisted. Single-floor deployment or manual relocation between levels is required.