LiDAR vacuums see in the dark. Camera ones don’t.

LiDAR. If you vacuum after dark or in rooms with no windows, a LiDAR-based robot is your only real option. Camera-based models rely on visible light or an onboard LED to map your home. In a pitch-black room, they bump into furniture like a drunk Roomba from 2015.

LiDAR shoots lasers. It builds a map of the room regardless of lighting. The robot knows exactly where it is. Camera models have gotten better with infrared illuminators, but they still struggle in total darkness or low-contrast spaces (think dark rug on dark floor). LiDAR doesn’t care.

There’s a cost difference. LiDAR tends to be pricier, and the tower is taller so it won’t fit under super low furniture. But if you run your vacuum at night or have a dark apartment, that trade-off is worth it. Camera navigation shines in well-lit homes with lots of visual landmarks. Dark room? Get the laser.

Don’t overthink this one.