Budget robot vacuums betray themselves at the edge of a rug

The hallmark of a budget robot vacuum isn’t just weaker suction — it’s how often you have to rescue it. Models with cheap sensors and basic bumper designs routinely get hung up on rug edges, where the transition from hard floor to carpet confuses their nav systems and the wheels can’t get enough purchase to climb over. It’s the kind of frustration that makes you seriously consider spending more on something with proper cliff sensors and a smarter climbing mechanism.