I tested the Roborock Q7 M5 robot vacuum – it's great if you're on a budget, but spending a little extra will give you an even better clean

Colorful sitting room with two red patterned armchairs, an ornate fireplace, a side table with potted plant, a red rug, pictured in front of bright blue wall with wooden-beamed ceiling above.

Robot vacuums are sold as the ultimate time-saver by promising to take at least one household chore off your plate. In reality, having spent more than a decade testing them, they sit much more on a spectrum.

Some offer near hands-free cleaning, some need as much manual input as an upright vacuum, while others actually make the whole process harder. The Roborock Q7 M5 falls nearer to the latter.