Comparison
Robot vacuum network requirements, compared
Bands, pairing routes and phone permissions differ by maker. This page lines them up and explains each column.
Checked 3 October 2026
Comparison
Twelve makers, one table
Each row summarises what the maker’s own material says. Where that material is silent, the cell says so rather than guessing.
| Maker | 2.4 GHz | 5 GHz | One name, both bands | Pairing route | Phone side |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roomba | Yes | Newer lines | Varies by model | Bluetooth where available | Bluetooth |
| Shark | Required | No | Meets the stated condition | In-app sequence | Not stated |
| Roborock | Yes | No | Not stated | Robot hotspot; QR on Q-series | Location; local network on iOS |
| DEEBOT | Yes | Not on its own | Yes | QR code, then robot hotspot | Wi-Fi; local network on iOS |
| eufy RoboVac | Yes | Not stated | Not stated | Robot network | Location, Precise on iPhone |
| Dreame | Yes | No | The 2.4 GHz name is chosen | Robot hotspot; Bluetooth on many newer models | Location |
| Samsung Jet Bot | Required | Not stated | Not stated | QR or catalogue; direct link | Samsung account |
| Dyson 360 Vis Nav | Yes (retailer Q&A) | No (same source) | Not stated | In-app prompts | Not stated |
| Narwal Freo | Yes | No | Not stated | Bluetooth in the app; QR code | Bluetooth |
| Xiaomi | Yes | No | Not stated | QR code or nearby scan | Region choice |
| Tineco | Recommended | Not stated | Not stated | In-app sequence | Not stated |
| Neato | — | — | — | No longer possible | — |
Bands
Why 2.4 GHz dominates
A home router usually broadcasts in two bands. 5 GHz moves more data but fades faster through walls and floors; 2.4 GHz is slower and travels further.
A robot vacuum needs little bandwidth and plenty of reach. It exchanges commands, status and map updates while working its way into the corners of the house, so most makers fit a 2.4 GHz radio and several state plainly that 5 GHz is not used.
Exceptions are growing. iRobot’s s9, j-series and Combo 10 Max robots accept 5 GHz as well, and Ecovacs accepts a router that shares one network name across both bands.
Pairing
Three ways a phone reaches a robot
Robot hotspot
The robot briefly becomes its own access point, with a name such as roborock-vacuum- or dreame-vacuum- followed by a code, or the robot’s model name. Once the phone is on it, the app hands the robot the name and password of the home network, and the robot then moves across to it. A warning that the hotspot has no internet is normal while this happens.
Bluetooth
The app and robot talk over a short-range Bluetooth link and the phone stays on home Wi-Fi throughout. iRobot uses it wherever a model has it, Narwal keeps the whole exchange inside its app, and many newer Dreame robots begin this way.
QR code
A code printed on the robot identifies it rather than connecting it. Scanning saves searching a model list; Four of the twelve makers print one on at least some models, and Ecovacs’s code also opens the genuine app listing.
Permissions
What setup apps ask of the phone
- Location
- Android and iOS treat the names of nearby Wi-Fi networks as location information, so an app without location access cannot see the robot’s hotspot. eufy goes further and asks for Precise Location on iPhones.
- Local network
- Since iOS 14, an app must hold this permission before it can talk to other devices on the network it shares, a robot’s hotspot among them. Two of the makers’ guides mention it by name.
- Bluetooth
- Asked for when the first exchange travels over Bluetooth, which is the route in Narwal’s app and on many newer robots from other makers.
All three are granted by the owner, on the owner’s phone, to the maker’s app alone. No website, caller or pop-up has any reason to ask for them.
Limits
Networks a robot cannot join
- Hotel, dormitory and office networks that demand a browser sign-in before connecting: a robot has no browser to complete it.
- Business networks that require a username alongside the password.
- Networks protected only by WEP, which at least one maker rules out explicitly.
- Networks that broadcast 5 GHz alone, for robots with 2.4 GHz radios.
Dreame adds a practical preference: network names and passwords written only in letters and numbers pair more smoothly than ones with symbols.
Sources
Notes
- Roborock article on Wi-Fi connection
- Ecovacs article on Wi-Fi networks for DEEBOT robots
- iRobot article on Wi-Fi connected robots and the iRobot Home app
- Dreame article on adding devices and network setup
- Narwal article on pairing in the app
- eufy article on connecting a RoboVac on iOS
Sources last read 3 October 2026