What Does the Ban on Foreign Robots Mean for My Robot Vacuum?
Save this article to read it later.
Find this story in your account’s‘Saved for Later’section.
Comment
Last month, the FCCannounceda ban on the import of foreign-manufactured “advanced robotic devices,” claiming they present national security concerns. Although it mentions robots such as humanoids and quadrupeds specifically,robot vacuumsthat weren’t manufactured in the United States — that’s true of nearly every robot vacuum aside from the Matic —meet the criteriatoo. Beyond that, the FCC’sFAQon the matter states that the cost of domestic components should exceed 65 percent of items delivered between the calendar years of 2024 and 2028; it goes up to 75 percent in 2029.
That means that going forward, new robot vacuums — many are likely to be announced at the upcomingIFA conferencein Berlin next month — won’t be available in the U.S., at least by default. Companies will be able to apply for exemptions, but it’ll be on a case-by-case basis and there’s no telling how long the approval process will take. Robot vacuums already available in the States — including our picks — will remain available for purchase and can continue to receive software updates until January 1, 2029. That said, according to anoticepublished by the FCC, that may only apply to updates that improve the security of the devices; the FCC doesn’t mention anything about the potential for software updates with new features — so it is unclear whether updates including new features will be available to U.S. customers.
If you, like me, rely mostly on a robot vacuum to keep your floors looking clean, that means this will not only make shopping for future models more of a challenge, as there may be a smaller selection, but it’s likely to affect the longevity of your current robot as well. While not every robot vacuum receives updates with new features, companies do occasionally release new features that improve the utility of existing vacuums. For instance, Matic recently updated its vacuum to support gestures, wherein you point at a mess and tell the vacuum to clean it up — much easier than doing so in the app. Additionally, the expiration date on security updates will leave existing vacuums more vulnerable to malicious actors beyond 2028.
As explained in alonger FCC documentregarding the ban, one of the main concerns with these robots is their inclusion ofsensors and cameras. While it’s true that bringing such a sensor-filled device into your home does present security risks, that isn’t exclusive to robot vacuums — things like smart speakers present the same risks. And although this ban seems to be aimed at improving the security of these devices, nowhere in thedocumentexplaining the approval process does it require that a company disclose any information about the security measures of its robots. So new robot vacuums that do make it to the U.S. aren’t likely to be any more secure than existing models. That said, we don’t recommend any models with known security issues, so we’ll continue thoroughly vetting each robot for privacy measures.
I reached out to the manufacturers of our most-recommended brands — including Ecovacs, Roborock, Narwal, Eufy, and Matic — about how the ban will affect each of them. “Narwal products already certified and sold in the United States are not affected by the FCC’s action,” says Yunlin Kong, president of Narwal Overseas Business. “We are reviewing the announcement and the conditional approval process, and we remain committed to serving our U.S. consumers.” Brett White, senior corporate communications manager at Eufy, echoed that sentiment: “Based on our current understanding, the new rule does not affect the continued availability, use, or support of products we currently sell in the United States.” As for future products, he added, “We are seeking further clarity on how the rule will be applied to future products, and we will keep our customers informed.” Similarly, a representative from Ecovacs told me that currently available products aren’t affected, and that the company is closely following developments regarding the approval process going forward.
So rest assured that if you already have a robot vacuum you trust with cleaning your floors, it will continue to work for at least the next two years. Beyond that, we’ll continue to look out for new models that do get approval and make it to the U.S., and we will test those just as thoroughly as we always have.
Our favorite robot vacuums
New! You can now save this product for later.
A robot vacuum-and-mop combo that won’t break the bank.
New! You can now save this product for later.
New! You can now save this product for later.
Top-notch vacuuming and mopping, even for deep-pile carpets.
More From The Strategist
- The Back-to-School Hall of Fame
- The Best Things Strategist Editors Have Bought This Year (So Far)
- Everything You Need to Outfit Your College Dorm
- The Strategist Summer 100
The Strategistis designed to surface useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Every product is independently selected by our team of editors, whom you can read abouthere. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
