Dyson R2 Nurovi Wash+Dry
★ Vacuum Wars Stars 3.36
The Dyson R2 Nurovi Wash+Dry offers above-average mopping, extending triangular pads, strong crevice cleaning, 88% carpet deep cleaning, and zero long-hair tangles. Its bagless dock washes mops with hot water and dries them with heated air. In testing, mopping left excessive water, debris scattered during vacuuming, and pickup typically required extra passes. Flattened pet-hair pickup reached 64%, obstacle avoidance succeeded on only 5/24 objects, and navigation was slow with docking difficulties. Other drawbacks include a tiny 150ml dustbin, cereal clogging during emptying, small water tanks, limited, unintuitive app controls, and estimated coverage of only 640 square feet per charge. See additional info
The Dyson R2 Nurovi Wash+Dry has some clever ideas: curved-triangle mop pads that reach toward corners, a different approach to debris pickup, and a bagless self-emptying dock. But do those features make it a better robot vacuum and mop? We bought one with our own money and put it through our studio tests to find out.
Our results were mixed. The R2 did well at removing stains and lifting embedded dirt from carpet, and its brush resisted long-hair tangles. Everyday cleaning was less convincing. It scattered debris, struggled with flattened pet hair, and avoided just five of the 24 objects in our obstacle test. Here’s where the design worked—and where it fell short.
Dyson R2 Nurovi Wash+Dry Test Results
These are the key results from our studio testing, compared with the test averages supplied for this review. Coverage per charge is an estimate based on our measurements.
| Test | Dyson R2 | Test average |
|---|---|---|
| Carpet deep cleaning | 88% | 78% |
| Flattened pet-hair pickup | 64% | 82% |
| Seven-inch hair tangles | 0% wrapped | 26% wrapped |
| Combined mopping score | 29.2 points | 24.2 points |
| Water left after mopping | 2.03 g | 1.15 g |
| Obstacle avoidance | 5 of 24 | 16 of 24 |
| Vacuum-and-mop cleaning time | 86 minutes | 56 minutes |
| Estimated coverage per charge | 640 sq. ft. | 1,170 sq. ft. |
Mopping Performance: Good Stain Removal, Wetter Floors
The R2’s most distinctive feature is its pair of curved-triangle mop pads. Instead of simply spinning in circles, the pads move off-center to bring their corners closer to walls and room corners. One mop assembly also extends outward for edge cleaning, and the pads lift approximately 9 mm when the robot encounters carpet.
That design delivered good coverage in our mopping-zone test, without the missed patches we sometimes see. Stain removal was also a strength. In our coffee-only test, the R2 scored 155 points against an average of 94. In our older coffee-and-grape-juice test, it scored 109 points, about even with the 108-point average.
The drawback was the wet finish. The R2 left almost twice as much water behind as average. It cleaned stains well, but we would have liked to see less water remaining on the floor afterward.
Vacuuming Performance: Deep Cleaning Beats Everyday Pickup
Dyson’s Twin-capture pickup system uses a brush to sweep larger debris toward the collection path while suction focuses on finer particles. It performed well in our carpet deep-cleaning test, removing 88% of embedded sand compared with a 78% average. It also scored 3.50 points in our crevice test, ahead of the 1.97-point average.
Surface pickup told a different story. In almost all our pickup tests, the R2 needed a second pass to collect the debris. On hard floors, it scattered fine material before eventually picking up much of it. The angled side brush reached into corners well, but we were disappointed by how much debris it scattered on open flooring.
Our bench measurements were mixed, too: suction was above average at 1.67 kPa, while airflow was below average at 8 CFM. The unusual pickup path makes those readings harder to interpret, so the cleaning tests offer a more useful picture of how the R2 performs.
Pet Hair: No Long-Hair Tangles, but Below-Average Pickup
The R2 had no hair wrapped around its brush after our seven-inch hair test. That was a strong result compared with the 26% average, and a benefit for anyone tired of cutting long hair off a brush roll.
However, resisting tangles and picking up pet hair are different challenges. The R2 collected only 64% of the flattened pet hair in our carpet test, compared with an 82% average. Despite its tangle resistance, it would not be one of our first choices for homes with pets that shed heavily.
Bagless Dock and Dustbin: Useful Features, Small Capacities
The R2’s dock collects debris in a reusable container, eliminating the need to buy disposable dust bags. It also washes and dries the mop pads automatically. Dyson specifies a mop-washing temperature of 75°C (167°F) and a drying temperature of 45°C (113°F).
The onboard dustbin was a weak point. Its listed 150 mL capacity is less than half the 377 mL average in our comparison. During self-emptying, larger cereal pieces also became stuck near the dustbin’s exit port instead of passing through to the dock. That left debris inside the robot despite the automatic emptying cycle.
The dock’s water tanks are small as well. The clean-water tank holds 2.1 liters, versus a 3.9-liter average, and the dirty-water tank holds 1.2 liters, versus a 3.5-liter average. If you mop frequently, those capacities mean more trips to refill and empty the tanks.
Obstacle Avoidance and Navigation: The Biggest Drawbacks
The R2 uses LiDAR for mapping, along with line lasers and edge sensors intended to help detect smaller obstacles. In our testing, that hardware did not deliver dependable obstacle avoidance: it avoided just five of 24 objects, compared with an average of 16.
We would pick up cords, toys, and other small items before running the R2. Its obstacle avoidance was one of the clearest reasons it fell short of competing models in our tests.
Cleaning was slow, too. Our vacuum-and-mop run took 86 minutes, compared with an average of 56 minutes. The R2 covered 0.405 square meters per minute, well below the 0.711 average.
Battery efficiency was only slightly below average, at 1.46 minutes per 1% of battery versus 1.56 minutes. The slower navigation had a larger effect on how much floor it could clean. We estimated coverage at about 640 square feet per charge, compared with a 1,170-square-foot average. That is a substantial limitation for larger homes.
We also noticed unusual behavior when the R2 tried to return to its dock. Combined with its slow coverage and poor obstacle avoidance, navigation was a significant weakness in our evaluation.
MyDyson App: The Basics Work, but Controls Could Be Clearer
The MyDyson app supports scheduled cleaning, map and room editing, and cleaning adjustments. Those core functions worked during our evaluation, but some controls were difficult to find within the tabs. Customization also felt limited compared with competing robot vacuum apps we regularly use.
Is the Dyson R2 Nurovi Wash+Dry Worth Buying?
The R2 has strengths worth recognizing. Its mop pads provided good coverage and stain removal, it cleaned embedded sand from carpet well, and its brush resisted long-hair tangles. The bagless dock is another appealing feature.
But those advantages did not make up for the problems we encountered in routine cleaning. Scattered debris, weak pet-hair pickup, dustbin blockages, and unreliable obstacle avoidance all reduced its usefulness. Slow navigation further limited how much floor it could cover on a charge.
Based on our testing, we would look elsewhere. The Dyson R2 Nurovi Wash+Dry finished well short of our Top 20 robot vacuums. Its promising ideas need more consistent everyday performance before we could recommend it over the competition.
These findings apply to the R2. Dyson’s Nurovi range also includes the vacuum-only R1 Dry and the R3 Spot+Scrub UV with a roller mop; their different designs should be evaluated separately.
For more options, browse our best robot vacuum rankings, or use our robot vacuum buyer’s guide to decide which features matter most for your floors and cleaning needs.
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Explore Vacuum Wars’ always up-to-date rankings of the best robot vacuums, based on independent, hands-on testing. We purchase every unit ourselves and have evaluated more than 150 models, giving us a deep benchmark for cleaning performance, navigation, battery life, and advanced features like obstacle avoidance and mopping.
Vacuum Wars purchased the Dyson R2 Nurovi Wash+Dry for this review. Our reviews are independent and are not sponsored by the manufacturers.
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