Battery life and runtime sound the same but they're subtly different metrics

Battery life and runtime both describe how long a robot vacuum can work before needing to recharge, but they aren’t quite the same thing. Runtime is the actual time it cleans on a single charge — the practical number you care about when scheduling a cleaning session. Battery life usually refers to the overall lifespan of the battery before it degrades significantly, measured in charge cycles or years. Think of it like your phone: runtime is how long it lasts today, battery life is how many years before you need to replace it. Most robot vacuums claim 90-180 minutes of runtime, but the battery will start holding less charge after 300-500 cycles.