What is Aliens: Dark Descent?

This trailer is more of a scene-setter than it is a full-blown gameplay reveal, but the official description describes it as a “single player squad-based action game set within the iconic Alien franchise.” And if you watch all the way through, you’ll catch a brief handful of glimpses at in-game environments that hint at what’s to come.

The 2023 release from Tindalos Interactive and published by Focus Entertainment looks like a top-down action game, which is to say you’re controlling characters and seeing the action unfold from a slightly canted bird’s-eye view. Any other info will have to wait for another time, as the trailer is woefully short on specifics.

Aliens: Dark Descent is coming to PC, PlayStation, and Xbox sometime in 2023.

Remember the infamous Chris Evans Sweater incident? It was sparked by none other than former Mashable senior editor Nicole Gallucci and Decider’s Anna Menta (both of whom are friends, hello friends!). It was a moment of seemingly endless internet thirst for Evans, simply for donning an (admittedly good-looking) sweater in the film Knives Out.

Well, guess what, folks, the internet is swooning over Evans once again. Sure this isn’t an uncommon thing. Evans is a handsome guy and he’s charming and famous and all those other things. He’s got America’s ass, after all. But folks are really losing it over a specific clip online. It’s feeling very sweater-esque. Here’s the clip in question, which took place at an event for Disney’s new Buzz Lightyear movie.

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We need to fully investigate what’s going on here. Evans grew out a killer mustache to star in Netflix’s upcoming film The Gray Man. He seems to be talking about that mustache with an interviewer. But good lord his charm is turned up to 11. The Boston accent, which you don’t always hear in Evans, is almost sultry? How the fuck did this man make a Boston accent sultry? It’s uncool and unfair to jabronis like me with an unholy Delaware accent that mashes together all the worst parts of Philly and Baltimore.

Anyway, Evans, fully bearded, in sunglasses and a resplendent, silky, orange shirt, is laying it on thick. “Whaddayou pruhfah: mustache or no mustache, be awnest,” he asks the interviewer, dishing out a slick smile.

Anyway, the internet lost its collective mind thirsting over this moment. There were fan edits.

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And great reaction memes and jokes, most of which are frankly too graphic to share but that’s impressive in its own right.

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If you were curious, Access uploaded a longer version of the interview clip on YouTube.

The interviewer, in this longer clip, admits he thought the mustachioed Evans looked like trouble. But Evans himself made a little joke about liking the facial hair.

“I mean look, it’s embarrassing to say, but it grew on me,” he said. “That’s a little pun. But I started to really like the mustache, I did.”

Damn, what a charming freaking answer. Evans, you did it again.

Anyway, this is not yet even close to a Sweater-Level Event but the internet is definitely…let’s say… excited about Chris Evans online again.

From pantsless demons to awkward moments at craft services, Evil stars Mike Colton, Katja Herbers and Michael Emerson pull back the curtain on working with the demons behind the scenes. Evil Season 3 premieres on Paramount+ on June 12th.

Thursday: What a concept! And just like last Thursday, and all the other Thursdays and every other day, there’s a new Wordle to play. Working it out by yourself is always fun, but if you get stuck and start to get nervous about your streak, here are some tips and hints to help you figure out the solution.

If you prefer to cut to the chase, skip to the very end of this article for the answer to the June 9 Wordle, #355. If you’re avoiding spoilers, scroll down for a few tips, subtle clues, and strategies to assist you — the spoiler’s clearly marked.

What’s the deal here? Wordle was created and developed by former Reddit engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his puzzle-loving partner, but soon went mega-viral. Thousands of people around the globe now play this game each day, and fans have even created alternate Wordle versions inspired by the original. This includes battle royale format Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

In fact, the word puzzle game has proved so popular that the New York Times eventually bought it, and TikTok creators livestream themselves playing.

Not the day you’re after? Here’s the Wordle answer for June 8.

What’s the best Wordle starting word?

We have some ideas to help you select the perfect opening. Such tips include choosing a word with at least two different vowels in it, plus a few common consonants such as S, T, R, or N.

Wordle archive: What happened?

While you could once play the entire archive of past puzzles, the archive was taken down at the request of the New York Times, according to the site.

Is Wordle getting harder?

If you’ve been finding Wordle too easy, there is a Hard Mode you can enable to give yourself more of a challenge. But unless you activate this mode, we can assure you that Wordle isn’t getting harder. 

Why are there two different Wordle answers some days?

The whole point of Wordle is that everyone’s solving the same puzzle, with the same answer, no matter where you are in the world. However, occasionally the puzzle game will accept two different correct solutions on the same day, in apparent defiance of Wordle law.

This aberration is due to changes the New York Times made after it acquired Wordle earlier this year.

Here’s a subtle hint for the June 9 Wordle answer:

It has something to do with measurement.

Today’s Wordle is a 5-letter word that ends with…

The letter H!

What’s the answer to Wordle today?

It’s your last chance to guess today’s Wordle!

We’re finally about to reveal the solution.

Are you ready?

The solution to Wordle #355 is…

GIRTH.

Hopefully you didn’t run out the guess-clock trying BIRTH and MIRTH first!

Reporting by Caitlin Welsh, Amanda Yeo and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

UPDATE: Jun. 8, 2022, 4:25 p.m. EDT This story has been updated with the latest 4K and 8K TV deals.

• The Samsung 85-inch Q900A QLED TV is a huge 8K masterpiece from 2021 that’s half off — $4,999.99 $8,999.99 (save $4,000)

• The LG 65-inch NanoCell 99 QNED 8K TV has double the pixels of a 4K TV and utilizes smaller-than-usual LEDs for more precise contrast — $1,999.99 $2,699.99 (save $700)

• This Insignia 55-inch F50 Series QLED TV deal is a rare opportunity to score the quantum dot color range for under $350 — $339.99 $499.99 (save $160)

Large 4K TVs no longer have to cost an exorbitant amount of money. These high-quality TVs featuring punchy colors, decipherable shadows, and smooth transitions are actually affordable for regular consumers. And to make them even more budget-friendly, we’ve gathered up the best deals on 4K and QLED TVs from top brands like Samsung, LG, Sony, and more.

Samsung TV deals

Why we love it

You know when you’re in the movie theater and the audio sounds like it’s coming from the direction of the action on screen? The Samsung Neo QLED TV does that, too. On top of Object Tracking Sound, the QN800 has 8K resolution (double the pixels of 4K) and super thin bezels to seal in that immersive theater feel.

More Samsung TVs on sale

• Samsung 32-inch The Frame QLED TV — $499.99 $599.99 (save $100)

• Samsung 43-inch The Sero Rotating QLED TV — $1,299.99 $1,999.99 (save $700)

• Samsung 50-inch QN90A Neo QLED TV — $899.99 $1,199.99 (save $30)

• Samsung 55-inch Q60A Series QLED TV — $649.99 $849.99 (save $200)

• Samsung 55-inch Q70A Series QLED TV — $849.99 $1,099.99 (save $250)

• Samsung 55-inch Q80A Series QLED TV — $999.99 $1,299.99 (save $300)

• Samsung 65-inch TU8300 Curved 4K TV — $649.99 $799.99 (save $150)

• Samsung 65-inch The Frame QLED TV — $1,599.99 $1,999.99 (save $400)

• Samsung 65-inch QN900A 8K TV — $2,999.99 $4,999.99 (save $2,000)

• Samsung 75-inch Q70A Series QLED TV — $1,599.99 $2,299.99 (save $700)

• Samsung 85-inch Q70A Series QLED TV — $1,999.99 $3,299.99 (save $1,300)

• Samsung 85-inch The Frame QLED TV — $3,999.99 $4,299.99 (save $300)

LG TV deals

Why we love it

In 2021, LG dropped a mid-range line of 4K TVs featuring its NanoCell technology, which amps up color depth using an extra light filter. In 2022, that line is becoming more affordable.

More LG TVs on sale

• LG 50-inch UP8000 Series 4K TV — $379.99 $429.99 (save $50)

• LG 55-inch NanoCell 80 4K TV — $559 $799.99 (save $240.99)

• LG 65-inch NanoCell 90 4K TV — $999.99 $1,199.99 (save $200)

• LG 65-inch NanoCell 99 QNED 8K TV — $1,999.99 $2,699.99 (save $700)

• LG 65-inch NanoCell 90 QNED TV — $1,299.99 $1,599.99 (save $300)

• LG 65-inch C1 Series OLED TV — $1,596.99 $2,499.99 (save $903)

• LG 77-inch G1 Gallery Series QLED TV — $3,299.99 $3,799.99 (save $500)

• LG 82-inch Up8770 Series 4K TV — $1,099.99 $1,299.99 (save $200)

• LG 83-inch C1 Series OLED TV — $4,499.99 $4,999.99 (save $500)

Sony TV deals

Why we love it

The X80K, the entry-level model in Sony’s 2022 TV lineup, is already seeing a $100 discount despite only being on the market since April. It runs on Sony’s older (but still great) X1 processor but is equipped with gaming functionality like variable refresh rate support and 4k at 120Hz gaming. The 2022 lineup also includes a “Find Remote” feature.

More Sony TVs on sale

• Sony 43-inch X80J 4K TV — $499.99 $599.99 (save $100)

• Sony 48-inch A9S OLED TV — $999.99 $1,299.99 (save $300)

• Sony 50-inch X80K 4K TV — $649.99 $749.99 (save $100)

• Sony 55-inch X85J OLED TV — $749.99 $899.99 (save $150)

• Sony 55-inch A80J OLED TV — $1,199.99 $1,699.99 (save $500)

• Sony 65-inch X80K 4K TV — $849.99 $999.99 (save $150)

• Sony 65-inch X95J 4K TV — $1,499.99 $1,799.99 (save $300)

• Sony 65-inch X80J OLED TV — $1,699.99 $1,999.99 (save $300)

• Sony 65-inch A90J OLED TV — $2,999.99 $3,299.99 (save $300)

• Sony 75-inch XR Z9J 8K TV — $3,999.99 $5,499.99 (save $1,500)

• Sony 77-inch X80J OLED TV — $2,599.99 $2,999.99 (save $400)

Other TV deals from TCL, Vizio, and more

Why we love it

Peak moving season is here. TCL’s 4 Series is solid, affordable model for your new place, and the 55-inch model works well for a compact TV stand in a room with limited space. Its brightness levels and pops of colors are great for binge-watching, though picture might get laggy during high-graphics gaming.

More TVs from TCL, Vizio, and more

• Insignia 55-inch F50 Series QLED TV — $339.99 $499.99 (save $160)

• TCL 55-inch 4-Series 4K TV — $349.99 $599.99 (save $250)

• Insignia 65-inch F30 Series 4K TV — $419.99 $569.99 (save $150)

• Amazon 65-inch Omni Series 4K Fire TV – $499.99 $829.99 (save $330)

• Hisense 65-inch U6G ULED TV — $549.99 $849.99 (save $300)

• Insignia 70-inch F30 Series 4K TV — $499.99 $649.99 (save $150)

• Insignia 70-inch F50 Series QLED TV — $549.99 $749.99 (save $200)

• Vizio 70-inch V-Series 4K TV — $599.99 $699.99 (save $100)

• TCL 75-inch 5 Series QLED TV — $899.99 $999.99 (save $100)

• TCL 75-inch 6 Series Mini-LED QLED TV — $1,299.99 $2,299.99 (save $1,000)

• Hisense 75-inch 75U800GR QLED 8K TV — $1,798 $2,699.99 (save $901.99)

Explore related content:

• The best tablets for drawing and digital art

• Side sleepers (and binge-watchers) should ditch their flat pillow for one of these

• These are the best robot vacuums for carpet and rugs

Save $50: Keep an eye out for package deliveries with the Google Nest Doorbell (Battery) for only $129.99. As of June 8, this 28% discount marks the best price we’ve seen so far.

If you’re still on the hunt for a proper Father’s Day gift, one of the best gifts is a little peace of mind. Add an extra layer of security the easy way with the Google Nest Doorbell (Battery) video doorbell, which is on sale for $129.99 at Amazon.

The latest edition of the popular Nest series of doorbell cameras is at its best price ever after a $50 discount. (For comparison’s sake, the wired Nest Doorbell is $149 and requires more effort for installation.)

This Nest Doorbell model can connect to existing doorbell wires, or you can install it to any door and let it run solely on battery power. After you set it up, the it offers built-in intelligence with the Google Home app, where you can see alerts. The company also claims that it’s able to tell the difference between packages, people, animals, and vehicles.

Improve home security the cheap and easy way when you get a quick upgrade with the Google Nest Doorbell (Battery) for just $129.99.

Explore related content:

• Best Father’s Day gifts: Surprise Dad with something memorable

• The best smart speakers: See where the Amazon Echo Dot, others rank

• Want hands-free lighting? These are the best smart bulbs to use with Google Home.

SAVE 43%: Keep your dog hydrated through summer hikes with a water dispenser of its own. As of June 8, the MalsiPree Dog Water Bottle is on sale for $18.69. That’s 43% off its regular price of $32.99.

You love your Hydro Flask or CamelBak, so why not get your dog its own water bottle, too?

The MalsiPree Dog Water Bottle is designed for portability and convenience. It’s sealed with a silica gel ring to prevent leaks, but dispenses water with the push of a button (and the slide of a lock), which also allows excess, unlapped-up water to go back into the bottle.

It’s also well-sized for travel, fitting in most bags while still being large enough to hold a fair amount of water (19 ounces, to be exact). The bottle also comes with a strap if you prefer to tote it around by hand.

One downside to note is that the MalsiPree bottle isn’t dishwasher-safe, and shouldn’t be submerged in water that’s too hot. It’s also not recommended to put substances other than water in the bottle, but we recommend that your dog sticks to water anyway.

Explore related content:

• Dog anxiety is real. These products can help calm your anxious pet.

• 6 of the best pet cameras for keeping tabs on your cat or dog

• The best apps for dog lovers and pup parents

With Jurassic World: Dominion, it’s clear: Colin Trevorrow is the worst thing that’s happened to dinosaurs since that asteroid knocked them all into the past tense. The writer/director/producer who’s had a hand in each Jurassic World movie has repeatedly failed to recapture the magic of Steven Spielberg’s 1993 blockbuster, Jurassic Park. Instead of wonder, terror, and captivating characters, Trevorrow has given audiences cynicism and clichés that make for murky action movies devoid of soul. 

Trevorrow directs Jurassic World: Dominion, with a script penned by himself and Pacific Rim: Uprising writer Emily Carmichael. It doesn’t matter if you’ve seen or don’t remember Jurassic World or its sequel Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, because an opening news montage lays the groundwork: After another failed attempt at building Jurassic Park, dinosaurs are on the loose worldwide, threatening life as we know it. Also, a clone girl named Maisie Lockwood (Isabella Sermon) has gone missing. But fret not, this new(ish) character — whose role is chiefly sulking and running in terror — is being cared for by dino activist Claire Dearing (a wide-eyed Bryce Dallas Howard) and raptor whisperer Owen Grady (a brow-furrowed Chris Pratt) (aka the least compelling romantic couple of all time). Well, that is until a bunch of poachers kidnap Maisie and raptor Blue’s baby Beta for evil science reasons.

To explain all this and much, much, much more, Trevorrow inundates his audience with an array of exposition dumps that fling about science phrases and buzzwords about GMOs (genetically modified organisms), animal rights, ethics in science, and their global impact. But Jurassic World: Dominion has nothing to add to these debates, treating them simply as hooks to lure in the trio of classic Jurassic Park characters. 

Sam Neill, Laura Dern, and Jeff Goldblum are back, but wasted 

Credit: Universal Pictures

Yes! Jeff Goldblum, Sam Neill, and Laura Dern are back as Dr. Ian Malcolm, Dr. Alan Grant, and Dr. Ellie Sattler. And while each of these stars is as dazzling as ever, they’re given criminally little do for the first two hours of this sixth instalment in the franchise. Dern is beguiling as the blithe and beautiful Ellie, who has never met mischief that didn’t intrigue. Neill is a reliably lovable grump, but his Grant is treated like a loser who never made a life for himself out of the excavation pits. Meanwhile, Goldblum swaggers onto the screen in Ian’s signature skinny black jeans and an unbuttoned shirt, but his Malcolm has lost that spark that made this chaotician wild fun. Now, when he lectures about how humankind is bringing on our own end, it doesn’t feel daring. It feels like, well, duh. 

Jurassic World: Dominion falls short in awe-inspiring spectacle

Credit: Universal Pictures

Trevorrow’s lack of vision is achingly clear from the OG trio’s introductions. What should be big moments, reuniting us with these beloved heroes, is treated with a matter-of-factness that undercuts this stunt casting. Unfortunately, this lack of flare continues through the action sequences. It should be fun to watch dinosaurs running amok in the human world. There are plenty of action setpieces that sound entertaining on paper, from a massive sea beast toppling a fishing trawler to Owen motorcycle racing away from rampaging atrociraptors to Claire crawling from the reach of a ferociously clawed creature. But in execution, much of the action scenes are a murky mess.

Where Jurassic Park used its masterful special effects to indulge our lingering gaze at the miracle of dinosaurs resurrected millions of years later, Jurassic World: Dominion is constantly obscuring its marvelous monsters. Snow, water, darkness, and quick cuts are all employed to cover the finer details of these CGI beasties, perhaps to obscure the seams and cut down post-production costs. Combined with a dull color palette of sickly browns and grays, the effect is dinosaurs that don’t evoke the majesty and terror of those from the ’90s, accuracy be damned.

‘Jurassic World: Dominion’ earnestly expects audiences to believe a megalomaniac billionaire’s remote dinosaur research facility has security less stringent than that of your local bar. 

Further marring these action sequences is coverage that cuts together crudely, bungling geography, readability, and flow. Perhaps Trevorrow hopes to cover these raw edges with a bullying sound design because this movie is atrociously noisy. Engines roar. Humans scream. Dinosaurs bellow. Metal bends and breaks. This movie is not interesting or exciting, but sure, it’s loud. Maybe its helmer thought that if something — be it man, beast, or machine — is squealing in our ears, we won’t notice the numerous plotholes that the garrulous but vacuous dialogue creates. No such luck. Jurassic World: Dominion earnestly expects audiences to believe a megalomaniac billionaire’s remote dinosaur research facility has security less stringent than that of your local bar. 

Trevorrow embraces his worst impulses. Again. 

Credit: Universal Pictures

One of the loudest criticisms of Trevorrow’s first Jurassic World was the cruel violence enacted on minor characters, as he thought audiences would relish the graphic death of a so-called “bridezilla.” That mean streak persists in Jurassic World: Dominion, where human casualties suffer grisly fates that are practically mocked in video montages that chalk them up to silly social media fodder. It’s like watching a sloppy slasher sequel, where the assumption is audiences turned up for a high body count, not any kind of character development. As an avid horror fan, you can do both!

Little wonder then that franchise newcomers Mamoudou Athie and DeWanda Wise, as Biosyn head of communications Ramsay Cole and pilot Kayla Watts, are given little backstory and thin character development and exist chiefly to mirror pre-established characters and sidekick the leads out of trouble. Still, props to Athie and Wise for bringing resilient charisma that makes their roles far more fascinating than the screenplay deserves. Even poor Sam Neill is damned by drivel dialogue like, “Paleontology is science. Science is truth. Truth is in the rocks.”

Truly, what is any actor supposed to do with lines like that? 

Jurassic World: Dominion is a ruthless retread of Jurassic Park

Credit: Universal Pictures

Colin Trevorrow just can’t help himself. Just as he did in the first two films of this rebooted sequel series, he full-on steals action sequences, beats, and even props from the first film. Ellie will pet a dino with unchecked awe. Alan will lecture about the deadliness of raptors. But also a Dilophosaurus will track a devious villain into a broken down conveyance for a carnivorous comeuppance and a dropped can of shaving cream. Don’t call it a callback when you’re beat-for-beat repeating dinosaur attack sequences to the point where the finale feels like you’re tracing the original with a broken crayon. When it gets to the point where Trevorrow actually re-enacting the franchise’s roaring logo, I was groaning and rooting for the dinosaurs to just finish us off. All of humankind. Just make this stop. 

There’s a caustic lack of curiosity in Jurassic World: Dominion. Trevorrow bandies about buzzwords, big stars, and costly CGI dinosaurs, but with little interest in showing audiences something new. He’s cruising on nostalgia, even when he introduces species that audiences might not know. Instead of giving us something to sink our teeth into and savor, he slaps monster meat down for battles, races, and destruction, like a toddler rampaging through their block-built village. Hilariously, the villain of this film is a pretentious “big ideas” man, who dehumanizes Maisie by calling her the “most valuable piece of intellectual property in the world.” Yet Trevorrow rebuilds this IP with a similar attitude, cherry-picking its DNA to create something without concern for character or what such a project might actually mean. To paraphrase a prophetic chaotician, perhaps he was so preoccupied with whether or not he could, he didn’t stop to think if he should.

Jurassic World: Dominion opens in theaters on June 10.

UPDATE: Jun. 8, 2022, 2:30 p.m. EDT This story has been updated to include the best deals on robot vacuums from iRobot, Shark, Roborock, and more.

We’ve compiled the best deals on robot vacuums from brands like iRobot, Shark, and Ecovacs. Here are the ones to grab as of June 8:

• BEST BUDGET DEAL: The Roomba 694 loosens and lifts with a three-stage system, working harder on dirtier areas — $179.99 $274 ($94.01)

• BEST SELF-EMPTYING DEAL: The Roomba j7+ cleans competently, self-empties, and avoids cords and pet waste — $599.99 $799.99 (save $200)

• BEST ROBOT VACUUM/MOP DEAL: The Roborock S5 Max can sweep and scrub specific rooms for less than $400 — $379.99 $549.99 (save $170)

Only three things are certain in life: Death, taxes, and a few days each month when you need to vacuum but just don’t have time. Whether you detest the chore or get a little bummed when you can’t have that satisfying dance with your Dyson, a robot vacuum is a lifesaver. Shop models on sale below.

Robot vacuums under $200

Why we like it

The 694 is iRobot’s baseline model, offering a standard clean that you can trust to keep floors tidy on a daily basis. Hard floors are a breeze and carpets are tackled efficiently with Roomba’s loosen-then-lift strategy. Schedule cleanings and get custom cleaning suggestions in the iRobot app.

More robot vacuums under $200

• ionvac Smart Clean 2000 — $97 $179.88 (save $82.88)

• Eufy 11S — $139.99 $229.99 (save $90)

• Eufy 15C Max – $175.99 $299.99 (save $104)

• Roborock E4 — $199.99 $299.99 (save $100)

Robot vacuums under $500

Why we like it

The most affordable self-emptying Roomba is the i1+, which unleashes three times the suction of the baseline Roomba 694. Roombas don’t benefit from smart home mapping until later models, but the i1 still makes its way around efficiently and works harder on areas with more dirt detected. The dock holds up to 60 days’ worth of debris.

More robot vacuums under $500

• iRobot Roomba i1 — $229 $399.99 (save $170.99)

• Ecovacs G30 Edge — $239.99 $349 (save $109.01)

• iRobot Roomba i3 Evo — $249 $349.99 (save $100.99)

• Shark AI AC22501S — $393 $549.99 (save $156.99)

• iRobot Roomba i3+ Evo — $399 $549.99 (save $150.99)

• Shark IQ AV1010AE XL — $448.84 $599.99 (save $151.55)

• Neato Robotics D9 — $499 $699.99 (save $200.99)

Robot vacuums under $800

Why we like it

The smartest and newest Roomba is still chilling under $600. Its glow-up includes Genius Technology and PrecisionVision Navigation to avoid obstacles that were previously problem-causers, like phone chargers and pet waste. The j7+ also self-empties.

More robot vacuums under $800:

• Samsung JetBot+ — $520.15 $799 (save $278.85)

Robot vacuum and mop hybrids and dedicated robot mops

Why we like it:

Opting for a vacuum with LiDAR mapping is a smart move for floor plans more complicated than a one-bedroom apartment. The Roborock S5 Max solves bumper car woes by remembering the layout of each floor of your home and steering clear of the virtual boundaries you set. It also brings mopping to the table, which the cheaper S4 Max does not.

More hybrids and robot mops on sale

• Roborock E4 — $219.99 $379.99 (save $160)

• Roborock E5 — $239.97 $359.97 (save $120)

• Bissell SpinWave — $288.88 $399.99 (save $111.11)

• Roborock S6 Pure — $359.99 $599.99 (save $240)

• Yeedi Vac Station — $379.98 $549.99 (save $170.01)

• Ecovacs T8 Aivi — $499.99 $799.99 (save $300)

• Ecovacs N8 Pro+ — $499.99 $699.99 (save $200)

Are robot vacuums worth it?

The control of an upright vacuum comes with its own type of satisfaction. But if you’re not one to classify cleaning as cathartic, a robot vacuum could erase that huge, agonizing task from of your chore list. (And did we mention the joy of having “first day clean” floors all the time?)

But whether robot vacuums are worth it or not comes with a caveat: It can’t be just any robot vacuum. A cheap robovac that doesn’t do the job right — scattering dust, bumping into walls, getting stuck on area rugs — might actually create more work for you.

What to consider when buying a robot vacuum

• Suction power: A vacuum is the one purchase that you hope sucks a lot. Suction power is typically measured in Pascals (Pa), with most current vacs ranging between 1,500 Pa and 3,000 Pa. Stronger sucking will be needed to pick up heavier pieces of debris (be sure to set a no-go zone around Legos) and to pull matted-down pet hair from rugs.

• Floor type: Carpeting and high pile rugs will probably require stronger suction than hard floors, as well as special features like an extra-wide or self-cleaning brush roll to prevent hair from wrapping and clogging. Folks in homes with multiple floor types might consider a bigger, sturdier robot vacuum that can hurl itself and its wheels over mats, rugs, and transitions from carpet to hard floors.

• Automatic emptying: Because robot vacuums are typically under four inches tall, their onboard dust bins are also small — which means they frequently require emptying. (Dustbins fill up particularly quickly in homes with pets.) A self-emptying vacuum takes that job out of your hands, emptying itself into a larger dustbin in its charging dock. These larger bins can typically hold weeks of dirt without needing to be cleaned or dumped out.

• Home layout: Every robot vacuum is equipped with sensors and drop detection. But if your home has lots of rooms, lots of turns, or lots of close-together furniture, you’ll have fewer navigation issues with an advanced model that uses intelligent mapping to remember exactly how your home is laid out, including labeling of specific rooms, mental notes of staircases, and ability to deploy zone cleaning.

• Low-profile furniture: No one should have to be scared about what’s accumulated under their couch over the past year. A robot vacuum measuring three inches or less in height should be able to scoot under most low-hanging couches and beds.

• Battery life and square footage: One of the main complaints people have about their robot vacuum is that it craps out in the middle of the floor. Larger spaces require more time to clean, and it all depends on how annoyed you’ll be if it only finishes a few rooms at a time. Average run times for the list below range between 90 and 200 minutes, which translate to about 500 and 2,800 square feet covered on one charge.

• App control: WiFi-enabled robot vacuums can be synced with a smartphone app to control scheduling, manual start, cleaning settings, as well as telling your vac to make its rounds when you’re not home. Low-end models that don’t connect to WiFi will usually come with a separate remote. If you’re used to asking Alexa or Google to turn off the lights or tell you the weather, a model with voice integration will blend in nicely.

Explore related content:

• The Neato D8 robot vacuum is whisper quiet and learns your home’s layout

• Samsung’s Jet Bot AI+ robot vacuum is a must-have for pet owners

• The ILIFE V3s Pro is a cheap robot vacuum for hands-off spot cleaning

Ms. Marvel, Iman Vellani, along with the cast and creators, give us all the backstory we need before binging the new Marvel series. The series premiers June 6th on Disney+.