The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Robot vacuums can make the chore of vacuuming a bit less painful. Modern models can also mop, and climb (small) steps.
They have a small dustbin that they empty themselves, and some can be operated by a smartphone app instead of the physical remote. Some come with mapping features to assist in navigation.
1. Power
Our top pick for robot vacuums comes with a suction force of 8000Pa, which is strong enough to remove even the most difficult dirt patches and hairs. Its ultra-thin square design allows it to slide under furniture such as beds and sofas and its Dual-Laser LiDAR technology supports precise navigation and accurate obstacle avoidance. It also does an excellent job at cleaning up pet hair baking soda, other debris that can be found near the baseboards as well as in corners.
Other high-powered robots on this list, apart from the DEEBOT X2 OMNI include the IRobot Roomba J7+ as well as the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. The latter comes bundled with a sturdy docking station that automates maintenance and includes mopping capabilities as well. Its powerful suction and effective mopping made sure my floors were free of pet hair as well as muddy paw prints and other debris in every floor type test that we conducted.
A model that has 2,500Pa suction will suffice for most homes in the lower price range. They are also quieter, which makes them a better option for those with sensitive hearing. They aren't silent, however they are not about the same as normal conversations at home.
Consider your budget and cleaning needs to determine the best combination of power and convenience. Frequent light-duty tidying requires a longer time to run and lower suction, whereas weekly heavy-duty cleaning requires the most power. Check your flooring, home layout and cleaning schedules prior to choosing the right model. We suggest looking through our complete list of robot vacuum reviews and ratings to get more details on the most recent models available. Many customers report seeing their carpets and bare floors looking significantly cleaner after introducing a robot vacuum to their home.
2. Navigation
A robot vacuum can't do its job when it doesn't know how to navigate your home. The best robots use sophisticated navigation technologies to scan rooms and create a map, ensuring thorough cleaning without getting stuck or hitting obstacles. There are three kinds of robot navigation: LiDAR, camera and sensor.
LiDAR is used by the most expensive models to create a virtual space map, which offers the highest levels in precision and efficiency. Bump sensors are utilized in less expensive models, but they aren't always accurate and miss a lot of debris when working in dark environments. Most robots also feature cliff sensors to stop them from falling down stairs or other falls.
A number of the robots I tested utilized objects recognition to navigate through things such as cords and fake dog turds. However, the Eufy X10 was the best. It had superb mapping capabilities, powerful oscillating mops, an easy-to-use app, and the ability to clean a zones, rooms or even the all of the home.
Take into consideration features such as sensors that detect floors, which automatically boost suction power when needed. Some robots, like the Roborock mop, make use of a mopping pad lift to reach corners and clean up dried spills. Some hybrids even apply cleaning solution to stubborn staining.
A smaller dustbin will require less frequent emptying while a larger one can save money on replacements. The most affordable robotic cleaners generally utilize a small disposable dust bag, but the majority of mid-range models come with larger 3L dustbins that last for decades. Some premium robots, like the ECOVACS DEEBOT OMNI station, will automatically empty their bins and fill their water tanks to provide hands-free convenience.
3. App control
The best robot vacuums come with an app that lets you monitor the progress of cleaning and schedule sessions and connect to smart home devices for hands-free control. They also sync with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant to allow voice-controlled control. Certain models come with an on-screen remote that allows you to start, pause, and return to dock. Choose a model that has larger dustbins that self-empty, rather than one that requires manual emptying.
Some robots are equipped with mapping technology that allows them to remember obstacles, like staircases, and prevents them from getting into furniture. Some allow you to set no-go zones or targeted rooms, so that they only clean the areas that need it most. They also come with cliff sensors to keep them from falling down the stairs, which is especially beneficial in multi-level homes.
If you plan to utilize your robot vacuum to clean rugs, choose one that can be used both for wet and dry mopping. You'll get better results with an vac that is able to remove its own mop pad, too, which you can then rinse and reconnect when it's time for another cleaning cycle. Look for a robot with a rubber roller. This will be less likely to get caught from pet hair or other debris. It's recommended to check the robot's brushroll and side brushes for stuck-on debris every once or twice per week as well. If you notice that they're beginning to clog, it might be time to replace parts.
4. Debris collection
Robot vacuums are made, as the name suggests to collect dust and debris from your floors. The most effective robot vacuums are able to take small particles such as baking soda and sand in addition to larger ones like screws made of metal, orzo, and pet hair. They also provide better pick-up results on low-pile carpets than most manual vacuums.
The top-performing robots across all flooring types had scores over 95%. The two top-performing robots in this category were the ECOVACS DEEBOT X2 OMNI and the Roborock Q Revo. Both are highly automated equipped with docking stations that perform maintenance by themselves and features in the app that make them extremely user-friendly.
They both come with self-emptying bins which automatically take the contents of the wastebasket and clean the washboard while mowing. They also feature 8,000Pa suction and smart mapping technology and advanced obstacle avoidance technology that helps them find their way around even the most difficult of areas. The ECOVACS model is also one of the few robots that we tested that can remove its mop pads and vacuum carpet, which makes it the ideal choice for users who need to switch between mopping and vacuuming regularly.
If you're looking for a cheaper option, check out the iRobot Roomba Combo J7 Plus, our budget choice. It offers LIDAR navigation for reasonable prices and decent performance in the collection of debris. It can be a bit slow at mapping out rooms and has a tendency of bumping against obstacles, but the price is less than the other choices.
5. Battery life
The best robot vacuums let you move about your day while keeping your floors in perfect state. You'll still have to manually vacuum your home on a regular basis however, robovacs can assist you in maintaining a minimum standard of cleanliness, and even clean when you are away.
To maximize the amount of time you can use your robovac, make sure you choose an advancé with a long battery life. A good rule of thumb is to anticipate a model to last about two complete cleaning sessions if you use it at the maximum power setting. This is less than a larger vacuum but should be sufficient to keep most homes clean. If you don't want to wait around while your robovac is charging, you can also select one that will automatically make its return to the base station to recharge.
If you're looking for a robot with a variety of features in it, then think about one that is able to mop. Eufy's X10 is the top model in this category. It offers self-emptying, self-draining and self-refilling of the dust container, water tank and mop pad. robot vacuums cheap can be programmed to refill and wash mops as soon as they run out.
Its high-quality carpet and hard floor pick-up, great hair pickup and tangle-free, and a close to perfect auto empty scores make it the clear winner of our test scores. It's not cheap and unless you have a small house with no pets, it could be too costly for some. The second choice is the Dreametech D10+, has the same performance, however it costs 25% less.