The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Vacuuming is the bane of a lot of people's lives, but robot vacuums make it more enjoyable. Modern models can mop, and even climb (small) steps.
best cheap robot vacuum have a small trash bin that they empty by themselves. Others can be controlled via an app on your smartphone instead of an actual remote. Some have mapping capabilities that assist in navigating your home with greater efficiency.
1. Power
With 8,000Pa of suction power, our top pick for robot vacuums is strong enough to handle the worst hairs and dirt. Its ultra-thin square shape allows it to slide beneath furniture like sofas and beds. Dual-Laser LIDAR technology allows for accurate obstacle avoidance and intelligent navigation. It also does an excellent job at cleaning pet hair, baking soda, and other debris close to the baseboards as well as in corners.
Aside from the DEEBOT X2 OMNI, other powerful bots in this list include the iRobot Roomba j7+ and the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. The Roborock S8 Pro Ultra has docking stations that automatically handles maintenance. It also comes with mopping capabilities. Its powerful suction and effective mopping made sure my floors were free of pet hair, muddy paw prints, and other debris throughout every flooring type test we conducted.
In the lower price range, a model that has 2,500Pa of suction is sufficient for most homes. These models are quieter, which makes them an ideal option for those with sensitive hearing. They're still not quiet, but they're not as loud as normal conversations at home.
Think about your budget and cleaning requirements to determine the best combination of power and convenience. Regular light-duty cleaning requires a longer runtime and lower suction, while weekly heavy-duty cleaning requires a lot of power. Assess your flooring, layout of your home and cleaning schedule prior to selecting the best model. We recommend checking out our full list of robot vacuum reviews and ratings for more details on the most recent models available. Many customers report that their carpets and floor look cleaner after using a robot vacuum.
2. Navigation
A robot vacuum can't do its job effectively without knowing how to get around your home. The best robots use sophisticated navigation technology to scan rooms and build an outline map, which allows for thorough cleaning without getting stuck or hitting obstacles. There are three kinds of robot navigation: LiDAR-based, camera-based and sensor-based.
The most expensive models employ LiDAR to create a virtual map of the room, offering the highest levels of accuracy and efficiency. Bump sensors are used in less expensive models, but they aren't always accurate and miss a lot of debris when working in dark areas. Many robots also have cliff sensors to stop them from falling down stairs or other falls.
Many of the robots I tested used object recognition to deftly navigate things like fake cords and dog turds but the best was the Eufy X10. It had superb mapping capabilities with powerful oscillating mops, a user-friendly app and the ability to clean by zones, rooms or even the whole home.
Other features worth a look include sensors for floors that can recognize carpets that are hard and soft automatically increasing suction power when necessary. Certain robots, like the Roborock mop, make use of a mopping pad lift to get into corners and eliminate dried spills. Many hybrids can apply cleaning solution to the most difficult stains.
A smaller bin will require less frequent emptying while a larger one can save money on replacements. The cheapest robotic cleaners usually utilize a small disposable dust bag, while the majority of mid-range models come with larger 3L dustbins that last for decades. Some of the top models, like the ECOVACS DEEBOT OMNI station, can self-empty their trash bins and refill their water tanks, allowing convenience without hands.
3. App control
The top robot vacuums have an application that lets you track cleaning progress and schedule your sessions and connect to smart home devices to allow hands-free control. Many robot vacuums can also be controlled using voice commands, such as Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Some models have a separate remote control that lets you start the process, pause it and then return to dock. Select a model with a larger dustbin and can self-empty, rather than one that requires manual emptying.
Certain robovacs have mapping technology that helps them recognize obstacles, such as stairs, and avoid hitting furniture. Some allow you to set no-go zones or targeted rooms, ensuring that they only clean areas that need it most. They also have cliff sensors to prevent them from falling down stairs, which is especially beneficial in multi-level homes.
If you are planning to make use of your robot vacuum to clean your rugs pick one that can perform both dry mopping and wet. You'll get better results with a robot vac that can remove its own mop pad and then rinse and reconnect when it's time for another cleaning cycle. Also, look for a machine that has a rubber roll that is less prone to tangles due to pet hair and other debris than a bristle roller, as found on some less expensive models. It's a good idea to check the robot's brushroll and side brushes for debris that has gotten stuck once or twice a week Also. If you notice they are getting clogged, it may be time to replace parts.
4. Collection of debris
Like the name suggests, robot vacuums are designed to collect dust and debris from your floors. The best ones are able to pick small particles such as baking soda and sand, as well as larger pieces like orzo pasta, screws made of metal and pet hair. They also provide better results on carpets with low pile than manual vacuums.
The top-performing robots across all flooring types had scores higher than 95 percent. The two top-performing robots in this category were the ECOVACS DEEBOT X2 OMNI, and the Roborock Q Revo. Both are highly automated with robust docking stations that can perform maintenance on their own and app features that make them extremely user-friendly.
They both have self-emptying bins that automatically remove the contents of the wastebasket. They also have the ability to clean the washboard as they mow. They also have an 8,000Pa vacuum, smart mapping technology and advanced obstacle avoidance that helps them navigate through even the most difficult areas. The ECOVACS robot is among the few that can vacuum carpet and remove the mop pads. This makes it a perfect choice for users who have to switch between mopping and vacuuming often.
If you're looking for a less expensive alternative, take a look at the Roomba Combo J7 from iRobot Plus, our budget-friendly pick. It offers LIDAR navigation at a reasonable price and a decent debris collection performance. It can be a bit slow when it comes to mapping rooms and is prone to bumping against obstacles, but the price is less than our other picks.
5. Battery life
The best robot vacuums let you get on with your day while keeping your floors in perfect in good condition. While you'll still have to give your home a manual vacuum every now and again robot vacuums can help you maintain a standard of tidiness and even clean while you're away from home.
Find a robovac equipped with an extended-lasting battery to get the most use of it. If you use the highest power setting, the model should last about two cleaning sessions. This is less than a large vacuum however, it should be enough to get the job done in most homes. If you don't want to wait around while your robovac charges you, you can opt for a model that automatically makes its way back to its base station to recharge.
If you're looking for a robot that can do a bit of everything, think about an all-in-one machine that can mop too. Eufy's X10 is the top model in this category and provides self-emptying, auto-draining and self-refilling of the dust container as well as the mop pad. It can even be programmed to automatically re-fill and wash its own mops when they're empty.
Its respectable carpet and hard floor pick-up excellent hair pickup, tangle-free, and a near-perfect auto empty score makes it the clear winner of our test scores. It's not cheap, however and unless you live in a the smallest of homes with no pets it might be too expensive for some. The second choice, the Dreametech D10+, has the same performance, but costs about 25 percent less.