The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Robot vacuums can make the task of vacuuming less painful. Modern models mop and climb (small) stairs.
They have a small dustbin that they empty themselves, and some of them can be operated by a smartphone app instead of an actual remote. Some have mapping capabilities that assist in navigating your home with greater efficiency.
1. Power
Our top pick for robot vacuums comes with a suction force of 8000Pa, which is strong enough to get rid of even the most stubborn hairs and dirt. Its super-thin square design allows it to slide under furniture like sofas and beds, and its Dual-Laser LiDAR technology supports intelligent navigation and accurate obstacle avoidance. It's also great for cleaning baking powder, pet hair, and other debris near corners and baseboards.
Aside from the DEEBOT X2 OMNI bot, other powerful bots in this list include the iRobot Roomba j7+ and the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. The Roborock S8 Pro Ultra includes docking stations that automatically handles maintenance. It also has mopping capabilities. Its powerful suction and efficient mopping helped keep my floors clear of pet hair as well as muddy paw prints and other debris during every floor type test we ran.
A model that has 2500Pa suction should be sufficient for homes that are in the lower price range. These models are quieter, making them the ideal option for those with hearing issues. They're not silent but they're not the same volume as conversations at home.
Take into consideration your budget and cleaning requirements to determine the best combination of power and efficiency. Regular light-duty cleaning requires a longer time to run and lower suction, whereas weekly heavy-duty cleaning requires a lot of power. Take a look at your flooring, layout of your home, and cleaning schedules to determine the best model for your needs. Check out our complete list of robot vacuum reviews and ratings for more details about the latest models. Many customers report that their carpets and bare floor look cleaner after using a robotic vacuum.
2. Navigation
A robot vacuum won't be able to do its job well without knowing how to navigate your home. The most advanced robots utilize sophisticated navigation technologies to scan rooms and build maps, ensuring thorough cleaning without getting stuck or hitting obstacles. There are three major types of robot navigation: LiDAR-based sensor-based and camera-based.
The most expensive models utilize LiDAR to build a virtual map of the room, offering the highest levels of precision and efficiency. The less expensive models depend on bump sensors which are less accurate and tend to miss the majority of debris in dark spaces. Most robots also feature cliff sensors to prevent them from falling down stairs or other drops.
A number of the robots I tested utilized object recognition to navigate things like cords and fake dog turds. But the Eufy X10 was the best. It had excellent mapping capabilities with powerful oscillating mops, an intuitive app and the ability to clean a zones, rooms or even the all of the house.
Other features worth a look include floor type sensors that recognize carpets with soft and hard floors automatically increasing suction power when needed. Some robots, such as the Roborock mop, utilize a mopping pad lift to get into corners and clean up dried spills. Some hybrids even apply cleaning solutions to tough staining.
A smaller dustbin will require less frequent emptying while larger ones will save money on replacements. The majority of low-cost robotic cleaners utilize the smallest disposable dust bag. However, the majority of middle-priced models have larger 3L dustbins which last a long time. Some of the top models, like the ECOVACS DEEBOT OMNI station, can self-empty their dustbin and refill their water tanks, allowing hands-free convenience.
3. App control
The majority of robot vacuums have an app to monitor cleaning progress and schedule sessions. They also connect to smart home devices. Most also sync with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for voice-based control. Certain models come with an on-screen remote that allows you to begin or pause and then return to dock. Find a model with a bigger dustbin that can self-empty, rather than one that requires manual emptying.
Certain robovacs come with technology for mapping to help them avoid obstacles such as furniture and stairs. Others allow you to set no-go zones or targeted rooms, so they only clean areas that require the most. They also have cliff sensors to prevent them from falling down staircase, which is particularly useful in multi-level homes.
If you intend to use your robot vacuum to clean rug carpets, you should choose a model which can be used both for dry and wet mopping. You'll get better results from a robot vac that can remove its own mop pad and then rinse and reattach when it's time to do another cleaning cycle. Look for robots with the rubber roller. It is less likely to become tangled from pet hair or other particles. Check the robot's side brushes and brushroll for any debris that might have gotten stuck on. Do this once or twice a week. If you notice that they're beginning to get blocked, it could be time to purchase replacement parts.
4. Collection of debris
As the name implies robot vacuums are created to collect dust and other debris from your floors. The most effective robot vacuums are able to pick up small particles such as sand and baking soda, and larger ones like metal screws orzo, pet hair. They also get better pickup results on carpets with low pile than manual vacuums.
All flooring types are covered, and the top performing robots had pick-up scores of more than 95 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 on their own, and features in the app that make them extremely user-friendly.
Both have self-emptying bins that take the contents of the wastebasket, and clean the washboard while mowing. They also have 8,000Pa suction and smart mapping technology and advanced obstacle avoidance technology that helps them find their way around even the most difficult spaces. The ECOVACS robot is among the few that can clean carpet and remove the mop pads. This makes it an ideal option for people who need to switch between mopping and vacuuming often.
If you're looking for a cheaper option, look into the Roomba Combo J7 by iRobot Plus, our budget pick. It comes with LIDAR navigation for reasonable prices and decent performance in the collection of debris. why not try these out 's not the fastest to map rooms and can be prone to bumping into obstacles, however, it's cheaper than our other top choices.
5. Battery life
The best robot vacuums are designed to let you move moving with your day while they keep your floors in tip-top span. Although you'll need to give your home a manual hoover every now and again, robovacs can help you keep a certain level of cleanliness, and even wash when you're away.
Look for a robovac with long-lasting batteries to get the most use of it. A good rule of thumb is to anticipate a model to last about two cleaning sessions if you run it at the highest power setting. This is less than a size vacuum cleaner, however it should be enough to provide for the majority of homes. If you don't want to be waiting around while your robovac recharges, you can also opt for a model that automatically makes its way back to the base station to recharge.
If you're looking for a robot with a bit of everything in it, then consider an option that also mop. Eufy's X10 is the most effective model in this category and offers self-emptying, self-draining and self-refilling of the dust bin and mop pad. It can also be programmed to automatically re-fill and wash mops when they're low.
The clear winner in our tests is the Dyson V810, due to its outstanding carpet and hard floor pickup, superb hair pickup, tangle-free performance and nearly perfect auto empty score. It's not cheap, however and unless you live in a small home with no pets, it could be too expensive for some. The runner-up one, the Dreametech D10+, has very similar performance but costs about 25 percent less.