The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Vacuuming is the bane of many lives, but robot vacuums make it a little more enjoyable. Modern models mop and climb (small) stairs.
Some have a small bin that they empty by themselves. Others can be controlled by apps for smartphones instead of a physical remote. Some of them have mapping capabilities that help them navigate your home more efficiently.
1. Power
Our top pick for robot vacuums comes with a suction force of 8000Pa, which is strong enough to eliminate even the most difficult dirt patches and hairs. Its ultra-thin square shape allows it to slide underneath furniture, such as beds and sofas. Dual-Laser LIDAR technology offers precise obstacle avoidance as well as intelligent navigation. It is also great at cleaning baking powder, pet hair, and other debris near baseboards and corners.
Aside from the DEEBOT X2 OMNI, other high-powered bots on this list include the IRobot Roomba j7+ and the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. The latter comes with a powerful docking station that is able to perform maintenance and includes mopping capabilities as well. Its powerful suction, combined with its effective mopping feature, made sure my floors were free of pet hair, muddy prints and other messes on every floor we tested.
In the lower price range, a unit with around 2,500Pa of suction is more than enough for most homes. These units are quieter and are therefore a better choice for those with sensitive ears. They're not silent however they are not as loud as normal conversations at home.
To get the most effective mix of power and usability Consider your cleaning requirements and budget. Frequent light-duty tidying requires a longer runtime and lower suction, whereas weekly heavy-duty cleaning requires the most power. Take a look at your flooring, home layouts, and cleaning schedules to select the best model to meet your requirements. Take a look at our comprehensive list of robot vacuum reviews and ratings for more details about the most current models. Many users report that their carpets and floors look cleaner after using a robot vacuum.
2. Navigation
A robot vacuum can't do its job properly if it doesn't know how to navigate your home. Because of this, the best robots rely on sophisticated navigation technology that reliably scans rooms and creates a map to ensure thorough cleaning without being lost or hitting obstacles. There are three major kinds of robot navigation: LiDAR-based, sensor-based and camera-based.
The most expensive models employ LiDAR to build a virtual map of the room. This model offers the highest level of accuracy and efficiency. Less expensive models depend on bump sensors, which are more prone to error and tend to miss the majority of debris in dark areas. The majority of robots have 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 such as cords and fake dog turds. But the Eufy X10 was the best. It had superb mapping capabilities, powerful oscillating mops, an easy-to-use app, and the ability to clean by zones, rooms or even the entire home.
Think about features like floor type sensors that automatically increase suction power when needed. Certain robots, like the Roborock mop, make use of a mopping pad lift to reach corners and eliminate dried spills. Many hybrids can apply cleaning solutions to staining that is difficult to remove.
A smaller dustbin will require less frequent emptying, while a bigger one can save you money on replacements. The majority of robotic cleaners that are low-cost use the smallest, disposable dust bag. However, most mid-range models have larger 3L dustbins that last for a long period of time. Certain high-end robots, such as the ECOVACS DEEBOT OMNI station, will self-empty their trash bins and refill their water tanks for hands-free convenience.
3. App control
The majority of robot vacuums come with an app that monitors cleaning progress and schedule cleaning sessions. They also connect to smart home devices. They also can sync with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for voice-based control. Some models have an on-screen remote that allows you to start the process, pause it, and return to dock. Look for a model with larger dustbins that self-empty, as opposed to one that requires manual emptying.
Some robots are equipped with mapping technology that helps them recognize obstacles, such as the stairs, and also avoid hitting furniture. Some robovacs allow you to create no-go zones as well as specific rooms to clean areas that require it the most. They also have a cliff detector to prevent them from falling, which is particularly helpful in multi-leveled homes.
If you plan to make use of your robot vacuum to clean rugs choose one that is capable of dry and wet mopping. You'll be able to get better results from an vac that is able to remove its own mop pad, and then wash and reattach when it's time for another cleaning cycle. Look for robots with a rubber roller. This will be less likely to get caught from pet hair or other particles. Check the robot's side brush and brushroll for any debris that might have become stuck on. Make sure to do this at least twice per week. If you notice they are beginning to get clogged up, it may be time to purchase replacement parts.
4. Collection of debris
As the name suggests, robot vacuums are designed to remove dust and other debris from your floors. The best robot vacuums will take small particles such as baking soda and sand, as well as larger ones like screws made of metal, orzo, and pet hair. They also provide better pick-up results on low-pile carpets than manual vacuums.
The top-performing robots across all flooring types had scores greater than 95 percent. The ECOVACS DEEBOT X2 OMNI and the Roborock Q Revo were two of our most efficient bots in this class. Both are highly automated with docking stations that perform maintenance on their own, and features in the app that make them extremely user-friendly.
robotic hoovers come with self-emptying bins which automatically collect the waste from the wastebasket, and clean the washboard while you mow. They also have suction of 8,000Pa and smart mapping technology and advanced obstacle avoidance that helps them navigate even the most challenging areas. The ECOVACS robot is one of the few that can vacuum carpet and remove the mop pads. This makes it an ideal option for those who need to switch between mopping and vacuuming often.
If you're looking for a cheaper option, check out the Roomba Combo J7 by iRobot Plus, our budget choice. It features LIDAR navigation for a reasonable price and a decent performance in the collection of debris. It's not the fastest to map out rooms and is susceptible to hitting obstacles however, it's cheaper than our other best-buy choices.
5. Battery life
The most effective robot vacuums let you move about your day while keeping your floors in perfect condition. Although you'll need to give your home a manual vacuum every now and then Robotic vacuums can help keep a certain level of tidiness and even clean while you're away from home.
To maximize the time you can get out of your robovac, make sure you choose a model with excellent battery life. If you use the highest power setting, the model should last two cleaning sessions. This is not as long as a size vacuum cleaner, however it is enough to provide for the majority of homes. If you don't like to sit around waiting for your robovac recharges you could select an automatic model that makes its way back to the base station to recharge.
If you're looking for a robovac that has a little bit of everything in it, you should consider an option that also mop. Eufy's X10 is the most effective model of this category has self-emptying and self-refilling for the dust bin, the water tank, and the mop pad. It can even be programmed to automatically re-fill and wash its own mop pads when they're empty.
The clear winner in our tests is the Dyson V810, because of its impressive carpet and hard floor pickup, excellent hair pickup, tangle-free performance and a near perfect auto empty score. However, it's not cheap and unless you live in an apartment without pets, it may be too pricey for some. The second choice one, the Dreametech D10+, has the same performance, but is priced 25 percent less.