The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Robot vacuums can make the chore of vacuuming less painful. Modern models can also mop and even climb (small) steps.
Some have a smaller bin which they empty themselves. Others can be controlled by a smartphone app rather than the physical remote. Some models have mapping capabilities to assist in navigating your home more efficiently.
1. Power
With an impressive 8,000Pa of suction Our top choice for robot vacuums is powerful enough to take care of the most difficult dirt patches and hairs. Its ultra-thin square design allows it to slide beneath furniture such as beds and sofas and its Dual-Laser LIDAR technology supports precise navigation and accurate obstacle avoidance. It's also great at cleaning baking powder, pet hair, and other debris near corners and baseboards.
Aside from the DEEBOT X2 OMNI bot, other high-powered bots on 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 has mopping capabilities. Its powerful suction and efficient mopping helped keep my floors clear of pet hair, muddy paw prints, and other debris during every floor type test that we conducted.
In the lower cost range, a model with around 2,500Pa of suction is sufficient for most homes. They are also quieter and are therefore a better choice for those who have sensitive ears. They're not silent however they are not about the same as normal conversations at home.
Consider your budget and cleaning needs to find the perfect combination of power and efficiency. Regular light-duty cleaning requires a longer time to run and lower suction, while weekly heavy-duty cleaning requires the most power. Then assess your flooring, home layouts and cleaning schedules to select the best model to meet your needs. Check out our complete list of robot vacuum reviews and ratings for more information about the most recent models. Many customers report that their carpets and floors appear cleaner after using a robotic vacuum.
2. Navigation
A robot vacuum won't be able to do its job effectively when it doesn't know how to get around your home. The best robots employ sophisticated navigation technology to scan rooms and create a map, ensuring thorough cleaning without getting stuck or hitting obstacles. There are three types of robot navigation including LiDAR, camera, and sensor.
LiDAR is employed by the most expensive models to create a virtual room map, which offers the highest levels in precision and efficiency. Bump sensors are employed in lower-end models, however they can be inaccurate and miss a lot debris when working in dark places. The majority of robots have cliff sensors to keep them from falling down stairs or other drops.
Several robots I tested used objects recognition to navigate through things like fake dog turds. However, the Eufy X10 was the best. It had excellent mapping capabilities with powerful oscillating mops, a user-friendly app and the ability to clean by zones, rooms or even the all of the home.
Take into consideration features such as sensors for floors that automatically boost suction power when required. Some robots, like the Roborock mop, utilize a mopping pad lift to get into corners and eliminate dried spills. Many hybrids are able to apply cleaning solutions to stubborn staining.
A smaller bin will mean 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, the majority of mid-range models have larger 3L dustbins which last for a long time. Certain premium robots such as the EcoVACS DEEBOT OMNI Station are able to self-empty and refill their water tanks for hands-free convenience.
3. autonomous vacuum control
The majority of robot vacuums come with an app that monitors cleaning progress and schedule sessions. They also connect to smart home devices. Most also connect to Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for voice-based control. Some have a remote control that lets you start or pause, and then return to dock. Choose a model that has 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 stairs, and avoid running into furniture. Others allow you to create no-go zones or specific rooms, so that they only clean the areas that require it the most. They also have cliff sensors to prevent them from falling down the stairs, which is particularly beneficial in multi-level homes.
If you intend to make use of your robot vacuum to clean your rugs choose one that is capable of dry and wet 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 reattach when it's time to do another cleaning cycle. Also, look for a model that has a rubber roller that is less prone to tangles from pet hair and other debris than a bristle roller, as found on some smaller models. It's recommended to inspect the robot's brushroll as well as side brushes for debris that has gotten stuck once or twice a week, too. If you notice that they're starting to clog, it might be time to buy replacement parts.
4. Debris collection
Robot vacuums are made, as the name suggests to gather dust and debris from your floors. The best ones pick small particles such as baking soda and sand as well larger pieces such as orzo pasta, screws made of metal and pet hair. They also have better pickup results on carpets with low piles than the majority of manual vacuums.
The top-performing robots across all flooring types had a pickup score over 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 docking stations that can perform maintenance by themselves and apps that make them extremely user-friendly.
Both have self-emptying bins that collect the waste from 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 navigate even the most difficult spaces. The ECOVACS model is also among the only robots we tested that can remove its mop pads and vacuum carpet which makes it the best choice for users who need to switch between mopping and vacuuming frequently.
If you're looking for a more affordable option, we suggest the Roomba Combo J7 from iRobot+, our budget-friendly pick. It comes with LIDAR navigation and decent debris pickup capabilities for the price. It is slow at mapping out rooms and is susceptible to bumping into obstacles, but the cost is less than the other choices.
5. Battery life
The best robot vacuums are made to let you move on with your life while they keep your floors in tip-top clean. You'll still have to manually vacuum your home on a regular basis but robovacs can assist you in maintaining a minimum level of cleanliness, and will even keep your home clean when you're away.
Look for a robovac with a long-lasting battery to get the most of it. A good rule of thumb is to expect a model to last for around two full cleaning sessions when you run it at the highest power setting. This is less than a large vacuum cleaner, but it will be sufficient to be sufficient for most homes. If you don't want to sit while your robovac charges you can opt for one that will automatically return to the base station for charging.
If you're looking for a robot that can do a bit of everything, think about an all-in-one robot that can mop too. Eufy's X10 is the most effective model in this category and offers self-emptying, self-draining and self-refilling of your dust bin, water tank and mop pad. It can be programmed to automatically refill and wash its mop pads as soon as they run out.
The clear winner of our tests is the Dyson V810 because of its impressive carpet and hard floor pickup, outstanding hair pickup, tangle-free performance and nearly perfect auto empty score. It's not cheap, and unless you have a small house with no pets, it might be too expensive for certain. The Dreametech D10+ is the second-placed model and offers the same performance, but it costs 25% less.