The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Robot vacuums can make the chore of vacuuming less painful. Today's models also mop and can even climb (small) steps.
Some have a small trash bin that they empty by themselves. Others are controlled with a smartphone app rather than the physical remote. Some models have mapping features that assist in navigation.
1. Power
Our top pick for robot vacuums has a suction power of 8,000Pa, which is powerful enough to remove even the most stubborn dirt patches and hairs. The ultra-thin shape of the square allows it to slide underneath furniture, such as couches and beds. Dual-Laser LIDAR technology offers precise obstacle avoidance and intelligent navigation. It's also great at cleaning pet hair, baking powder, and other debris near baseboards and corners.
In addition to the DEEBOT X2 OMNI, the other high-powered bots on this list include the Robot Roomba J7+ and the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. The Roborock S8 Pro Ultra has a docking station which automatically handles maintenance. It also comes with mopping capabilities. Its powerful suction and efficient mopping made sure my floors were free of pet hair, muddy paw prints, and other debris during every flooring type test we conducted.
A model that has 2,500Pa suction will suffice for most homes in the lower price range. These models are quieter, which makes them a better choice for people with hearing issues. They're still not silent, but they're only about the same as normal conversations at home.
For the best mix of power and usability Consider your cleaning requirements and budget. For light-duty cleaning that is frequent you will require a longer time-to-run and less suction is needed. Weekly heavy-duty cleaning requires the most power. Then assess your flooring, layout of your home and cleaning schedules to choose the right model for your needs. Check out our complete list of robot vacuum ratings and reviews to learn more about the most current models. Many users report that their carpets and floors look cleaner after using a robotic vacuum.
2. Navigation
A robot vacuum can't accomplish its task if it does not know how to navigate around your home. This is why the best robots use advanced navigation technology that effectively scans rooms and builds a map to ensure thorough cleaning without being lost or hitting obstacles. There are three main kinds of robot navigation: LiDAR-based, camera-based and sensor-based.
The most expensive models utilize LiDAR to build a virtual map of the room, delivering the highest levels of accuracy and efficiency. Less expensive models rely on bump sensors, which are less accurate and are more likely to miss many debris in dark spaces. The majority of robots have cliff sensors to keep them from falling down stairs or other falls.
Several robots in my tests employed object recognition to skillfully navigate things like fake dog turds and cords, however, the best was the Eufy X10. It had powerful oscillating mop heads and a user-friendly app and a superb mapping capability.
Take into consideration features such as sensors for floors that automatically boost suction power when required. Certain robots, like the Roborock mops, use a mopping pad lift to reach corners and clean up dried spills. Many hybrids can apply cleaning solution on staining that is difficult to remove.
A smaller dustbin will require less frequent emptying while larger ones will save money on replacements. The cheapest robotic cleaners typically utilize a small disposable dust bag, but most mid-range models have larger dust bins of 3L that last for ages. Some premium robots like the EcoVACS DEEBOT OMNI Station can self-empty and refill their water tanks, allowing hands-free convenience.
3. App control
Most robot vacuums come with an app that can monitor cleaning progress and schedule cleaning sessions. They also connect to smart home devices. Many robot vacuums can also be controlled by voice using 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. Look for a model with a bigger dustbin that can self-empty instead of one that requires manual emptying.
Some robots are equipped with mapping technology to help them avoid obstacles like furniture and stairs. Others allow you to create no-go zones or specific rooms, so that they only clean areas that require it the most. They also come with cliff sensors to keep them from falling down the stairs, which is particularly helpful in multi-level homes.
If you plan to use your robot vacuum to clean your rugs choose one that can perform both dry and wet mopping. You'll get better cleaning results if your robot vacuum can also take off its mop pad. Rinse it, and then reattach it when you need to conduct a clean-up cycle. Look for robots with a rubber roller. It is less likely to tangle from pet hair or other particles. Check the robot's side brushes and brushroll for any debris that might have been stuck to them. Do this once or twice a week. If you notice that they're starting to clog up it might be time to purchase replacement parts.
4. Debris collection
As the name implies robot vacuums are created to collect dust and debris from your floors. The most effective robot vacuums are able to take tiny particles like baking soda and sand, in addition to larger ones like screws made of metal, orzo, and pet hair. They also get better pickup results on carpets with low piles than the majority of manual vacuums.
Across all flooring types, the top robots had pickup scores of greater than 95 95%. The ECOVACS DEEBOT X2 OMNI and the Roborock Q Revo were our two top-performing robots in this category. Both are highly automated, 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 collect the waste from the wastebasket and can clean the washboard while mowing. They also come with an 8,000Pa vacuum cleaner, smart mapping technology and advanced obstacle avoidance technology to help them navigate through even the most difficult spaces. The ECOVACS robot is one of the few that can clean 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 seeking a lower-cost option, look into the Roomba Combo J7 from iRobot Plus, our budget choice. It offers LIDAR navigation for a reasonable price and a decent debris collection performance. It is slow at mapping out rooms and has a tendency of hitting obstacles, but the cost is lower than the other choices.
5. Battery life
The top robot vacuums are designed to let you move to work while they keep your floors clean and spick and clean. You'll still have to manually vacuum your home every so often however, robovacs can help you maintain a basic level of cleanliness and even clean while you're away.
Look for a robovac with long-lasting batteries to get the most of it. A good guideline is to expect a model to last about two cleaning sessions if you use it at the maximum power setting. This is less than a larger vacuum but it should be sufficient to keep most homes clean. If you don't like to wait around while your robovac is charging you could choose a model that automatically makes its return to the base station to recharge.
If you want a robovac that does a little amount of everything, you should consider an all-in-one machine that is able to mop as well. Eufy's X10 is the top model in this class and provides self-emptying, auto-draining and self-refilling of the dust container as well as the mop pad. autonomous vacuum can be programmed to refill and wash its mop pads once they are out.
Its dependable carpet and hard floor pick up excellent hair pickup, tangle-free, and a an almost perfect auto empty score make it the clear winner of our test scores. However, it's not cheap and unless you have a the smallest of homes with no pets it might be too pricey for some. The Dreametech D10+ is the runner-up and has a similar performance, but costs around 25 percent less.