The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Vacuuming is the bane of many lives however, robot vacuums make it a little less tedious. Modern models can also mop, and even climb (small) steps.
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 come with mapping features to help them navigate more efficiently.
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 difficult hairs and dirt. Its slim square shape enables it to slide underneath furniture such as sofas and beds. Dual-Laser LIDAR technology offers precise obstacle avoidance as well as intelligent navigation. It is also great at cleaning pet hair, baking powder, and other debris near corners and baseboards.
Apart from the DEEBOT X2 OMNI, the other powerful bots in this list include the iRobot Roomba J7+ and the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. The Roborock S8 Pro Ultra has a docking station which automatically performs maintenance. It also has mopping capabilities. Its powerful suction, coupled with its effective mopping, ensured my floors were free of pet hair, muddy prints and other messes on every floor we test.
In auto vacuum cleaner , a model with around 2,500Pa of suction is more than enough for most homes. These units are quieter and therefore a better option for those who have sensitive ears. They're still not quiet, but they're just about the same as a normal conversation at home.
To find the ideal balance of power and usability take into consideration your cleaning needs and budget. For light-duty cleaning that is frequent, a longer runtime with 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 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 have reported that their carpets and bare floors appear cleaner after using a robot vacuum.
2. Navigation
A robot vacuum cannot do its job if it does not know how to navigate your home. The best robots employ sophisticated navigation technologies to scan rooms and build an outline map, which allows for thorough cleaning without getting stuck 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 create a virtual map of the room, offering the highest level of accuracy and efficiency. Bump sensors are used in less expensive models, but they can be inaccurate and miss a lot debris when working in dark places. The majority of robots have cliff sensors to prevent them from falling down stairs or other falls.
Several robots I tested used object recognition to navigate around things such as cords and fake dog turds. However, the Eufy X10 was the best. It had powerful oscillating mop heads and a user-friendly app, and superb mapping capabilities.
Other features worth considering include sensors for floors that can recognize carpets that are hard and soft automatically increasing suction power when necessary. Certain robots, like the Roborock mops, use mopping pad lifts to get into corners and tackle dried spills. Many hybrids can apply cleaning solution to the most difficult stains.
A smaller bin will require less frequent emptying, while larger ones will save money on replacements. Most low-cost robotic cleaners use a small disposable dust bag. However, the majority of middle-priced models have larger dustbins of 3L that last for a long period of time. Certain high-end robots, such as the ECOVACS DEEBOT OMNI Station will self-empty and fill up their water tank for hands-free convenience.
3. App control
The best robot vacs have an app that allows you to monitor cleaning progress and schedule sessions and can connect to your smart home devices to allow hands-free control. Many also can sync with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for control via voice. Certain models come with an on-screen remote that allows you to start or pause and then return to dock. Look for a model with larger dustbins that self-empty, as opposed to one that requires manual emptying.
Certain robovacs come with mapping technology to help them avoid obstacles such as stairs and furniture. Others let you create no-go zones or specific rooms, so they only clean areas that require the most. They also have cliff sensors to stop them from falling down the staircase, which is particularly beneficial in multi-level homes.
If you plan to make use of your robot vacuum to clean your rugs choose one that is capable of both dry and wet mopping. You'll have better results cleaning if your robot vacuum can remove its mop pad. Clean it and reconnect it when you want to conduct a clean-up cycle. Look for a robot with a rubber roller. It is less likely to tangle from pet hair or other debris. Check the robot's side brush and brushroll for any debris that might have gotten stuck on. Make sure to do this at least twice per week. If you notice that they're starting to get blocked, it could be time to buy replacement parts.
4. Debris collection
As the name suggests, robot vacuums are designed to collect dust and other debris from your floors. The best ones are able to pick small particles such as baking soda and sand, as well in larger pieces of metal screws, orzo pasta and pet hair. They also have better results on low pile carpets than many manual vacuums.
In all flooring types, the top robots had pickup scores of over 95 95%. The ECOVACS DEEBOT X2 OMNI and the Roborock Q Revo were the two most efficient bots in this class. Both are highly automated, with robust docking stations that do maintenance on their own and apps that make them incredibly user-friendly.
Both have self-emptying bins which automatically empty the wastebasket. They can also clean the washboard as they mow. They also feature 8,000Pa suction and smart mapping technology and advanced obstacle avoidance that can help them find their way around even the most difficult of spaces. The ECOVACS model is also among the few robots that we tested that can take its mop pads and vacuum carpet, which makes it the ideal choice for users who need to switch between vacuuming and mopping frequently.
If you want a cheaper alternative, we suggest the iRobot Roomba Combo J7+, our budget-friendly pick. It features LIDAR navigation for an affordable price and decent debris collection performance. It's a bit slow to map out rooms and is susceptible to bumping into obstacles, however it's much less expensive than our other best-buy picks.
5. Battery life
The most effective robot vacuums are designed to let you move on with your life while they keep your floors looking spick and span. Although you'll need to give your home a manual sweeping every now and again robot vacuums can help you maintain a standard of tidiness and even clean while you're away from home.
Look for a robovac with long-lasting batteries to get the most of it. If you use the highest power setting, a model should last for about two cleaning sessions. This is smaller than a larger vacuum but it should be sufficient to get the job done in most homes. If you don't want to wait while your robovac charges you can opt for an option that will automatically return to the base station for charging.
If you're looking for a robot that can do a bit of everything, consider an all-in-one machine that can mop too. Eufy's X10 is the most effective model in this category and provides self-emptying, auto-draining and self-refilling of the dust container, water tank and mop pad. It can be programmed to refill and wash its mops as soon as they run out.
The clear winner in our tests is the Dyson V810, due to its outstanding carpet and hard floor pickup, outstanding hair pickup, tangle-free performance, and nearly perfect auto empty score. However, it's not cheap and unless you live in the smallest of homes with no pets it might be too expensive for some. The Dreametech D10+ is the runner-up and has a similar performance, but it costs 25% less.