The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Vacuuming is the bane of many people's existence, but robot vacuums make it a little more enjoyable. Modern models can also mop, and climb (small) steps.
They have a tiny dustbin that they empty themselves and some of them can be controlled by smartphone apps instead of a physical remote. Some models have mapping capabilities to assist in navigating your home more efficiently.
1. Power
Our top pick for robotic vacuums comes with a suction force of 8,000Pa, which is enough to eliminate even the most stubborn dirt patches and hairs. Its ultra-thin square design allows it to slide underneath furniture such as beds and sofas and its Dual-Laser LiDAR technology provides intelligent navigation and accurate obstacle avoidance. It's also great at cleaning baking powder, pet hair and other debris that can be found near baseboards and corners.
In robot vacuums reviews to the DEEBOT X2 OMNI, other top-of-the-line bots on this list include the IRobot Roomba J7+ as well as the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. The Roborock S8 Pro Ultra has docking station that automates maintenance. It also has mopping capabilities. Its powerful suction and effective mopping made sure my floors were free of pet hair and muddy footprints and other debris during every floor type test that we conducted.
In the lower cost range, a model that has 2,500Pa of suction is more than adequate for most homes. These models are quieter, making them a better option for people who have sensitive hearing. They're not quiet, but they're not as loud as a normal conversation at home.
For the best mix of performance and convenience Consider your cleaning requirements and budget. For frequent light-duty cleaning, a longer runtime with less suction is needed. Weekly heavy-duty cleaning requires the maximum power. Assess your flooring, home layout and cleaning schedule prior to choosing the right model. We recommend checking out our full list of robot vacuum reviews and ratings to get more details on the most recent models available. Many users report that their carpets and bare floor look cleaner after using a robotic vacuum.
2. Navigation
A robot vacuum isn't able to perform its job properly if it doesn't know how to get around your home. The best robots use sophisticated navigation technologies to scan rooms and make maps, ensuring thorough cleaning without getting stuck or hitting obstacles. There are three main types of robot navigation: LiDAR-based, camera-based and sensor-based.
LiDAR is utilized by the most expensive models to create a virtual room map, which offers the highest levels of precision and efficiency. Bump sensors are used in lower-end models, however they can be inaccurate and miss a lot debris when working in dark areas. The majority of robots have cliff sensors to stop them from falling down stairs or other drops.
A variety of robots I tested utilized object recognition to efficiently navigate objects such as fake dog turds and cords, however, the best was the Eufy X10. robot vacuum cleaner reviews had superb mapping capabilities and powerful oscillating mops that could be used as an intuitive app and the ability to clean a specific zone, room or entire house.
Other features worth considering include floor type sensors that recognize carpets that are hard and soft and automatically boost suction power when necessary. Some robots, such as the Roborock mops, use mopping pad lifts to get into corners and clean up dried spills. Many hybrids are able to apply cleaning solutions to the most difficult stains.
A smaller dustbin will require less frequent emptying, while larger ones will cost less to replace. 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 a long time. Certain high-end robots, such as the ECOVACS DEEBOT OMNI station, will self-empty their dustbin and refill their water tanks to provide convenience without hands.
3. App control
Most robot vacuums come with an app to monitor cleaning progress, schedule sessions and connect to smart home devices. Many also sync with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for voice-based control. Certain models come with a remote control that allows you to begin or pause and then return to dock. Select a model with a larger dustbin and can self-empty instead of one that needs manual emptying.
Certain robovacs have mapping technology that allows them to remember obstacles, such as stairs, and avoid running into furniture. Others allow you to set no-go zones or targeted rooms, so that they only clean areas that require the most. They also have cliff sensor 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 pick one that can perform dry and wet mopping. You'll be able to get better results from an vac that is able to remove its own mop pad, too, which you can then rinse and reattach when it's time for another cleaning cycle. Look for robots with the rubber roller. This will be less likely to get caught from pet hair or other debris. It's a good idea check the robot's brushroll and side brushes for debris stuck on every once or twice per week as well. If you notice they are starting to clog up it could be time to buy replacement parts.
4. Debris collection
As the name suggests robot vacuums are created to collect dust and other debris from your floors. The most effective ones can pick up fine particles like baking soda and sand as well larger pieces such as orzo pasta, metal screws, and pet hair. They also have better results on carpets with a low pile than many manual vacuums.
In all flooring types, the top robots had pickup scores of over 95%. The ECOVACS DEEBOT X2 OMNI and the Roborock Q Revo were two of our best-performing bots in this category. Both are highly automated with robust docking stations that do maintenance on their own. They also have features in the app that make them extremely user-friendly.
Both have self-emptying bins that eliminate the contents of the wastebasket. They also have the ability to clean the washboard while they mowing. They also have an 8,000Pa vacuum, intelligent mapping technology and advanced obstacle avoidance technology to help them navigate even the most difficult of 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 frequently.
If you're looking for a less expensive option, look into the iRobot Roomba Combo J7 Plus, our budget pick. It offers LIDAR navigation for reasonable prices and decent debris collection performance. It can be a bit slow when it comes to mapping rooms and is susceptible to bumping against obstacles, but it is lower than the other choices.
5. Battery life
The best robot vacuums let you move about your day while keeping your floors in top condition. It is still necessary to manually vacuum your home on a regular basis, but robovacs will help you maintain a basic level of cleanliness and even keep your home clean when you're away.
Look for a robovac with a long-lasting battery to get the most of it. If you choose to use the most powerful power setting, a model should last two cleaning sessions. This is less than a typical large vacuum cleaner, but it should be enough to provide for the majority of homes. If you don't want to sit while your robovac recharges, you can choose a model that will automatically return to the base station to charge.
If you're looking to buy a robovac with a bit of everything in it, you should consider a robot that can also mop. Eufy's X10, the best model of this category, offers self-emptying and self-refilling for the dust bin as well as the water tank and the mop pad. It can be programmed to automatically refill and wash its mops once they are out.
Its high-quality carpet and hard floor pick up excellent hair pickup, tangle-free, and a near-perfect auto empty score makes it the clear winner of our test scores. It's expensive and, unless you live in a the space of a small home with no pets, it could be too costly for some. The second-placed model is the Dreametech D10+, has very similar performance however it costs 25% less.