The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Robot vacuums can make the chore of vacuuming a little less painful. Modern models can also mop and even climb (small) steps.
They have a small dustbin that they empty themselves, and some are controlled from a smartphone app instead of an actual remote. Some have mapping capabilities that assist in navigating your home with greater efficiency.
1. Power
With 8,000Pa of suction power Our top choice for robot vacuums is powerful enough to take on the toughest hairs and dirt. Its ultra-thin square design allows it to slide under furniture, such as beds and sofas, and its Dual-Laser LiDAR technology allows for precise navigation and accurate obstacle avoidance. It also does an excellent job at cleaning up pet hair baking soda, other debris close to the baseboards as well as in corners.
Other high-powered robots that are listed besides the DEEBOT X2 OMNI, are 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, combined with its effective mopping feature, kept my floors clean of pet hair, muddy prints, and other messes on every type of floor we test.
A model that has 2,500Pa suction will suffice for the majority of homes in the lower price range. These units are quieter, making them a better option for those with sensitive hearing. These units are not silent but they are only about the same as normal conversations at home.
To get the most effective mix of performance and convenience take into consideration your cleaning needs and budget. Frequent light-duty tidying requires a longer runtime and a lower suction, while weekly high-volume cleaning requires a lot of power. Consider your flooring, home layouts, and cleaning schedules to choose the right model to meet your requirements. We recommend looking through our entire list of robot vacuum reviews and ratings for more information on the latest models available. Many users have reported seeing their carpets and bare floors looking significantly cleaner after introducing a robot vacuum in their home.
2. Navigation
A robot vacuum won't be able to do its job properly when it doesn't know how to navigate your home. The best robots employ sophisticated navigation technologies to scan rooms and make a map, ensuring thorough cleaning without getting stuck or hitting obstacles. There are three types of robot navigation that include LiDAR, camera and sensor.
The most expensive models employ LiDAR to build a virtual map of the room. This model offers the highest levels of accuracy and efficiency. Bump sensors are used in less expensive models, but they aren't always accurate and miss a lot debris when working in dark places. The majority of robots have cliff sensors, which prevent them from falling off stairs or other drops.
Many of the robots I tried used object recognition to navigate things like cords and fake dog turds. However, the Eufy X10 was the best. It had powerful mop heads that oscillate and a user-friendly app with excellent mapping capabilities.
Think about features like sensors for floors that automatically increase suction power when needed. Some robots, such as the Roborock mop utilize mopping pad that lifts to reach into corners and clean up dried spills. Many hybrids are able to apply cleaning solutions to stubborn stains.
A smaller bin will mean less frequent emptying while a bigger one can save you money on replacements. The cheapest robotic cleaners typically utilize a small disposable dust bag, while most mid-range models have larger 3L dustbins that last for ages. Certain high-end robots, such as the ECOVACS DEEBOT OMNI station, will self-empty their dustbin and refill their water tanks, allowing hands-free convenience.
3. App control
The best robot vacs have an app that lets you monitor the progress of cleaning and schedule sessions, and most can connect to smart home devices to allow hands-free control. Many also sync with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for voice-based control. Some have a dedicated remote control that allows you to start or pause, and then return to dock. Choose a model that has a bigger dustbin that can self-empty, rather than one that requires manual emptying.
Some robots are equipped with mapping technology to help them avoid obstacles such as furniture and stairs. Some allow you to create no-go zones or specific rooms, ensuring that they only clean the areas that require the most. They also have a cliff detector to prevent them from falling, which is helpful in multi-leveled homes.
If you intend to make use of your robot vacuum to clean rugs, opt for one that can perform dry mopping and wet. You'll get better cleaning results if your robot vacuum can also take off its mop pad. Rinse it, and then reconnect it when you want to conduct a clean-up cycle. Look for robots with an elastomer roller. This will be less likely to get caught from pet hair or other particles. Check the robot's side brushes and brushroll for any debris that might have gotten stuck on. Do this at least every week. If you notice that they're beginning to get blocked, it could be time to buy replacement parts.
4. Collection of debris
Robot vacuums are made according to the name to collect dust and debris from your floors. The best robot vacuums can pick up tiny particles like baking soda and sand in addition to larger ones like metal screws orzo, as well as pet hair. They also have better results on low pile carpets than many manual vacuums.
In all flooring types, the top performing robots had pick-up scores of more than 95%. autonomous vacuum and the Roborock Q Revo were our 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 that automatically collect the waste from the wastebasket and clean the washboard while you mow. They also come with an 8,000Pa vacuum cleaner, smart mapping technology, and advanced obstacle avoidance to help them navigate through the most difficult spaces. The ECOVACS model is also the few robots we tested that can take its mop pads and vacuum carpet which makes it the best option for those who need to change between mopping and vacuuming regularly.
If you're looking for a more affordable option, we recommend the iRobot Roomba Kombo J7+, our budget-friendly pick. It offers LIDAR navigation for a reasonable price and a decent debris collection performance. It can be a bit slow when it comes to mapping rooms and has a tendency of bumping into obstacles, but the cost is less than the other choices.
5. Battery life
The best robot vacuums let you get on with your day while keeping your floors in perfect state. It is still necessary to manually vacuum your home from time to time, but robovacs will assist you in maintaining a minimum level of cleanliness and even keep your home clean when you're away.
To maximize the amount of time you can use your robovac, choose the model that has a high battery life. A good rule of thumb is to expect a robovac to last for around two complete cleaning sessions if you use it on the highest power setting. This is less than a larger vacuum however, it should be enough to clean most homes. If you don't like to be waiting around while your robovac is charging you could opt for an automatic model that makes its way back to the base station to recharge.
If you're looking for a robot that does a little bit of everything, think about an all-in-one machine that can mop as well. Eufy's X10, the best model in this class, offers self-emptying and self-refilling for the dust bin, the water tank, and mop pad. It can be programmed to refill and wash its mops once they are out.
Its high-quality carpet and hard floor pickup as well as its excellent hair pickup and tangle avoidance, and close to perfect auto empty scores make it the clear winner of our test scores. However, it's not cheap and unless you live in a a small home without pets, it may be too pricey for some. The runner-up is the Dreametech D10+, has very similar performance but costs about 25% less.