The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Robot vacuums can make the task of vacuuming a little less painful. Today's models also mop and even climb (small) steps.
They have a small trash bin which they empty themselves and some can be controlled by smartphone apps instead of the physical remote. Some models have mapping capabilities to help them navigate your home with greater efficiency.
1. Power
With an impressive 8,000Pa of suction Our top choice for robot vacuums is powerful enough to handle the worst hairs and dirt. The ultra-thin shape of the square allows it to slide beneath furniture, such as sofas and beds. Dual-Laser LIDAR technology allows for accurate obstacle avoidance and intelligent navigation. It's also great for cleaning baking powder, pet hair, and other debris near baseboards and corners.
In addition to the DEEBOT X2 OMNI, other top-of-the-line bots on this list include the Robot Roomba j7+ and the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. The Roborock S8 Pro Ultra includes a docking station which automates maintenance. It also has mopping capabilities. Its powerful suction and effective mopping kept my floors free of pet hair as well as muddy paw prints and other debris during every flooring type test we conducted.
In the lower price range, a model that has 2,500Pa of suction is more than enough for the majority of homes. These units are quieter and therefore a better option for those with sensitive ears. They aren't silent, but they're not about the same as normal conversations at home.
To find the ideal balance of performance and convenience take into consideration your cleaning needs and budget. For frequent light-duty cleaning, a longer runtime with a lower suction is required. For heavy-duty cleaning, weekly runs require the maximum power. Take a look at your flooring, home layouts and cleaning schedules in order to choose the right model to meet your requirements. We recommend checking out our full list of robot vacuum reviews and ratings to get more details about the latest models available. Many users have reported having their carpets and floors looking significantly cleaner after introducing a robotic vacuum into their home.
2. Navigation
A robot vacuum can't do its job properly if it doesn't know how to navigate your home. This is why the best robots rely on sophisticated navigation technology that reliably scans rooms and then creates a map to ensure thorough cleaning without getting lost or hitting obstacles. There are three kinds of robot navigation including LiDAR, camera, and sensor.
The most expensive models employ LiDAR to create a digital map of the room. This model offers the highest level of accuracy and efficiency. Bump sensors are utilized in lower-end models, however they can be inaccurate and miss a lot debris when working in dark places. Many robots also have cliff sensors to prevent them from falling down stairs or other falls.
Many of the robots I tried used object recognition to navigate around things like fake dog turds. But the Eufy X10 was the best. It had superb mapping capabilities, powerful oscillating mops, an easy-to-use app, and the ability to clean a specific zone, room or entire home.
Think about features like sensors for floors that automatically boost suction power when required. Some robots, such as the Roborock mop utilize mopping pads lift to reach into corners and clean dry spills. Many hybrids are able to apply cleaning solutions to tough staining.
A smaller bin will require less frequent emptying, while bigger ones can save money on replacements. The most affordable robotic cleaners generally use a small disposable dust bag, whereas most mid-range models have larger dust bins of 3L that last for many years. Certain premium robots such as the EcoVACS DEEBOT OMNI Station will self-empty and refill their water tank for hands-free convenience.
3. App control
The majority of robot vacuums come with an app that monitors cleaning progress, schedule sessions and connect to smart home devices. Many robot vacuums can also be controlled via voice using Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. 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 a bigger dustbin that can self-empty, as opposed to one that requires manual emptying.
Some robots are equipped with mapping technology that can help them remember obstacles, such as the stairs, and also avoid hitting furniture. Others let you designate no-go zones and targeted rooms, ensuring that they only clean the areas that require the most. They also have cliff sensors to prevent them from falling down stairs, which is particularly helpful in multi-level homes.
If you plan to make use of your robot vacuum to clean rugs, choose a model which can be used both for wet and dry mopping. You'll be able to get better cleaning results by having your robot vacuum remove its mop pad. Rinse it and then reconnect it when you want to run a new cleaning cycle. Also, look for a machine with a rubber roller that is less susceptible to tangles from pet hair and other debris than a bristle roll, as found on some cheaper models. Examine the robot's side brushes and brushroll for any debris that has become stuck on. Do this once or twice per week. If you notice they are starting to clog up, it may be time to buy replacement parts.
4. Debris collection
As the name suggests robot vacuums are created to collect dust and debris from your floors. The best ones are able to pick small particles such as baking soda and sand, as well larger pieces such as metal screws, orzo pasta and pet hair. They also provide better pick-up results on carpets with low pile than manual vacuums.
The top-performing robots across all flooring types had scores greater than 95%. The ECOVACS DEEBOT X2 OMNI and the Roborock Q Revo were our two best-performing bots in this category. Both are highly automated, equipped with docking stations that perform maintenance on their own, and features in the app that make them extremely user-friendly.
They both have self-emptying bins that take the contents of the wastebasket and clean the washboard while you mow. They also have 8,000Pa suction and smart mapping technology and advanced obstacle avoidance that can help them navigate even the most challenging spaces. The ECOVACS model is also among the few robots that we tested that could remove its mop pads and vacuum carpet which makes it the best option for those who need to switch between vacuuming and mopping regularly.
If you're looking for a less expensive option, look into the iRobot Roomba Combo J7 Plus, our budget choice. It comes with LIDAR navigation for reasonable prices and decent performance in the collection of debris. It's slow to map out rooms and may be susceptible to bumping into obstacles, however, it's cheaper than our other top choices.
5. Battery life
The most effective robot vacuums are made to let you move on with your life while keeping your floors looking spick and span. While you'll still need to give your home a manual sweeping every now and then, robovacs can help you keep a certain level of cleanliness and even keep your home clean when you're away.
Find a robovac equipped with an extended-lasting battery to get the most use of it. A good rule of thumb is to expect a model to last about two complete cleaning sessions if you use it on the highest power setting. This is less than a size vacuum cleaner, however it should be enough to cover most homes. If you don't want to sit while your robovac charges you can opt for a model that automatically returns to the base station to charge.
If you are looking for a robovac that does a little bit of everything, think about an all-in-one robot that can mop as well. Eufy's X10 is the top model in this class, offers self-emptying and self-refilling for the dust bin and the water tank and the mop pad. It can be programmed to refill and wash its mop pads once they are 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. It's expensive and unless you have a small house with no pets, it may be too expensive for certain. The Dreametech D10+ is the second-placed model and offers the same performance, but it costs 25 percent less.