The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Vacuuming is a major cause of a lot of people's lives, but robot vacuums make it a little less tedious. Modern models can also mop and climb (small) steps.
Some have a smaller bin which they empty themselves. Others can be controlled by apps for smartphones instead of an actual remote. Some models have mapping capabilities to aid in navigating your home with greater efficiency.
1. Power
With the suction power of 8,000Pa Our top choice for robot vacuums is durable enough to take on the toughest dirt patches and hairs. Its super-thin square design allows it to slide under furniture such as beds and sofas and its Dual-Laser LiDAR technology supports 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 addition to the DEEBOT X2 OMNI bot, other high-powered bots on this list include the iRobot Roomba J7+ as well as the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. It comes with a robust docking station that is able to perform maintenance and mopping functions as well. Its powerful suction and effective mopping kept my floors free of pet hair, muddy paw prints, and other debris in every floor type test that we conducted.
In the lower price range, a model with around 2,500Pa of suction is more than adequate for most homes. These units are quieter, which makes them the ideal option for people who have sensitive hearing. They're not silent however they are not as loud as normal conversations at home.
Take into consideration your budget and cleaning needs to find the perfect combination of power and convenience. Regular light-duty cleaning requires a longer runtime and a lower suction, while weekly high-volume cleaning requires the most power. Then assess your flooring, home layouts, and cleaning schedules to select the best model for your requirements. Look through our entire list of robot vacuum ratings and reviews for more details about the most recent models. Many users report having their carpets and floors appear cleaner after introducing a robotic vacuum into their home.
2. Navigation
A robot vacuum can't do its job effectively when 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 builds an outline map to ensure thorough cleaning without getting lost or hitting obstacles. There are three kinds of robot navigation that include LiDAR, camera and sensor.
LiDAR is utilized by the most expensive models to create a virtual space map, which provides the highest levels of accuracy and efficiency. Less expensive models depend on bump sensors, which are less accurate and tend to miss many debris in dark areas. Most robots also feature cliff sensors to keep them from falling down stairs or other falls.
Many of the robots I tested utilized object recognition to efficiently navigate objects such as fake cords and dog turds, however, the best was the Eufy X10. It had powerful oscillating mop heads, a user friendly app with excellent mapping capabilities.
Consider features such as sensors that detect floors that automatically boost suction power when needed. Certain robots, like the Roborock mop, utilize a mopping pad lift to reach corners and eliminate 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 cost less to replace. The most affordable robotic cleaners generally use a small disposable dust bag, while most mid-range models have larger 3L dustbins that can last for decades. Some premium robots, like the ECOVACS DEEBOT OMNI station, will self-empty their trash bins and refill their water tanks, allowing convenience without hands.
3. App control
The majority of robot vacuums have an app that can monitor cleaning progress and schedule sessions. They also connect to smart home devices. They also can sync with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for voice-based control. Some have a dedicated remote control that allows you to start, pause and return to dock. Look for a model with a bigger dustbin that can self-empty, as opposed to one that requires manual emptying.
Some robovacs have mapping technology that helps them avoid obstacles like stairs and furniture. Others allow you to create no-go zones or specific rooms, ensuring that they only clean areas that need it most. They also have cliff sensors to stop them from falling down the stairs, which is especially helpful in multi-level homes.
If you want to make use of your robot vacuum to clean rug carpets, you should choose one that can be used for 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 run another cleaning cycle. Look for robots with an elastomer roller. It is less likely to tangle from pet hair or other particles. It's a good idea examine the robot's brushroll and side brushes for stuck-on debris every once or twice per week as well. If you notice that they're getting clogged it might be time to purchase replacement parts.
4. Debris collection
As the name implies robot vacuums are created to collect dust and other debris from your floors. The best robot vacuums can collect tiny particles like baking soda and sand, and larger ones such as metal screws orzo, pet hair. They also provide better results on low pile carpets than many manual vacuums.
The top-performing robots across all flooring types had a pickup score over 95%. Our two best-performing robots in this category were the ECOVACS DEEBOT X2 OMNI, and the Roborock Q Revo. Both are highly automated, equipped with docking stations that perform maintenance by themselves and apps that make them extremely user-friendly.
Both come with self-emptying bins which automatically suck up the contents of the wastebasket, and clean the washboard while mowing. They also have 8,000Pa suction and smart mapping technology and advanced obstacle avoidance that helps them navigate even the most difficult areas. The ECOVACS robot is one of the few that can mop carpet and remove the mop pads. This makes it an ideal choice for users who have to switch between mopping and vacuuming frequently.
If robot vacuums reviews seeking a lower-cost option, look into the iRobot Roomba Combo J7 Plus, our budget choice. It comes with LIDAR navigation at a reasonable price and a decent debris collection performance. It's not the fastest to map rooms and can be prone to crashing into obstacles, however, it's cheaper than our other top picks.
5. Battery life
The most effective robot vacuums are made to let you go on with your life while keeping your floors clean and spick and span. You'll still have to manually clean your home from time to time however, robovacs can aid in maintaining a certain level of cleanliness, and will even clean when you are away.
To maximize the amount of time you get from your robovac, make sure you choose the model that has a high battery life. If you use the highest power setting, the model should last two cleaning sessions. This is less than a large vacuum but should be sufficient to get the job done in most homes. If you don't want to wait around while your robovac charges, you can also choose an automatic model that makes its way back to its base station to recharge.
If you want a robovac that does a little bit of everything, consider an all-in-one robot that is able to mop as well. Eufy's X10 is the top model in this category. It provides self-emptying, auto-draining and self-refilling of your dust bin, 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 excellent hair pickup, tangle-free, and a an almost perfect auto empty score make it the clear winner of our test scores. It's not cheap, however and unless you live in a the smallest of homes without pets, it may be too pricey for some. The second choice one, the Dreametech D10+, has identical performance, but costs about 25% less.