The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Robot vacuums can make the chore of vacuuming a bit less painful. Modern models mop and can even climb (small) steps.
Some have a small bin which they empty themselves. Others can be controlled via a smartphone app rather than the physical remote. Some come with mapping features to assist in navigation.
1. Power
Our top choice for robot vacuums has a suction power of 8,000Pa, which is powerful enough to remove even the most difficult dirt patches and hairs. The ultra-thin shape of the square allows it to slide beneath furniture such as beds and sofas. Dual-Laser LIDAR technology provides accurate obstacle avoidance and intelligent navigation. It is also great at cleaning pet hair, baking powder, and other debris near corners and baseboards.
Other high-powered robots in this list besides the DEEBOT X2 OMNI, are the IRobot Roomba J7+ as well as the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. The Roborock S8 Pro Ultra comes with docking station that automatically performs maintenance. It also comes with mopping capabilities. Its powerful suction system, along with its effective mopping, ensured my floors were free of pet hair, muddy prints, and other messes on every floor we test.
A model with 2,500Pa suction will suffice for the majority of homes in the lower price range. These models are quieter, which makes them the ideal choice for people with sensitive hearing. They're still not silent, but they're only the same volume as a normal conversation at home.
Consider your budget and cleaning needs to find the right combination of power and usability. For light-duty cleaning that is frequent, a longer runtime with less suction is needed. For robot vacuums cheap -duty cleaning, weekly runs require the most power. Take a look at your flooring, layout of your home and cleaning schedules to determine the best model for your requirements. We recommend checking out our entire list of robot vacuum reviews and ratings to get more information on the latest models available. Many users report that their carpets and bare floor look cleaner after using a robot vacuum.
2. Navigation
A robot vacuum isn't able to perform its task without knowing how to navigate 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 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. Less expensive models depend on bump sensors, which are less accurate and can miss a lot of debris in dark areas. Many robots also have cliff sensors to prevent them from falling down stairs or other drops.
A variety of robots I tested used object recognition to deftly navigate objects such as fake cords and dog turds, but the best was the Eufy X10. It had powerful mop heads that oscillate, a user friendly app with excellent mapping capabilities.
Take into consideration features such as floor type sensors, which automatically boost suction power when required. Some robots, such as the Roborock mop, make use of mopping pad lifts to get into corners and tackle dried spills. Many hybrids can apply cleaning solution on stubborn stains.
A smaller size of the bin will require less frequent emptying, whereas a larger one can save money on replacements. The most affordable robotic cleaners generally use a small disposable dust bag, but the majority of mid-range models come with larger dust bins of 3L that last for many years. Certain high-end robots, such as the EcoVACS DEEBOT OMNI station, will automatically empty their dustbin and refill their water tanks, allowing hands-free convenience.
3. App control
The top robot vacuums have an application that lets you track the progress of cleaning and schedule sessions and can connect to smart home devices for hands-free control. They also can sync with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for voice-based control. Some have a 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 robots are equipped with mapping technology that helps them avoid obstacles like furniture and stairs. Others let you set no-go zones or targeted rooms, so they only clean areas that need it most. They also have cliff sensors to stop them from falling down the stairs, which is especially useful in multi-level homes.
If you are planning to use your robot vacuum to clean your rugs, opt for one that is capable of dry mopping as well as wet. You'll have better results cleaning if your robot vacuum can remove its mop pad. Rinse it, and then reattach it when you need to run another cleaning cycle. Also, look for a machine that has a rubber roller that is less susceptible to tangles due to pet hair and other debris than a bristle roll that is found on cheaper models. 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 a week. If you notice that they're getting clogged, it may be time to purchase replacement parts.
4. Collection of debris
Like the name suggests robot vacuums are made to collect dust and other debris from your floors. The most effective ones can pick small particles such as baking soda and sand as well as larger pieces like metal screws, orzo pasta, and pet hair. They also deliver better results on carpets with low pile than many manual vacuums.
The top-performing robots across all flooring types had pickup scores greater than 95 percent. Our two best-performing robots in this category were the ECOVACS DEEBOT X2 OMNI, and the Roborock Q Revo. Both are highly automated with docking stations that perform maintenance by themselves and app features which make them extremely user-friendly.
Both have self-emptying bins that automatically empty the wastebasket. They also have the ability to clean the washboards as they mow. They also have suction of 8,000Pa and smart mapping technology and advanced obstacle avoidance technology that helps them navigate even the most difficult of areas. The ECOVACS robot is one of the few that can clean carpet and remove the mop pads. This makes it a perfect option for those who need to switch between mopping and vacuuming regularly.
If you're looking for a cheaper alternative, take a look at the iRobot Roomba Combo J7 Plus, our budget choice. It comes with LIDAR navigation and decent debris pickup capabilities for the price. It can be a bit slow when it comes to mapping rooms and is susceptible to hitting obstacles, but the cost is lower than the other choices.
5. Battery life
The most effective robot vacuums are designed to let you get to work while they keep your floors looking spick and clean. Although you'll need to give your home a manual sweeping every now and again, robovacs can help you keep a certain level of tidiness and even clean while you're away from home.
Choose a robovac that has an extended-lasting battery to get the most use of it. A good rule of thumb is to expect a robovac to last about two full cleaning sessions if you run it on the highest power setting. This is not as long as a large vacuum cleaner, but it is enough to be sufficient for most homes. If you don't want to be waiting around while your robovac is charging you, you can select a model that automatically makes its return to the base station to recharge.
If you're looking for a robot that does a bit of everything, consider an all-in-one robot that can mop as well. Eufy's X10 is the most effective model in this category and 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 mops when they run out.
The clear winner in our tests is the Dyson V810 due to its outstanding carpet and hard floor pickup, superb hair pickup, tangle-free performance and an almost perfect auto empty score. It's not cheap, however and unless you live in a a small home with no pets, it could be too pricey for some. The runner-up is the Dreametech D10+, has the same performance, but costs about 25% less.