The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Robot vacuums can make the task of vacuuming a bit less painful. Modern models mop and even climb (small) stairs.
Some have a smaller bin that they empty by themselves. Others can be controlled via a smartphone app rather than the physical remote. Some have mapping capabilities that aid in navigating your home more efficiently.
- Power
Our top pick for robotic vacuums has a suction power of 8,000Pa, which is powerful enough to remove even the most stubborn dirt patches and hairs. The ultra-thin shape of the square allows it to slide under furniture like couches and beds. Dual-Laser LIDAR technology offers precise obstacle avoidance as well as intelligent navigation. It is also great at cleaning baking powder, pet hair, and other debris near baseboards and corners.
Aside from the DEEBOT X2 OMNI, the other high-powered bots on this list include the IRobot Roomba J7+ and the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. The Roborock S8 Pro Ultra includes a docking station which automatically handles maintenance. It also comes with mopping capabilities. Its powerful suction and efficient mopping helped keep my floors clear of pet hair as well as muddy paw prints and other debris throughout every floor type test that we conducted.
In the lower cost range, a model with around 2,500Pa of suction is more than enough for most homes. They are also quieter and, therefore, a better choice for those who have sensitive ears. They're not silent but they're not about the same as normal conversations at home.
To find the ideal balance of power and usability Consider your cleaning requirements and budget. For regular light-duty cleaning, a longer runtime with less suction is needed. Weekly heavy-duty cleaning requires maximum power. Consider your flooring, layout of your home and cleaning schedules in order to select the best model for your needs. Take a look at our comprehensive list of robot vacuum reviews and ratings to learn more about the most recent models. Many users have reported seeing their carpets and bare floors appear cleaner after introducing a robot vacuum to their home.
- Navigation
A robot vacuum can't accomplish its task without knowing how to navigate your home. This is why the best robots rely on sophisticated navigation technology that reliably scans rooms and creates a map to ensure thorough cleaning without being lost or hitting obstacles. There are three types of robot navigation: LiDAR, camera and sensor.
The most expensive models use LiDAR to create a virtual map of the room, offering the highest level of accuracy and efficiency. Bump sensors are used in less expensive models, but they can be inaccurate and miss a lot of debris when working in dark areas. Most robots also feature cliff sensors to stop them from falling down stairs or other falls.
Many of the robots I tested employed object recognition to skillfully navigate around things such as fake cords and dog turds but the most effective was the Eufy X10. It had powerful mop heads that oscillate, a user friendly app, and superb mapping capabilities.
Think about features like sensors for floors that automatically boost suction power when needed. Some robots, such as the Roborock mop make use of mopping pad that lifts to reach into corners and clean up dried spills. Some hybrids even apply cleaning solutions to tough stains.
A smaller bin will mean less frequent emptying however, a larger one can save you money on replacements. Most low-cost robotic cleaners use the smallest, disposable dust bag. However, the majority of mid-range models come with larger dustbins of 3L that last for a long period of time. Some premium robots, like the ECOVACS DEEBOT OMNI station, will self-empty their trash bins and refill their water tanks for convenience without hands.
- App control
The top robot vacuums have an application that lets you track the progress of cleaning and schedule sessions and can connect to your smart home devices for hands-free control. Most also sync with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for voice-based control. Some have a dedicated remote control that lets you 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 that can help them remember obstacles, like staircases, and prevents them from hitting furniture. Certain robovacs let you designate no-go zones and specific rooms so that they only clean those areas which need the most. They also have a cliff sensor to stop them from falling, which is helpful in multi-leveled homes.
If you intend to make use of your robot vacuum to clean your rugs pick one that can perform both dry mopping and wet. You'll get better results with a robot vac that can remove its own mop pad too, which you can then rinse and reattach when it comes time for another cleaning cycle. Look for a robot with the rubber roller. It is less likely to become tangled from pet hair or other particles. It's a good idea examine the robot's brushroll and side brushes for debris stuck on every once or twice per week, too. If you notice that they're starting to clog, it may be time to replace parts.
- Debris collection
Robot vacuums are designed to, as the name suggests, to collect dust and debris on your floors. The best robot vacuums will collect tiny particles, such as baking soda and sand, as well as larger ones like metal screws, orzo, and pet hair. They also have better pickup results on carpets with low piles than most manual vacuums.
The top-performing robots across all flooring types had a pickup score over 95 percent. The ECOVACS DEEBOT X2 OMNI and the Roborock Q Revo were our two best-performing bots in this category. Both are highly automated with robust docking stations that can perform maintenance on their own and app features that make them extremely user-friendly.
Both have self-emptying bins that automatically empty the wastebasket. They can also clean the washboards as they mow. They also have an 8,000Pa vacuum, intelligent mapping technology, and advanced obstacle avoidance technology to help them navigate through the most difficult areas. The ECOVACS model is also the few robots that we tested that could remove its mop pads and vacuum carpet, which makes it the ideal option for those who need to switch between vacuuming and mopping frequently.
If you're looking for a more affordable option, we suggest the iRobot Roomba Kombo J7+, our budget-friendly pick. It comes with LIDAR navigation and decent debris pickup capabilities for the price. It's a bit slow to map out rooms and can be prone to hitting obstacles however, it's cheaper than our other top selections.
- Battery life
The best robot vacuums let you go about your day while keeping your floors in top state. Although you'll need to give your home a manual hoover every now and then robot vacuums can help you keep a certain level of tidiness and even clean while you're away from home.
To maximize the time you can get out of your robovac, choose an advancé with a long battery life. If you select the highest power setting, the model should last for about two cleaning sessions. This is less than a larger vacuum but it should be sufficient to keep most homes clean. If you don't want to be waiting around while your robovac charges, you can also choose a model that automatically makes its return to the base station to recharge.
If you're looking for a robot that has a little bit of everything in it, you should consider one that is able to mop. Eufy's X10 is the best model in this category and Robotvacuummops.Uk provides self-emptying, auto-draining and self-refilling of your dust bin as well as the mop pad. It can be programmed to automatically refill and wash its mops when they run out.
Its respectable carpet and hard floor pick up excellent hair pickup, tangle-free, and a close to perfect auto empty scores makes it the clear winner of our test scores. However, it's not cheap and unless you live in an apartment without pets, it may be too pricey for some. The Dreametech D10+ is the second-placed model and offers the same performance, but costs around 25 percent less.