The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Vacuuming is the bane of many lives, but robot vacuums make it a little more enjoyable. Modern models can mop, and even climb (small) steps.
Some have a small bin that they empty on their own. Others are controlled with an app on your smartphone instead of the physical remote. Some have mapping capabilities that aid in navigating your home more efficiently.
1. Power
Our top choice for robot vacuums has a suction power of 8000Pa, which is strong enough to eliminate even the most stubborn dirt patches and hairs. Its ultra-thin square design allows it to slide under furniture, such as beds and sofas, and its Dual-Laser LiDAR technology supports precise navigation and obstacle avoidance. It is also great at cleaning pet hair, baking powder and other debris that can be found near corners and baseboards.
Aside from the DEEBOT X2 OMNI, other high-powered bots on this list include the iRobot Roomba j7+ and the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. The Roborock S8 Pro Ultra includes docking stations that automatically performs maintenance. It also has mopping capabilities. Its powerful suction, coupled with its effective mopping feature, ensured my floors were free of pet hair, muddy prints, and other messes on every floor we test.
In the lower price range, a model with around 2,500Pa of suction is more than adequate for most homes. These units are quieter, making them the ideal option for those with hearing issues. They aren't silent, but they are only about the same as normal conversations at home.
To find the ideal balance of usability and power take into consideration your cleaning needs and budget. Regular light-duty cleaning requires a longer runtime and lower suction, while weekly high-volume cleaning requires the most power. Consider your flooring, layout of your home, 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 to get more details about the latest models available. Many users have reported that their carpets and floors looking much cleaner after introducing a robot vacuum into their home.
2. Navigation
A robot vacuum isn't able to accomplish its task without knowing how to navigate your home. The most advanced robots utilize sophisticated navigation technologies to scan rooms and make a map, ensuring thorough cleaning without getting stuck or hitting obstacles. There are three kinds of robot navigation: LiDAR, camera and sensor.
LiDAR is utilized by the most expensive models to create a virtual space map, which offers the highest levels 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 areas. The majority of robots have cliff sensors to keep them from falling down stairs or other drops.
Several robots in my tests utilized object recognition to efficiently navigate things like fake cords and dog turds but the best was the Eufy X10. It was equipped with powerful mop heads that oscillate and a user-friendly app and a superb mapping capability.
Other features worth considering include floor type sensors that can detect hard floors and soft carpet automatically increasing suction power when needed. Some robots like the Roborock mop use a mopping pads lift to reach into corners and clean up dried spills. Many hybrids can even apply cleaning solution to stubborn stains.
A smaller size of the bin will require less frequent emptying, and a larger one will save you money on replacements. The majority of robotic cleaners that are low-cost use an inexpensive, disposable dust bag. However, the majority of mid-range models have larger dustbins of 3L that last for a long time. Certain high-end robots, such as the EcoVACS DEEBOT OMNI station, will automatically empty their trash bins and refill their water tanks, allowing hands-free convenience.
3. App control
The majority of robot vacuums come with an app to monitor cleaning progress, schedule sessions and connect to smart home devices. A lot of robot vacuums can be controlled via voice using Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Some have a remote control that allows you to start, pause and return to dock. Look for robot vacuum best with a bigger dustbin that can self-empty, as opposed to one that requires manual emptying.
Some robots are equipped with technology for mapping to help them avoid obstacles such as furniture and stairs. Some robovacs allow you to define no-go zones and rooms so that they only clean areas that require it the most. They also have cliff sensors to prevent them from falling down staircase, which is particularly beneficial in multi-level homes.
If you intend to utilize your robot vacuum to clean carpets, select a model which can be used both for dry and wet mopping. You'll get better cleaning results when your vacuum can also remove its mop pad. Clean it and reconnect it when you want to conduct a clean-up cycle. Also, look for a model that has a rubber roller, which is less prone to knots caused by pet hair and other debris than a bristle roll that is found on cheaper models. It's a good idea to check the robot's brushroll and side brushes for debris that has gotten stuck once or twice a week, too. If you notice that they're starting to get blocked, it could be time to buy replacement parts.
4. Debris collection
Robot vacuums are made, as the name suggests to collect dust and debris on your floors. The most effective ones can pick up fine particles like baking soda and sand as larger pieces such as orzo pasta, metal screws and pet hair. They also have better results on carpets with a low pile than many manual vacuums.
In all flooring types, the top-performing robots had pickup scores of over 95 percent. The ECOVACS DEEBOT X2 OMNI and the Roborock Q Revo were the two top-performing robots in this category. Both are highly automated, with robust docking stations that do maintenance on their own. They also have apps that make them extremely user-friendly.
They 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 cleaner, smart mapping technology, and advanced obstacle avoidance to help them navigate through even the most difficult areas. The ECOVACS robot is among the few that can vacuum carpet and remove mop pads. This makes it an ideal choice for users who have to switch between mopping and vacuuming frequently.
If you're looking for a less expensive option, we suggest the iRobot Roomba Kombo J7+, our budget-friendly pick. It features LIDAR navigation and decent debris pickup performance for the price. It's a bit slow to map rooms and is susceptible to crashing into obstacles, but it's less expensive than our other top-rated selections.
5. Battery life
The best robot vacuum s let you get on with your day while keeping your floors in pristine state. Although you'll need to give your home a manual sweeping every now and again, robovacs can help you maintain a baseline level of tidiness and even clean even when you're away.
To maximize the amount of time you get from your robovac, look for a model with excellent battery life. If you select the highest power setting, a model should last two cleaning sessions. This is less than a large vacuum but should be sufficient to keep most homes clean. If you don't like to sit around waiting for your robovac is charging you, you can choose a model that automatically makes its way back to its base station to recharge.
If you're looking for a robovac with a variety of features in it, then think about a robot that can also mop. Eufy's X10 is the top model in this class comes with self-emptying and self refilling for the dust bin as well as the water tank and mop pad. It can also be programmed to automatically re-fill and wash its own mop pads when they're empty.
The clear winner in our tests is the Dyson V810, because of its impressive carpet and hard floor pickup, excellent hair pickup, tangle-free performance and a near perfect auto empty score. It's not cheap, however and unless you live in an apartment without pets, it may be too expensive for some. The second choice one, the Dreametech D10+, has very similar performance however it costs 25% less.