The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Robot vacuums can make the chore of vacuuming less painful. Modern models mop and climb (small) stairs.
Some have a small trash bin which they empty themselves. Others can be controlled by an app on your smartphone instead of the physical remote. Some of them have mapping capabilities that aid in navigating your home more efficiently.
1. Power
With an impressive 8,000Pa of suction Our top choice for robot vacuums is powerful enough to take care of the most difficult dirt patches and hairs. Its ultra-thin square shape allows it to slide beneath furniture like couches and beds. Dual-Laser LIDAR technology provides precise obstacle avoidance as well as intelligent navigation. It's also great for cleaning baking powder, pet hair, and other debris near baseboards and corners.
Aside from the DEEBOT X2 OMNI, the other powerful bots in this list include the IRobot Roomba J7+ as well as the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. The Roborock S8 Pro Ultra includes docking stations that automatically handles maintenance. It also has mopping capabilities. robot vacuum cleaners reviews and efficient mopping kept my floors free of pet hair, muddy paw prints, and other debris during every flooring type test we conducted.
In the lower price range, a unit that has 2,500Pa of suction is more than adequate for most homes. They are also quieter and are therefore a better choice for those with sensitive ears. They're still not quiet, but they're just the same volume as normal conversations at home.
To find the ideal balance of performance and convenience take into consideration your cleaning needs and budget. For light-duty cleaning that is frequent, a longer runtime with a lower suction is required. Weekly heavy-duty cleaning requires the most power. Examine your flooring, layout of your home, and cleaning schedules before choosing the right model. Take a look at our comprehensive list of robot vacuum reviews and ratings to learn more about the most current models. Many users have reported that their carpets and bare floor look cleaner after using a robotic vacuum.
2. Navigation
A robot vacuum cannot do its job without knowing how to navigate your home. Because of this, the best robots use 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 major kinds of robot navigation: LiDAR-based, sensor-based, and camera-based.
The most expensive models use LiDAR to create a digital map of the room, delivering the highest levels of precision and efficiency. Less expensive models depend on bump sensors, which can be more inaccurate and tend to miss the majority of debris in dark spaces. The majority of robots have cliff sensors to prevent them from falling down stairs or other falls.
Several robots in my tests used object recognition to deftly navigate things like fake dog turds and cords, but the most effective was the Eufy X10. It had powerful mop heads that oscillate as well as a user-friendly application, and superb mapping capabilities.
Other features worth looking into include floor type sensors that recognize carpets with soft and hard floors and automatically boost suction power when required. Certain robots such as the Roborock mop use a mopping pad that lifts to reach into corners and clean dried spills. Many hybrids are able to apply cleaning solution on staining that is difficult to remove.
A smaller bin will require less frequent emptying, while a larger one can save money on replacements. Most low-cost robotic cleaners use the smallest disposable dust bag. However, the majority of mid-range models come with larger 3L dustbins that last a long time. Certain high-end robots, such as the EcoVACS DEEBOT OMNI station, can self-empty their trash bins and refill their water tanks to provide hands-free convenience.
3. App control
The top robot vacuums have an application that lets you track cleaning progress and schedule your sessions and can connect to smart home devices for hands-free control. Many robot vacuums can also be controlled by voice using Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Certain models come with an on-screen remote that allows you to begin the process, pause it, and return to dock. Choose a model that has larger dustbins that self-empty instead of one that requires manual emptying.
Some robovacs come with mapping technology that helps them remember obstacles, like staircases, and prevents them from running into furniture. Others allow you to set no-go zones or targeted rooms, so that they only clean the areas that need it most. They also come with cliff sensors to keep them from falling down the staircase, which is particularly helpful in multi-level homes.
If you intend to utilize your robot vacuum to clean rugs, choose a model which can be used both for dry and wet mopping. You'll get better cleaning results if your robot vacuum can remove its mop pad. Rinse it and then reconnect it when you want to conduct a clean-up cycle. Also, look for a machine that has a rubber roller that is less prone to tangles from pet hair and other debris than bristle rollers that is found on less expensive models. It's a good idea examine the robot's brushroll and side brushes for stuck-on debris every week or once Also. If you notice that they're beginning to clog, it may be time to purchase replacement parts.
4. Collection of debris
Like the name suggests, robot vacuums are designed to collect dust and other debris from your floors. The best ones pick up fine particles like 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 a low pile than many manual vacuums.
The top-performing robots across all flooring types had scores higher than 95%. 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.
They both have self-emptying bins that automatically take the contents of the wastebasket, and clean the washboard while mowing. They also feature 8,000Pa suction, smart mapping technology, and advanced obstacle avoidance that helps them find their way around even the most difficult of areas. The ECOVACS model is also among the few robots we tested that could remove its mop pads and vacuum carpet which makes it the ideal choice for those who have to switch between vacuuming and mopping regularly.
If you're looking for a more affordable option, we recommend the iRobot Roomba Combo J7+, our budget pick. It features LIDAR navigation at a reasonable price and a decent performance in the collection of debris. It can be a bit slow when it comes to mapping rooms and has a tendency of hitting obstacles, but the price is lower than our other picks.
5. Battery life
The top robot vacuums are designed to let you move moving with your day 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 maintain a baseline level of cleanliness, and even wash when you're away.
To maximize the time you can get out of your robovac, choose an advancé with a long battery life. A good rule of thumb is to expect a robovac to last for around two full cleaning sessions if you run it at the highest power setting. This is not as long as a full-sized vacuum cleaner, but it is enough to be sufficient for most homes. If you don't like to wait around while your robovac charges, you can also opt for a model that automatically makes its way back to its base station to recharge.
If you're looking for a robot that does a little bit of everything, think about an all-in-one model that can mop as well. Eufy's X10 is the most effective model in this category. It provides self-emptying, auto-draining and self-refilling of your dust bin and mop pad. It can also be programmed to automatically re-fill and wash mops when they're empty.
The clear winner of our tests is the Dyson V810, thanks to its impressive carpet and hard floor pickup, superb hair pickup, tangle-free performance, and a near perfect auto empty score. However, it's not cheap and unless you have a the smallest of homes with no pets, it could be too pricey for some. The Dreametech D10+ is the second choice and has the same performance, but it costs 25 percent less.