The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Robot vacuums can make the task of vacuuming a little less painful. Today's models also mop and can even climb (small) steps.
Some have a small trash bin that they empty by themselves. Others can be controlled via a smartphone app rather than an actual remote. Some come with mapping features to assist in navigation.
1. Power
With an impressive 8,000Pa of suction Our top pick for robot vacuums is durable enough to take on the toughest hairs and dirt. The ultra-thin shape of the square allows it to slide under furniture like sofas and beds. Dual-Laser LIDAR technology provides precise obstacle avoidance and intelligent navigation. It is also great at cleaning baking powder, pet hair, and other debris near corners and baseboards.
Aside from the DEEBOT X2 OMNI, the other powerful bots in this list include the Robot Roomba j7+ and the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. The Roborock S8 Pro Ultra comes with docking stations that automatically handles maintenance. It also comes with mopping capabilities. Its powerful suction and effective mopping kept my floors free of pet hair and muddy footprints and other debris in every floor type test we ran.
In the lower price range, a unit with a suction capacity of around 2,500Pa is more than adequate for the majority of homes. They are also quieter, making them a better choice for people who have sensitive hearing. These units are not silent but they're not the same volume as conversations at home.
For the best mix of power and usability Consider your cleaning requirements and budget. A regular light-duty cleaning schedule requires longer runtime and lower suction, while weekly heavy-duty cleaning requires a lot of power. Take a look at your flooring, home layouts, and cleaning schedules to select the best model for your requirements. We recommend looking through our full list of robot vacuum reviews and ratings for more details on the most recent models available. Many users have reported that their carpets and floor look cleaner after using a robotic vacuum.
2. Navigation
A robot vacuum cannot accomplish its task when it doesn't know how to navigate around your home. Because of this, the most effective robots depend on advanced navigation technology that effectively scans rooms and builds an outline map to ensure thorough cleaning without getting lost or hitting obstacles. There are three types of robot navigation including LiDAR, camera, and sensor.
LiDAR is used by the most expensive models to create a virtual room map, offering the highest levels in precision and efficiency. Bump sensors are utilized in less expensive models, but they can be inaccurate and miss a lot of debris when working in dark environments. Most robots also feature cliff sensors to stop them from falling down stairs or other falls.
Several robots in my tests used object recognition to deftly navigate around things such as fake cords and dog turds, but the most effective was the Eufy X10. It was equipped with powerful mop heads that oscillate, a user friendly app with excellent mapping capabilities.
Other features worth looking into include floor type sensors that recognize hard floors and soft carpet, automatically boosting suction power when needed. Some robots like the Roborock mop make use of mopping pads lift to reach into corners and clean up dried spills. Many hybrids can apply cleaning solution on the most difficult stains.
A smaller bin means less frequent emptying, however, a larger one can save you money on replacements. The majority of robotic cleaners that are low-cost use a small, disposable dust bag. However, the majority of mid-range models come with larger dustbins of 3L that last a long time. Some premium robots like the EcoVACS DEEBOT OMNI Station can self-empty and refill their water tank for hands-free convenience.
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. Many also sync with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for voice-based control. Some models have an on-screen remote that allows you to start, pause, and return to dock. Choose a model that has a bigger dustbin that can self-empty instead of one that requires manual emptying.
Certain robovacs have mapping technology that allows them to remember obstacles, such as stairs, and avoid hitting furniture. Certain robovacs permit you to create no-go zones as well as specific rooms so that they only clean the areas that require the most. They also come with cliff sensors to keep them from falling down the stairs, which is especially beneficial in multi-level homes.
If you intend to use your robot vacuum to clean your rugs, opt for one that is capable of dry and wet mopping. You'll have better results cleaning when your vacuum can also take off its mop pad. Clean it and reattach it when you need to run another cleaning cycle. Look for robots with a rubber roller. It is less likely to tangle from pet hair or other particles. Check the robot's side brushes and brushroll for any debris that may have gotten stuck on. Do this once or twice per week. If you notice they are getting clogged it might be time to purchase replacement parts.
4. Collection of debris
Like the name suggests robot vacuums are created to collect dust and debris from your floors. The best robot vacuums can pick up tiny particles, such as sand and baking soda, in addition to larger ones like metal screws orzo, as well as pet hair. They also provide better pick-up results on low-pile carpets than most manual vacuums.
The top-performing robots across all flooring types had scores over 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 can perform maintenance on their own, and app features which make them extremely user-friendly.
They both have self-emptying bins that automatically suck up the contents of the wastebasket, and clean the washboard while mowing. They also have suction of 8,000Pa, smart mapping technology, and advanced obstacle avoidance that can help them navigate even the most difficult spaces. The ECOVACS model is also among the few robots that we tested that can take its mop pads and vacuum carpet, which makes it the best option for those who need to change between mopping and vacuuming regularly.
If you're seeking a lower-cost option, check out the iRobot Roomba Combo J7 Plus, our budget-friendly pick. It features LIDAR navigation and decent debris pickup capabilities for the price. It can be a bit slow in mapping rooms and is prone to hitting obstacles, but the price is less than the other choices.
5. Battery life
The most effective robot vacuums let you get on with your day while keeping your floors in top in good condition. You'll still need to manually clean your home on a regular basis, but robovacs will assist you in maintaining a minimum standard of cleanliness, and even clean while you're away.
To maximize robot vacuum cleaners of time you can get out of 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 smaller than a full-sized vacuum, however, it should be enough to keep most homes clean. If you don't want to sit for your robovac to recharge you can select one that automatically returns to the base station to charge.
If you're looking to buy a robovac with a bit of everything in it, then consider one that is able to mop. Eufy's X10, the best model in this class has self-emptying and self-refilling for the dust bin as well as the water tank and mop pad. It is also programmable to automatically refill and wash mops when they're low.
Its dependable carpet and hard floor pick-up as well as its excellent hair pickup and tangle avoidance, and an almost perfect auto empty score makes it the clear winner of our test scores. It's not cheap and, unless you live in a the space of a small home with no pets, it could be too expensive for certain. The Dreametech D10+ is the second-placed model and offers the same performance, but costs around 25 percent less.