The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Robot vacuums can make the chore of vacuuming less painful. Modern models mop and climb (small) steps.
They have a tiny dustbin that they empty themselves and some of them can be operated by a smartphone app instead of an actual remote. Some models have mapping features that aid in navigation.
1. Power
Our top pick for robotic vacuums has a suction power of 8,000Pa, which is enough to get rid of even the most stubborn hairs and dirt. Its slim square shape enables it to slide underneath furniture, such as sofas and beds. Dual-Laser LIDAR technology offers precise obstacle avoidance as well as intelligent navigation. It is also great at cleaning pet hair, baking powder and other debris that can be found near corners and baseboards.
Other powerful robots in this list apart from the DEEBOT X2 OMNI, include the IRobot Roomba J7+ as well as the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. The Roborock S8 Pro Ultra has docking stations that automates maintenance. It also comes with mopping capabilities. Its powerful suction, coupled with its effective mopping feature, kept my floors clean of pet hair, muddy prints, and other debris on every type of floor we tested.
In the lower price range, a unit with a suction capacity of around 2,500Pa is more than enough for the majority of homes. These units are quieter and therefore a better option for those with sensitive ears. They're still not quiet, but they're just the same volume as a normal conversation at home.
For the best mix of power and usability, consider your cleaning needs and budget. Frequent light-duty tidying requires a longer time to run and lower suction, while weekly heavy-duty cleaning requires a lot of power. Take a look at your flooring, home layouts and cleaning schedules in order to choose the right model for your needs. We recommend looking through our full list of robot vacuum reviews and ratings for more information on the latest models available. Many users have reported that their carpets and floor look cleaner after using a robot vacuum.
2. Navigation
A robot vacuum isn't able to perform its job effectively if it doesn't know how to get around your home. This is why the most effective robots depend on sophisticated navigation systems that consistently scans rooms and builds maps to ensure thorough cleaning without being lost or hitting obstacles. There are three main types of robot navigation: LiDAR-based camera-based and sensor-based.
LiDAR is utilized by the most expensive models to create a virtual room map, offering the highest levels of precision and efficiency. The less expensive models rely on bump sensors, which are more prone to error and tend to miss the majority of debris in dark areas. robotic hoovers Robot Vacuum Mops have cliff sensors to stop them from falling down stairs or other falls.
A number of the robots I tested utilized objects recognition to navigate through things like cords and fake dog turds. But the Eufy X10 was the best. It had powerful mop heads that oscillate as well as a user-friendly application, and superb mapping capabilities.
Other features worth considering include floor type sensors that can detect carpets that are hard and soft and automatically boost suction power when necessary. Certain robots, like the Roborock mops, use mopping pad lifts to get into corners and eliminate dried spills. Many hybrids are able to apply cleaning solutions to the most difficult stains.
A smaller size of the bin will require less frequent emptying, while bigger ones will save money on replacements. The most affordable robotic cleaners generally utilize a small disposable dust bag, but most mid-range models have larger dust bins of 3L that last for many years. Some premium robots, like the ECOVACS DEEBOT OMNI station, can self-empty their dustbin and refill their water tanks, allowing hands-free convenience.
3. App control
The best robot vacs 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. Many also can sync with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for voice-based control. Some models have a separate remote control that allows you to start the process, pause it and then return to dock. Pick a model that comes with a larger dustbin and can self-empty rather than one that needs manual emptying.
Some robovacs have mapping technology that helps them avoid obstacles like stairs and furniture. Some allow you to set no-go zones or targeted rooms, ensuring that they only clean the areas that require the most. They also have a cliff sensor to keep them from falling, which is particularly helpful in multi-leveled homes.
If you intend to use your robot vacuum to clean rugs, opt for a model that can do dry and wet mopping. You'll be able to get better cleaning results if your robot vacuum can remove its mop pad. Rinse it and then reattach it when you need to conduct a clean-up cycle. Find robots that have the rubber roller. It is less likely to become tangled from pet hair or other particles. Check the robot's side brushes and brushroll for any debris that may have become stuck on. Make sure to do this at least twice a week. If you notice that they're starting to clog, it might be time to buy replacement parts.
4. Collection of debris
As the name suggests robot vacuums are created to remove dust and other debris from your floors. The best ones are able to 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 low pile than many manual vacuums.
Across all flooring types, the top-performing robots had pickup scores of over 95 95%. The two top performers in this category were the ECOVACS DEEBOT X2 OMNI and the Roborock Q Revo. Both are highly automated and feature robust docking stations that can perform maintenance on their own and apps that make them extremely user-friendly.
They both have self-emptying bins that automatically remove the contents of the wastebasket. They can also clean the washboards as they mow. They also come with 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 can remove its mop pads and vacuum carpet, making it the ideal option for those who need to switch between vacuuming and mopping frequently.
If you want a cheaper alternative, we suggest the iRobot Roomba Combo 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 hitting obstacles but it's less expensive than our other top picks.
5. Battery life
The best robot vacuums let you move about your day while keeping your floors in perfect in good condition. You'll still have to manually vacuum your home on a regular basis however, robovacs can aid in maintaining a certain level of cleanliness and even clean while you're away.
To maximize the amount of time you get from your robovac, choose a model with excellent battery life. A good rule of thumb is to anticipate a model to last about two complete cleaning sessions when you run it at the highest power setting. This is not as long as a size vacuum cleaner, however it should be enough to be sufficient for most homes. If you don't want to sit around waiting for your robovac is charging, you can also opt for an automatic model that makes its return to the base station to recharge.
If you're looking for a robovac with a variety of features in it, then consider one that is able to mop. Eufy's X10 is the most effective model of this category has self-emptying and self-refilling for the dust bin, the water tank, and mop pad. It can also be programmed to automatically refill and wash mops when they're low.
The clear winner of our tests is the Dyson V810 thanks to its impressive carpet and hard floor pickup, outstanding hair pickup, tangle-free performance and an almost perfect auto empty score. It's not cheap and unless you have a small house with no pets, it might be too expensive for some. The Dreametech D10+ is the second-placed model and offers the same performance, but costs around 25% less.