The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Vacuuming is the bane of a lot of people's lives, but robot vacuums make it a little easier. Modern models mop and climb (small) steps.
They have a small dustbin that they empty themselves, and some of them can be controlled from a smartphone app instead of a physical remote. Some have mapping features that assist in navigation.
1. Power
Our top pick for robotic vacuums comes with a suction force of 8000Pa, which is strong enough to get rid of even the most stubborn dirt patches and hairs. The ultra-thin shape of the square allows it to slide under furniture such as sofas and beds. Dual-Laser LIDAR technology offers precise obstacle avoidance and intelligent navigation. It's also great at cleaning pet hair, baking powder, and other debris 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 comes with docking stations that automates maintenance. It also comes with mopping capabilities. Its powerful suction, combined with its efficient mopping, ensured my floors were free of pet hair, muddy prints, and other debris on every type of floor we test.
A model with 2,500Pa suction is sufficient for homes that are in the lower price range. These units are quieter and are therefore a better choice for those who have sensitive ears. These units are not silent however they are not the same volume as conversations at home.
Consider your budget and cleaning requirements to find the perfect combination of power and efficiency. Frequent light-duty tidying requires a longer time to run and lower suction, whereas weekly heavy-duty cleaning demands maximum power. Examine your flooring, layout of your home and cleaning schedules prior to selecting the best model. Check out our complete list of robot vacuum reviews and ratings for more details about the most current models. Many users have reported seeing their carpets and bare floors appear cleaner after introducing a robot vacuum to their home.
2. Navigation
A robot vacuum won't be able to do its job effectively without knowing how to get around your home. Because of this, the best robots rely on sophisticated navigation systems that consistently scans rooms and builds an outline map to ensure thorough cleaning without being lost or hitting obstacles. There are three major types of robot navigation: LiDAR-based sensor-based and camera-based.
LiDAR is used by the most expensive models to create a virtual room map, which offers the highest levels of precision and efficiency. Less expensive models depend on bump sensors which can be more inaccurate and are more likely to miss many debris in dark areas. Many robots also have cliff sensors to stop them from falling down stairs or other falls.
Many of the robots I tested utilized object recognition to efficiently navigate around things such as fake cords and dog turds, however, the best was the Eufy X10. It had superb mapping capabilities and powerful oscillating mops that could be used as an intuitive app and the ability to clean by area, room or the whole home.
Other features worth considering include floor type sensors that recognize carpets that are hard and soft, automatically boosting suction power when necessary. Some robots, such as the Roborock mop, make use of a mopping pad lift to reach corners and clean up dried spills. Many hybrids are able to apply cleaning solution to stubborn staining.
A smaller bin will require less frequent emptying while a larger one will cost less to replace. Most low-cost robotic cleaners use a small disposable dust bag. However, most mid-range models have 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, allowing convenience without hands.
3. App control
The best robot vacuums come with an app that allows you to monitor cleaning progress and schedule your sessions and can connect to your smart home devices to allow hands-free control. Many also sync with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant to allow voice-controlled control. Some have a dedicated remote control that lets you start the process, pause it 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 robovacs come with mapping technology that helps them remember obstacles, such as stairs, and avoid running into furniture. Certain robovacs permit you to designate no-go zones and specific rooms so that they only clean areas that require it the most. They also have a cliff detector to keep them from falling, which is helpful in multi-leveled homes.
If you plan to utilize your robot vacuum for cleaning rugs, choose one that can be used both for dry and wet mopping. You'll get better cleaning results by having your robot vacuum remove its mop pad. Clean it and reconnect it when you want to run another cleaning cycle. Also look for a robot that has a rubber roll that is less susceptible to tangles due to pet hair and other debris than a bristle roll, as found on some cheaper models. Check the robot's side brushes and brushroll for any debris that has gotten stuck on. Do this at least every week. If you notice that they are starting to clog up, it may be time to buy replacement parts.
4. Debris collection
As the name suggests robot vacuums are created to collect dust and other debris from your floors. The best robot vacuums can pick up tiny particles like baking soda and sand as well as larger ones such as metal screws orzo, pet hair. They also have better pickup results on low-pile carpets than the majority of manual vacuums.
The top-performing robots across all flooring types had a pickup score greater 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 on their own, and app features which make them extremely user-friendly.
Both have self-emptying bins that automatically remove the contents of the wastebasket. They also have the ability to clean the washboard as they mow. They also have 8,000Pa suction, smart mapping technology, and advanced obstacle avoidance that helps them find their way around even the most challenging areas. The ECOVACS robot is among the few that can mop carpet and remove the mop pads. This makes it a perfect option for people who need to switch between mopping and vacuuming frequently.
If you're looking for a more affordable option, we suggest the iRobot Roomba Combo J7+, our budget-friendly pick. It features LIDAR navigation and decent performance in the field of debris pickup for the price. It is slow at mapping out rooms and is prone to bumping into obstacles, but the cost is lower than the other choices.
5. Battery life
The most effective robot vacuums let you go about your day while keeping your floors in perfect condition. You'll still need to manually clean your home every so often however, robovacs can help you maintain a basic level of cleanliness and even keep your home clean when you're away.
To maximize the time you get from your robovac, choose the model that has a high battery life. If you use the highest power setting, a model should last two cleaning sessions. This is less than a typical full-sized vacuum cleaner, but it will be sufficient to cover most homes. If they said don't want to sit while your robovac charges you can select a model that automatically returns to the base station to charge.
If you're looking for a robot with a variety of features in it, then consider an option that also mop. Eufy's X10 is the most effective model in this class has self-emptying and self-refilling for the dust bin as well as the water tank and the mop pad. It is also programmable to automatically re-fill and wash its own mop pads when they're running low.
The clear winner in our tests is the Dyson V810 because of 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 the space of a small home with no pets, it might be too expensive for certain. The Dreametech D10+ is the second-placed model and offers the same performance, but costs around 25 percent less.