The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Vacuuming is the bane of a lot of people's lives However, robot vacuums make it a little less tedious. Today's models also mop and even climb (small) steps.
Some have a small bin that they empty by themselves. Others can be controlled by an app on your smartphone instead of the physical remote. Some come with mapping features to help them navigate more efficiently.
- Power
Our top pick for robot vacuums has suction power of 8,000Pa, which is enough to get rid of even the most stubborn hairs and dirt. The ultra-thin design of the square allows it to slide beneath furniture like sofas and beds and its Dual-Laser LiDAR technology provides precise navigation and accurate obstacle avoidance. It also does a great job at cleaning up pet hair, baking soda, and other debris close to the baseboards as well as in corners.
Other powerful robots that are listed besides the DEEBOT X2 OMNI, include the IRobot Roomba j7+ as well as the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. The Roborock S8 Pro Ultra includes docking station that automates maintenance. It also comes with mopping capabilities. Its powerful suction and efficient mopping kept my floors free of pet hair as well as muddy paw prints and other debris throughout every flooring type test we conducted.
A model that has 2,500Pa suction is sufficient for homes that are in the lower price range. They are also quieter, making them an ideal option for people with hearing issues. They're still not quiet, but they're not as loud as normal conversations at home.
For the best mix of power and usability, consider your cleaning needs and budget. For frequent light-duty cleaning it is recommended to have a longer runtime and a lower suction is required. For heavy-duty cleaning, weekly runs require maximum power. Check your flooring, home layout, and cleaning schedules before selecting the best model. We recommend checking out 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 bare floors look cleaner after using a robotic vacuum.
- Navigation
A robot vacuum cannot perform its task without knowing how to navigate around your home. Because of this, the most effective robots depend on advanced navigation technology that effectively scans rooms and then creates a map to ensure thorough cleaning without being lost or hitting obstacles. There are three kinds of robot navigation including LiDAR, camera, and sensor.
LiDAR is employed by the most expensive models to create a virtual room map, which offers the highest levels of precision and efficiency. Bump sensors are used 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 stop them from falling down stairs or other drops.
Several robots I tested used object recognition to navigate around things such as cords and fake dog turds. However, the Eufy X10 was the best. It had superb mapping capabilities and powerful oscillating mops that could be used as a user-friendly app and the ability to clean a area, room or the all of the home.
Other features worth considering include sensors for floors that can recognize carpets that are hard and soft, automatically boosting suction power when needed. Some robots, such as the Roborock mop, make use of a mopping pad lift to reach corners and eliminate dried spills. Many hybrids are able to apply cleaning solution to the most difficult stains.
A smaller size of the bin will require less frequent emptying, while bigger ones will cost less to replace. The most affordable robotic cleaners generally utilize a small disposable dust bag, whereas most mid-range models have larger dust bins of 3L that last for decades. Some of the top models, like the ECOVACS DEEBOT OMNI station, will automatically empty their bins and fill their water tanks to provide hands-free convenience.
- App control
The majority of robot vacuums come with an app to monitor cleaning progress and schedule sessions. They also connect to smart home devices. A lot of robot vacuums can be controlled using voice commands, such as Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Some models have a separate remote control that lets you start the process, pause it and then return to dock. Choose a model that has larger dustbins that self-empty, rather than one that requires manual emptying.
Certain robovacs have mapping technology that allows them to remember obstacles, such as staircases, and prevents them from hitting furniture. Certain robovacs permit you to designate no-go zones and specific rooms to ensure that they only clean the areas that require it the most. They also have a cliff detector to stop them from falling, which is particularly beneficial in multi-level homes.
If you plan to utilize your robot vacuum to clean rug carpets, you should choose one that can be used for dry and wet mopping. You'll get better cleaning results when your vacuum can also remove its mop pad. Rinse it and then attach it again when you are ready to conduct a clean-up cycle. Also, look for a machine with a rubber roller, which is less prone to knots caused by pet hair and other debris than a bristle roll, as found on some smaller models. It's recommended to inspect the robot's brushroll as well as side brushes for debris stuck on once or twice a week as well. If you notice that they're beginning to get blocked, it could be time to purchase replacement parts.
- Debris collection
Robot vacuums are designed according to the name to collect dust and debris from your floors. The best robot vacuums can take small particles such as baking soda and sand as well as larger ones like screws made of metal orzo, as well as pet hair. They also provide better results on low pile carpets than manual vacuums.
Across all flooring types, the top performing robots had pick-up scores of greater than 95 percent. The ECOVACS DEEBOT X2 OMNI and the Roborock Q Revo were two of our top-performing robots in this category. Both are highly automated with robust docking stations that do maintenance on their own. They also have app features that make them incredibly user-friendly.
Both come with self-emptying bins which automatically take the contents of the wastebasket, and clean the washboard while mowing. They also have 8,000Pa suction and smart mapping technology and advanced obstacle avoidance that helps them navigate even the most difficult spaces. The ECOVACS model is also among the few robots that we tested that could remove its mop pads and vacuum carpet, which makes it the best choice for users who need to switch between mopping and vacuuming regularly.
If you're looking for a more affordable option, we recommend the iRobot Roomba Kombo J7+, our budget-friendly pick. It features LIDAR navigation at reasonable prices and decent debris collection performance. It's slow to map out rooms and can be prone to hitting obstacles however, it's cheaper than our other top picks.
- Battery life
The best robot vacuums let you get on with your day while they keep your floors in perfect condition. While you'll still need to give your home a manual sweeping every now and then robot vacuums can help you maintain a standard of cleanliness and even keep your home clean while you're away from home.
Look for a robovac with long-lasting batteries to get the most of it. If you choose to use the most powerful power setting, a model should last for about two cleaning sessions. This is less than a typical large vacuum cleaner, but it is enough to cover most homes. If you don't want to be waiting around while your robovac is charging you, you can select one that will automatically make its return to the base station to recharge.
If you want a robovac that does a little bit of everything, consider an all-in-one robot that can mop as well. Eufy's X10 is the best model in this category and provides self-emptying, auto-draining and self-refilling of the dust container, water tank and mop pad. It can be programmed to refill and wash its mops once they are out.
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 a near perfect auto empty score. It's expensive, and unless you have a small house with no pets, it may be too expensive for some. The Dreametech D10+ is the second-placed model and offers the same performance, but it costs 25 percent less.