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. Modern models mop and can even climb (small) stairs.
They have a tiny dustbin that they empty themselves and some of them can be controlled by smartphone apps instead of the physical remote. Some models have mapping capabilities to help them navigate your home with greater efficiency.
1. Power
Our top choice for robot vacuums comes with a suction force of 8,000Pa, which is powerful enough to eliminate even the most stubborn dirt patches and hairs. Its ultra-thin square design allows it to slide under furniture like sofas and beds and its Dual-Laser LIDAR technology supports precise navigation and accurate obstacle avoidance. It's also great for cleaning pet hair, baking powder and other debris that can be found near corners and baseboards.
Aside from the DEEBOT X2 OMNI, other top-of-the-line bots on this list include the Robot Roomba j7+ and the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. It comes with a robust docking station that automatically performs maintenance and has mopping functionality as well. Its powerful suction, coupled with its efficient mopping, ensured my floors were free of pet hair, muddy prints, and other messes on all floors we tested.
A model that has 2,500Pa suction is sufficient for the majority of homes in the lower price range. They are also quieter and are therefore a better choice for those with sensitive ears. These units are not silent but they're not about the same as normal conversations at home.
For the best mix of performance and convenience take into consideration your cleaning needs and budget. Frequent light-duty tidying requires a longer runtime and lower suction, whereas weekly heavy-duty cleaning requires a lot of power. Take a look at your flooring, home layouts and cleaning schedules to determine the best model to meet your requirements. We recommend looking through our full list of robot vacuum reviews and ratings to get more information on the latest models available. Many users report that their carpets and floor look cleaner after using a robot vacuum.
2. Navigation
A robot vacuum can't do its job properly if 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 creates a map to ensure thorough cleaning without getting lost or hitting obstacles. There are three kinds of robot navigation: LiDAR-based sensor-based and camera-based.
The most expensive models employ LiDAR to build a virtual map of the room, delivering the highest levels of precision and efficiency. Cheaper models depend on bump sensors, which can be more inaccurate and tend to miss many debris in dark spaces. Most robots also feature cliff sensors to prevent them from falling down stairs or other drops.
A number of the robots I tested utilized object recognition to navigate around things like cords and fake dog turds. However, the Eufy X10 was the best. It had excellent mapping capabilities with powerful oscillating mops, a user-friendly app and the ability to clean a specific area, room or the entire home.
Other features worth a look include floor type sensors that can detect carpets that are hard and soft and automatically boost suction power when necessary. Certain robots such as the Roborock mop utilize mopping pad that lifts to reach into corners and clean dried spills. Some hybrids even apply cleaning solutions to tough staining.
A smaller size of the bin will require less frequent emptying while bigger ones will cost less to replace. The cheapest robotic cleaners usually employ a tiny disposable dust bag, while the majority of mid-range models come with larger 3L dustbins that last for ages. Certain high-end robots, such as the EcoVACS DEEBOT OMNI Station are able to self-empty and fill up their water tanks for hands-free convenience.
3. App control
Most robot vacuums come with an app to monitor the progress of cleaning and schedule sessions. They also connect to smart home devices. Many robot vacuums can also be controlled using voice commands, such as Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Some have a remote control that allows you to start, pause and return to dock. Find a model with a bigger dustbin that can self-empty, as opposed to one that requires manual emptying.
Some robots are equipped with mapping technology that helps them recognize obstacles, such as the stairs, and also avoid hitting furniture. Some allow you to create no-go zones or specific rooms, so that they only clean areas that need it most. They also come with cliff sensors to keep them from falling down the stairs, which is particularly helpful in multi-level homes.
If you plan to utilize your robot vacuum to clean your rugs pick one that is capable of dry mopping and wet. You'll be able to get better cleaning results by having your robot vacuum remove its mop pad. Rinse it and then reattach it when you need to run another cleaning cycle. Look for auto vacuum with an elastomer roller. It is less likely to become tangled from pet hair or other particles. Check the robot's side brush and brushroll for any debris that may have been stuck to them. Do this once or twice a week. If you notice that they're starting to clog up it might be time to buy replacement parts.
4. Debris collection
Robot vacuums are made, as the name suggests to collect dust and debris on your floors. The best robot vacuums can pick up small particles such as sand and baking soda, and larger ones like screws made of metal orzo, as well as pet hair. They also provide better results on carpets with low pile than manual vacuums.
Across all flooring types, the top robots had pickup scores of over 95%. The ECOVACS DEEBOT X2 OMNI and the Roborock Q Revo were two of our most efficient bots in this class. Both are highly automated with robust docking stations that do maintenance on their own and features in the app that make them extremely user-friendly.
Both come with self-emptying bins which automatically suck up the contents of the wastebasket, and clean the washboard while you mow. 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 robot is among the few that can vacuum carpet and take away mop pads. This makes it an ideal choice for users who have to switch between mopping and vacuuming often.
If you're looking for a more affordable option, we recommend 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 can be a bit slow in mapping rooms and is prone to bumping against obstacles, but the price is lower than the other choices.
5. Battery life
The most effective robot vacuums are made to let you get on with your life while they keep your floors in tip-top clean. It is still necessary to manually vacuum your home on a regular basis however, robovacs can assist you in maintaining a minimum standard of cleanliness, and even keep your home clean when you're away.
Look for a robovac with long-lasting batteries to get the most of it. A good rule of thumb is to expect a model to last for around two full cleaning sessions if you run it at the highest power setting. This is less than a larger vacuum but it should be sufficient to get the job done in most homes. If you don't wish to wait while your robovac recharges you can select an option that will automatically return to the base station to charge.
If you're looking to buy a robovac that has a little bit of everything in it, you should consider an option that also mop. Eufy's X10 is the most effective model in this category, offers self-emptying and self-refilling for the dust bin, the water tank, and mop pad. It is also programmable to automatically refill and wash its own 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 an almost perfect auto empty score. It's not cheap and, unless you live in a the space of a small home with no pets, it could be too costly for some. The second choice is the Dreametech D10+, has identical performance, but is priced 25 percent less.