The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Vacuuming is the bane of many people's existence However, robot vacuums make it a little more enjoyable. Modern models can mop, and 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 models have mapping capabilities to assist in navigating your home with greater efficiency.
1. Power
Our top pick for robot vacuums comes with a suction force of 8000Pa, which is strong enough to remove even the most difficult hairs and dirt. Its ultra-thin square shape allows it to slide beneath furniture, such as sofas and beds. Dual-Laser LIDAR technology provides precise obstacle avoidance as well as 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 bot, other high-powered bots on this list include the iRobot Roomba J7+ and the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. It comes with a sturdy docking station that automates maintenance and mopping functions as well. Its powerful suction and effective mopping helped keep my floors clear of pet hair and muddy footprints and other debris in every floor type test we ran.
A model with 2500Pa suction should be sufficient for most homes in the lower price range. These units are quieter, which makes them the ideal option for those with hearing issues. They aren't silent, but they are only as loud as normal conversations at home.
To find the ideal balance of performance and convenience, consider your cleaning needs and budget. Frequent light-duty tidying requires a longer runtime and a lower suction, whereas weekly heavy-duty cleaning demands maximum power. Then assess your flooring, layout of your home, and cleaning schedules to choose the right model for your needs. We suggest looking through our complete list of robot vacuum reviews and ratings for more details about the latest models available. Many users report seeing their carpets and bare floors looking much cleaner after introducing a robot vacuum in their home.
2. Navigation
A robot vacuum can't do its job well when it doesn't know how to navigate your home. The best robots use sophisticated navigation technology to scan rooms and make an outline map, which allows for thorough cleaning without getting stuck or hitting obstacles. There are three types of robot navigation: LiDAR-based sensor-based, and camera-based.
LiDAR is utilized by the most expensive models to create a virtual room map, offering the highest levels of precision and efficiency. Cheaper models depend on bump sensors, which are more prone to error and are more likely to miss a lot of debris in dark areas. The majority of robots have cliff sensors to prevent them from falling down stairs or other drops.
Many of the robots I tested utilized object recognition to efficiently navigate things like fake cords and dog turds but the best was the Eufy X10. It had superb mapping capabilities with powerful oscillating mops, an easy-to-use app, and the ability to clean a zone, room or whole home.
Think about features like floor type sensors, which automatically boost suction power when needed. Some robots, such as the Roborock mop, make use of a mopping pad lift to reach corners and tackle dried spills. Many hybrids can apply cleaning solutions to stubborn stains.
A smaller dustbin will require less frequent emptying, while larger ones will cost less to replace. The majority of robotic cleaners that are low-cost use an inexpensive, disposable dust bag. However, the majority of middle-priced models have larger 3L dustbins which last a long time. Certain premium 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
The majority of robot vacuums come with an app that monitors cleaning progress, schedule sessions and connect to smart home devices. Many robot vacuums can also 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. Find a model with a bigger dustbin that can self-empty instead of one that requires manual emptying.
Certain robovacs come with mapping technology that helps them avoid obstacles such as furniture and stairs. Others allow you to designate no-go zones and targeted rooms, so that they only clean areas that require the most. They also have cliff sensors to prevent them from falling down the staircase, which is particularly beneficial in multi-level homes.
If you intend to utilize your robot vacuum to clean carpets, select a model which can be used both for dry and wet mopping. You'll get better cleaning results if your robot vacuum can also take off its mop pad. Clean it and reconnect it when you want to conduct a clean-up cycle. Also look for a robot 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 less expensive models. It's recommended to examine the robot's brushroll and side brushes for stuck-on debris every week or once Also. If you notice that they're starting to clog, it might be time to purchase replacement parts.
4. Debris collection
Robot vacuums are designed to, as the name suggests, to collect dust and debris from your floors. The best robot vacuums will pick up tiny particles, such as sand and baking soda, as well as larger ones such as metal screws orzo, as well as pet hair. They also have better pickup results on carpets with low piles than manual vacuums.
The top-performing robots across all flooring types had pickup scores greater than 95%. The ECOVACS DEEBOT X2 OMNI and the Roborock Q Revo were the two top-performing robots in this category. 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 take the contents of the wastebasket and can clean the washboard while you mow. They also have an 8,000Pa vacuum, smart mapping technology and advanced obstacle avoidance technology to help them navigate through the most difficult spaces. The ECOVACS robot is one of the few that can vacuum carpet and remove the mop pads. This makes it a great option for people who need to switch between mopping and vacuuming regularly.
If you're looking for a more affordable option, we suggest the iRobot Roomba Kombo J7+, our budget pick. It features LIDAR navigation at an affordable price and decent debris collection performance. It is slow at mapping out rooms and has a tendency of bumping into obstacles, but it 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 perfect in good condition. You'll still have to manually vacuum your home from time to time but robovacs can assist you in maintaining a minimum standard of cleanliness, and even clean when you are away.
Choose a robovac that has an extended-lasting battery to get the most of it. A good rule of thumb is to anticipate a model to last for around two complete cleaning sessions when you run it at the maximum power setting. This is less than a larger vacuum but it should be sufficient to clean most homes. If you don't want to sit for your robovac to recharge you can opt for an option that automatically returns to the base station for charging.
If you're looking for a robovac with a bit of everything in it, then consider an option that also mop. Eufy's X10 is the top model in this category and provides self-emptying, auto-draining and self-refilling of the dust container, water tank and mop pad. It can also be programmed to automatically re-fill and wash mops when they're empty.
The clear winner of our tests is the Dyson V810 because of its impressive carpet and hard floor pickup, superb hair pickup, tangle-free performance and a near perfect auto empty score. It's not cheap, and unless you have an apartment that is small and has no pets, it may be too costly for some. The Dreametech D10+ is the second-placed model and offers the same performance, but costs around 25 percent less.