The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Vacuuming is the bane of many lives, but robot vacuums make it a little easier. Modern models can also mop and even climb (small) steps.
They have a tiny dustbin which they empty themselves and some are controlled from a smartphone app instead of an actual remote. Some have mapping capabilities that aid in navigating your home more efficiently.
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 difficult dirt patches and hairs. The ultra-thin design of the square allows it to slide underneath furniture like sofas and beds, and its Dual-Laser LiDAR technology allows for precise navigation and obstacle avoidance. It's also great for cleaning baking powder, pet hair and other debris that can be found near corners and baseboards.
Apart from the DEEBOT X2 OMNI bot, other powerful bots in this list include the iRobot Roomba J7+ as well as the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. The Roborock S8 Pro Ultra comes with docking stations that automatically performs maintenance. It also has mopping capabilities. Its powerful suction and efficient mopping helped keep my floors clear of pet hair as well as muddy paw prints and other debris in every flooring type test we conducted.
In the lower price range, a model with a suction capacity of around 2,500Pa is more than adequate for most homes. These models are quieter, making them the ideal option for those with hearing issues. They aren't silent, but they're not as loud as normal conversations at home.
Take into consideration your budget and cleaning requirements to determine the best combination of power and efficiency. For regular light-duty cleaning you will require a longer time-to-run and less suction is recommended. Cleaning that is heavy-duty every week requires maximum power. Examine your flooring, layout of your home and cleaning schedules prior to selecting the right model. We recommend looking through our entire list of robot vacuum reviews and ratings to get more details on the most recent models available. Many customers report that their carpets and floors looking significantly cleaner after introducing a robotic vacuum in their home.
2. Navigation
A robot vacuum can't accomplish its task without knowing how to navigate your home. The best robots use sophisticated navigation technologies to scan rooms and create maps, ensuring thorough cleaning without getting stuck or hitting obstacles. There are three kinds of robot navigation: LiDAR-based, camera-based and sensor-based.
LiDAR is utilized by the most expensive models to create a virtual space map, which offers the highest levels of accuracy and efficiency. Bump sensors are utilized in less expensive models, but they aren't always accurate and miss a lot of debris when working in dark places. Many robots also have cliff sensors to stop them from falling down stairs or other drops.
A variety of robots I tested utilized object recognition to efficiently navigate objects such as fake cords and dog turds however, the best was the Eufy X10. It had excellent mapping capabilities and powerful oscillating mops that could be used as an intuitive app and the ability to clean by zones, rooms or even the whole home.
Other features worth looking into include floor type sensors that can detect carpets with soft and hard floors automatically increasing suction power when required. Some robots, such as the Roborock mop, utilize mopping pad lifts to get into corners and tackle dried spills. Many hybrids can apply cleaning solution to staining that is difficult to remove.
A smaller dustbin means less frequent emptying, and a larger one will save you money on replacements. The cheapest robotic cleaners usually utilize a small disposable dust bag, whereas most mid-range models have larger dust bins of 3L that last for ages. Some of the top models, like the ECOVACS DEEBOT OMNI station, will self-empty their dustbin and refill their water tanks for convenience without hands.
3. App control
Most robot vacuums come with an app to monitor the progress of cleaning and schedule cleaning sessions. They also connect to smart home devices. Many also connect to Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for voice-based control. Some have a remote control that allows you to start or pause, 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 robots are equipped with mapping technology that helps them avoid obstacles such as stairs and furniture. Certain robovacs permit you to designate no-go zones and specific rooms to ensure that they only clean those areas which need it the most. They also come with cliff sensors to keep them from falling down stairs, which is especially helpful in multi-level homes.
If you plan to make use of your robot vacuum to clean your rugs pick one that can perform dry and wet mopping. You'll get better results with the robot vacuum that can remove its own mop pad, as well, which you can then wash and reattach when it comes time for another cleaning cycle. Find robots that have an elastomer roller. It will be less likely to get caught from pet hair or other debris. Check the robot's side brushes and brushroll for any debris that may have gotten stuck on. Make sure to do this at least every week. If you notice that they're starting to clog, it might be time to replace parts.
4. Debris collection
Robot vacuums are created, as the name suggests to collect dust and debris from your floors. The best robot vacuum s will pick up small particles such as baking soda and sand, in addition to larger ones like metal screws orzo, as well as pet hair. They also deliver better results on carpets with a low pile than manual vacuums.
All flooring types are covered, and the top-performing robots had pickup scores of more than 95 percent. The two top performers in this category were the ECOVACS DEEBOT X2 OMNI and the Roborock Q Revo. Both are highly automated, with docking stations that can perform maintenance on their own, and app features which make them extremely user-friendly.
Both have self-emptying bins that automatically empty the wastebasket. They can also clean the washboard as they mow. They also have an 8,000Pa vacuum cleaner, smart mapping technology and advanced obstacle avoidance to help them navigate through the most difficult of spaces. The ECOVACS robot is among the few that can mop carpet and take away mop pads. This makes it an ideal option for those who need to switch between mopping and vacuuming regularly.
If you're looking for a cheaper alternative, take a look at the Roomba Combo J7 from iRobot Plus, our budget choice. It comes with LIDAR navigation and decent performance in the field of debris pickup for the price. It's slow to map rooms and can be prone to crashing into obstacles, however it's much less expensive than our other top picks.
5. Battery life
The most effective robot vacuums let you go about your day while they keep your floors in top condition. It is still necessary to manually clean your home every so often, but robovacs will assist you in maintaining a minimum level of cleanliness, and will even clean when you are away.
Look for a robovac with a long-lasting battery to get the most of it. A good guideline is to expect a robovac to last for around two full cleaning sessions if you use it at the highest power setting. This is less than a full-sized vacuum cleaner, but it will be sufficient to provide for the majority of homes. If you don't like to be waiting around while your robovac recharges you, you can opt for an automatic model that makes its way back to the base station to recharge.
If you're looking for a robot that does a bit of everything, think about an all-in-one machine that is able to mop as well. Eufy's X10 is the top model in this class comes with self-emptying and self refilling for the dust bin as well as the water tank and the mop pad. It can even be programmed to automatically refill and wash its own mops when they're empty.
The clear winner in our tests is the Dyson V810, due to its outstanding carpet and hard floor pickup, outstanding hair pickup, tangle-free performance and an almost perfect auto empty score. It's expensive and, unless you live in a an apartment that is small and has no pets, it may be too expensive for certain. The Dreametech D10+ is the runner-up and has a similar performance, but costs around 25 percent less.