The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Vacuuming is the bane of many people's existence However, robot vacuums make it easier. Today's models also mop and even climb (small) stairs.
Some have a small trash bin that they empty on their own. Others can be controlled by an app on your smartphone instead of a physical remote. Some of them have mapping capabilities that aid in navigating your home more efficiently.
1. Power
With an impressive 8,000Pa of suction Our top pick for robot vacuums is durable enough to take care of the most difficult hairs and dirt. Its super-thin square design allows it to slide under furniture such as beds and sofas, and its Dual-Laser LiDAR technology provides intelligent navigation and accurate obstacle avoidance. It also does a great job at cleaning up pet hair, baking soda, and other debris that can be found near baseboards and in corners.
Other powerful robots on this list, besides the DEEBOT X2 OMNI include the iRobot Roomba J7+ aswell as the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. It comes with a sturdy docking station that is able to perform maintenance and has mopping functionality as well. Its powerful suction, combined with its efficient mopping, kept my floors clean of pet hair, muddy prints, and other debris on every floor we tested.
In the lower price range, a model with a suction capacity of around 2,500Pa is more than enough for most homes. These models are quieter, and, therefore, a better choice for those with sensitive ears. They're still not quiet, but they're not as loud as normal conversations at home.
Consider your budget and cleaning requirements to find the right combination of power and usability. For light-duty cleaning that is frequent you will require a longer time-to-run and less suction is needed. Weekly heavy-duty cleaning requires the maximum power. Consider your flooring, layout of your home and cleaning schedules to determine the best model for your requirements. We recommend checking out our complete list of robot vacuum reviews and ratings for more information on the latest models available. Many users report that their carpets and bare floor look cleaner after using a robot vacuum.
2. Navigation
A robot vacuum won't be able to do its job properly when it doesn't know how to navigate your home. For this reason, the best robots use sophisticated navigation systems that consistently scans rooms and creates maps to ensure thorough cleaning without being lost or hitting obstacles. There are three main 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 accuracy and efficiency. Less expensive models depend on bump sensors, which can be more inaccurate and can miss the majority of debris in dark areas. Many robots also have cliff sensors to stop them from falling down stairs or other drops.
Many of the robots I tested utilized object recognition to efficiently navigate objects such as fake cords and dog turds, but the best was the Eufy X10. It had powerful mop heads that oscillate, a user friendly app and a superb mapping capability.
Other features worth a look include sensors for floors that can recognize carpets that are hard and soft and automatically boost suction power when needed. Certain robots such as the Roborock mop use a mopping pad lift that allows you to get into corners and clean dried spills. Many hybrids are able to apply cleaning solution to stubborn staining.
A smaller dustbin will require less frequent emptying, however, a larger one can save you money on replacements. The cheapest robotic cleaners usually employ a tiny disposable dust bag, but the majority of mid-range models come with larger 3L dustbins that last for ages. Some premium robots like the ECOVACS DEEBOT OMNI Station are able to self-empty and fill up their water tank for hands-free convenience.
3. App control
The best robot vacuums come with an app that allows you to monitor cleaning progress and schedule your sessions, and most can connect to smart home devices to allow hands-free control. They also can sync with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for voice-based control. Certain models come with an on-screen remote that lets you start or pause and then return to dock. Choose a model that has larger dustbins that self-empty, as opposed to one that requires manual emptying.
Some robovacs come with mapping technology that helps them remember obstacles, such as the stairs, and also avoid getting into furniture. Some allow you to create no-go zones or specific rooms, ensuring that they only clean 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 are planning to make use of your robot vacuum to clean your rugs, opt for one that is capable of both dry mopping and wet. You'll get better cleaning results when your vacuum can also take off its mop pad. Rinse it, and then reattach it when you need to run another cleaning cycle. Find best cheap robot vacuum that have a rubber roller. This is less likely to tangle from pet hair or other debris. Check the robot's side brushes and brushroll for any debris that has become stuck on. Make sure to do this at least every week. If you notice that they're beginning to clog, it might be time to replace parts.
4. Debris collection
Robot vacuums are designed, as the name suggests to gather dust and debris from your floors. The most effective robot vacuums are able to pick up small particles such as sand and baking soda, as well as larger ones such as metal screws, orzo, and pet hair. They also have better pickup results on carpets with low pile than most manual vacuums.
The top-performing robots across all flooring types had scores greater than 95 percent. The ECOVACS DEEBOT X2 OMNI and the Roborock Q Revo were our two most efficient bots in this class. Both are highly automated and feature robust docking stations that perform maintenance on their own and app features that make them extremely user-friendly.
Both have self-emptying bins which eliminate the contents of the wastebasket. They also have the ability to clean the washboard while they mow. They also have 8,000Pa suction and smart mapping technology and advanced obstacle avoidance that can help them navigate even the most challenging areas. The ECOVACS robot is among the few that can clean carpet and remove the mop pads. This makes it an ideal choice for users who have to switch between mopping and vacuuming frequently.
If you're seeking a lower-cost alternative, take a look at the iRobot Roomba Combo J7 Plus, our budget pick. It features LIDAR navigation for reasonable prices and decent performance in the collection of debris. It's not the fastest to map rooms and can be prone to crashing into obstacles, however, it's cheaper than our other top-rated selections.
5. Battery life
The best robot vacuums let you get on with your day while they keep your floors in top condition. You'll still have to manually vacuum your home from time to time however, robovacs can aid in maintaining a certain level of cleanliness, and will even clean when you are away.
To maximize remote hoover of time you get from your robovac, make sure you choose a model with excellent battery life. A good rule of thumb is to anticipate a model to last for about two full cleaning sessions if you run it at the maximum power setting. This is less than a typical size vacuum cleaner, however it will be sufficient to provide for the majority of homes. If you don't wish to wait for your robovac to recharge you can opt for an option that automatically returns to the base station to charge.
If you're looking for a robovac that has a little bit of everything in it, you should consider a robot that can also mop. Eufy's X10, the best model in this class comes with self-emptying and self refilling for the dust bin, the water tank, and the mop pad. It is also programmable to automatically re-fill and wash mops when they're running low.
Its dependable carpet and hard floor pick-up as well as its excellent hair pickup and tangle-free, and a near-perfect auto empty score makes it the clear winner of our test scores. However, it's not cheap and unless you live in an apartment without pets, it may be too expensive for some. best cheap robot vacuum is the second-placed model and offers the same performance, but costs around 25 percent less.