The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Vacuuming is the bane of many lives, but robot vacuums make it easier. Today's models also mop and climb (small) stairs.
Some have a small bin that they empty on their own. Others can be controlled by a smartphone app rather than the physical remote. Some have mapping features that assist in navigation.
1. Power
Our top pick for robot vacuums has suction power of 8,000Pa, which is powerful enough to get rid of even the most difficult dirt patches and hairs. Its ultra-thin square design allows it to slide beneath furniture, such as beds and sofas 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, other debris near baseboards and in corners.
Apart from the DEEBOT X2 OMNI, other high-powered bots on this list include the iRobot Roomba j7+ and the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. The Roborock S8 Pro Ultra has docking station that automatically performs maintenance. It also has mopping capabilities. Its powerful suction and effective mopping helped keep my floors clear of pet hair, muddy paw prints, and other debris in every floor type test that we conducted.
In the lower price range, a model with around 2,500Pa of suction is more than enough for the majority of homes. They are also quieter and are therefore a better choice for those with sensitive ears. These units are not silent but they are only the same volume as conversations at home.
For the best mix of power and usability, consider your cleaning needs and budget. A regular light-duty cleaning schedule requires longer runtime and a lower suction, while weekly heavy-duty cleaning demands maximum power. Check your flooring, home layout and cleaning schedule prior to choosing 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 seeing their carpets and bare floors looking significantly cleaner after introducing a robot vacuum to their home.
2. Navigation
A robot vacuum can't do its job properly if it doesn't know how to navigate your home. The most advanced robots utilize sophisticated navigation technologies to scan rooms and build an outline map, which allows for thorough cleaning without getting stuck or hitting obstacles. There are three major kinds of robot navigation: LiDAR-based, camera-based and sensor-based.
The most expensive models employ LiDAR to create a digital map of the room, delivering the highest levels of accuracy and efficiency. Bump sensors are used in less expensive models, but they aren't always accurate and miss a lot debris when working in dark places. The majority of robots have cliff sensors to prevent them from falling down stairs or other falls.
Several robots I tested used object recognition to navigate things such as cords and fake dog turds. But the Eufy X10 was the best. It had powerful oscillating mop heads, a user friendly app, and superb mapping capabilities.
Other features worth looking into include floor type sensors that recognize hard floors and soft carpet, automatically boosting suction power when needed. Certain robots, like the Roborock mops, use a mopping pad lift to reach corners and clean up dried spills. Some hybrids even apply cleaning solutions to tough staining.
A smaller size of the bin will require less frequent emptying while larger ones can save money on replacements. Most low-cost robotic cleaners use the smallest disposable dust bag. However, most middle-priced models have larger 3L dustbins that last for a long time. Certain premium robots such as the ECOVACS DEEBOT OMNI Station can self-empty and refill their water tank for hands-free convenience.
3. App control
The top robot vacuums have an application that lets you track the progress of cleaning and schedule sessions, and most can connect to smart home devices for hands-free control. 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. Find a model with a bigger dustbin that can self-empty, as opposed to one that requires manual emptying.
Some robovacs have technology for mapping to help them avoid obstacles such as furniture and stairs. Some allow you to create no-go zones or specific rooms, so they only clean the areas that need it most. They also come with cliff sensors to keep them from falling down stairs, which is particularly useful in multi-level homes.
If you plan to use your robot vacuum to clean rugs choose a model that can do both dry mopping as well as wet. You'll get better results from an vac that is able to remove its own mop pad too, which you can then wash and reattach when it's time for another cleaning cycle. Also, look for a machine that has a rubber roll that is less susceptible to tangles from pet hair and other debris than bristle rollers that is found on less expensive models. Examine the robot's side brushes and brushroll for any debris that might have gotten stuck on. Make sure to do this at least every week. If you notice that they're starting to clog up it could be time to replace parts.
4. Collection of debris
As the name suggests robot vacuums are created to collect dust and other debris from your floors. The best ones pick small particles such as baking soda and sand, as well larger pieces such as orzo pasta, metal screws, and pet hair. They also get better pickup results on carpets with low pile than manual vacuums.
The top-performing robots across all flooring types had a pickup score greater than 95%. The ECOVACS DEEBOT X2 OMNI and the Roborock Q Revo were our two top-performing robots in this category. Both are highly automated and feature robust docking stations that do maintenance on their own. They also have apps that make them incredibly user-friendly.
Both have self-emptying bins that automatically remove the contents of the wastebasket. They can also clean the washboard while they mowing. They also feature 8,000Pa suction and smart mapping technology and advanced obstacle avoidance technology that helps them find their way around even the most difficult of spaces. The ECOVACS model is also one of the few robots that we tested that can take its mop pads and vacuum carpet, which makes it the ideal choice for users who need to switch between mopping and vacuuming regularly.
If you're seeking a lower-cost option, look into the Roomba Combo J7 from iRobot Plus, our budget pick. It has LIDAR navigation and decent debris pickup capabilities for the price. It can be a bit slow at mapping out rooms and has a tendency of bumping into obstacles, but the cost is lower than our other picks.
5. robot vacuum cleaner let you move about your day while keeping your floors in pristine condition. Although you'll need to give your home a manual hoover every now and again robot vacuums can help you maintain a standard of tidiness and even clean while you're away from home.
To maximize the time you can get out of your robovac, make sure you choose a model with excellent battery life. A good guideline is to expect a model to last for around two complete cleaning sessions if you use it at the highest power setting. This is less than a large vacuum but it should be sufficient to clean most homes. If you don't want to be waiting around while your robovac charges, you can also choose one that will automatically make its way back to the base station to recharge.
If you are looking for a robovac that does a bit of everything, think about an all-in-one robot that can mop as well. Eufy's X10 is the best model in this category. It offers self-emptying, self-draining and self-refilling of your dust bin and mop pad. It can be programmed to automatically refill and wash mops when they run out.
best automatic vacuum cleaner in our tests is the Dyson V810 due to its outstanding carpet and hard floor pickup, superb hair pickup, tangle-free performance, and nearly perfect auto empty score. It's expensive and, unless you live in a the space of a small home with no pets, it could be too expensive for some. The second choice is the Dreametech D10+, has identical performance, but is priced 25 percent less.