The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Robot vacuums can make the chore of vacuuming a bit less painful. Modern models mop and climb (small) stairs.
They have a small trash bin that they empty themselves and some can be operated by a smartphone app instead of a physical remote. Some models have mapping capabilities to aid in navigating your home more effectively.
1. Power
With an impressive 8,000Pa of suction Our top pick for robot vacuums is powerful enough to take on the toughest dirt patches and hairs. Its slim square shape enables it to slide beneath furniture such as sofas and beds. Dual-Laser LIDAR technology provides precise obstacle avoidance and intelligent navigation. robot vacuum best does a fantastic job at cleaning up pet hair baking soda, other debris that can be found near baseboards and in corners.
In addition to the DEEBOT X2 OMNI, the other high-powered bots on this list include the IRobot Roomba J7+ as well as the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. The latter comes with a powerful docking station that automates maintenance and includes mopping capabilities as well. Its powerful suction and effective mopping kept my floors free of pet hair as well as muddy paw prints and other debris during every flooring type test we conducted.
In the lower price range, a unit with around 2,500Pa of suction is more than adequate for the majority of homes. These models are quieter, and are therefore a better choice for those who have sensitive ears. They're still not silent, but they're only the same volume as normal conversations at home.
Consider your budget and cleaning needs to find the perfect combination of power and convenience. For frequent light-duty cleaning you will require a longer time-to-run and less suction is recommended. Cleaning that is heavy-duty every week requires the most power. Take a look at your flooring, home layouts, and cleaning schedules to choose the right model for your needs. Look through our entire list of robot vacuum reviews and ratings for more information about the most current models. Many customers report that their carpets and floor look cleaner after using a robot vacuum.
2. Navigation
A robot vacuum isn't able to perform its job properly without knowing how to get around your home. Because of this, the best robots rely on sophisticated navigation technology that reliably scans rooms and creates maps to ensure thorough cleaning without getting lost or hitting obstacles. There are three major 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. Less expensive models depend on bump sensors, which are less accurate and can miss many debris in dark spaces. Many robots also have cliff sensors to prevent them from falling down stairs or other drops.
A variety of robots I tested employed object recognition to skillfully navigate around things such as fake cords and dog turds but the most effective 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 a specific zone, room or whole house.
Take into consideration features such as sensors that detect floors, which automatically boost suction power when needed. Certain robots, like the Roborock mop, utilize a mopping pad lift to get into corners and tackle dried spills. Some hybrids even apply cleaning solutions to tough staining.
A smaller size of the bin will mean less frequent emptying while a bigger one can save you money on replacements. The cheapest robotic cleaners usually use a small disposable dust bag, whereas most mid-range models have larger dust bins of 3L that last for decades. Some premium robots, like the EcoVACS DEEBOT OMNI station, can self-empty their trash bins and refill their water tanks, allowing convenience without hands.
3. App control
The best robot vacuums come with an application that lets you track the progress of cleaning and schedule sessions and can connect to smart home devices for hands-free control. Many also connect to Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for control via voice. Some models have a remote control that allows you to start the process, pause it, and 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 allows them to remember obstacles, such as staircases, and prevents them from getting into furniture. Certain robovacs permit you to designate no-go zones and specific rooms to clean the areas that require it the most. They also have cliff sensor to prevent them from falling, which is particularly useful in multi-level homes.
If you intend to utilize your robot vacuum to clean carpets, select one that can be used both for dry and wet mopping. You'll be able to get better results from a robot vac that can remove its own mop pad, and then wash and reattach when it comes time for another cleaning cycle. Look for a robot with an elastomer roller. It is less likely to become tangled from pet hair or other particles. It's a good idea to examine the robot's brushroll and side brushes for stuck-on debris every week or once as well. If you notice that they're beginning to get blocked, it could be time to buy replacement parts.
4. Collection of debris
Robot vacuums are designed, as the name suggests to collect dust and debris on your floors. The best ones pick fine particles such as baking soda and sand, as well in larger pieces of metal screws, orzo pasta, and pet hair. They also get better pickup results on carpets with low piles than manual vacuums.
The top-performing robots across all flooring types had pickup scores over 95 percent. The ECOVACS DEEBOT X2 OMNI and the Roborock Q Revo were two of our top-performing robots in this category. Both are highly automated with docking stations that perform maintenance on their own, and apps that make them extremely user-friendly.
They both have self-emptying bins that take the contents of the wastebasket and clean the washboard while you mow. They also have an 8,000Pa vacuum, intelligent mapping technology, and advanced obstacle avoidance to help them navigate through even the most difficult of spaces. The ECOVACS robot is among the few that can clean carpet and take away mop pads. This makes it a perfect choice for users who have to switch between mopping and vacuuming regularly.
If you're looking for a less expensive option, we recommend the iRobot Roomba Combo J7+, our budget-friendly pick. It offers LIDAR navigation for an affordable price and decent debris collection performance. It's not the fastest to map rooms and can be prone to bumping into obstacles, but it's less expensive than our other top-rated choices.
5. Battery life
The top robot vacuums are designed to let you get on with your life while keeping your floors looking spick and span. You'll still have to manually clean your home on a regular basis but robovacs can help you maintain a basic level of cleanliness, and will even clean when you are away.
To maximize the time you can get out of your robovac, make sure you choose an advancé with a long battery life. A good guideline is to expect a robovac to last for about two full cleaning sessions if you run it at the maximum power setting. This is less than a large vacuum but it should be sufficient to get the job done in most homes. If you don't want to sit around waiting for your robovac is charging you could select an automatic model that makes its way back to its base station to recharge.
If you want a robovac that does a amount of everything, you should consider an all-in-one model that can mop too. Eufy's X10 is the top model in this category. It provides self-emptying, auto-draining and self-refilling of the dust bin as well as the mop pad. It can be programmed to automatically refill and wash mops as soon as they run out.
The clear winner of our tests is the Dyson V810 thanks to its impressive 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 could be too costly for certain. The runner-up one, the Dreametech D10+, has the same performance, however it costs 25 percent less.