The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Robot vacuums can make the chore of vacuuming a little less painful. Modern models mop and can even climb (small) steps.
Some have a smaller bin that they empty on their own. Others are controlled with apps for smartphones instead of the physical remote. Some models have mapping capabilities to assist in navigating your home with greater efficiency.
1. Power
With the suction power of 8,000Pa Our top choice for robot vacuums is durable enough to take on the toughest dirt patches and hairs. The ultra-thin design of the square allows it to slide underneath furniture such as beds and sofas and its Dual-Laser LIDAR technology provides intelligent navigation and accurate obstacle avoidance. It is also great at cleaning pet hair, baking powder and other messes around corners and baseboards.
Other powerful robots in this list in addition to the DEEBOT X2 OMNI, are the IRobot Roomba J7+ aswell as the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. The Roborock S8 Pro Ultra comes with docking station that automatically handles maintenance. It also comes with mopping capabilities. Its powerful suction and efficient mopping made sure my floors were free of pet hair and muddy footprints and other debris in every floor type test that we conducted.
In the lower cost range, a model that has 2,500Pa of suction is more than enough for the majority of homes. These units are quieter, making them an ideal option for those with sensitive hearing. They're not quiet, but they're just the same volume as a normal conversation at home.
Take into consideration your budget and cleaning requirements to determine the best combination of power and usability. Regular light-duty cleaning requires a longer time to run and lower suction, while weekly heavy-duty cleaning requires a lot of power. Consider your flooring, layout of your home and cleaning schedules to choose the right model for your requirements. We suggest looking through our full list of
robot vacuum reviews and ratings for more information on the latest models available. Many customers report that their carpets and floors look cleaner after using a robotic vacuum.
2. Navigation
A robot vacuum isn't able to perform its job properly if it doesn't know how to get around your home. This is why the best robots use sophisticated navigation technology that reliably scans rooms and creates a map to ensure thorough cleaning without being lost or hitting obstacles. There are three types 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 precision and efficiency. Bump sensors are utilized in lower-end models, however they aren't always accurate and miss a lot of debris when working in dark places. Most robots are equipped with cliff sensors that 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 dog turds and cords, however, the best was the Eufy X10. It had superb mapping capabilities and powerful oscillating mops that could be used as an easy-to-use app, and the ability to clean a specific zone, room or entire home.
Think about features like sensors for floors, which automatically boost suction power when needed. Some robots, like the Roborock mops, use mopping pad lifts to get into corners and clean up dried spills. Many hybrids can apply cleaning solution to staining that is difficult to remove.
A smaller bin will require less frequent emptying, whereas bigger ones can save money on replacements. The cheapest robotic cleaners typically employ a tiny disposable dust bag, but the majority of mid-range models come with larger dust bins of 3L that last for ages. Certain high-end robots, such as the EcoVACS DEEBOT OMNI Station are able to self-empty and refill their water tanks, allowing hands-free convenience.
3. App control
The best
robot vacuum reviews vacuums come with an application that lets you track the progress of cleaning and schedule sessions and can connect to your 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 a remote control that allows you to begin, pause, and return to dock. Find a model with a bigger dustbin that can self-empty, rather than one that requires manual emptying.
Certain robovacs have mapping technology that allows them to remember obstacles, like staircases, and prevents them from running into furniture. Certain robovacs permit you to create no-go zones as well as specific rooms to ensure that they only clean those areas which need it the most. They also have cliff sensors to prevent them from falling down stairs, which is particularly helpful in multi-level homes.
If you intend to use your robot vacuum to clean rugs, opt for a model that can do both dry mopping and wet. You'll have better results cleaning when your vacuum can also take off its mop pad. Rinse it, and then reattach it when you need to run another cleaning cycle. Also, look for a model that has a rubber roll that is less prone to tangles due to pet hair and other debris than a bristle roller that is found on cheaper models. Examine the robot's side brushes and brushroll for any debris that has been stuck to them. Do this once or every week. If you notice that they are beginning to get clogged up it could be time to purchase replacement parts.
4. Collection of debris
Robot vacuums are created, as the name suggests to collect dust and debris from your floors. The best robot vacuums will collect small particles such as sand and baking soda, in addition to larger ones like screws made of metal orzo, as well as pet hair. They also deliver better results on carpets with a low pile than many manual vacuums.
The top-performing robots across all flooring types had a pickup score over 95%. The ECOVACS DEEBOT X2 OMNI and the Roborock Q Revo were two of our best-performing bots in this category. Both are highly automated with robust docking stations that perform maintenance on their own. They also have apps that make them incredibly user-friendly.
Both have self-emptying bins that collect the waste from the wastebasket, and clean the washboard while mowing. They also have suction of 8,000Pa, 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 among the few robots that we tested that could remove its mop pads and vacuum carpet which makes it the ideal choice for those who have to switch between vacuuming and mopping regularly.
If you want a cheaper option,
robot vacuum Cleaners best we suggest the iRobot Roomba Combo J7+, our budget choice. It comes with LIDAR navigation for an affordable price and decent performance in the collection of debris. It's a bit slow to map out rooms and is susceptible to crashing into obstacles, but it's less expensive than our other top choices.
5. Battery life
The best robot vacuums let you go about your day while keeping your floors in perfect condition. You'll still need to manually vacuum your home on a regular basis but robovacs can aid in maintaining a certain level of cleanliness and even clean when you are away.
Look for a robovac with long-lasting batteries to get the most use of it. A good rule of thumb is to expect a model to last for about two cleaning sessions when you run it at the maximum power setting. This is less than a full-sized
automatic vacuum cleaner and mop, but it should be sufficient to clean most homes. If you don't want to wait for your robovac to recharge you can select a model that automatically returns to the base station to charge.
If you're looking for a robot that has a little bit of everything in it, you should consider one that is able to mop. Eufy's X10 is the top model in this class and provides self-emptying, auto-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.
The clear winner in our tests is the Dyson V810 due to its outstanding carpet and hard floor pickup, superb hair pickup, tangle-free performance and an almost perfect auto empty score. It's expensive and, unless you live in a a small house with no pets, it may be too costly for some. The second choice, the Dreametech D10+, has identical performance, but costs about 25% less.