The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Robot vacuums can make the chore of vacuuming a bit less painful. Modern models mop and can even climb (small) steps.
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 help them navigate your home more efficiently.
1. Power
Our top choice for robot vacuums has a suction power of 8,000Pa, which is enough to eliminate even the most difficult dirt patches and hairs. Its super-thin square design allows it to slide under furniture, such as beds and sofas and its Dual-Laser LiDAR technology allows for precise navigation and accurate obstacle avoidance. It also does a great job at cleaning pet hair, baking soda, and other debris that can be found near the baseboards as well as in corners.
Aside from the DEEBOT X2 OMNI, other top-of-the-line bots on this list include the IRobot Roomba J7+ and the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. The Roborock S8 Pro Ultra has docking stations that automates maintenance. It also has mopping capabilities. Its powerful suction, combined with its effective mopping feature, kept my floors clean of pet hair, muddy prints and other messes on every type of floor we test.
A model that has 2,500Pa suction is sufficient for homes that are in the lower price range. These units are quieter and therefore a better option for those with sensitive ears. They're not quiet, but they're not the same volume as normal conversations at home.
Think about your budget and cleaning needs to find the perfect combination of power and efficiency. A regular light-duty cleaning schedule requires longer runtime and lower suction, whereas weekly heavy-duty cleaning demands maximum power. Then assess your flooring, layout of your home and cleaning schedules to choose the right model to meet your needs. Take a look at our comprehensive list of robot vacuum reviews and ratings for more information about the most recent models. Many users report that their carpets and bare floor look cleaner after using a robotic vacuum.
2. Navigation
A robot vacuum cannot perform its task if it does not know how to navigate your home. The best robots employ sophisticated navigation technology to scan rooms and create an outline map, which allows for thorough cleaning without getting stuck or hitting obstacles. There are three kinds of robot navigation including LiDAR, camera, and sensor.
The most expensive models use LiDAR to create a digital map of the room, offering the highest levels of accuracy and efficiency. Bump sensors are employed in less expensive models, but they can be inaccurate and miss a lot of debris when working in dark areas. Most robots come with cliff sensors, which stop them from falling off steps or other drops.
A number of the robots I tested utilized object recognition to navigate things such as cords and fake dog turds. However, the Eufy X10 was the best. It was a fantastic mapping device with powerful oscillating mops, an intuitive app and the ability to clean a specific zones, rooms or even the all of the home.
Take into consideration features such as sensors that detect floors that automatically boost suction power when needed. Some robots, such as the Roborock mop make use of mopping pad lift that allows you to get into corners and clean dried spills. Many hybrids can even apply cleaning solutions to tough stains.
A smaller dustbin will require less frequent emptying, while bigger ones will cost less to replace. The cheapest robotic cleaners typically use a small disposable dust bag, whereas most mid-range models have larger 3L dustbins that last for many years. Certain high-end robots, such as the ECOVACS DEEBOT OMNI Station can self-empty and refill their water tanks for hands-free convenience.
3. App control
Most robot vacuums come with an app to monitor the progress of cleaning and schedule sessions. They also connect to smart home devices. Many robot vacuums can also be controlled by voice using Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Some have a dedicated remote control that allows you to start the process, pause it and then return to dock. Select a model with a larger trash bin and can self-empty, rather than one that needs manual emptying.
Certain robovacs come with mapping technology to help them avoid obstacles such as stairs and furniture. Others let you set no-go zones or targeted rooms, so that they only clean areas that need it most. They also have a cliff detector to prevent them from falling, which is especially helpful in multi-leveled 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 get better results with the robot vacuum that can remove its own mop pad, too, which you can then rinse and reattach when it's time for another cleaning cycle. Also look for a robot that has a rubber roll that is less prone to knots caused by pet hair and other debris than a bristle roller like those found on cheaper models. Check the robot's side brush and brushroll for any debris that may have become stuck on. Make sure to do this at least twice per week. If you notice that they are getting clogged it could be time to buy replacement parts.
4. Collection of debris
Robot vacuums are made according to the name to gather dust and debris from your floors. The most effective ones can pick small particles such as baking soda and sand, as well larger pieces such as orzo pasta, screws made of metal, and pet hair. They also provide better results on carpets with low pile than manual vacuums.
The top-performing robots across all flooring types had a pickup score over 95 percent. The ECOVACS DEEBOT X2 OMNI and the Roborock Q Revo were our two best-performing bots in this category. Both are highly automated with docking stations that can perform maintenance by themselves and app features which make them extremely user-friendly.
Both have self-emptying bins that collect the waste from the wastebasket, and clean the washboard while mowing. They also come with an 8,000Pa vacuum cleaner, smart mapping technology and advanced obstacle avoidance to help them navigate through even the most difficult of spaces. The ECOVACS model is also among the few robots we tested that can remove its mop pads and vacuum carpet which makes it the ideal choice for those who have to change between mopping and vacuuming regularly.
If you want a cheaper option, we suggest the Roomba Combo J7 from iRobot+, our budget pick. It comes with LIDAR navigation at an affordable price and decent performance in the collection of debris. It can be a bit slow when it comes to mapping rooms and is susceptible to hitting obstacles, but it is less than the other choices.
5. Battery life
The best robot vacuums let you go about your day while they keep your floors in top in good condition. While you'll still have to give your home a manual sweeping every now and then robot vacuums can help you keep a certain level of cleanliness, and even wash while you're away from home.
Look for automatic hoover with an extended-lasting battery to get the most out of it. A good guideline is to anticipate a model to last about two cleaning sessions when you run it at the maximum power setting. This is less than a typical size vacuum cleaner, however it should be enough to cover most homes. If you don't like to wait around while your robovac charges you could select one that will automatically make its way back to its base station to recharge.
If you're looking for a robot with a bit of everything in it, then think about a robot that can also mop. Eufy's X10 is the most effective model in this class has self-emptying and self-refilling for the dust bin and the water tank and the mop pad. It can even be programmed to automatically refill and wash mops when they're empty.
The clear winner of our tests is the Dyson V810 because of its impressive carpet and hard floor pickup, excellent hair pickup, tangle-free performance and nearly perfect auto empty score. It's not cheap, however and unless you live in the smallest of homes with no pets it might be too expensive for some. The Dreametech D10+ is the second choice and has the same performance, but it costs 25 percent less.