The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Robot vacuums can make the task of vacuuming a little less painful. Modern models can mop, and even climb (small) steps.
Some have a smaller bin that they empty on their own. Others are controlled with an app on your smartphone instead of the physical remote. Some of them have mapping capabilities that assist in navigating your home more efficiently.
1. Power
Our top pick for robotic vacuums has suction power of 8000Pa, which is strong enough to eliminate even the most stubborn hairs and dirt. The ultra-thin design of the square allows it to slide under furniture like sofas and beds, and its Dual-Laser LiDAR technology supports precise navigation and obstacle avoidance. It's also great for cleaning baking powder, pet hair, and other debris near corners and baseboards.
In addition to the DEEBOT X2 OMNI, other top-of-the-line bots on this list include the IRobot Roomba J7+ as well as the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. It comes with a robust docking station that automates maintenance and includes mopping capabilities as well. robot cleaner , along with its effective mopping, kept my floors clean of pet hair, muddy prints, and other messes on all floors we tested.
In the lower cost range, a model with around 2,500Pa of suction is sufficient for most homes. These units are quieter, making them an ideal option for people who have sensitive hearing. They're not quiet, but they're not as loud as a normal conversation at home.
Think about your budget and cleaning needs to find the right combination of power and convenience. For frequent light-duty cleaning, a longer runtime with less suction is needed. Weekly heavy-duty cleaning requires the most power. Examine your flooring, layout of your home and cleaning schedule prior to selecting the best model. Look through our entire list of robot vacuum ratings and reviews 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 task if it does not know how to navigate your home. The best robots employ sophisticated navigation technologies to scan rooms and build maps, ensuring thorough cleaning without getting stuck or hitting obstacles. There are three types of robot navigation: LiDAR-based, sensor-based, and camera-based.
The most expensive models utilize LiDAR to create a digital map of the room, delivering the highest levels of accuracy and efficiency. Bump sensors are used in cheaper models, but they aren't always accurate and miss a lot of debris when working in dark environments. Most robots come with cliff sensors to keep them from falling off stairs or other drops.
A variety of robots I tested used object recognition to deftly navigate things like fake dog turds and cords, but the best was the Eufy X10. It had superb mapping capabilities, powerful oscillating mops, a user-friendly app and the ability to clean a zone, room or whole home.
Think about features like floor type sensors that automatically increase suction power when required. Some robots, like the Roborock mop, make use of a mopping pad lift to reach corners and eliminate dried spills. Some hybrids even apply cleaning solution to stubborn stains.
A smaller dustbin will require less frequent emptying, however, a larger one can save you money on replacements. The cheapest robotic cleaners typically utilize a small disposable dust bag, whereas the majority of mid-range models come with larger dust bins of 3L that last for many years. Certain high-end robots, such as the EcoVACS DEEBOT OMNI station, will automatically empty their bins and fill their water tanks to provide convenience without hands.
3. App control
The best robot vacs have an app that lets you monitor cleaning progress and schedule your sessions, and most can connect to smart home devices to allow hands-free control. They also connect to Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant to allow voice-controlled control. Some have a dedicated remote control that allows you to start or pause, and then return to dock. Find a model with larger dustbins that self-empty, as opposed to one that requires manual emptying.
Some robovacs have mapping technology to help them avoid obstacles like stairs and furniture. Some robovacs allow you to define no-go zones and rooms to ensure that they only clean areas that require the most. They also come with cliff sensors to keep them from falling down the staircase, which is particularly helpful in multi-level homes.
If you intend to use your robot vacuum to clean rug carpets, you should choose one that can be used for dry and wet mopping. You'll get better cleaning results if your robot vacuum can remove its mop pad. Clean it and reconnect it when you want to conduct a clean-up cycle. Also look for a robot that has a rubber roll that is less susceptible to tangles due to pet hair and other debris than a bristle roll like those found on smaller models. Examine the robot's side brushes and brushroll for any debris that might have become stuck on. Do this at least twice per week. If you notice that they're beginning to clog, it might be time to purchase replacement parts.
4. Collection of debris
As the name implies, robot vacuums are designed to collect dust and other debris from your floors. The best ones are able to pick up fine particles like baking soda and sand as as larger pieces like metal screws, orzo pasta and pet hair. robot vacuum reviews get better pickup results on low-pile carpets than manual vacuums.
The top-performing robots across all flooring types had a pickup score greater than 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 equipped with docking stations that perform maintenance on their own, and app features which make them extremely user-friendly.
Both have self-emptying bins that suck up the contents of the wastebasket and clean the washboard while mowing. They also feature 8,000Pa suction and smart mapping technology and advanced obstacle avoidance that can help them navigate even the most difficult areas. The ECOVACS robot is one of the few that can vacuum carpet and remove the mop pads. This makes it an ideal option for people who need to switch between mopping and vacuuming frequently.
If you're looking for a less expensive option, look into the Roomba Combo J7 from iRobot Plus, our budget choice. It has LIDAR navigation and decent debris pickup performance for the price. It can be a bit slow when it comes to mapping rooms and is susceptible to bumping against obstacles, but it is less than our other picks.
5. Battery life
The most effective robot vacuums let you move about your day while keeping your floors in top in good condition. You'll still have to manually vacuum your home on a regular basis however, robovacs can help you maintain a basic level of cleanliness and even clean while you're away.
To maximize the amount of time you can get out of your robovac, choose a model with excellent battery life. If you use the highest power setting, a model should last two cleaning sessions. This is smaller than a large vacuum however, it should be enough to clean most homes. If you don't like to wait around while your robovac is charging you, you can select an automatic model that makes its way back to the base station to recharge.
If you're looking to buy a robovac with a variety of features in it, you should consider an option that also mop. Eufy's X10 is the best model in this category and provides self-emptying, auto-draining and self-refilling of your dust bin, water tank and mop pad. It is also programmable to automatically re-fill and wash its own mop pads when they're empty.
Its high-quality carpet and hard floor pickup, great hair pickup and tangle avoidance, and near-perfect auto empty score makes it the clear winner of our test scores. It's not cheap, however and unless you live in a small home without pets, it may be too pricey for some. The second choice, the Dreametech D10+, has very similar performance but is priced 25 percent less.