The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Robot vacuums can make the chore of vacuuming a bit less painful. Modern models mop and climb (small) stairs.
Some have a smaller bin which they empty themselves. Others can be controlled via an app on your smartphone instead of the physical remote. Some have mapping capabilities that assist in navigating your home more effectively.
1. Power
With the suction power of 8,000Pa Our top choice for robot vacuums is powerful enough to handle the worst hairs and dirt. Its super-thin square design allows it to slide under furniture such as beds and sofas and its Dual-Laser LIDAR technology provides intelligent navigation and accurate obstacle avoidance. It also does an excellent job at cleaning pet hair baking soda, other debris that can be found near baseboards and in corners.
In addition to the DEEBOT X2 OMNI, 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 sturdy docking station that automatically performs maintenance and includes mopping capabilities as well. Its powerful suction, coupled with its effective mopping feature, made sure my floors were free of pet hair, muddy prints and other debris on every type of floor we test.
In the lower cost range, a model that has 2,500Pa of suction is sufficient for most homes. These units are quieter, which makes them a better choice for people with hearing issues. They're not quiet, but they're not as loud as a normal conversation at home.
Consider your budget and cleaning needs to determine the best combination of power and usability. Regular light-duty cleaning requires a longer time to run and lower suction, whereas weekly heavy-duty cleaning requires the most power. Then assess your flooring, layout of your home and cleaning schedules to choose the right model to meet your requirements. 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 floors appear cleaner after introducing a robotic vacuum in their home.
2. Navigation
A robot vacuum can't do its job when it doesn't know how to navigate around your home. The best robots employ sophisticated navigation technology to scan rooms and make maps, ensuring thorough cleaning without getting stuck or hitting obstacles. There are three types of robot navigation: LiDAR, camera and sensor.
LiDAR is employed by the most expensive models to create a virtual room map, offering the highest levels in precision and efficiency. Bump sensors are employed in lower-end models, however they can be inaccurate and miss a lot debris when working in dark places. The majority of robots have cliff sensors, which keep them from falling down stairs or other drops.
Many of the robots I tried used objects recognition to navigate through things like cords and fake dog turds. However, the Eufy X10 was the best. It had powerful oscillating mop heads and a user-friendly app and a superb mapping capability.
Other features worth considering include floor type sensors that can detect carpets with soft and hard floors automatically increasing suction power when required. Certain robots such as the Roborock mop make use of mopping pad that lifts to reach into corners and clean dry spills. Many hybrids can apply cleaning solution on stubborn stains.
A smaller bin will require less frequent emptying, while a bigger one can save you money on replacements. Most low-cost robotic cleaners use the smallest, disposable dust bag. However, the majority of mid-range models come with larger 3L dustbins which last a long time. Some of the top models, like the ECOVACS DEEBOT OMNI station, will self-empty their dustbin and refill their water tanks to provide hands-free convenience.
3. App control
The best robot vacuums come with an application that lets you track the progress of cleaning and schedule sessions, and most can connect to smart home devices to allow hands-free control. Many robot vacuums can be controlled by voice using Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Some models have a separate remote control that lets you start the process, pause it and then return to dock. Select a model with a larger dustbin and can self-empty instead of one that requires manual emptying.
Some robovacs come with mapping technology that helps them recognize obstacles, such as staircases, and prevents them from getting into furniture. Certain robovacs let you define no-go zones and rooms to ensure that they only clean those areas which need the most. They also have cliff sensors to stop them from falling down the stairs, which is especially helpful in multi-level homes.
If you intend to utilize your robot vacuum for cleaning carpets, select a model which can be used both for wet and dry mopping. You'll have better results cleaning by having your robot vacuum remove its mop pad. Rinse it and then attach it again when you are ready to run a new cleaning cycle. Look for a robot with the rubber roller. This will be less likely to get caught from pet hair or other particles. Check the robot's side brushes and brushroll for any debris that may have been stuck to them. Make sure to do this at least every week. If you notice that they're starting to clog, it might be time to replace parts.
4. Collection of debris
Like the name suggests robot vacuums are made to remove dust and other debris from your floors. The best ones pick fine particles such as baking soda and sand, as well larger pieces such as metal screws, orzo pasta, and pet hair. They also have better results on carpets with a low pile than many manual vacuums.
The top-performing robots across all flooring types had pickup scores over 95%. automatic vacuum in this category were the ECOVACS DEEBOT X2 OMNI and the Roborock Q Revo. Both are highly automated, with robust docking stations that do maintenance on their own and app features that make them incredibly user-friendly.
They both have self-emptying bins that automatically remove the contents of the wastebasket. They also have the ability to clean the washboard while they mow. They also have suction of 8,000Pa and smart mapping technology and advanced obstacle avoidance technology that helps them find their way around even the most difficult of areas. The ECOVACS robot is among the few that can clean carpet and take away mop pads. This makes it an ideal choice for users who have to switch between mopping and vacuuming often.
If you're looking for a less expensive option, we recommend the iRobot Roomba Kombo J7+, our budget-friendly pick. It comes with LIDAR navigation for an affordable price and decent debris collection performance. It's slow to map out rooms and is susceptible to crashing into obstacles, but it's less expensive than our other top-rated choices.
5. Battery life
The most effective robot vacuums are made to let you get to work while they keep your floors clean and spick and span. Although you'll need to give your home a manual hoover every now and again robot vacuums can help you maintain a standard of cleanliness and even keep your home clean while you're away from home.
To maximize the time you get from your robovac, make sure you choose a model with excellent battery life. A good rule of thumb is to expect a model to last for around two complete cleaning sessions if you run it at the maximum power setting. This is less than a typical large vacuum cleaner, but it will be sufficient to be sufficient for most homes. If you don't like to wait around while your robovac recharges, you can also select an automatic model that makes its way back to its base station to recharge.
If you're looking for a robot with a variety of features in it, then think about an option that also mop. Eufy's X10 is the top model of this category has self-emptying and self-refilling for the dust bin, the water tank, and the mop pad. It can also be programmed to automatically refill and wash its own mop pads when they're low.
Its dependable carpet and hard floor pickup as well as its excellent hair pickup and tangle avoidance, and close to perfect auto empty scores make it the clear winner of our test scores. However, it's not cheap and unless you have a an apartment with no pets it might be too expensive for some. The second-placed model is the Dreametech D10+, has the same performance, however it costs 25 percent less.