The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Robot vacuums can make the chore of vacuuming less painful. Modern models can also mop, and even climb (small) steps.
They have a small dustbin that they empty themselves and some can be operated by a smartphone app instead of an actual remote. Some of them have mapping capabilities that aid in navigating your home more effectively.
1. Power
With an impressive 8,000Pa of suction, our top pick for robot vacuums is strong enough to take care of the most difficult hairs and dirt. Its ultra-thin square shape allows it to slide underneath furniture, such as sofas and beds. Dual-Laser LIDAR technology provides precise obstacle avoidance and intelligent navigation. It also does a fantastic job at cleaning pet hair, baking soda, and other debris close to baseboards and in corners.
Other high-powered robots that are listed apart from the DEEBOT X2 OMNI, 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 efficient mopping, 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 will suffice for most homes in the lower price range. They are also quieter, which makes them an ideal option for people who have sensitive hearing. They aren't silent, but they're not the same volume as conversations at home.
For the best mix of performance and convenience, consider your cleaning needs and budget. Regular light-duty cleaning requires a longer time to run and lower suction, while weekly heavy-duty cleaning requires a lot of power. Take a look at your flooring, layout of your home, and cleaning schedules to determine the best model to meet your needs. We recommend checking out our complete list of robot vacuum reviews and ratings to get more details on the most recent models available. Many users report that their carpets and floors appear cleaner after introducing a robotic vacuum to their home.
2. Navigation
A robot vacuum cannot perform its task when it doesn't know how to navigate 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 major kinds of robot navigation: LiDAR-based sensor-based, and camera-based.
The most expensive models employ LiDAR to create a digital map of the room, delivering the highest levels of accuracy and efficiency. Less expensive models rely on bump sensors, which can be more inaccurate and tend to miss the majority of debris in dark spaces. Most robots are equipped with cliff sensors to prevent them from falling off stairs or other drops.
Several robots I tested used object recognition to navigate around things such as cords and fake dog turds. However, the Eufy X10 was the best. It was equipped with powerful mop heads that oscillate, a user friendly app with excellent mapping capabilities.
Other features worth considering include sensors for floors that can recognize carpets with soft and hard floors and automatically boost suction power when required. Certain robots such as the Roborock mop make use of mopping pads lift to reach into corners and clean up dried spills. Many hybrids are able to apply cleaning solution on the most difficult stains.
A smaller size of the bin will require less frequent emptying, whereas bigger ones will cost less to replace. Most low-cost robotic cleaners use a small, disposable dust bag. However, most mid-range models have larger 3L dustbins that 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, allowing hands-free convenience.
3. App control
The majority of robot vacuums have an app to monitor cleaning progress and schedule sessions. They also connect to smart home devices. A lot of robot vacuums can be controlled via voice using Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Some have a dedicated remote control that lets you start or pause, and then return to dock. Choose a model that has a bigger dustbin that can self-empty instead of one that requires manual emptying.
Certain robovacs come with mapping technology that helps them avoid obstacles like furniture and stairs. Some allow you to designate no-go zones and targeted rooms, so that they only clean the areas that require the most. They also have cliff sensors to stop them from falling down the staircase, which is particularly helpful in multi-level homes.
If you are planning to use your robot vacuum to clean rugs pick one that can perform dry and wet mopping. You'll be able to get better results from a robot vac that can remove its own mop pad as well, which you can then rinse and reattach when it comes time for another cleaning cycle. Also, look for a machine that has a rubber roller that is less prone to knots caused by pet hair and other debris than bristle rollers that is found on smaller models. It's recommended to inspect the robot's brushroll as well as side brushes for debris stuck on every week or once as well. If you notice that they are starting to clog up it could be time to buy replacement parts.
4. Debris collection
Robot vacuums are made, as the name suggests to gather dust and debris on your floors. The best ones are able to pick small particles such as baking soda and sand, as well larger pieces such as metal screws, orzo pasta, and pet hair. Going Here have better pickup results on carpets with low pile than manual vacuums.
The top-performing robots across all flooring types had scores greater than 95 percent. The two top-performing robots in this category were the ECOVACS DEEBOT X2 OMNI and the Roborock Q Revo. Both are highly automated and feature robust docking stations that can perform maintenance on their own, and apps that make them extremely user-friendly.
Both have self-emptying bins that automatically remove the contents of the wastebasket. They can also clean the washboard while they mow. They also have 8,000Pa suction and smart mapping technology and advanced obstacle avoidance that helps them navigate even the most difficult of spaces. The ECOVACS model is also one of the few robots that we tested that can take 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're looking for a cheaper alternative, take a look at the Roomba Combo J7 from iRobot Plus, our budget pick. It features LIDAR navigation at a reasonable price and a decent performance in the collection of debris. It is slow when it comes to mapping rooms and is susceptible to hitting obstacles, but the price 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 pristine condition. You'll still have to manually vacuum your home every so often but robovacs can assist you in maintaining a minimum level of cleanliness and even clean when you are away.
To maximize the amount of time you can get out of your robovac, choose an advancé with a long battery life. If you use the highest power setting, the model should last for about two cleaning sessions. This is less than a large vacuum but should be sufficient to get the job done in most homes. If you don't want to sit while your robovac charges you can opt for one that automatically returns to the base station to charge.
If you're looking to buy a robovac that has a little bit of everything in it, then consider an option that also mop. Eufy's X10 is the most effective model in this category, offers self-emptying and self-refilling for the dust bin, the water tank, and the mop pad. It is also programmable to automatically re-fill and wash its own mop pads when they're low.
Its dependable carpet and hard floor pickup excellent hair pickup, tangle-free, and a an almost perfect auto empty score makes it the clear winner of our test scores. It's expensive, and unless you have the space of a small home with no pets, it might be too expensive for some. The Dreametech D10+ is the second-placed model and offers the same performance, but it costs 25% less.