The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Vacuuming is the bane of many people's existence However, robot vacuums make it more enjoyable. Today's models also mop and can even climb (small) steps.
Some have a small trash bin which they empty themselves. Others can be controlled by an app on your smartphone instead of a physical remote. Some have mapping capabilities that help them navigate your home more efficiently.
1. Power
With 8,000Pa of suction power, our top pick for robot vacuums is durable enough to take care of the most difficult hairs and dirt. Its slim square shape enables it to slide underneath furniture like couches and beds. Dual-Laser LIDAR technology allows for precise obstacle avoidance and intelligent navigation. It also does an excellent job at cleaning up pet hair baking soda, sand, and other debris near the baseboards and in corners.
In addition to the DEEBOT X2 OMNI, other high-powered bots on this list include the iRobot Roomba j7+ and the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. The Roborock S8 Pro Ultra comes with docking stations that automatically handles maintenance. It also comes with mopping capabilities. Its powerful suction system, along with its effective mopping, kept my floors clean of pet hair, muddy prints and other debris on all floors we tested.
In the lower price range, a unit that has 2,500Pa of suction is more than adequate for most homes. They are also quieter and are therefore a better choice for those with sensitive ears. They're not silent however they are not about the same as normal conversations at home.
Consider your budget and cleaning needs to determine the best combination of power and usability. For regular light-duty cleaning, a longer runtime with a lower suction is required. For heavy-duty cleaning, weekly runs require the maximum power. Then assess your flooring, home layouts and cleaning schedules in order to select the best model for your requirements. Check out our complete list of robot vacuum reviews and ratings for more information about the most current models. Many customers report that their carpets and floors appear cleaner after using a robotic vacuum.
2. Navigation
A robot vacuum isn't able to perform its job properly when it doesn't know how to get around your home. For this reason, the best robots rely on sophisticated navigation systems that consistently scans rooms and creates maps to ensure thorough cleaning without being lost or hitting obstacles. There are three main types of robot navigation: LiDAR-based, camera-based and sensor-based.
LiDAR is utilized by the most expensive models to create a virtual room map, offering the highest levels in precision and efficiency. The less expensive models depend on bump sensors which are less accurate and are more likely to miss many debris in dark spaces. Most robots are equipped with cliff sensors that prevent them from falling down stairs or other drops.
Many of the robots I tested employed object recognition to skillfully navigate around things such as fake cords and dog turds but the most effective was the Eufy X10. It was equipped with powerful oscillating mop heads, a user friendly app with excellent mapping capabilities.
Take into consideration features such as sensors that detect floors that automatically increase suction power when required. Certain robots, like the Roborock mops, use mopping pad lifts to reach corners and clean up dried spills. Many hybrids can even apply cleaning solutions to tough staining.
A smaller size of the bin means less frequent emptying, however, a larger one can save you money on replacements. The cheapest robotic cleaners typically use a small disposable dust bag, while the majority of mid-range models come with larger dust bins of 3L that last for decades. Some of the top models, like the EcoVACS DEEBOT OMNI station, will automatically empty their bins and fill their water tanks for hands-free convenience.
3. App control
The majority of robot vacuums come with an app to monitor the progress of cleaning and schedule cleaning sessions. They also connect to smart home devices. They also connect to Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant to allow voice-controlled control. Some models have an on-screen remote that allows you to start the process, pause it, and return to dock. Look for a model with larger dustbins that self-empty instead of one that requires manual emptying.
Some robots are equipped with technology for mapping to help them avoid obstacles like stairs and furniture. Others allow you to designate no-go zones and targeted rooms, ensuring that they only clean areas that require it the most. They also have cliff sensors to stop them from falling down the stairs, which is especially useful in multi-level homes.
If you are planning to utilize your robot vacuum to clean rugs choose one that is capable of both dry mopping and wet. You'll get better results with a robot vac that can remove its own mop pad, as well, which you can then rinse and reconnect when it's time for another cleaning cycle. Look for robots with the rubber roller. It is less likely to tangle from pet hair or other debris. Check the robot's side brushes and brushroll for any debris that may have gotten stuck on. Do this once or twice per week. If you notice that they're beginning to get clogged up it could be time to buy replacement parts.
4. Collection of debris
Robot vacuums are made, as the name suggests to collect dust and debris from your floors. The best robot vacuums will pick up small particles such as baking soda and sand and larger ones such as metal screws orzo, as well as pet hair. They also have better results on carpets with a low pile than many manual vacuums.
In all flooring types, the top robots had pickup scores of over 95%. The two top-performing robots in this category were the ECOVACS DEEBOT X2 OMNI, and the Roborock Q Revo. Both are highly automated with docking stations that perform maintenance by themselves and features in the app that make them extremely user-friendly.
They both have self-emptying bins that automatically suck up the contents of the wastebasket and clean the washboard while you mow. They also have an 8,000Pa vacuum, intelligent mapping technology, and advanced obstacle avoidance technology to help them navigate through even the most difficult areas. The ECOVACS robot is among the few that can mop carpet and remove the mop pads. This makes it an ideal option for people who need to switch between mopping and vacuuming regularly.
If you're looking for a cheaper option, check out the Roomba Combo J7 from iRobot Plus, our budget-friendly pick. It features LIDAR navigation at a reasonable price and a decent performance in the collection of debris. It can be a bit slow in mapping rooms and has a tendency of hitting obstacles, but it is less than our other picks.
5. Battery life
The most effective robot vacuums let you go about your day while keeping your floors in perfect in good condition. You'll still have to manually vacuum your home every so often however, robovacs can assist you in maintaining a minimum standard of cleanliness, and even keep your home clean when you're away.
To maximize the amount of time you can get out of your robovac, choose the model that has a high battery life. If you use the highest power setting, the model should last about two cleaning sessions. This is less than a large vacuum cleaner, but it is enough to be sufficient for most homes. If you don't want to wait for your robovac to recharge you can select an option that will automatically return to the base station for charging.
If you're looking for a robot that does a little bit of everything, consider an all-in-one robot that can mop too. Eufy's X10 is the best model in this category. It provides self-emptying, auto-draining and self-refilling of your dust bin, water tank and mop pad. robot vacuum cleaners best can even be programmed to automatically re-fill and wash its own mop pads when they're empty.
Its respectable carpet and hard floor pick-up excellent hair pickup, tangle prevention, and its an almost perfect auto empty score make it the clear winner of our test scores. It's expensive and unless you have a small house with no pets, it might be too costly for some. The second-placed model one, the Dreametech D10+, has very similar performance but costs about 25% less.