The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Robot vacuums can make the chore of vacuuming less painful. Today's models also mop and climb (small) steps.
Some have a small bin that they empty on their own. Others can be controlled by a smartphone app rather than the physical remote. Some come with mapping features to aid in navigation.
1. Power
Our top choice for robot vacuums has a suction power of 8000Pa, which is strong enough to eliminate even the most difficult dirt patches and hairs. Its ultra-thin square design allows it to slide under furniture, such as beds and sofas and its Dual-Laser LiDAR technology supports intelligent navigation and accurate obstacle avoidance. It's also great at cleaning baking powder, pet hair, and other debris near corners and baseboards.
Other powerful robots in this list apart from the DEEBOT X2 OMNI include the IRobot Roomba j7+ as well as the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. It comes with a robust docking station that automates maintenance and mopping functions as well. Its powerful suction and efficient mopping kept my floors free of pet hair and muddy footprints and other debris during every floor type test that we conducted.
In the lower cost range, a model that has 2,500Pa of suction is sufficient for most homes. These models are quieter, making them the ideal option for those with hearing issues. They're not quiet, but they're not the same volume as normal conversations at home.
To get the most effective mix of power and usability Consider your cleaning requirements and budget. For robot vacuum cleaners reviews -duty cleaning that is frequent, a longer runtime with a lower suction is required. Weekly heavy-duty cleaning requires maximum power. Assess your flooring, layout of your home and cleaning schedule prior to selecting the right model. 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 floors appear cleaner after using a robot vacuum.
2. Navigation
A robot vacuum isn't able to accomplish its task if it does not know how to navigate your home. Because of this, the best robots use advanced navigation technology that effectively scans rooms and creates an outline map to ensure thorough cleaning without being lost or hitting obstacles. There are three kinds of robot navigation: LiDAR-based, sensor-based, and camera-based.
LiDAR is used by the most expensive models to create a virtual room map, offering the highest levels in precision and efficiency. Bump sensors are employed in cheaper models, but they can be inaccurate and miss a lot of debris when working in dark places. Most robots also feature cliff sensors to keep them from falling down stairs or other falls.
Many of the robots I tried used object recognition to navigate around things like cords and fake dog turds. But the Eufy X10 was the best. It was equipped with powerful mop heads that oscillate, a user friendly app, and superb mapping capabilities.
Think about features like floor type sensors that automatically increase suction power when needed. Some robots, such as the Roborock mop, utilize mopping pad lifts to get into corners and eliminate dried spills. Many hybrids can apply cleaning solution to staining that is difficult to remove.
A smaller size of the bin will mean less frequent emptying and a larger one will save you money on replacements. The majority of robotic cleaners that are low-cost use an inexpensive, disposable dust bag. However, most mid-range models have larger dustbins of 3L that last for a long time. Some of the top models, like the ECOVACS DEEBOT OMNI station, will self-empty their trash bins and refill their water tanks for hands-free convenience.
3. App control
The top robot vacuums have an application that lets you track cleaning progress and schedule your sessions, and most can connect to smart home devices for hands-free control. Many robot vacuums can be controlled via 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. Choose a model that has larger dustbins that self-empty instead of one that requires manual emptying.
Some robots are equipped with mapping technology that helps them avoid obstacles like furniture and stairs. Certain robovacs permit you to create no-go zones as well as specific rooms to ensure that they only clean those areas which need the most. They also have cliff sensor to prevent them from falling, which is especially useful in multi-level homes.
If you are planning to use your robot vacuum to clean rugs choose one that can perform dry mopping and wet. You'll have better results cleaning if your robot vacuum can remove its mop pad. Clean it and attach it again when you are ready to run another cleaning cycle. Find robots that have a rubber roller. This is less likely to tangle from pet hair or other particles. It's a good idea check the robot's brushroll and side brushes for stuck-on debris every once or twice per week as well. If you notice that they're starting to clog, it may be time to replace parts.
4. Debris collection
Robot vacuums are designed according to the name to collect dust and debris on your floors. The most effective robot vacuums are able to pick up tiny particles, such as baking soda and sand, in addition to larger ones like screws made of metal orzo, as well as pet hair. They also deliver better results on carpets with low pile than manual vacuums.
In all flooring types, the top-performing robots had pickup scores of over 95 percent. The ECOVACS DEEBOT X2 OMNI and the Roborock Q Revo were the two most efficient bots in this class. Both are highly automated, with robust docking stations that do maintenance on their own, and apps that make them extremely user-friendly.
Both have self-emptying bins that automatically take the contents of the wastebasket and clean the washboard while mowing. They also have an 8,000Pa vacuum, intelligent mapping technology, and advanced obstacle avoidance to help them navigate through even the most difficult areas. The ECOVACS robot is one of 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 regularly.
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 and decent debris pickup capabilities for the price. It can be a bit slow at mapping out rooms and is prone to bumping against obstacles, but the cost is less than the other choices.
5. Battery life
The best robot vacuums are made to let you get moving with your day while keeping your floors clean and spick and span. While you'll still need to give your home a manual sweeping every now and then, robovacs can help you keep a certain level of cleanliness, and even wash when you're away.
To maximize the time you can get out of your robovac, look for a model with excellent battery life. A good guideline is to expect a model to last for around two cleaning sessions if you run it at the maximum power setting. This is less than a large vacuum but it should be sufficient to clean most homes. If you don't like to be waiting around while your robovac is charging you, you can choose an automatic model that makes its return to the base station to recharge.
If you are looking for a robovac that does a bit of everything, consider an all-in-one model that is able to mop as well. Eufy's X10 is the top model in this category. It includes self-emptying, self-draining and self-refilling of your dust bin and mop pad. It can also be programmed to automatically refill and wash mops when they're empty.
The clear winner in our tests is the Dyson V810, due to its outstanding carpet and hard floor pickup, outstanding hair pickup, tangle-free performance and nearly perfect auto empty score. It's not cheap, and unless you have an apartment that is small and has no pets, it might be too expensive for certain. The Dreametech D10+ is the runner-up and has a similar performance, but it costs 25% less.