The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Robot vacuums can make the task of vacuuming a little less painful. Today's models also mop and even climb (small) steps.
Some have a smaller bin which they empty themselves. Others are controlled with apps for smartphones instead of a physical remote. Some have mapping capabilities that assist in navigating your home more efficiently.
1. Power
With an impressive 8,000Pa of suction Our top choice for robot vacuums is strong enough to take on the toughest hairs and dirt. The ultra-thin design of the square allows it to slide under furniture, such as beds and sofas, and its Dual-Laser LiDAR technology allows for precise navigation and accurate obstacle avoidance. It's also great for cleaning pet hair, baking powder and other debris that can be found near corners and baseboards.
In addition to the DEEBOT X2 OMNI, other powerful bots in this list include the Robot Roomba J7+ as well as the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. The latter comes with a robust docking station that automates maintenance and has mopping functionality as well. Its powerful suction and efficient mopping made sure my floors were free of pet hair and muddy footprints and other debris in every floor type test that we conducted.
A model with 2,500Pa suction is sufficient for most homes in the lower price range. They are also quieter, making them the ideal option for those with sensitive hearing. They're still not silent, but they're only as loud as a normal conversation at home.
Consider your budget and cleaning needs to find the right combination of power and usability. For frequent light-duty cleaning it is recommended to have a longer runtime and less suction is needed. Weekly heavy-duty cleaning requires the most power. Consider your flooring, layout of your home and cleaning schedules in order to select the best model for your requirements. Look through our entire list of robot vacuum ratings and reviews to learn more about the latest models. Many users report seeing their carpets and bare floors looking much cleaner after introducing a robot vacuum to their home.
2. Navigation
A robot vacuum can't do its job effectively when it doesn't know how to navigate around your home. This is why the most effective robots depend on sophisticated navigation technology that reliably scans rooms and creates maps to ensure thorough cleaning without getting lost or hitting obstacles. There are three kinds of robot navigation: LiDAR, camera and sensor.
LiDAR is used by the most expensive models to create a virtual room map, which provides the highest levels of accuracy and efficiency. Bump sensors are utilized in less expensive models, but they aren't always accurate and miss a lot of debris when working in dark areas. Many robots also have cliff sensors to stop them from falling down stairs or other falls.
Many of the robots I tested employed object recognition to skillfully navigate things like fake dog turds and cords, but the best was the Eufy X10. It had excellent mapping capabilities, powerful oscillating mops, an easy-to-use app, and the ability to clean a specific area, room or the entire house.
Think about features like sensors that detect floors that automatically boost suction power when required. Certain robots, like the Roborock mop, make use of mopping pad lifts to get into corners and tackle dried spills. Many hybrids can apply cleaning solutions to staining that is difficult to remove.
A smaller size of the bin will require less frequent emptying, while larger ones will save money on replacements. The cheapest robotic cleaners typically use a small disposable dust bag, while most mid-range models have larger dust bins of 3L that last for ages. Certain high-end robots, such as the ECOVACS DEEBOT OMNI Station will self-empty and fill up their water tank 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 connect to your smart home devices for hands-free control. Many robot vacuums can also 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, as opposed to one that requires manual emptying.
Some robots are equipped with mapping technology that helps them avoid obstacles like stairs and furniture. Others let you set no-go zones or targeted rooms, so they only clean areas that need it most. They also have cliff sensor to stop them from falling, which is especially beneficial in multi-level homes.
If you intend to utilize your robot vacuum to clean carpets, select a model which can be used both for dry and wet mopping. You'll get better cleaning results when your vacuum can remove its mop pad. Rinse it and then attach it again when you are ready to run another cleaning cycle. Also, look for a model that has a rubber roll that is less prone to knots caused by pet hair and other debris than bristle rollers, as found on some smaller models. It's recommended to inspect the robot's brushroll as well as side brushes for stuck-on debris every once or twice per week Also. If you notice that they are beginning to get clogged up, it may be time to buy replacement parts.
4. Debris collection
As the name implies robot vacuums are created to remove dust and other debris from your floors. The most effective robot vacuums are able to pick up tiny particles, such as sand and baking soda, and larger ones such as metal screws, orzo, and pet hair. robot vacuum cleaner reviews provide better results on carpets with low pile than many manual vacuums.
Across all flooring types, the top performing robots had pick-up scores of greater than 95 95%. The ECOVACS DEEBOT X2 OMNI and the Roborock Q Revo were our two top-performing robots in this category. Both are highly automated, with robust docking stations that do maintenance on their own, and apps that make them extremely user-friendly.
They both come with self-emptying bins which automatically take the contents of the wastebasket and can clean the washboard while you mow. They also have an 8,000Pa vacuum cleaner, smart mapping technology and advanced obstacle avoidance that helps them navigate even the most difficult areas. The ECOVACS robot is one of the few that can clean carpet and remove mop pads. This makes it a perfect choice for users who have to switch between mopping and vacuuming frequently.
If you're seeking a lower-cost alternative, take a look at the iRobot Roomba Combo J7 Plus, our budget pick. It features LIDAR navigation at an affordable price and decent debris collection performance. It's not the fastest to map rooms and can be prone to bumping into obstacles, but it's less expensive than our other best-buy selections.
5. Battery life
The most effective robot vacuums let you go about your day while they keep your floors in perfect state. Although you'll need to give your home a manual hoover every now and then robot vacuums can help you maintain a standard of cleanliness, and even wash even when you're away.
To maximize the amount of time you can get out of your robovac, make sure you choose the model that has a high battery life. A good rule of thumb is to anticipate a model to last for around two full cleaning sessions when you run it at the highest power setting. This is less than a large vacuum cleaner, but it is enough to cover most homes. If you don't wish to wait for your robovac to recharge, you can choose a model that automatically returns to the base station for charging.
If you want a robovac that does a amount of everything, you should consider an all-in-one model that can mop too. Eufy's X10, the best model of this category has self-emptying and self-refilling for the dust bin as well as the water tank and mop pad. It can be programmed to automatically refill and wash its mop pads once they are out.
Its high-quality carpet and hard floor pickup as well as its excellent hair pickup and tangle-free, and a an almost perfect auto empty score make it the clear winner of our test scores. It's not cheap, however and unless you live in a a small home with no pets it might be too expensive for some. The second choice is the Dreametech D10+, has the same performance, but is priced 25% less.