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 that they empty by themselves. Others can be controlled via a smartphone app rather than the physical remote. Some of them have mapping capabilities that help them navigate your home more efficiently.
1. Power
Our top pick for robotic vacuums has suction power of 8,000Pa, which is powerful enough to eliminate even the most difficult hairs and dirt. Its ultra-thin square design allows it to slide underneath furniture such as beds and sofas, and its Dual-Laser LiDAR technology supports intelligent navigation and accurate obstacle avoidance. It also does a fantastic job at cleaning pet hair, baking soda, and other debris close to the baseboards as well as in corners.
Apart from the DEEBOT X2 OMNI, other top-of-the-line bots on this list include the IRobot Roomba j7+ and the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. The Roborock S8 Pro Ultra includes docking station that automatically performs maintenance. It also has mopping capabilities. Its powerful suction and effective mopping made sure my floors were free of pet hair as well as muddy paw prints and other debris in every floor type test that we conducted.
In the lower cost range, a model that has 2,500Pa of suction is more than enough for the majority of homes. These models are quieter, which makes them a better choice for people with sensitive hearing. These units are not silent but they're not as loud as normal conversations at home.
To find the ideal balance of performance and convenience take into consideration your cleaning needs and budget. A regular light-duty cleaning schedule requires longer time to run and lower suction, whereas weekly heavy-duty cleaning demands maximum power. Check your flooring, home layout and cleaning schedule prior to choosing the right model. Take a look at our comprehensive list of robot vacuum reviews and ratings for more details about the most recent models. Many users have reported that their carpets and floor look cleaner after using a robotic vacuum.
2. robotvacuummops can't do its job properly when it doesn't know how to navigate around your home. The best robots employ sophisticated navigation technologies to scan rooms and build an outline map, which allows for thorough cleaning without getting stuck or hitting obstacles. There are three major types of robot navigation: LiDAR-based, sensor-based and camera-based.
LiDAR is used by the most expensive models to create a virtual room map, which offers the highest levels of accuracy and efficiency. Bump sensors are used in cheaper models, but they can be inaccurate and miss a lot of debris when working in dark areas. Most robots also feature cliff sensors to prevent them from falling down stairs or other drops.
Several robots in my tests used object recognition to deftly navigate objects such as fake dog turds and cords, however, the best was the Eufy X10. It was equipped with powerful oscillating mop heads and a user-friendly app with excellent mapping capabilities.
Other features worth a look include sensors for floors that can recognize hard floors and soft carpet, automatically boosting suction power when required. Some robots, like the Roborock mop, utilize mopping pad lifts to get into corners and clean up dried spills. Many hybrids are able to apply cleaning solutions to stubborn stains.
A smaller size of the bin will mean less frequent emptying and a larger one will save you money on replacements. The most affordable robotic cleaners generally employ a tiny disposable dust bag, whereas the mid-range models typically have larger 3L dustbins that can last for many years. Certain high-end robots, such as 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 vacs have an app that allows you to monitor the progress of cleaning and schedule sessions, and most can connect to smart home devices to allow hands-free control. They also can sync with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for control via voice. Certain models come with an on-screen remote that lets you start, pause, and return to dock. Look for a model with larger dustbins that self-empty, as opposed to one that requires manual emptying.
Some robots are equipped with technology for mapping to help them avoid obstacles such as furniture and stairs. Others let you create no-go zones or specific rooms, so they only clean the areas that require the most. They also have a cliff detector to keep them from falling, which is helpful in multi-leveled homes.
If you plan to utilize your robot vacuum to clean rugs, opt for one that is capable of dry mopping as well as wet. You'll get better results from an vac that is able to remove its own mop pad too, which you can then rinse and reattach when it's time to do another cleaning cycle. Look for robots with an elastomer roller. It is less likely to tangle from pet hair or other particles. It's a good idea to examine the robot's brushroll and side brushes for debris that has gotten stuck every once or twice per week Also. If you notice that they're starting to clog, it may be time to buy replacement parts.
4. Debris collection
Robot vacuums are designed according to the name to remove dust and other debris from your floors. The best robot vacuums can pick up tiny particles like baking soda and sand as well as larger ones like screws made of metal orzo, pet hair. They also provide better results on carpets with low pile than many manual vacuums.
The top-performing robots across all flooring types had scores over 95 percent. The two top performers in this category were the ECOVACS DEEBOT X2 OMNI, and the Roborock Q Revo. Both are highly automated with robust docking stations that perform maintenance on their own, and apps that make them incredibly user-friendly.
Both come with self-emptying bins which automatically collect the waste from the wastebasket and clean the washboard while you mow. They also have 8,000Pa suction and smart mapping technology and advanced obstacle avoidance that can help them navigate even the most difficult areas. The ECOVACS robot is among the few that can clean carpet and remove mop pads. This makes it a great option for people who need to switch between mopping and vacuuming often.
If you're looking for a less expensive option, look into the iRobot Roomba Combo J7 Plus, our budget pick. It features LIDAR navigation and decent debris pickup performance for the price. It's a bit slow to map out rooms and is susceptible to bumping into obstacles, but it's less expensive than our other best-buy choices.
5. Battery life
The most effective robot vacuums let you move about your day while keeping your floors in pristine state. While you'll still have to give your home a manual vacuum every now and then, robovacs can help you maintain a baseline level of tidiness and even clean even when you're away.
Look for a robovac with a long-lasting battery to get the most use of it. If you select the highest power setting, the model should last for about two cleaning sessions. This is smaller than a large vacuum but it should be sufficient to clean most homes. If you don't wish to wait for your robovac to recharge you can opt for an option that automatically returns to the base station for charging.
If you're looking for a robovac with a variety of features in it, then think about an option that also mop. Eufy's X10 is the best model in this category. It provides self-emptying, auto-draining and self-refilling of the dust container, water tank and mop pad. It can be programmed to automatically refill and wash its mop pads as soon as they run out.
Its respectable carpet and hard floor pickup, great hair pickup and tangle prevention, and its close to perfect auto empty scores make it the clear winner of our test scores. However, it's not cheap and unless you live in a an apartment with no pets it might be too expensive for some. The second-placed model one, the Dreametech D10+, has the same performance, however it costs 25% less.