The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Vacuuming is the bane of many lives, but robot vacuums make it easier. Modern models can mop, and climb (small) steps.
They have a small trash bin which they empty themselves and some of them can be operated by a smartphone app instead of a physical remote. Some come with mapping features to help them navigate more efficiently.
1. Power
With an impressive 8,000Pa of suction, our top pick for robot vacuums is durable enough to take on the toughest dirt patches and hairs. Its slim square shape enables it to slide beneath furniture, such as sofas and beds. Dual-Laser LIDAR technology offers precise obstacle avoidance as well as intelligent navigation. It also does an excellent job at cleaning pet hair, baking soda, and other debris near the baseboards and in corners.
Other high-powered robots on this list, apart from the DEEBOT X2 OMNI, are the IRobot Roomba J7+ as well as the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. The latter comes with a robust docking station that automatically performs maintenance and includes mopping capabilities as well. Its powerful suction system, along with its effective mopping, made sure my floors were free of pet hair, muddy prints, and other debris on every type of floor we test.
In the lower price range, a model with a suction capacity of around 2,500Pa is sufficient for most homes. These units are quieter, which makes them a better option for those with sensitive hearing. They're not quiet, but they're not the same volume as a normal conversation at home.
Think about your budget and cleaning needs to determine the best combination of power and efficiency. For frequent light-duty cleaning, a longer runtime with a lower suction is required. Weekly heavy-duty cleaning requires maximum power. Take a look at your flooring, layout of your home and cleaning schedules to choose the right model for your requirements. We recommend looking through our complete list of robot vacuum reviews and ratings for more details about the latest models available. Many customers report that their carpets and bare floors look cleaner after using a robot vacuum.
2. Navigation
A robot vacuum can't do its job effectively if it doesn't know how to navigate your home. The most advanced robots utilize sophisticated navigation technology to scan rooms and make an outline map, which allows for thorough cleaning without getting stuck or hitting obstacles. There are three types of robot navigation including LiDAR, camera, and sensor.
The most expensive models utilize LiDAR to create a virtual map of the room. This model offers the highest levels of accuracy and efficiency. Bump sensors are utilized in cheaper models, but they aren't always accurate and miss a lot debris when working in dark environments. Many robots also have cliff sensors to keep them from falling down stairs or other falls.
Several robots in my tests utilized object recognition to efficiently navigate things like fake cords and dog turds however, the best was the Eufy X10. It was a fantastic mapping device with powerful oscillating mops, an easy-to-use app, and the ability to clean a specific zone, room or whole home.
Other features worth looking into include floor type sensors that can detect carpets with soft and hard floors and automatically boost suction power when needed. robot vacuums uk , like the Roborock mops, use mopping pad lifts to get into corners and clean up dried spills. Some hybrids even apply cleaning solutions to stubborn staining.
A smaller dustbin will require less frequent emptying, while larger ones can save money on replacements. The most affordable robotic cleaners generally employ a tiny disposable dust bag, but most mid-range models have larger 3L dustbins that last for decades. Some premium robots like the EcoVACS DEEBOT OMNI Station are able to self-empty and refill their water tank for hands-free convenience.
3. App control
The best robot vacuums come with an application that lets you track the progress of cleaning and schedule sessions and connect to smart home devices to allow hands-free control. Most also sync with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant to allow voice-controlled control. Some have a dedicated remote control that lets you start the process, pause it and then return to dock. Find a model with a bigger dustbin that can self-empty, rather than one that requires manual emptying.
Certain robovacs come with mapping technology that helps them avoid obstacles such as furniture and stairs. Some allow you to set no-go zones or targeted rooms, so that they only clean areas that require it the most. They also have a cliff sensor to prevent them from falling, which is especially useful in multi-level homes.
If you plan to make use of your robot vacuum to clean carpets, select one that can be used both for wet and dry mopping. You'll be able to 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 the rubber roller. This will be less likely to get caught from pet hair or other particles. It's recommended to inspect the robot's brushroll as well as side brushes for debris stuck on once or twice a week Also. If you notice that they are getting clogged it might be time to replace parts.
4. Collection of debris
As the name implies, robot vacuums are designed to remove dust and other debris from your floors. The most effective robot vacuums are able to take 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 low pile carpets than many manual vacuums.
Across all flooring types, the top-performing robots had pickup scores of more than 95%. The ECOVACS DEEBOT X2 OMNI and the Roborock Q Revo were our two most efficient bots in this class. Both are highly automated and feature robust docking stations that can perform maintenance on their own and features in the app that make them extremely user-friendly.
Both have self-emptying bins that automatically collect the waste from the wastebasket and can clean the washboard while you mow. They also have an 8,000Pa vacuum, intelligent mapping technology, and advanced obstacle avoidance that helps them navigate through even the most difficult areas. The ECOVACS model is also one of the only robots we tested that can take its mop pads and vacuum carpet, making it the ideal choice for those who have to change between mopping and vacuuming frequently.
If you want a cheaper option, we suggest the iRobot Roomba Combo J7+, our budget-friendly pick. It features LIDAR navigation and decent debris pickup capabilities for the price. It can be a bit slow in mapping rooms and is susceptible to bumping against obstacles, but it is lower than the other choices.
5. Battery life
The best robot vacuums are made to let you get on with your life while they keep your floors clean and spick and span. You'll still have to manually vacuum your home on a regular basis but robovacs can assist you in maintaining a minimum standard of cleanliness, and even clean when you are away.
To maximize the time you get from your robovac, look for a model with excellent battery life. If you choose to use the most powerful power setting, a model should last two cleaning sessions. This is less than a full-sized vacuum cleaner, but it will be sufficient to provide for the majority of homes. If you don't want to sit while your robovac charges you can select a model that automatically returns to the base station for charging.
If you are looking for a robovac that can do a bit of everything, consider an all-in-one robot that can mop too. Eufy's X10 is the most effective model in this class and offers self-emptying, self-draining and self-refilling of your dust bin, water tank and mop pad. It can be programmed to refill and wash its mop pads once they are out.
Its dependable carpet and hard floor pick up, great hair pickup and tangle avoidance, and near-perfect auto empty score makes it the clear winner of our test scores. However, it's not cheap and unless you have a an apartment without pets, it may be too expensive for some. The runner-up, the Dreametech D10+, has the same performance, but costs about 25% less.