The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Robot vacuums can make the chore of vacuuming a little less painful. Modern models can mop, and robotvacuummops even climb (small) steps.
Some have a small trash bin which they empty themselves. Others can be controlled by a smartphone app rather than an actual remote. Some have mapping capabilities that help them navigate your home with greater efficiency.
- Power
With 8,000Pa of suction power Our top pick for robot vacuums is powerful enough to take on the toughest hairs and dirt. Its super-thin square design allows it to slide underneath furniture, such as beds and sofas and its Dual-Laser LiDAR technology supports precise navigation and obstacle avoidance. It's also great for cleaning pet hair, baking powder and other messes around corners and baseboards.
Other high-powered robots on this list, besides the DEEBOT X2 OMNI, are the iRobot Roomba J7+ as well as the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. The latter comes with a powerful docking station that automates maintenance and includes mopping capabilities as well. Its powerful suction, combined with its efficient mopping, ensured my floors were free of pet hair, muddy prints, and other debris on all floors we test.
In the lower price range, a model with around 2,500Pa of suction is more than adequate for the majority of homes. They are also quieter and, therefore, a better choice for those with sensitive ears. They're still not quiet, but they're just about the same as a normal conversation at home.
Take into consideration your budget and cleaning requirements to find the perfect combination of power and usability. Regular light-duty cleaning requires a longer runtime and a lower suction, whereas weekly heavy-duty cleaning requires a lot of power. Then assess your flooring, home layouts and cleaning schedules to choose the right model to meet your requirements. We suggest looking through our complete list of robot vacuum reviews and ratings to get more details on the most recent models available. Many users have reported that their carpets and bare floor look cleaner after using a robotic vacuum.
- Navigation
A robot vacuum can't perform its task if it does not know how to navigate your home. Because of this, the best robots use sophisticated navigation technology that reliably 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, sensor-based and camera-based.
LiDAR is employed by the most expensive models to create a virtual space map, offering the highest levels in precision and efficiency. Bump sensors are utilized in less expensive models, but they can be inaccurate and miss a lot debris when working in dark environments. The majority of robots have cliff sensors that stop them from falling off stairs or other drops.
A number of the robots I tested utilized object recognition to navigate around things such as cords and fake dog turds. However, the Eufy X10 was the best. It was a fantastic mapping device, powerful oscillating mops, an intuitive app and the ability to clean a zones, rooms or even the all of the home.
Take into consideration features such as sensors for floors that automatically boost suction power when required. Some robots like the Roborock mop make use of mopping pad that lifts to reach into corners and clean dry spills. Many hybrids are able to apply cleaning solutions to stubborn stains.
A smaller bin will require less frequent emptying, whereas a larger one will cost less to replace. The majority of robotic cleaners that are low-cost use a small disposable dust bag. However, most middle-priced models have larger 3L dustbins which last for a long time. Certain high-end robots, such as the ECOVACS DEEBOT OMNI Station are able to self-empty and refill their water tanks, allowing hands-free convenience.
- App control
The best robot vacs have an app that lets you monitor cleaning progress and schedule sessions and connect to your smart home devices to allow hands-free control. They also connect to Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for control via voice. Some models have a separate remote control that lets you start the process, pause it and then return to dock. Look for a model with a bigger dustbin that can self-empty instead of one that requires manual emptying.
Certain robovacs come with technology for mapping to help them avoid obstacles such as furniture and stairs. Certain robovacs let you create no-go zones as well as specific rooms to clean those areas which need it the most. They also come with cliff sensors to keep them from falling down the stairs, which is particularly helpful in multi-level homes.
If you want to utilize your robot vacuum to clean carpets, select one that can be used for dry and wet mopping. You'll get better cleaning results when your vacuum can also remove its mop pad. Rinse it and then reattach it when you need to run a new cleaning cycle. Also, look for a model that has a rubber roller that is less susceptible to tangles due to pet hair and other debris than a bristle roller like those found on less expensive models. It's recommended to 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 get blocked, it could be time to buy replacement parts.
- Debris collection
Like the name suggests robot vacuums are made to collect dust and debris from your floors. The best robot vacuums will take tiny particles like baking soda and sand, as well as larger ones such as metal screws, orzo, and pet hair. They also get better pickup results on carpets with low piles than most manual vacuums.
Across all flooring types, the top performing robots had pick-up scores of more than 95 95%. The ECOVACS DEEBOT X2 OMNI and the Roborock Q Revo were our two most efficient bots in this class. Both are highly automated, with robust docking stations that perform maintenance on their own, and apps that make them incredibly user-friendly.
They both have self-emptying bins that automatically empty the wastebasket. They also have the ability to clean the washboard while they mow. They also feature 8,000Pa suction and smart mapping technology and advanced obstacle avoidance that helps them find their way around even the most difficult of spaces. The ECOVACS model is also among the few robots we tested that can remove its mop pads and vacuum carpet making it the ideal choice for users who need to switch between vacuuming and mopping regularly.
If you're looking for a more affordable option, we recommend the Roomba Combo J7 from iRobot+, our budget-friendly pick. It comes with LIDAR navigation for reasonable prices and decent debris collection performance. It can be a bit slow when it comes to mapping rooms and is susceptible to bumping against obstacles, but the price is less than our other picks.
- Battery life
The best robot vacuums let you move about your day while they keep your floors in pristine in good condition. While you'll still need to give your home a manual vacuum every now and then robot vacuums can help you maintain a standard of cleanliness and even keep your home clean when you're away.
Choose a robovac that has a long-lasting battery to get the most out of it. A good rule of thumb is to expect a robovac to last for around two complete cleaning sessions if you use it at the highest power setting. This is not as long as a full-sized vacuum cleaner, but it will be sufficient to provide for the majority of homes. If you don't want to wait while your robovac charges, you can choose an option that automatically returns to the base station to charge.
If you're looking to buy a robovac with a bit of everything in it, then consider an option that also mop. Eufy's X10, the best model in this class comes with self-emptying and self refilling for the dust bin, the water tank, and mop pad. It can be programmed to refill and wash its mops as soon as they run out.
Its high-quality carpet and hard floor pick up, great hair pickup and tangle-free, and a an almost 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 pricey for some. The second choice one, the Dreametech D10+, has the same performance, but costs about 25% less.