Are You Getting The Most From Your Robot Vacuum?
The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Robot vacuums can make the chore of vacuuming a little less painful. Today's models also mop and even climb (small) stairs.
Some have a small bin that they empty by themselves. Others are controlled with an app on your smartphone instead of the physical remote. Some have mapping features that help them navigate more efficiently.
1. Power
Our top choice for robot vacuums has a suction power of 8,000Pa, which is enough to remove even the most difficult dirt patches and hairs. Its super-thin square design 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 also does a fantastic job at cleaning up pet hair, baking soda, and other debris near the baseboards as well as in corners.
Other high-powered robots in this list in addition to the DEEBOT X2 OMNI, are the IRobot Roomba J7+ as well as the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. The Roborock S8 Pro Ultra comes with docking stations that automatically handles maintenance. It also comes with mopping capabilities. Its powerful suction, combined with its efficient mopping, kept my floors clean of pet hair, muddy prints and other debris on every floor we tested.
In the lower price range, a unit that has 2,500Pa of suction is more than adequate for the majority of homes. These models are quieter, and, therefore, a better choice for those with sensitive ears. They're not quiet, but they're not as loud as a normal conversation at home.
For the best mix of usability and power Consider your cleaning requirements and budget. Frequent light-duty tidying requires a longer runtime and a lower suction, while weekly high-volume cleaning demands maximum power. Consider your flooring, home layouts and cleaning schedules to select the best model for your needs. Take a look at our comprehensive list of robot vacuum ratings and reviews for more information about the most recent models. Many users have reported that their carpets and floors appear cleaner after introducing a robotic vacuum into their home.
2. Navigation
A robot vacuum cannot perform its task when it doesn't know how to navigate around your home. The most advanced robots utilize sophisticated navigation technology to scan rooms and build a map, ensuring thorough cleaning without getting stuck or hitting obstacles. There are three kinds of robot navigation: LiDAR-based sensor-based, and camera-based.
The most expensive models employ LiDAR to create a virtual map of the room, offering the highest levels of precision and efficiency. Bump sensors are employed in lower-end models, however they can be inaccurate and miss a lot of debris when working in dark places. Most robots also feature cliff sensors to stop them from falling down stairs or other drops.
A number of the robots I tested utilized object recognition to navigate things like fake dog turds. However, the Eufy X10 was the best. It had excellent mapping capabilities, powerful oscillating mops, a user-friendly app and the ability to clean a specific zones, rooms or even the entire house.
Consider features such as floor type sensors that automatically boost suction power when needed. Certain robots such as the Roborock mop utilize mopping pad lift that allows you to get into corners and clean dried spills. Many hybrids can apply cleaning solutions to stubborn stains.
A smaller size of the bin will mean less frequent emptying while a bigger one can save you money on replacements. The cheapest robotic cleaners typically employ a tiny disposable dust bag, but the majority of mid-range models come with larger dust bins of 3L that last for many years. Certain high-end robots, such as the EcoVACS DEEBOT OMNI Station are able to self-empty and fill up their water tanks, allowing hands-free convenience.
3. App control
The best robot vacs have an app that lets you monitor cleaning progress and schedule sessions and connect to smart home devices for hands-free control. Most also sync with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for control via voice. Some models have an on-screen remote that allows you to start or pause and then return to dock. Select auto vacuum with a larger dustbin and can self-empty, rather than one that needs manual emptying.
Some robots are equipped with mapping technology that allows them to remember obstacles, like the stairs, and also avoid running into furniture. Others allow you to designate no-go zones and targeted rooms, ensuring that they only clean the areas that require it the most. They also have a cliff sensor to stop them from falling, which is particularly helpful in multi-leveled homes.
If you intend to utilize your robot vacuum to clean rugs, opt for one that can perform both dry mopping and wet. You'll be able to get better cleaning results if your robot vacuum can also remove its mop pad. Clean it and reconnect it when you want to run a new cleaning cycle. Look for robots with a rubber roller. It will be less likely to get caught from pet hair or other debris. Check the robot's side brush and brushroll for any debris that might have been stuck to them. Make sure to do this at least twice per week. If you notice that they are beginning to get clogged up, it may be time to purchase replacement parts.
4. Collection of debris
Like the name suggests, robot vacuums are designed to collect dust and other debris from your floors. The best robot vacuums can pick up tiny particles, such as sand and baking soda, and larger ones like metal screws orzo, as well as pet hair. They also have better results on low pile carpets than many manual vacuums.
All flooring types are covered, and the top-performing robots had pickup 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 docking stations that can perform 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, smart mapping technology and advanced obstacle avoidance to help them navigate through the most difficult areas. The ECOVACS robot is one of the few that can clean carpet and take away mop pads. This makes it a perfect 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 in mapping rooms and is susceptible to bumping against obstacles, but the price is less than the other choices.
5. Battery life
The best robot vacuums are designed to let you move on with your life while keeping your floors clean and spick and clean. Although you'll need to give your home a manual sweeping every now and again, robovacs can help you keep a certain level of tidiness and even clean even when you're away.
To maximize the time you get from your robovac, look for a model with excellent battery life. If you use the highest power setting, the model should last for about two cleaning sessions. This is not as long as a size vacuum cleaner, however it should be enough to be sufficient for most homes. If you don't wish to wait while your robovac recharges, you can choose an option that automatically returns to the base station to charge.
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, the best model in this class, offers self-emptying and self-refilling for the dust bin and the water tank and the mop pad. It can even be programmed to automatically re-fill and wash mops when they're running low.
The clear winner of our tests is the Dyson V810, because of its impressive carpet and hard floor pickup, excellent hair pickup, tangle-free performance and a near perfect auto empty score. 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, but costs about 25 percent less.