Meet With The Steve Jobs Of The Best Self-Emptying Vacuum Industry
Best Self-Empting Robot Vacuums and Mops
The Eufy 11S is one the cheapest self-emptying robot vacuums that are available. In our tests it was able clean up dry oats on hard floors as well as low pile carpeting. The dust bin opens and empty quickly, making it much easier to use than other models in the same price.
It is charged at its base and then resumes cleaning when it's done. But its obstacle-avoidance system gets caught in socks and cords, and it can't go under low thresholds.
1. iRobot 11S
The 11S is a more affordable self-emptying robotic vacuum cleaner that a lot of people seem to like. It's good at scooting under furniture and seems to be a smart option for those with hard floors or those who want to do light daily cleans. Its suction might be a bit weaker than our top picks, however it still gets the job done. It also has a large dirt bin and a battery which lasts for over an hour. The app lets you schedule your daily cleaning routine, or select a specific room. You can also map your home to allow the device to avoid areas you don't wish it to visit.
The app is simple to use and has a clear layout. It's not a full-featured app, but it is easy to use and lets you keep track of the robot's activity. It has a tutorial that will guide you through the basics.
robot vacuum auto empty doesn't always look like logical - at times it follows straight lines, while other times it seeks out the edges of a room, however Bounce Navigation ensures your entire floor is cleaned. It's not the best at navigating obstacles, it had trouble getting under our pet food bowls as well as pedals for the piano, and ended up getting caught up in our 2.25 inch shag carpet multiple times.
While it's a great option for light daily cleanings however, we believe there are better robot vacuums that are better than the 11S. The iRobot Roomba is much easier to maintain and maintain, with lower recurring costs and charges more quickly. It also has a bigger dustbin and performs better on all surface types and can also get over obstacles that are low (like electrical cords) more easily.
The RoboVac 11S from Eufy is another alternative for regular vacuuming. It's designed in a similar way to our top pick and it is great at picking up small particles and dirt on hard floors. It also does a great job on medium- and low-pile carpet. It has a large dirt storage container and utilizes BoostIQ for automatic suction power adjustment. It comes with a simple remote control, and it is possible to organize daily cleanings with the app. The battery can last for around an hour, and the dustbin can be empty without taking it from the dock.
2. Roborock S7 maxV Ultra
The Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra is an excellent robot vacuum cleaner and mop with a surprisingly wide array of automation features. The Roborock S7 MaxV is available in three different versions that include the basic S7 model as well as the S7 Plus model and the S7 Ultra. Only the latter comes with an Empty Wash Fill Dock (or an alternative Auto-Empty Dock). These docks allow the robot to return to its base following a cleaning session and empty the debris into a dust bag or reservoir, drain the dirty water tank and clean its mopping pad.
Sensors on the S7 work together to clear obstacles and clean them. It can detect flooring types and save the map of rooms and zones, and even detect dirt levels. It can also plan and execute spot cleaning sessions. It was able to perform well in our tests, but it didn't exactly match the Roomba j7+ during the carpet deep clean test.
With the companion app you can program the S7 to perform a cleaning cycle based on your schedule. You can select the cleaning mode, such as eco or automatic, and a day, week or even a time. You can also select whether the robot will stop when its power goes out or if it encounters an obstruction.
If you don't own an Android device however, you can still utilize the S7 by connecting a remote to its charging dock. The controls are a bit confusing initially however they are very effective once you get used to them. The power button functions as the general 'Clean' function and the 'Spot Clean' button directs the robot to clean a small area around itself. The "Spot Clean" button also triggers the child lock.
In addition to the new mapping capabilities, Roborock improved its mobile app by adding a live view feature that lets you observe what the S7 is up to at home. You can enable this feature by pressing a particular sequence of buttons on the S7 and creating an unlock pattern in the app that you can use at any time you want to see what the robot is doing.
3. Shark IQ Large
Shark's robot vacuums aren't as well-known as those from iRobot or Roborock. However, our tests have shown that Shark's model is among the most effective self-emptying vacuums available. It's easy to set up, has an enormous bin that's easy to empty (albeit somewhat loudly) into a trash can when it is full and can be programmed to complete a whole-home cleaning schedule or when required.
The IQ XL can connect to your home WiFi that allows you to monitor it via the Shark app and see its battery level as it cleans. The app lets you program a cleaning routine, receive push notifications regarding its status, pause cleaning and clean up, or set it for a single area. You can also control it using voice commands with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. The app can tell you which power mode it is currently in--Eco, Normal or Max. However, we couldn't determine that any of the modes made a significant difference in cleaning performance.
The IQ XL will automatically empty the bin at the end of each cleaning cycle into the base, which will then self-empty. The bin can hold up to 60 days of debris so you won't have to empty it more than once, unless your pets have long hair. If you have to empty it, you can simply remove the side container and place it on top of the trash can, and then press a button.
The Shark IQ XL is a great vacuum cleaner. It does a good job cleaning floors that are not bare and can maneuver itself well. However, the Shark IQ XL feels a little less solidly built than the Roomba 694. It's effective at cleaning carpeted floors, however, it's not as effective as the iRobot Roomba i7 in terms of bare floor performance. The i7 is also better-built, feels more durable and robust, has lower maintenance requirements, is able to charge lower costs for recurring expenses, is faster to charge, and offers comparable battery performance and much more advanced automation features, such as no-go zones and the capability to choose specific rooms to keep clean.
4. iRobot J7+
This robot mop/vac combo is a rare beast, as it does both jobs very well. iRobot Combo j7+ has all the smarts and features of its j7 equivalent, including LiDAR map and self-emptying. But it also offers additional features for vacuuming and mopping.
The j7+ makes use of the new acoustic sensor to detect the type of floor and allows it to mop or vacuum the room on its first pass. This information can also be used to prioritize cleaning rooms with carpets or rug versus those with hard flooring.
The j7+ is quieter than the majority of robotic vacuums when it's running and is even quieter when it's mopping. The maximum reading of 64 decibels on our decibel meter is similar to office chatter.
You can easily create a cleaning schedule and alter what happens when the dust canister fills. The j7+ can be controlled by voice assistants (Alexa, Google Assistant, etc.) to allow hands-free operation. the app lets you create and explore maps of your home.
The j7+ performed well in our tests of both carpeted and hard floors, removing most of the dirt we threw at it. It struggles a bit with pet hair and large debris such as sand, but it can clean these things with a bit of effort. It has excellent navigational capabilities and two cliff sensors that keep it from falling down the stairs or getting caught on furniture legs.
We did find a couple of small niggles with the j7+. These include that it could snag rugs and cords and that it doesn't always turn off its mopping when it's finished vacuuming. In all other respects, it's an excellent product that ticks all the right boxes.
iRobot j7+ has also one of the top auto-emptying systems that we've ever examined. It puts its 14oz 0.4-liter dust container into the base station where it automatically emptys itself for you. This helps reduce the amount of trash you have to dispose of. You'll only need to change the dust disposal bag at the dock once every 60 days, depending on the frequency you use the j7+.