"The Robot Vacuum Deals Awards: The Best, Worst And Weirdest Things We've Seen
Top Black Friday and Cyber Monday Robot Vacuum Deals
This is your time to own a robotic vacuum. CNET's top-rated models are available for sale this Black Friday and Cyber Monday, with savings of up to 57%.
The Roborock Q7 Max offers strong pressure and smart mapping with app-based no-go zones, and its 180-minute runtime is impressive. It also self-empties and refills its water tank.
1. iRobot Roomba j7+
The Roomba j7+, iRobot’s smartest robot to date, is the Roomba J7+. Its most significant innovation is a camera-based obstacle detection system that uses built-in AI to recognize objects like charging cords, shoes, and the pet waste that many other robots are unable to avoid (and often plough right through). It's also the first robot to automatically send you photos of the object it comes across so that you can tell it to avoid it in the future.
The Combo j7+ is also the most efficient mop robot we've ever tested, picking up spills and dirt effortlessly while leaving no trace it was there. It's simple to control via the iRobot Home app that allows you to schedule cleaning times and create Keep Out Zones to ensure it doesn't sweep areas you do not want it to. It's also compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant, so you can start and stop it with your voice.
The design is also more appealing than the competition. It features a sleek, top piece that looks like an toy, not an obnoxious and loud robot. And the Clean Base Automated Dirt Disposal System is self-emptying and is ideal to reduce the time spent cleaning.
In our tests, we found that the j7+ swiftly took away dirt, dust, and pet hair. The counter-rotating rubber brushes kept the debris in one place instead of scattering it all over the floor. vacuum robot managed to catch small gravel and sand that other robots aren't able to do. It did all of this without getting tangled up in our pet's hair shed.
While it's not quite as efficient as the $1,217 Roomba s9+ Auto-Emptying Vacuum, which isn't able to clean stairs, the j7+ is still an excellent choice for those who need mopping and a vacuum in their home. It's not expensive and the iRobot App makes it easy to use.
The iRobot Home App is easy to use, but we found it less reliable as other robotic cleaner apps. It can take a long time to download updates, and at times it's difficult to know whether the update is working until you see it in action.
2. Roborock Q5+
When you're looking for a robot vacuum that does more than simply clean floors, the best choice is probably a hybrid. This type of robot typically has a built-in water tank that allows them to vacuum and mop your house simultaneously. They also come with a variety of additional features, including smart mapping, small obstacle avoidance and even the ability to dry and wash mopping pads. The downside is that they tend to be expensive when purchased at full retail, but during Black Friday and Cyber Monday they often drop in price.
Roborock has some of our favorite robot vacuums and the Q5+ isn't an exception. This is the cheapest model of their auto-empty line. While it may not include some of the luxurious features (like no-go zones or multi-story memories) but it's an excellent choice if you are willing to make some compromises to save a few bucks.
The Q5+ is noticeably gentle around obstacles such as tables and walls which makes it an excellent option for homes with a lot of furniture. It's also extremely thorough when it comes to getting rid of dust bunnies which is a problem which many robot vacuums be a bit sloppy. The navigation technology in the Q5+ is fantastic as well, with only a few misses in corners and on walls.
The Q5+, like other Roborock products can be controlled via a few buttons on the device, or via the Roborock App. The app allows you to start and stop cleaning. You can also set up schedules, create virtual barrier and no-go areas, alter your home map, or re-label the rooms.
If you opt for the Q5+, it comes with a new auto-empty dock specifically designed to make this robot easy to maintain. It requires a screwdriver to install, but once installed, the process of emptying the bin is relatively simple. It also comes with a large LCD display, which is nice to have when you're setting up schedules or altering settings. This feature isn't necessary for everyone, but it can help effectively keep the robot's maintenance schedules.
3. Narwal Freo X Ultra
The Freo X Ultra is a well-rounded robot mop and vacuum that's incredibly intelligent in its mopping and vacuuming capabilities. Its design is among the top in the market however, it's costly.
It's a tiny base station that looks great and is able to be concealed when not in use. The main reason to buy the station is that it can automate many tasks, functions, and chores that other robots leave to you. It can keep clean and dirty water and also electrolyze and warm the water. The majority of other robots require this.
Its vacuuming capabilities are impressive as well. It's the only robovac I've tested that does well at picking up debris from bare floors. And it's not as loud as the more expensive Roomba 900 series or iRobot 980.
The Freo X Ultra is not free of faults, especially when it comes navigation. Its laser sensors and LiDAR sensors aren’t as reliable as other robotvacs. This means it can get stuck or confused in certain corners or rooms in the house. It's also not able to climb stairs like other models and isn't equipped with a dock that can create a clean zone for plush carpets.
The Freo X Ultra robot vacuum and mop is a great option for those looking for an automated vacuum that can do everything.
If you're looking to save money or simply don't care about the limitations of this robot There are many other options on the market with a wide range of eufy models priced significantly less. The eufy Qrevo Curv, for example, is cheaper and offers the same experience in the app, but with additional features such as the ability to climb stairs, a full-function dock, and better overall vacuuming performance on bare floors as well as high and low-pile carpets.
4. Eufy RoboVac G30
Eufy, a Anker company, has a track record of creating robot vacuums that strike a good balance between features, performance and price. The G30 Hybrid is no different and offers a powerful cleaning of hard floors and mopping, carpets and other surfaces at an affordable price point. It's easy to set it up, just snap on one of the side brushes, turn it on and connect the charging dock. The app walks you through a few steps to connect it to Wi-Fi. After that, the G30 is ready to go. The dock will need to be placed near an outlet with enough space to move.
The G30 is tiny, 2.85 inches tall to be exact, which means it will fit under many couches and other furniture with a low clearance. Its design isn't as ostentatious when compared to rival models. It features a sleek black finish with three buttons that are physical for Auto Cleaning start/pause (which scrubs an area in a spiral pattern over two minutes) Recharge and Spot Cleaner. You can also link the G30 to Amazon Alexa or Google Home to do unscheduled cleaning with voice commands.
The most important characteristic that makes the G30 apart from its competitors is the method it cleans. It uses a built-in mapping to create an image of the immovable objects it encounters, remembering what it's already cleaned and where it can't access. When it needs to recharge, it will automatically return to its base and resumes cleaning where it left off.
The sleek G30 has some flaws. The iRobot Roomba is built better and has lower monthly costs. It charges faster, offers a similar battery life, and performs better on unfinished flooring or carpet with a low pile. It also has a larger dust bin that doesn't require to be emptied as often and comes with the boundary strips to ensure it isn't in certain areas. The G30, on the other hand, is more affordable and is much easier to maintain. Its smaller size means that it doesn't have to be emptied as often, and it has less difficulty handling bulky products such as cereal.