The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Vacuuming is the bane of many people's existence however, robot vacuums make it a little easier. Modern models can also mop, and climb (small) steps.
Some have a small bin that they empty on their own. Others can be controlled by a smartphone app rather than an actual remote. Some have mapping capabilities that aid in navigating your home with greater efficiency.
1. Power
With an impressive 8,000Pa of suction, our top pick for robot vacuums is powerful enough to take care of the most difficult dirt patches and hairs. Its ultra-thin square shape allows it to slide underneath furniture like sofas and beds. Dual-Laser LIDAR technology offers precise obstacle avoidance and intelligent navigation. It also does an excellent job of cleaning pet hair, baking soda, and other debris that can be found near the baseboards as well as in corners.
In addition to the DEEBOT X2 OMNI bot, other top-of-the-line bots on this list include the iRobot Roomba J7+ and the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. The latter comes with a robust docking station that automates maintenance and mopping functions as well. Its powerful suction and effective mopping helped keep my floors clear of pet hair, muddy paw prints, and other debris during every flooring type test we conducted.
In the lower cost range, a model that has 2,500Pa of suction is more than adequate for the majority of homes. They are also quieter and therefore a better option for those who have sensitive ears. They're not quiet, but they're not the same volume as a normal conversation at home.
To get the most effective mix of performance and convenience, consider your cleaning needs and budget. A regular light-duty cleaning schedule requires longer time to run and lower suction, whereas weekly heavy-duty cleaning requires the most power. Examine your flooring, home layout and cleaning schedule prior to choosing the right model. We recommend looking through our entire list of robot vacuum reviews and ratings to get more information on the latest models available. Many customers report that their carpets and floors looking significantly cleaner after introducing a robotic vacuum to their home.
2. Navigation
A robot vacuum won't be able to do its job properly without knowing how to get around your home. For this reason, the best robots use sophisticated navigation technology that reliably scans rooms and creates an outline map to ensure thorough cleaning without getting lost or hitting obstacles. There are three types of robot navigation: LiDAR-based, sensor-based and camera-based.
LiDAR is utilized by the most expensive models to create a virtual room map, which provides the highest levels of precision and efficiency. Bump sensors are utilized in lower-end models, however they aren't always accurate and miss a lot of debris when working in dark environments. Most robots also feature cliff sensors to keep them from falling down stairs or other falls.
Many of the robots I tested utilized object recognition to efficiently navigate around things such as fake cords and dog turds but the most effective was the Eufy X10. It had excellent mapping capabilities and powerful oscillating mops that could be used as an intuitive app and the ability to clean by zone, room or all of the house.
Other features worth considering include floor type sensors that can detect carpets with soft and hard floors automatically increasing suction power when required. Some robots, such as the Roborock mops, use mopping pad lifts to get into corners and clean up dried spills. Many hybrids can even apply cleaning solutions to tough staining.
A smaller size of the bin will require less frequent emptying, whereas a larger one can save money on replacements. The cheapest robotic cleaners typically employ a tiny disposable dust bag, whereas most mid-range models have larger 3L dustbins that last for many years. Some premium robots, like the ECOVACS DEEBOT OMNI station, will automatically empty their dustbin and refill their water tanks, allowing hands-free convenience.
3. App control
The best robot vacuums come with an application that lets you track cleaning progress and schedule sessions and can connect to your smart home devices to allow hands-free control. Many robot vacuums can be controlled using voice commands, such as Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Some models have a separate remote control that allows you to start or pause, 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 have mapping technology that can help them remember obstacles, such as staircases, and prevents them from getting into furniture. Certain robovacs let you define no-go zones and rooms to clean the areas that require the most. They also have cliff sensor to keep them from falling, which is especially helpful in multi-leveled homes.
If you intend to use your robot vacuum to clean your rugs, opt for one that is capable of both dry and wet mopping. You'll get better results with the robot vacuum that can remove its own mop pad too, which you can then rinse and reattach when it comes time for another cleaning cycle. Look for a robot with an elastomer roller. This is less likely to tangle from pet hair or other particles. It's a good idea check the robot's brushroll and side brushes for debris stuck on every once or twice per week as well. If you notice they are beginning to get clogged up it could be time to buy replacement parts.
4. Collection of debris
Robot vacuums are created to, as the name suggests, to remove dust and other debris from your floors. The best ones pick up fine particles like baking soda and sand as in larger pieces of metal screws, orzo pasta, and pet hair. They also have better results on low pile carpets than many manual vacuums.
The top-performing robots across all flooring types had a pickup score over 95%. The ECOVACS DEEBOT X2 OMNI and the Roborock Q Revo were our two most efficient bots in this class. Both are highly automated equipped with docking stations that do maintenance on their own and app features which make them extremely user-friendly.
Both have self-emptying bins which automatically empty the wastebasket. They also have the ability to clean the washboard while they mowing. They also come with an 8,000Pa vacuum cleaner, smart mapping technology and advanced obstacle avoidance to help them navigate through the most difficult spaces. The ECOVACS model is also the few robots we tested that can take its mop pads and vacuum carpet, which makes it the ideal option for those who need to switch between mopping and vacuuming frequently.
If you're seeking a lower-cost option, check out the Roomba Combo J7 from iRobot Plus, our budget choice. It has LIDAR navigation and decent performance in the field of debris pickup for the price. It is slow at mapping out rooms and has a tendency of hitting obstacles, but the cost is less than our other picks.
5. robot vacuum cleaner uk let you move about your day while keeping your floors in perfect state. It is still necessary to manually vacuum your home from time to time but robovacs can help you maintain a basic level of cleanliness, and will even clean when you are away.
To maximize the amount of time you get from your robovac, choose a model with excellent battery life. If you use the highest power setting, the model should last about two cleaning sessions. This is smaller than a large vacuum but should be sufficient to clean most homes. If you don't want to wait for your robovac to recharge, you can choose an option that will automatically return to the base station to charge.
If you're looking for a robot that can do a bit of everything, think about an all-in-one machine that is able to mop as well. Eufy's X10 is the most effective model in this category has self-emptying and self-refilling for the dust bin as well as the water tank and mop pad. It can also be programmed to automatically refill and wash its own mop pads when they're running low.
Its dependable carpet and hard floor pick up, great hair pickup and tangle-free, and a an almost perfect auto empty score make it the clear winner of our test scores. However, it's not cheap and unless you live in an apartment with no pets, it could be too expensive for some. The second-placed model, the Dreametech D10+, has very similar performance however it costs 25 percent less.