The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Vacuuming is a major cause of many lives, but robot vacuums make it a little less tedious. Today's models also mop and climb (small) stairs.
Some have a smaller bin which they empty themselves. Others can be controlled via a smartphone app rather than the physical remote. Some come with mapping features to aid in navigation.
1. Power
Our top pick for robotic vacuums has suction power of 8,000Pa, which is enough to get rid of even the most difficult 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 accurate obstacle avoidance. It also does a fantastic job of cleaning pet hair, baking soda, and other debris close to baseboards and in corners.
Aside from the DEEBOT X2 OMNI, other powerful bots in this list include the robot vacuums that mop Roomba J7+ and the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. The Roborock S8 Pro Ultra includes docking stations that automates maintenance. It also has mopping capabilities. Its powerful suction, combined with its effective mopping feature, made sure my floors were free of pet hair, muddy prints and other debris on every type of floor we tested.
In the lower cost range, a model with a suction capacity of around 2,500Pa is more than adequate for the majority of homes. They are also quieter and are therefore a better choice for those who have sensitive ears. They're not quiet, but they're just the same volume as a normal conversation at home.
Consider your budget and cleaning requirements to determine the best combination of power and usability. A regular light-duty cleaning schedule requires longer runtime and lower suction, while weekly high-volume cleaning demands maximum power. Assess your flooring, layout of your home, and cleaning schedules before selecting the best model. We suggest looking through our full 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 floors looking significantly cleaner after introducing a robotic vacuum into their home.
2. Navigation
A robot vacuum isn't able to do its job when it doesn't know how to navigate around your home. The most advanced robots utilize sophisticated navigation technologies to scan rooms and build a map, ensuring thorough cleaning without getting stuck or hitting obstacles. There are three major kinds of robot navigation: LiDAR-based, sensor-based, and camera-based.
LiDAR is employed by the most expensive models to create a virtual room map, which offers the highest levels of accuracy and efficiency. The less expensive models depend on bump sensors which are less accurate and can miss a lot of debris in dark areas. Most robots are equipped with cliff sensors to stop them from falling off steps or other drops.
Several robots I tested used object recognition to navigate things like cords and fake dog turds. But the Eufy X10 was the best. It was a fantastic mapping device, powerful oscillating mops, a user-friendly app and the ability to clean by zone, room or whole home.
Other features worth looking into include floor type sensors that recognize carpets that are hard and soft and automatically boost suction power when necessary. Certain robots, like the Roborock mop, utilize mopping pad lifts to get into corners and eliminate dried spills. Many hybrids are able to apply cleaning solution to the most difficult stains.
A smaller dustbin will require less frequent emptying, while bigger ones can save money on replacements. The cheapest robotic cleaners typically employ a tiny disposable dust bag, but most mid-range models have larger 3L dustbins that can last for ages. Certain high-end robots, such as the EcoVACS DEEBOT OMNI station, will automatically empty their bins and fill their water tanks, allowing convenience without hands.
3. App control
The best robot vacuum cleaners reviews vacs have an app that lets you monitor the progress of cleaning and schedule sessions, and most can connect to smart home devices for hands-free control. Most also can sync with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for voice-based control. Some models have a remote control that allows you to begin or pause and then return to dock. Choose a model that has an extra large dustbin and is able to self-empty instead of one that needs manual emptying.
Some robovacs come with mapping technology that allows them to recognize obstacles, such as the stairs, and also avoid getting into furniture. Certain robovacs permit you to create no-go zones as well as specific rooms to ensure that they only clean the areas that require the most. They also come with cliff sensors to keep them from falling down the stairs, which is particularly useful in multi-level homes.
If you want to use your robot vacuum to clean rugs, choose one that can be used both for wet and dry mopping. You'll be able to get better results from a robot vac that can remove its own mop pad, and then rinse and reconnect when it comes time for another cleaning cycle. Also, look for a model that has a rubber roll, which is less prone to tangles from pet hair and other debris than bristle rollers like those found on smaller models. It's recommended to check the robot's brushroll and side brushes for stuck-on debris every week or once Also. If you notice that they're beginning to get clogged up it might be time to buy replacement parts.
4. Collection of debris
robot vacuum cleaner uk vacuums are designed to, as the name suggests, to collect dust and debris from your floors. The most effective robot vacuums are able to take small particles such as baking soda and sand, as well as larger ones such as metal screws orzo, as well as pet hair. They also have better results on carpets with a low pile than many manual vacuums.
In all flooring types, the top robots had pickup scores of over 95 95%. The ECOVACS DEEBOT X2 OMNI and the Roborock Q Revo were our two top-performing robots in this category. Both are highly automated, with robust docking stations that can perform maintenance on their own and features in the app that make them incredibly user-friendly.
Both have self-emptying bins that take the contents of the wastebasket and clean the washboard while you mow. They also have 8,000Pa suction, smart mapping technology, and advanced obstacle avoidance that helps them find their way around even the most difficult of areas. The ECOVACS model is also the few robots that we tested that could remove its mop pads and vacuum carpet, which makes it the ideal choice for those who have to switch between mopping and vacuuming frequently.
If you're looking for a more affordable option, we suggest the iRobot Roomba Kombo J7+, our budget choice. It features LIDAR navigation and decent debris pickup capabilities for the price. It's a bit slow to map rooms and can be prone to hitting obstacles but it's less expensive than our other top picks.
5. Battery life
The most effective robot vacuums let you move about your day while keeping your floors in pristine condition. You'll still have to manually clean your home on a regular basis, but robovacs will help you maintain a basic level of cleanliness and even clean while you're away.
To maximize the amount of time you can use your robovac, make sure you choose the model that has a high battery life. If you select the highest power setting, a model should last two cleaning sessions. This is not as long as a full-sized vacuum cleaner, but it will be sufficient to cover most homes. If you don't want to sit around waiting for your robovac recharges you, you can opt for a model that automatically makes its way back to the base station to recharge.
If you are looking for a robovac that does a little bit of everything, consider an all-in-one robot that can mop too. Eufy's X10 is the top model in this class, offers self-emptying and self-refilling for the dust bin as well as the water tank and mop pad. It can be programmed to refill and wash its mop pads once they are out.
Its respectable carpet and hard floor pick-up, great hair pickup and tangle-free, and a close to perfect auto empty scores makes it the clear winner of our test scores. It's not cheap, however and unless you live in a the smallest of homes with no pets, it could be too pricey for some. The second-placed model, the Dreametech D10+, has the same performance, but costs about 25% less.