The best automatic vacuum Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Robot vacuums can make the chore of vacuuming a bit less painful. Modern models can also mop and even climb (small) steps.
Some have a small trash bin that they empty on their own. Others are controlled with an app on your smartphone instead of the physical remote. Some have mapping features that assist in navigation.
1. Power
With 8,000Pa of suction power Our top pick for robot vacuums is powerful enough to handle the worst dirt patches and hairs. Its ultra-thin square design allows it to slide underneath furniture like sofas and beds, and its Dual-Laser LiDAR technology supports intelligent navigation and accurate obstacle avoidance. It also does a great job of cleaning pet hair baking soda, other debris close to baseboards and in corners.
In addition to the DEEBOT X2 OMNI, other high-powered bots on this list include the robot hoover Roomba J7+ and the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. The Roborock S8 Pro Ultra includes docking stations that automates maintenance. It also comes with mopping capabilities. Its powerful suction and efficient mopping helped keep my floors clear of pet hair, muddy paw prints, and other debris in every floor type test that we conducted.
A model that has 2,500Pa suction is sufficient for most homes in the lower price range. They are also quieter and therefore a better option for those who have sensitive ears. They aren't silent, but they're not as loud as normal conversations at home.
Think about your budget and cleaning requirements to find the right combination of power and efficiency. Regular light-duty cleaning requires a longer runtime and a lower suction, whereas weekly heavy-duty cleaning demands maximum power. Examine your flooring, home layout, and cleaning schedules before selecting the best model. We recommend looking through our full list of robot vacuum reviews (resources) and ratings for more details about the latest models available. Many users report that their carpets and floors looking much cleaner after introducing a robot vacuum into their home.
2. Navigation
A robot vacuum won't be able to do its job properly if it doesn't know how to navigate your home. This is why the best automatic vacuum robots rely on sophisticated navigation technology that reliably scans rooms and builds an outline map to ensure thorough cleaning without getting lost or hitting obstacles. There are three types of robot navigation including LiDAR, camera, and sensor.
The most expensive models use LiDAR to build a virtual map of the room. This model offers the highest level of accuracy and efficiency. Bump sensors are used in cheaper models, but they can be inaccurate and miss a lot debris when working in dark places. Most robots also feature cliff sensors to stop them from falling down stairs or other falls.
A number of the robots I tested utilized objects recognition to navigate through things like cords and fake dog turds. However, the Eufy X10 was the best. It had excellent mapping capabilities and powerful oscillating mops that could be used as a user-friendly app and the ability to clean a specific area, room or the all of the home.
Other features worth looking into include sensors for floors that can recognize carpets that are hard and soft, automatically boosting suction power when required. Some robots, like the Roborock mop, make use of mopping pad lifts to reach corners and eliminate dried spills. Many hybrids can even apply cleaning solutions to tough staining.
A smaller bin will require less frequent emptying, whereas a larger one will save money on replacements. Most low-cost robotic cleaners use an inexpensive disposable dust bag. However, most mid-range models have larger dustbins of 3L that last for a long time. Some of the top models, like the ECOVACS DEEBOT OMNI station, can self-empty their trash bins and refill their water tanks to provide hands-free convenience.
3. App control
The top robot vacuums have an application that lets you track cleaning progress and schedule your sessions, and most can connect to your smart home devices to allow hands-free control. A lot of robot vacuums can be controlled using voice commands, such as Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Some have a remote control that allows you to start the process, pause it and then return to dock. Select a model with an extra large dustbin and is able to self-empty rather than one that requires manual emptying.
Some robots are equipped with mapping technology that helps them avoid obstacles like stairs and furniture. Others let you designate no-go zones and targeted rooms, so they only clean areas that require it the most. They also come with cliff sensors to keep them from falling down the stairs, which is especially helpful in multi-level homes.
If you want to use your robot vacuum to clean rugs, choose a model which can be used both for wet and dry mopping. You'll have better results cleaning if your robot vacuum can remove its mop pad. Clean it and reconnect it when you want to run a new cleaning cycle. Also look for a robot that has a rubber roll that is less prone to tangles from pet hair and other debris than a bristle roller, as found on some cheaper models. Check the robot's side brushes and brushroll for any debris that has become stuck on. Make sure to do this at least twice per week. If you notice that they're beginning to clog, it might be time to replace parts.
4. Debris collection
Robot vacuums are created, as the name suggests to remove dust and other debris on your floors. The best ones pick fine particles such as baking soda and sand as as larger pieces like orzo pasta, metal screws, and pet hair. They also provide better pick-up results on low-pile carpets than most manual vacuums.
In all flooring types, the top robots had pickup scores of more than 95 percent. The two top performers in this category were the ECOVACS DEEBOT X2 OMNI, and the Roborock Q Revo. Both are highly automated and feature robust docking stations that can perform maintenance on their own and features in the app that make them extremely user-friendly.
Both have self-emptying bins that eliminate the contents of the wastebasket. They can also clean the washboard as they mowing. They also have suction of 8,000Pa, smart mapping technology, and advanced obstacle avoidance technology that helps them find their way around even the most difficult spaces. The ECOVACS model is also among the few robots that we tested that can take its mop pads and vacuum carpet, which makes it the ideal option for those who need to change between mopping and vacuuming frequently.
If you want a cheaper alternative, we suggest the Roomba Combo J7 from iRobot+, our budget pick. It comes with LIDAR navigation and decent debris pickup capabilities for the price. It can be a bit slow when it comes to mapping rooms and is susceptible to hitting obstacles, but the price is less than our other picks.
5. Battery life
The most effective robot vacuums are designed to let you get 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 robot vacuums can help you keep a certain level of tidiness and even clean when you're away.
Look for a robovac with long-lasting batteries to get the most out of it. If you choose to use the most powerful power setting, a model should last for about two cleaning sessions. This is less than a typical size vacuum cleaner, however it will be sufficient to provide for the majority of homes. If you don't wish to wait for your robovac to recharge you can opt for an option that automatically returns to the base station for charging.
If you're looking for a robovac with a variety of features in it, then think about one that is able to mop. Eufy's X10 is the top model in this class and offers self-emptying, self-draining and self-refilling of your dust bin and mop pad. It can be programmed to automatically refill and wash mops as soon as they run out.
The clear winner in our tests is the Dyson V810, because of its impressive carpet and hard floor pickup, superb hair pickup, tangle-free performance and an almost perfect auto empty score. It's not cheap, and unless you have the space of a small home with no pets, it may be too costly for certain. The Dreametech D10+ is the second choice and has the same performance, but is priced around 25 percent less.