The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Vacuuming is a major cause of many lives however, robot vacuums make it more enjoyable. Modern models mop and can even climb (small) steps.
They have a small trash bin which they empty themselves and some of them can be operated by a smartphone app instead of an actual remote. Some models have mapping features that assist in navigation.
1. Power
With 8,000Pa of suction power Our top pick for robot hoover and mop vacuums is durable enough to handle the worst hairs and dirt. The ultra-thin design of the square allows it to slide under furniture such as beds and sofas and its Dual-Laser LiDAR technology provides intelligent navigation and accurate obstacle avoidance. It also does an excellent job at cleaning up pet hair baking soda, sand, and other debris close to the baseboards and in corners.
Other high-powered robots in this list apart from the DEEBOT X2 OMNI, include the IRobot Roomba j7+ as well as the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. The Roborock S8 Pro Ultra includes docking stations that automatically handles maintenance. It also comes with mopping capabilities. Its powerful suction system, along with its effective mopping, kept my floors clean of pet hair, muddy prints and other messes on all floors we test.
In the lower price range, a model with a suction capacity of around 2,500Pa is sufficient for the majority of homes. They are also quieter and, therefore, a better choice for those with sensitive ears. They're not silent, but they're only about the same as normal conversations at home.
To find the ideal balance of performance and convenience Consider your cleaning requirements and budget. A regular light-duty cleaning schedule requires longer time to run and lower suction, while weekly high-volume cleaning requires a lot of power. Examine your flooring, layout of your home, and cleaning schedules before selecting the right model. We recommend looking through our entire list of robot vacuum reviews and ratings for more details about the latest models available. Many customers report that their carpets and bare floors look cleaner after using a robot cleaner with mop vacuum.
2. Navigation
A robot vacuum isn't able to perform its job properly without knowing how to navigate your home. The most advanced robots utilize sophisticated navigation technologies to scan rooms and build maps, ensuring thorough cleaning without getting stuck or hitting obstacles. There are three major types of robot navigation: LiDAR-based sensor-based and camera-based.
LiDAR is used by the most expensive models to create a virtual space map, which provides the highest levels in precision and efficiency. The less expensive models depend on bump sensors which can be more inaccurate and tend to miss the majority of debris in dark spaces. The majority of robots have cliff sensors to prevent them from falling down stairs or other falls.
A variety of robots I tested utilized object recognition to efficiently navigate objects such as fake cords and dog turds, but the best was the Eufy X10. It had excellent mapping capabilities with powerful oscillating mops, an intuitive app and the ability to clean by zones, rooms or even the entire house.
Other features worth a look include floor type sensors that can detect carpets that are hard and soft automatically increasing suction power when necessary. Certain robots, like the Roborock mop, utilize a mopping pad lift to get into corners and eliminate dried spills. Many hybrids can apply cleaning solutions to staining that is difficult to remove.
A smaller bin will require less frequent emptying while bigger ones will cost less to replace. The cheapest robotic cleaners usually utilize a small disposable dust bag, whereas the majority of mid-range models come with larger dust bins of 3L that last for decades. Certain high-end robots, such as the ECOVACS DEEBOT OMNI Station are able to self-empty and fill up their water tank for hands-free convenience.
3. App control
The top robot vacuums have an app that allows you to monitor cleaning progress and schedule your sessions, and most can connect to smart home devices to allow hands-free control. Many robot vacuums can also be controlled via voice using Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Certain models come with a remote control that lets you start or pause and then return to dock. Look for a model with larger dustbins that self-empty, rather than one that requires manual emptying.
Certain robovacs come with mapping technology that helps them avoid obstacles like furniture and stairs. Others allow you to designate no-go zones and targeted rooms, so that they only clean the areas that require the most. They also have a cliff detector to prevent them from falling, which is especially beneficial in multi-level homes.
If you intend to make use of your robot vacuum to clean your rugs pick one that can perform both dry mopping and wet. You'll get better results from the robot vacuum that can remove its own mop pad as well, which you can then rinse and reattach when it comes time for another cleaning cycle. Also, look for a model that has a rubber roll that is less prone to tangles from pet hair and other debris than bristle rollers that is found on cheaper models. It's a good idea inspect the robot's brushroll as well as side brushes for debris that has gotten stuck once or twice a week as well. If you notice that they're beginning to get clogged up it could be time to purchase replacement parts.
4. Collection of debris
As the name suggests, robot vacuums are designed to remove dust and other debris from your floors. The best robot vacuums with mop vacuums can collect small particles such as baking soda and sand, and larger ones like metal screws orzo, as well as pet hair. They also deliver better results on carpets with low pile than manual vacuums.
The top-performing robots across all flooring types had scores greater than 95%. The two top-performing robots in this category were the ECOVACS DEEBOT X2 OMNI and the Roborock Q Revo. Both are highly automated and feature robust docking stations that do maintenance on their own, and features in the app that make them extremely user-friendly.
They both have self-emptying bins that eliminate the contents of the wastebasket. They also have the ability to clean the washboards as they mow. They also feature 8,000Pa suction and smart mapping technology and advanced obstacle avoidance that helps them find their way around even the most difficult areas. The ECOVACS model is also among the few robots we tested that can take its mop pads and vacuum carpet, which makes it the best option for those who need to switch between mopping and vacuuming frequently.
If you're looking for a less expensive alternative, we suggest the iRobot Roomba Combo J7+, our budget pick. It features LIDAR navigation and decent performance in the field of debris pickup for the price. It's slow to map rooms and is susceptible to bumping into obstacles, however, it's cheaper than our other top picks.
5. Battery life
The most effective robot vacuums are designed to let you go moving with your day while keeping your floors looking spick and clean. While you'll still need to give your home a manual vacuum every now and again robot vacuums can help you maintain a baseline level of cleanliness, and even wash while you're away from home.
Choose a robovac that has a long-lasting battery to get the most of it. A good guideline is to expect a model to last about two cleaning sessions if you use it at the maximum power setting. This is smaller than a larger vacuum however, it should be enough to clean most homes. If you don't like to sit around waiting for your robovac recharges you could choose an automatic model that makes its way back to the base station to recharge.
If you're looking for a robot with a bit of everything in it, you should consider an option that also mop. Eufy's X10 is the top model in this class and provides self-emptying, auto-draining and self-refilling of the dust bin, water tank and mop pad. It can even be programmed to automatically re-fill and wash its own mops when they're empty.
Its dependable carpet and hard floor pick-up excellent hair pickup, tangle-free, and a near-perfect auto empty score make it the clear winner of our test scores. It's not cheap, however and unless you live in a a small home without pets, it may be too expensive for some. The Dreametech D10+ is the runner-up and has a similar performance, but costs around 25% less.