The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Robot vacuums can make the chore of vacuuming a little less painful. Today's models also mop and climb (small) stairs.
They have a tiny dustbin that they empty themselves and some are controlled by smartphone apps instead of the physical remote. Some have mapping features that help them navigate more efficiently.
1. Power
Our top pick for robotic vacuums has a suction power of 8,000Pa, which is enough to get rid of even the most difficult hairs and dirt. Its slim square shape enables it to slide beneath furniture such as couches and beds. Dual-Laser LIDAR technology offers precise obstacle avoidance as well as intelligent navigation. It is also great at cleaning pet hair, baking powder and other debris that can be found near baseboards and corners.
Apart from the DEEBOT X2 OMNI bot, other high-powered bots on this list include the IRobot Roomba J7+ and the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. The Roborock S8 Pro Ultra comes with a docking station which automatically performs maintenance. It also comes with mopping capabilities. Its powerful suction system, along with its efficient mopping, made sure my floors were free of pet hair, muddy prints and other debris on every type of floor we test.
A model with 2500Pa suction should be sufficient for homes that are in the lower price range. They are also quieter and, therefore, a better choice for those who have sensitive ears. They aren't silent, however they are not about the same as normal conversations at home.
Think about your budget and cleaning needs to find the perfect combination of power and convenience. A regular light-duty cleaning schedule requires longer runtime and a lower suction, while weekly heavy-duty cleaning demands maximum power. Then assess your flooring, home layouts and cleaning schedules in order to choose the right model for your needs. We recommend checking out our complete list of robot vacuum reviews and ratings for more information on the latest models available. Many users have reported that their carpets and bare floors look cleaner after using a robotic vacuum.
2. Navigation
A robot vacuum isn't able to do its job without knowing how to navigate your home. The best robots employ sophisticated navigation technology to scan rooms and build a map, ensuring thorough cleaning without getting stuck or hitting obstacles. There are three main types of robot navigation: LiDAR-based, camera-based and sensor-based.
The most expensive models utilize LiDAR to create a digital map of the room, delivering the highest level of accuracy and efficiency. Bump sensors are employed in cheaper models, but they aren't always accurate and miss a lot debris when working in dark places. Most robots come with cliff sensors to keep them from falling down stairs or other drops.
Many of the robots I tried used object recognition to navigate things such as cords and fake dog turds. But the Eufy X10 was the best. It had superb mapping capabilities, powerful oscillating mops, an easy-to-use app, and the ability to clean by zones, rooms or even the whole home.
Other features worth considering include floor type sensors that recognize carpets that are hard and soft and automatically boost suction power when required. Some robots, such as the Roborock mop utilize mopping pad that lifts to reach into corners and clean dry spills. Many hybrids can apply cleaning solution on the most difficult stains.
A smaller dustbin will require less frequent emptying, whereas a larger one will save money on replacements. The cheapest robotic cleaners usually use a small disposable dust bag, whereas most mid-range models have larger 3L dustbins that last for many years. Certain high-end robots, such as the ECOVACS DEEBOT OMNI Station are able to self-empty and fill up their water tanks, allowing hands-free convenience.
3. App control
The best robot vacuums come with an app that allows you to monitor the progress of cleaning and schedule sessions and can connect to your smart home devices to allow hands-free control. They also sync with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for voice-based control. Some models have a separate remote control that lets you start the process, pause it and then return to dock. Find a model with larger dustbins that self-empty, as opposed to one that requires manual emptying.
Some robovacs have mapping technology that helps them avoid obstacles such as furniture and stairs. Others let you set no-go zones or targeted rooms, so that they only clean the areas that need it most. They also have cliff sensors to stop them from falling down stairs, which is especially helpful in multi-level homes.
If you are planning to utilize your robot vacuum to clean your rugs, opt for a model that can do both dry mopping as well as wet. You'll get better cleaning results if your robot vacuum can also take off its mop pad. Clean it and reconnect it when you want to run a new cleaning cycle. Also, look for a model that has a rubber roll, which is less prone to tangles due to pet hair and other debris than a bristle roll like those found on less expensive models. Check the robot's side brushes and brushroll for any debris that may have been stuck to them. Do this once or twice per week. If you notice that they're beginning to clog, it might be time to replace parts.
4. Collection of debris
Robot vacuums are created, as the name suggests to remove dust and other debris on your floors. The best ones are able to pick fine particles such as baking soda and sand as in larger pieces of orzo pasta, metal screws and pet hair. They also provide better results on carpets with low pile than manual vacuums.
The top-performing robots across all flooring types had scores over 95 percent. The two top performers in this category were the ECOVACS DEEBOT X2 OMNI and the Roborock Q Revo. Both are highly automated with robust docking stations that perform maintenance on their own and app features that make them extremely user-friendly.
Both have self-emptying bins which automatically empty the wastebasket. They can also clean the washboard while they mow. They also have an 8,000Pa vacuum cleaner, smart mapping technology, and advanced obstacle avoidance to help them navigate through even the most difficult of spaces. The ECOVACS robot is among the few that can vacuum carpet and remove the mop pads. This makes it an ideal choice for users who have to switch between mopping and vacuuming regularly.
If you're looking for a less expensive option, look into the Roomba Combo J7 by iRobot Plus, our budget choice. It comes with LIDAR navigation at reasonable prices and decent debris collection performance. It's a bit slow to map rooms and may be susceptible to hitting obstacles however it's much less expensive than our other top choices.
5. Battery life
The most effective robot vacuums let you move about your day while they keep your floors in perfect in good condition. Although you'll need to give your home a manual sweeping every now and then robot vacuums can help you maintain a baseline level of cleanliness, and even wash even when you're away.
Choose a robovac that has a long-lasting battery to get the most use of it. If you use the highest power setting, the model should last for about two cleaning sessions. This is less than a size vacuum cleaner, however it will be sufficient to provide for the majority of homes. If you don't like to be waiting around while your robovac recharges, you can also select an automatic model that makes its return to the base station to recharge.
If updated blog post want a robovac that does a bit of everything, think about an all-in-one model that can mop as well. Eufy's X10 is the top model in this category, offers self-emptying and self-refilling for the dust bin as well as the water tank and the mop pad. It is also programmable to automatically re-fill and wash its own mops when they're running low.
The clear winner of our tests is the Dyson V810, because of its impressive carpet and hard floor pickup, outstanding hair pickup, tangle-free performance and a near perfect auto empty score. It's expensive and, unless you live in a an apartment that is small and has no pets, it may be too costly for certain. The runner-up one, the Dreametech D10+, has identical performance, however it costs 25 percent less.