The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Vacuuming is the bane of a lot of people's lives however, robot vacuums make it a little less tedious. Modern models can also mop and even climb (small) steps.

Some have a small bin that they empty by themselves. Others can be controlled via a smartphone app rather than the physical remote. Some of them have mapping capabilities that assist in navigating your home with greater efficiency.

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 ultra-thin square shape allows it to slide under furniture like couches and beds. Dual-Laser LIDAR technology allows for accurate obstacle avoidance and intelligent navigation. It is also great at cleaning pet hair, baking powder and other debris that can be found near baseboards and corners.

In addition to the DEEBOT X2 OMNI bot, other powerful bots in this list include the iRobot Roomba J7+ and the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. The Roborock S8 Pro Ultra comes with docking station that automatically handles maintenance. It also has mopping capabilities. Its powerful suction, combined with its efficient mopping, made sure my floors were free of pet hair, muddy prints, and other messes on all floors we tested.

A model with 2500Pa suction should be sufficient for most homes in the lower price range. These models are quieter, making them a better choice for people who have sensitive hearing. They're not silent but they are only the same volume as conversations at home.

Think about your budget and cleaning needs to find the right combination of power and usability. Frequent light-duty tidying requires a longer time to run and lower suction, while weekly heavy-duty cleaning demands maximum power. Assess your flooring, layout of your home and cleaning schedule prior to selecting the right model. We recommend looking through our entire list of robot vacuum reviews and ratings for more information on the latest models available. Many users report having their carpets and floors appear cleaner after introducing a robot vacuum in their home.

2. Navigation

A robot vacuum isn't able to perform its task when it doesn't know how to navigate your home. Because of this, the best robots use advanced navigation technology that effectively scans rooms and then creates a map to ensure thorough cleaning without being lost or hitting obstacles. There are three kinds of robot vacuum uk navigation: LiDAR-based camera-based and sensor-based.

The most expensive models utilize LiDAR to create a digital map of the room. This model offers the highest levels of precision and efficiency. Bump sensors are utilized in less expensive models, but they aren't always accurate and miss a lot debris when working in dark environments. The majority of robots have cliff sensors to keep them from falling down stairs or other falls.

Many of the robots I tried used objects recognition to navigate through things like cords and fake dog turds. However, the Eufy X10 was the best. It was a fantastic mapping device with powerful oscillating mops, an easy-to-use app, and the ability to clean a zone, room or entire home.

Other features worth a look include floor type sensors that can detect carpets that are hard and soft and automatically boost suction power when needed. Certain robots, like the Roborock mop, utilize a mopping pad lift to get into corners and eliminate dried spills. Many hybrids are able to apply cleaning solutions to staining that is difficult to remove.

A smaller bin will mean less frequent emptying however, a larger one can save you money on replacements. The majority of low-cost robotic cleaners utilize an inexpensive disposable dust bag. However, most mid-range models have larger dustbins of 3L that last for a long period of time. Certain high-end robots, such as the ECOVACS DEEBOT OMNI Station are able to self-empty and fill up their water tanks for hands-free convenience.

3. App control

The best robot vacs have an app that lets you monitor cleaning progress and schedule your sessions and can connect to smart home devices for hands-free control. A lot of robot vacuums can be controlled using voice commands, such as Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Some models have a remote control that allows you to begin the process, pause it, and return to dock. Pick a model that comes with an extra large dustbin and is able to self-empty, rather than one that requires manual emptying.

Certain robovacs come with mapping technology that helps them avoid obstacles such as furniture and stairs. Some robovacs allow you to designate no-go zones and specific rooms so that they only clean the areas that require the most. They also have cliff sensor to stop them from falling, which is beneficial in multi-level homes.

If you intend to use your robot vacuum to clean your rugs pick a model that can do both dry mopping as well as wet. You'll get better results from a robot vacuum reviews vac that can remove its own mop pad and then rinse and reattach when it comes time for another cleaning cycle. Also, look for a machine with a rubber roller that is less susceptible to tangles due to pet hair and other debris than bristle rollers that is found on smaller models. Check the robot's side brush and brushroll for any debris that has gotten stuck on. Do this at least twice per week. If you notice that they're getting clogged it might be time to replace parts.

4. Debris collection

As the name implies, robot vacuums are designed to collect dust and other debris from your floors. The most effective ones can pick fine particles such as baking soda and sand as larger pieces such as orzo pasta, metal screws and pet hair. They also deliver better results on carpets with low pile than many manual vacuums.

The top-performing robots across all flooring types had a pickup score higher 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 with docking stations that can perform maintenance on their own, and apps that make them extremely user-friendly.

Both have self-emptying bins that take the contents of the wastebasket and can clean the washboard while you mow. They also have an 8,000Pa vacuum, intelligent mapping technology and advanced obstacle avoidance that helps them navigate through the most difficult spaces. The ECOVACS robot is one of the few that can vacuum carpet and take away mop pads. This makes it an ideal option for people who need to switch between mopping and vacuuming regularly.

If you're seeking a lower-cost alternative, take a look at the Roomba Combo J7 from iRobot Plus, our budget choice. It comes with LIDAR navigation and decent performance in the field of debris pickup for the price. It can be a bit slow at mapping out rooms and has a tendency of bumping into obstacles, but the cost is lower than the other choices.

5. Battery life

The most effective robot vacuum that vacuums and mops vacuums let you get on with your day while they keep your floors in pristine in good condition. While you'll still have to give your home a manual sweeping every now and again robot vacuums that mop vacuums can help you maintain a baseline level of tidiness and even clean when you're away.

To maximize the amount of time you get from your robovac, make sure you choose a model with excellent battery life. If you use the highest power setting, the model should last two cleaning sessions. This is less than a full-sized vacuum, however, it should be enough to get the job done in most homes. If you don't want 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 to buy a robovac with a variety of features in it, then consider one that is able to mop. Eufy's X10, the best model in this class, offers self-emptying and self-refilling for the dust bin as well as the water tank and the mop pad. It can even be programmed to automatically refill and wash its own mops when they're running low.

Its dependable carpet and hard floor pickup as well as its excellent hair pickup and tangle prevention, and its an almost perfect auto empty score make it the clear winner of our test scores. It's not cheap, and unless you have an apartment that is small and has no pets, it might be too costly for certain. The runner-up, the Dreametech D10+, has the same performance, but is priced 25% less.