The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Vacuuming is the bane of many people's existence However, robot vacuums make it a little less tedious. Today's models also mop and climb (small) stairs.
Some have a small bin that they empty on their own. Others can be controlled via apps for smartphones instead of the physical remote. Some models have mapping features that help them navigate more efficiently.
1. Power
Our top pick for robot vacuums has a suction power of 8,000Pa, which is powerful enough to get rid of even the most stubborn dirt patches and hairs. Its ultra-thin square design allows it to slide underneath furniture, such as beds and sofas and its Dual-Laser LiDAR technology provides precise navigation and accurate obstacle avoidance. It is also great at cleaning pet hair, baking powder and other messes around corners and baseboards.
Other high-powered robots on this list, in addition to the DEEBOT X2 OMNI, include the iRobot Roomba j7+ as well as the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. The latter comes with a powerful docking station that automatically performs maintenance and has mopping functionality as well. Its powerful suction and effective mopping made sure my floors were free of pet hair and muddy footprints and other debris during every floor type test we ran.
A model that has 2,500Pa suction will suffice for most homes in the lower price range. They are also quieter, which makes them an ideal option for those with sensitive hearing. They're still not silent, but they're only about the same as a normal conversation at home.
For the best mix of power and usability Consider your cleaning requirements and budget. A regular light-duty cleaning schedule requires longer runtime and lower suction, while weekly high-volume cleaning requires a lot of power. Assess your flooring, layout of your home, and cleaning schedules before choosing 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 users report seeing their carpets and bare floors looking significantly cleaner after introducing a robot vacuum in their home.
2. Navigation
A robot vacuum isn't able to perform its job properly if it doesn't know how to navigate your home. Because of this, the most effective robots depend on sophisticated navigation technology that reliably scans rooms and builds a map to ensure thorough cleaning without getting lost or hitting obstacles. There are three kinds of robot navigation: LiDAR-based, sensor-based and camera-based.
LiDAR is utilized by the most expensive models to create a virtual room map, offering the highest levels in precision and efficiency. The less expensive models depend on bump sensors which can be more inaccurate and tend to miss many debris in dark areas. Many robots also have cliff sensors to keep them from falling down stairs or other drops.
A number of the robots I tested utilized object recognition to navigate around things like fake dog turds. However, the Eufy X10 was the best. It had superb mapping capabilities with powerful oscillating mops, an easy-to-use app, and the ability to clean by area, room or the all of the home.
Consider features such as sensors that detect floors that automatically boost suction power when required. Some robots, such as the Roborock mop, utilize a mopping pad lift to reach corners and clean up dried spills. Many hybrids are able to apply cleaning solution on the most difficult stains.
A smaller dustbin will require less frequent emptying, whereas larger ones can save money on replacements. The most affordable robotic cleaners generally use a small disposable dust bag, but the majority of mid-range models come with larger 3L dustbins that last for ages. Certain premium robots such as the EcoVACS DEEBOT OMNI Station are able to self-empty and refill their water tanks for hands-free convenience.
3. App control
The best robot vacuums come with an app that lets you monitor cleaning progress and schedule 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 allows you to begin or pause and then return to dock. Find a model with larger dustbins that self-empty instead of one that requires manual emptying.
Some robovacs have technology for mapping to help them avoid obstacles like stairs and furniture. Others let you designate no-go zones and targeted rooms, so that they only clean the areas that need it most. They also have a cliff sensor to prevent them from falling, which is particularly helpful in multi-leveled homes.
If you are planning to make use of your robot vacuum to clean rugs pick a model that can do dry mopping and wet. You'll get better results with an vac that is able to remove its own mop pad, too, which you can then wash and reattach when it comes time for another cleaning cycle. Also, look for a machine that has a rubber roller, which is less prone to tangles from pet hair and other debris than bristle rollers, as found on some less expensive models. It's recommended to examine the robot's brushroll and side brushes for stuck-on debris every once or twice per week as well. If you notice that they're starting to clog, it may be time to purchase replacement parts.
4. Debris collection
Robot vacuums are made to, as the name suggests, to collect dust and debris on your floors. The best ones pick up fine particles like baking soda and sand as as larger pieces like orzo pasta, metal screws, and pet hair. They also have better pickup results on carpets with low piles than manual vacuums.
robot vacuum uk -performing robots across all flooring types had scores over 95%. The ECOVACS DEEBOT X2 OMNI and the Roborock Q Revo were the two best-performing bots in this category. Both are highly automated, with docking stations that perform maintenance on their own, and app features which make them extremely user-friendly.
They both have self-emptying bins that suck up the contents of the wastebasket and can clean the washboard while you mow. They also come with an 8,000Pa vacuum cleaner, smart mapping technology, and advanced obstacle avoidance technology to help them navigate even the most difficult spaces. The ECOVACS robot is among the few that can vacuum carpet and remove mop pads. This makes it a perfect option for people who need to switch between mopping and vacuuming regularly.
If you want a cheaper alternative, we suggest the Roomba Combo J7 from iRobot+, our budget choice. It features LIDAR navigation for a reasonable price and a decent debris collection performance. It's a bit slow to map rooms and is susceptible to bumping into obstacles, however it's much less expensive than our other best-buy choices.
5. Battery life
The most effective robot vacuums are designed to let you get on with your life while keeping your floors in tip-top span. While you'll still need to give your home a manual sweeping every now and again, robovacs can help you maintain a standard of cleanliness and even keep your home clean while you're away from home.
To maximize the time you can get out of your robovac, look for a model with excellent battery life. A good guideline is to expect a robovac to last for about two full cleaning sessions if you run it on the highest power setting. This is smaller than a larger vacuum but should be sufficient to clean most homes. If you don't wish to wait while your robovac recharges you can select a model that will automatically return to the base station for charging.
If you are looking for a robovac that does a little bit of everything, consider an all-in-one machine that is able to mop as well. Eufy's X10, the best model in this class has self-emptying and self-refilling for the dust bin, the water tank, and mop pad. It can also be programmed to automatically refill and wash its own mops when they're low.
Its high-quality carpet and hard floor pickup, great hair pickup and tangle prevention, and its near-perfect auto empty score makes it the clear winner of our test scores. It's not cheap, however and unless you live in the smallest of homes with no pets, it could be too expensive for some. The Dreametech D10+ is the runner-up and has a similar performance, but it costs 25 percent less.