The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Vacuuming is a major cause of a lot of people's lives However, robot vacuums make it less tedious. Today's models also mop and can even climb (small) steps.
Some have a small trash bin that they empty on their own. Others can be controlled by apps for smartphones instead of an actual remote. Some come with mapping features to aid in navigation.
1. Power
Our top pick for robotic vacuums has a suction power of 8000Pa, which is strong enough to get rid of even the most stubborn hairs and dirt. Its ultra-thin square design allows it to slide under furniture like sofas and beds and its Dual-Laser LiDAR technology provides intelligent navigation and accurate obstacle avoidance. It is also great at cleaning pet hair, baking powder, and other debris near corners and baseboards.
Other high-powered robots that are listed apart from the DEEBOT X2 OMNI, are the iRobot Roomba J7+ as well as the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. The Roborock S8 Pro Ultra includes a docking station which automatically performs maintenance. It also comes with mopping capabilities. Its powerful suction, combined with its effective mopping feature, kept my floors clean of pet hair, muddy prints and other debris on every floor we tested.
A model that has 2,500Pa suction will suffice for most homes in the lower price range. These units are quieter, which makes them an ideal choice for people who have sensitive hearing. They're not silent, but they're only as loud as normal conversations at home.
To get the most effective mix of power and usability, consider your cleaning needs and budget. For regular light-duty cleaning it is recommended to have a longer runtime and less suction is recommended. Cleaning that is heavy-duty every week requires the most power. Then assess your flooring, layout of your home and cleaning schedules in order to determine the best model for your needs. Check out our complete list of robot vacuum reviews and ratings to learn more about the most recent models. Many users have reported having their carpets and floors appear cleaner after introducing a robotic vacuum to their home.
2. best robot cleaner can't do its job effectively when it doesn't know how to get around 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 getting lost or hitting obstacles. There are three types of robot navigation: LiDAR-based, sensor-based, and camera-based.
The most expensive models employ LiDAR to create a digital map of the room. This model offers the highest level of accuracy and efficiency. The less expensive models depend on bump sensors, which can be more inaccurate and can miss a lot of debris in dark spaces. The majority of robots have cliff sensors, which prevent them from falling off stairs or other drops.
Many of the robots I tried used object recognition to navigate around things like fake dog turds. However, the Eufy X10 was the best. It had powerful mop heads that oscillate and a user-friendly app with excellent mapping capabilities.
Other features worth a look include floor type sensors that can detect hard floors and soft carpet automatically increasing suction power when required. Certain robots, like the Roborock mops, use a mopping pad lift to get into corners and tackle dried spills. Many hybrids can apply cleaning solution on the most difficult stains.
A smaller size of the bin means less frequent emptying, and a larger one will save you money on replacements. The cheapest robotic cleaners usually employ a tiny disposable dust bag, but most mid-range models have larger 3L dustbins that can last for many years. 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 top robot vacuums have an app that allows you to monitor cleaning progress and schedule your sessions, and most can connect to your smart home devices for hands-free control. Many also can sync with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant to allow voice-controlled control. Certain models come with an on-screen remote that lets you start, pause, and return to dock. Pick a model that comes with a larger trash bin and can self-empty rather than one that needs manual emptying.
Certain robovacs come with mapping technology that helps them avoid obstacles like furniture and stairs. Some allow you to create no-go zones or specific rooms, ensuring that they only clean areas that need it most. They also have cliff sensors to stop them from falling down the stairs, which is particularly helpful in multi-level homes.
If you are planning to use your robot vacuum to clean rugs, opt for one that is capable of dry and wet mopping. You'll have better results cleaning if your robot vacuum can remove its mop pad. Rinse it and then reattach it when you need to run another cleaning cycle. Look for robots with the rubber roller. This is less likely to tangle from pet hair or other particles. Check the robot's side brush and brushroll for any debris that has gotten stuck on. Do this once or twice a week. If you notice they are getting clogged, it may be time to purchase replacement parts.
4. Debris collection
As the name suggests robot vacuums are made to remove dust and other debris from your floors. The best robot vacuums can collect small particles such as sand and baking soda, and larger ones like metal screws orzo, pet hair. They also get better pickup results on carpets with low pile than manual vacuums.
The top-performing robots across all flooring types had scores higher than 95 percent. The two top-performing robots in this category were the ECOVACS DEEBOT X2 OMNI and the Roborock Q Revo. Both are highly automated, with robust docking stations that can perform maintenance on their own. They also have app features that make them incredibly user-friendly.
They both have self-emptying bins that collect the waste from the wastebasket, and clean the washboard while mowing. They also have an 8,000Pa vacuum, intelligent mapping technology and advanced obstacle avoidance technology to help them navigate through even the most difficult spaces. The ECOVACS robot is one of the few that can clean carpet and remove mop pads. This makes it a perfect option for those who need to switch between mopping and vacuuming regularly.
If you're looking for a less expensive option, look into the Roomba Combo J7 from iRobot Plus, our budget choice. It features LIDAR navigation and decent debris pickup performance for the price. It's not the fastest to map out rooms and is susceptible to crashing into obstacles, however it's much less expensive than our other top picks.
5. Battery life
The most effective robot vacuums let you move about your day while keeping your floors in pristine condition. While you'll still have to give your home a manual hoover every now and then robot vacuums can help you maintain a standard of cleanliness and even keep your home clean even when you're away.
To maximize the time you get from your robovac, look for the model that has a high battery life. If you choose to use the most powerful power setting, the model should last for about two cleaning sessions. This is smaller than a large vacuum however, it should be enough to clean most homes. If you don't want to wait while your robovac charges you can opt for an option that will automatically return to the base station for charging.
If you're looking for a robovac with a variety of features in it, you should consider a robot that can also mop. Eufy's X10 is the best model in this category. It offers self-emptying, self-draining and self-refilling of the dust container as well as the mop pad. It can be programmed to automatically refill and wash its mops once they are out.
Its respectable carpet and hard floor pick-up excellent hair pickup, tangle-free, and a close to perfect auto empty scores make it the clear winner of our test scores. It's not cheap and, unless you live in a the space of a small home with no pets, it could be too costly for certain. The second-placed model is the Dreametech D10+, has very similar performance but costs about 25% less.