So You ve Bought Robot Vacuum ... Now What
The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Robot vacuums can make the task of vacuuming a bit less painful. Modern models can also mop, and even climb (small) steps.
Some have a small trash bin which they empty themselves. Others are controlled with apps for smartphones instead of an actual remote. Some models have mapping features that help them navigate more efficiently.
1. Power
Our top pick for robot vacuum cleaner best vacuums has suction power of 8000Pa, which is strong enough to remove even the most difficult hairs and dirt. Its slim square shape enables it to slide beneath furniture such as sofas and beds. Dual-Laser LIDAR technology allows for precise obstacle avoidance and intelligent navigation. It's also great at cleaning baking powder, pet hair and other messes around baseboards and corners.
Other high-powered robots that are listed besides the DEEBOT X2 OMNI, are the iRobot Roomba J7+ aswell as the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. The Roborock S8 Pro Ultra has docking station that automatically handles maintenance. It also comes with mopping capabilities. Its powerful suction, coupled with its effective mopping feature, kept my floors clean of pet hair, muddy prints and other debris on all floors we test.
In the lower price range, a unit with around 2,500Pa of suction is more than enough for the majority of homes. These units are quieter and, therefore, a better choice for those with sensitive ears. They're not quiet, but they're not about the same as a normal conversation at home.
Take into consideration your budget and cleaning requirements to determine the best combination of power and efficiency. Frequent light-duty tidying requires a longer runtime and lower suction, while weekly heavy-duty cleaning requires the most power. Take a look at your flooring, layout of your home and cleaning schedules in order to choose the right model for your requirements. We suggest looking through our complete list of robot vacuum reviews and ratings for more details about the latest models available. Many users report that their carpets and floor look cleaner after using a robot vacuum.
2. Navigation
A robot vacuum cannot do its job when it doesn't know how to navigate your home. For this reason, the best robot cleaner robots rely on sophisticated navigation technology that reliably scans rooms and creates a map to ensure thorough cleaning without getting lost or hitting obstacles. There are three kinds of robot navigation: LiDAR, camera and sensor.
LiDAR is employed by the most expensive models to create a virtual space map, which offers the highest levels of precision and efficiency. Cheaper models depend on bump sensors which are more prone to error and can miss the majority of debris in dark areas. The majority of robots have cliff sensors to keep them from falling down stairs or other falls.
Many of the robots I tried used object recognition to navigate around things like cords and fake dog turds. But the Eufy X10 was the best automatic vacuum. It had superb mapping capabilities and powerful oscillating mops that could be used as an intuitive app and the ability to clean a area, room or the whole house.
Consider features such as floor type sensors that automatically increase suction power when needed. Certain robots such as the Roborock mop use a mopping pad lift that allows you to get into corners and clean dry spills. Many hybrids are able to apply cleaning solutions to staining that is difficult to remove.
A smaller dustbin means less frequent emptying, and a larger one will save you money on replacements. Most low-cost robotic cleaners use a small, disposable dust bag. However, most middle-priced models have larger 3L dustbins which last a long time. Certain high-end robots, such as the ECOVACS DEEBOT OMNI Station are able to self-empty and refill their water tank for hands-free convenience.
3. App control
The top robot vacuums have an app that allows you to monitor the progress of cleaning and schedule sessions and connect to your smart home devices for hands-free control. Many robot vacuums can be controlled using voice commands, such as Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Some models have an on-screen remote that allows you to begin the process, pause it, and return to dock. Pick a model that comes with a larger trash bin and can self-empty, rather than one that requires manual emptying.
Some robots are equipped with technology for mapping to help them avoid obstacles such as furniture and stairs. Others allow you to set no-go zones or targeted rooms, so that they only clean the areas that require it the most. They also have cliff sensor to stop them from falling, which is beneficial in multi-level homes.
If you plan to make use of your robot vacuums that mop vacuum to clean your rugs, opt for one that is capable of both dry and wet mopping. You'll get better cleaning results when your vacuum can also remove its mop pad. Rinse it and then attach it again when you are ready to run another cleaning cycle. Also, look for a machine that has a rubber roller, which is less prone to knots caused by pet hair and other debris than a bristle roll that is found on less expensive models. It's a good idea inspect the robot's brushroll as well as side brushes for debris stuck on once or twice a week as well. If you notice that they are beginning to get clogged up it might be time to buy replacement parts.
4. Collection of debris
Robot vacuums are designed to, as the name suggests, to gather dust and debris on your floors. The best robot vacuums will collect small particles such as baking soda and sand and larger ones like screws made of metal, orzo, and pet hair. They also provide better pick-up results on low-pile carpets than most manual vacuums.
In all flooring types, the top performing robots had pick-up scores of greater than 95%. The two top performers in this category were the ECOVACS DEEBOT X2 OMNI, and the Roborock Q Revo. Both are highly automated, equipped with docking stations that perform maintenance on their own, and apps that make them extremely user-friendly.
Both have self-emptying bins that automatically empty the wastebasket. They can also clean the washboards as they mow. They also have suction of 8,000Pa, smart mapping technology, and advanced obstacle avoidance that can help them find their way around even the most challenging spaces. The ECOVACS robot is among the few that can vacuum carpet and remove the mop pads. This makes it a perfect choice for users who have to switch between mopping and vacuuming often.
If you're looking for a less expensive option, check out the Roomba Combo J7 by iRobot Plus, our budget choice. It has LIDAR navigation and decent performance in the field of debris pickup for the price. It is slow when it comes to mapping rooms and has a tendency of hitting obstacles, but the cost is lower than the other choices.
5. Battery life
The most effective robot vacuums let you move about your day while they keep your floors in top state. While you'll still have to give your home a manual vacuum every now and then robot vacuums can help you maintain a standard of cleanliness, and even wash while you're away from home.
To maximize the time you can use your robovac, choose the model that has a high battery life. A good rule of thumb is to expect a model to last for around two full cleaning sessions if you run it at the highest power setting. This is not as long as a large vacuum cleaner, but it should be enough to be sufficient for most homes. If you don't want to wait while your robovac charges, you can choose one that will automatically return to the base station to charge.
If you're looking for a robot hoover that does a little amount of everything, you should consider an all-in-one model that is able to mop as well. Eufy's X10 is the most effective model in this category and provides self-emptying, auto-draining and self-refilling of the dust container as well as the mop pad. It can even be programmed to automatically re-fill and wash mops when they're running low.
The clear winner in our tests is the Dyson V810, thanks to its impressive carpet and hard floor pickup, excellent hair pickup, tangle-free performance and a near perfect auto empty score. It's not cheap, however and unless you have a a small home without pets, it may be too pricey for some. The second-placed model is the Dreametech D10+, has identical performance, but is priced 25% less.