The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Robot vacuums can make the chore of vacuuming a bit less painful. Today’s models also mop and climb (small) stairs.

Some have a small bin which they empty themselves. Others are controlled with an app on your smartphone instead of a physical remote. Some have mapping capabilities that aid in navigating your home more effectively.

1. Power

With 8,000Pa of suction power, our top pick for robot vacuums is strong enough to take care of the most difficult dirt patches and hairs. Its slim square shape enables it to slide underneath furniture, such as sofas and beds. Dual-Laser LIDAR technology offers precise obstacle avoidance as well as intelligent navigation. It also does a fantastic job at cleaning up pet hair baking soda, sand, and other debris close to the baseboards and in corners.

In addition to the DEEBOT X2 OMNI, the other powerful bots in this list include the iRobot Roomba j7+ and the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. The Roborock S8 Pro Ultra has a docking station which automatically performs maintenance. It also comes with mopping capabilities. Its powerful suction system, along with its effective mopping, made sure my floors were free of pet hair, muddy prints and other debris on every floor we test.

A model with 2,500Pa suction is sufficient for most homes in the lower price range. These models are quieter, and are therefore a better choice for those with sensitive ears. They aren’t silent, but they’re not the same volume as conversations at home.

For the best mix of usability and power take into consideration your cleaning needs and budget. Regular light-duty cleaning requires a longer time to run and lower suction, whereas weekly heavy-duty cleaning requires the most power. Assess your flooring, home layout and cleaning schedule prior to selecting the right model. We recommend checking out our complete list of robot vacuum reviews and ratings for more details on the most recent models available. Many users report that their carpets and bare floors appear cleaner after using a robot automatic vacuum and mop robot.

2. Navigation

A robot autonomous vacuum won’t be able to do its job effectively if it doesn’t know how to get around your home. For this reason, the best robots use advanced navigation technology that effectively scans rooms and builds an outline map to ensure thorough cleaning without getting lost or hitting obstacles. There are three kinds of robot 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 level of accuracy and efficiency. Cheaper models depend on bump sensors, which are more prone to error and tend to miss a lot of debris in dark areas. The majority of robots that vacuum and mop have cliff sensors to keep them from falling down stairs or other drops.

Several robots I tested used object recognition to navigate things like cords and fake dog turds. But the Eufy X10 was the best. It had superb mapping capabilities and powerful oscillating mops that could be used as an easy-to-use app, and the ability to clean a specific zones, rooms or even the whole house.

Take into consideration features such as sensors that detect floors that automatically increase suction power when required. Certain robots, like the Roborock mop, make use of a mopping pad lift to reach corners and clean up dried spills. Many hybrids can apply cleaning solution on staining that is difficult to remove.

A smaller bin will require less frequent emptying, whereas a larger one will cost less to replace. The most affordable robotic cleaners generally utilize a small disposable dust bag, whereas the mid-range models typically have larger 3L dustbins that last for ages. Certain high-end robots, such as the EcoVACS DEEBOT OMNI Station will self-empty and refill their water tanks, allowing hands-free convenience.

3. App control

The best robot vacuums come with an app that lets you monitor the progress of cleaning and schedule sessions and can connect to smart home devices to allow hands-free control. Many robot vacuums can be controlled using voice commands, such as Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Certain models come with a remote control 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 needs manual emptying.

Some robots are equipped with mapping technology that helps them remember obstacles, such as the stairs, and also avoid running into furniture. Others allow you to create no-go zones or specific rooms, so that they only clean areas that need it most. They also have a cliff sensor to keep them from falling, which is beneficial in multi-level homes.

If you plan to utilize your robot vacuum to clean your rugs choose one that can perform dry mopping as well as wet. You’ll get better results from the robot vacuum that can remove its own mop pad and then rinse and reconnect when it’s time to do another cleaning cycle. Also, look for a model with a rubber roller that is less susceptible to tangles due to pet hair and other debris than a bristle roll, as found on some less expensive models. Examine the robot’s side brushes and brushroll for any debris that might have become stuck on. Do this at least twice per week. If you notice that they’re beginning to get blocked, it could be time to buy replacement parts.

4. Collection of debris

Robot vacuums are made to, as the name suggests, to remove dust and other debris from your floors. The best robot vacuums can take small particles such as baking soda and sand, and larger ones such as metal screws orzo, pet hair. They also have better pickup results on carpets with low pile than the majority of manual vacuums.

In all flooring types, the top performing robots had pick-up scores of more than 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 can perform maintenance on their own and app features that make them extremely user-friendly.

Both have self-emptying bins that eliminate the contents of the wastebasket. They can also clean the washboards as they mow. They also have suction of 8,000Pa and smart mapping technology and advanced obstacle avoidance that can help them find their way around even the most difficult areas. The ECOVACS robot vacuum uk is among the few that can vacuum carpet and take away mop pads. This makes it a great 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 comes with LIDAR navigation at an affordable price and decent debris collection performance. It is slow at mapping out rooms and is prone to bumping against obstacles, but it is less than our other picks.

5. Battery life

The best robot vacuum and mop robot vacuums let you get on with your day while keeping your floors in perfect condition. 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 when you’re away.

To maximize the amount of time you can use your robovac, make sure you choose the model that has a high battery life. If you use the highest power setting, a model should last two cleaning sessions. This is less than a larger vacuum but should be sufficient to keep most homes clean. If you don’t want to wait for your robovac to recharge, you can choose a model that automatically returns to the base station to charge.

If you want a robovac that does a little bit of everything, consider an all-in-one model that can mop as well. Eufy’s X10 is the most effective model in this category. It includes self-emptying, self-draining and self-refilling of the dust bin as well as the mop pad. It is also programmable to automatically refill and wash mops when they’re empty.

Its respectable carpet and hard floor pick up, great hair pickup and tangle-free, and a near-perfect auto empty score makes it the clear winner of our test scores. However, it’s not cheap and unless you have a an apartment with no pets, it could be too expensive for some. The runner-up, the Dreametech D10+, has the same performance, but is priced 25% less.