The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Vacuuming is a major cause of a lot of people's lives, but robot vacuums make it a little easier. Modern models mop and can even climb (small) steps.
Some have a small bin which they empty themselves. Others are controlled with an app on your smartphone instead of the physical remote. Some come with mapping features to aid in navigation.
1. Power
Our top pick for robotic vacuums has suction power of 8,000Pa, which is powerful enough to eliminate even the most stubborn dirt patches and hairs. Its slim square shape enables it to slide underneath furniture like beds and sofas. Dual-Laser LIDAR technology provides precise obstacle avoidance as well as intelligent navigation. It also does a great job at cleaning pet hair baking soda, other debris that can be found near the baseboards as well as in corners.
Other high-powered robots in this list in addition to the DEEBOT X2 OMNI include the IRobot Roomba J7+ aswell as the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. The Roborock S8 Pro Ultra includes a docking station which automatically handles maintenance. It also has mopping capabilities. Its powerful suction and effective mopping helped keep my floors clear of pet hair and muddy footprints and other debris during every floor type test we ran.
A model that has 2,500Pa suction is sufficient for homes that are in the lower price range. have a peek at these guys are quieter and therefore a better option for those with sensitive ears. They're still not quiet, but they're not about the same as normal conversations at home.
To get the most effective mix of usability and power take into consideration your cleaning needs and budget. Regular light-duty cleaning requires a longer runtime and a lower suction, whereas weekly heavy-duty cleaning demands maximum power. Then assess your flooring, layout of your home and cleaning schedules to choose the right model to meet your needs. We suggest looking through our entire list of robot vacuum reviews and ratings to get more information on the latest models available. Many users report that their carpets and floors looking much cleaner after introducing a robotic vacuum in their home.
2. Navigation
A robot vacuum can't do its job well when 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 creates maps to ensure thorough cleaning without getting lost or hitting obstacles. There are three types of robot navigation including LiDAR, camera, and sensor.
The most expensive models employ LiDAR to build a virtual map of the room. This model offers the highest levels of precision and efficiency. Bump sensors are employed in lower-end models, however they can be inaccurate and miss a lot debris when working in dark environments. Most robots are equipped with cliff sensors to keep them from falling off stairs or other drops.
Several robots in my tests used object recognition to deftly navigate things like fake dog turds and cords, however, the best was the Eufy X10. It had powerful oscillating mop heads as well as a user-friendly application, and superb mapping capabilities.
Take into consideration features such as floor type sensors that automatically boost suction power when required. Certain robots such as the Roborock mop make use of mopping pad that lifts to reach into corners and clean dried spills. Many hybrids are able to apply cleaning solution to the most difficult stains.
A smaller bin will require less frequent emptying while a larger one will save money on replacements. Most low-cost robotic cleaners use a small disposable dust bag. However, most middle-priced models have larger 3L dustbins that last for a long time. Certain high-end robots, such as the EcoVACS DEEBOT OMNI station, can self-empty their trash bins and refill their water tanks for hands-free convenience.
3. App control
The majority of robot vacuums come with an app to monitor the progress of cleaning, schedule sessions and connect to smart home devices. A lot of robot vacuums can be controlled via voice using Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Some have a remote control that allows you to start the process, pause it and then return to dock. Choose a model that has larger dustbins that self-empty instead of one that requires manual emptying.
Some robovacs have mapping technology to help them avoid obstacles such as stairs and furniture. Some allow you to designate no-go zones and targeted rooms, so they only clean the areas that need it most. They also have a cliff detector to prevent them from falling, which is beneficial in multi-level homes.

If you intend to utilize your robot vacuum to clean your rugs, opt for one that can perform dry and wet mopping. You'll have better results cleaning if your robot vacuum can also remove its mop pad. Clean it and reattach it when you need to run a new cleaning cycle. Look for a robot with the rubber roller. It is less likely to become tangled from pet hair or other debris. Examine the robot's side brushes and brushroll for any debris that may have gotten stuck on. Do this once or every week. If you notice that they're starting to get blocked, it could be time to purchase replacement parts.
4. Collection of debris
Robot vacuums are made to, as the name suggests, to gather dust and debris from your floors. The most effective ones can pick small particles such as baking soda and sand as well 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 greater than 95%. The ECOVACS DEEBOT X2 OMNI and the Roborock Q Revo were the two best-performing bots in this category. Both are highly automated equipped with docking stations that do maintenance on their own and features in the app that make them extremely user-friendly.
Both come with self-emptying bins which automatically take the contents of the wastebasket, and clean the washboard while mowing. They also have suction of 8,000Pa and smart mapping technology and advanced obstacle avoidance that can help them navigate even the most difficult of areas. The ECOVACS model is also the only robots we tested that can remove its mop pads and vacuum carpet making it the ideal option for those who need to switch between mopping and vacuuming regularly.
If you're seeking a lower-cost option, check out the Roomba Combo J7 from iRobot Plus, our budget pick. It comes with LIDAR navigation and decent performance in the field of debris pickup for the price. It's slow to map out rooms and may be susceptible to bumping into obstacles, but it's less expensive than our other top-rated selections.
5. Battery life
The most effective robot vacuums let you go about your day while keeping your floors in pristine state. While you'll still need to give your home a manual hoover every now and again, robovacs can help you maintain a baseline level of tidiness and even clean when you're away.
To maximize the time you get from your robovac, make sure you choose an advancé with a long battery life. If you use the highest power setting, the model should last for about two cleaning sessions. This is not as long as a full-sized vacuum cleaner, but it will be sufficient to be sufficient for most homes. If you don't want to wait while your robovac charges you can opt for a model 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 an option that also mop. Eufy's X10 is the most effective model of this category comes with self-emptying and self refilling for the dust bin and the water tank and mop pad. It is also programmable to automatically refill and wash its own mops when they're empty.
The clear winner of our tests is the Dyson V810 due to its outstanding carpet and hard floor pickup, excellent hair pickup, tangle-free performance and nearly perfect auto empty score. It's not cheap and, unless you live in a a small house with no pets, it may be too costly for certain. The second-placed model, the Dreametech D10+, has the same performance, but costs about 25% less.