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) stairs.
Some have a small bin which they empty themselves. Others can be controlled via an app on your smartphone instead of an actual remote. Some come with mapping features to help them navigate more efficiently.
1. Power
Our top pick for robot vacuums comes with a suction force of 8000Pa, which is strong enough to remove even the most difficult dirt patches and hairs. The ultra-thin design of the square allows it to slide beneath furniture, such as beds and sofas and its Dual-Laser LiDAR technology supports precise navigation and obstacle avoidance. It also does an excellent job at cleaning up pet hair baking soda, other debris that can be found near the baseboards and in corners.
Other powerful robots that are listed besides the DEEBOT X2 OMNI, include the IRobot Roomba J7+ as well as the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. The latter comes with a robust docking station that is able to perform maintenance and includes mopping capabilities as well. Its powerful suction and efficient mopping kept my floors free of pet hair as well as muddy paw prints and other debris in every floor type test that we conducted.
In the lower price range, a model with a suction capacity of around 2,500Pa is more than enough for most homes. These units are quieter, which makes them the ideal option for those with sensitive hearing. They're not silent however they are not about the same as normal conversations at home.
To get the most effective mix of performance and convenience Consider your cleaning requirements and budget. A regular light-duty cleaning schedule requires longer runtime and a lower suction, while weekly high-volume cleaning requires the most power. Consider your flooring, home layouts and cleaning schedules in order to determine the best model to meet your requirements. We suggest looking through our complete list of robot vacuum reviews and ratings to get more details about the latest models available. Many users report that their carpets and floors appear cleaner after introducing a robotic vacuum to their home.
2. Navigation
A robot vacuum can't perform its task without knowing how to navigate your home. Because of this, the most effective robots depend 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 Vacuum Mops navigation: LiDAR, camera and sensor.
LiDAR is used by the most expensive models to create a virtual space map, which provides the highest levels of accuracy and efficiency. Less expensive models depend on bump sensors, which are less accurate and are more likely to miss the majority of debris in dark areas. Most robots come with cliff sensors, which prevent them from falling off stairs or other drops.
Many of the robots I tested employed object recognition to skillfully navigate objects such as fake cords and dog turds, but the most effective was the Eufy X10. It was equipped with powerful oscillating mop heads and a user-friendly app, and superb mapping capabilities.Other features worth considering include floor type sensors that can detect carpets that are hard and soft automatically increasing suction power when necessary. Some robots, such as the Roborock mops, use mopping pad lifts to reach corners and tackle dried spills. Many hybrids are able to apply cleaning solutions to the most difficult stains.
A smaller dustbin will require less frequent emptying, while larger ones will cost less to replace. The cheapest robotic cleaners typically utilize a small disposable dust bag, while the majority of mid-range models come with larger dust bins of 3L that last for decades. Certain premium robots such as the EcoVACS DEEBOT OMNI Station will self-empty and fill up their water tank for hands-free convenience.
3. App control
The majority of robot vacuums have an app to monitor the progress of cleaning, schedule sessions and connect to smart home devices. A lot of robot vacuums can be controlled by voice using Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Some models have a separate remote control that lets you start or pause, and then return to dock. Look for a model with a bigger dustbin that can self-empty, rather than one that requires manual emptying.
Some robots are equipped with mapping technology that helps them avoid obstacles like furniture and stairs. Certain robovacs let you define no-go zones and rooms to clean the areas that require it the most. They also have cliff sensors to prevent them from falling down the stairs, which is especially beneficial in multi-level homes.
If you intend to use your robot vacuum to clean rug carpets, you should choose one that can be used for wet and dry mopping. You'll get better results with the robot vacuum that can remove its own mop pad too, which you can then rinse and reattach when it's time for another cleaning cycle. Look for robots with a rubber roller. This will be less likely to get caught from pet hair or other particles. It's a good idea inspect the robot's brushroll as well as side brushes for stuck-on debris once or twice a week, too. If you notice they are beginning to get clogged up, it may be time to purchase replacement parts.
4. Debris collection
Robot vacuums are created, as the name suggests to remove dust and other debris on your floors. The best robot vacuums can pick up small particles such as baking soda and sand, as well as larger ones such as metal screws orzo, pet hair. They also deliver better results on carpets with a low pile than manual vacuums.
All flooring types are covered, and the top robots had pickup scores of greater than 95 95%. The two top-performing robots in this category were the ECOVACS DEEBOT X2 OMNI and the Roborock Q Revo. Both are highly automated with docking stations that can do maintenance on their own and app features which make them extremely user-friendly.
Both have self-emptying bins that collect the waste from the wastebasket, and clean the washboard while mowing. They also have suction of 8,000Pa and smart mapping technology and advanced obstacle avoidance technology that helps them navigate even the most difficult areas. The ECOVACS robot is one of the few that can clean carpet and take away mop pads. This makes it a great option for those who need to switch between mopping and vacuuming often.
If you're seeking a lower-cost option, check out the Roomba Combo J7 by iRobot Plus, our budget-friendly pick. It has LIDAR navigation and decent debris pickup capabilities for the price. It's slow to map rooms and may be susceptible to bumping into obstacles, however it's much less expensive than our other top-rated selections.
5. Battery life
The top robot vacuums are designed to let you move on with your life while keeping your floors clean and spick and span. You'll still need to manually clean your home on a regular basis however, robovacs can help you maintain a basic level of cleanliness and even keep your home clean when you're away.
To maximize the time you can use your robovac, look for the model that has a high battery life. A good rule of thumb is to expect a robovac to last for around two complete cleaning sessions if you run it at the highest power setting. This is less than a large vacuum but should be sufficient to get the job done in most homes. If you don't wish to wait while your robovac charges you can opt for an option that automatically returns to the base station to charge.
If you are looking for a robovac that does a bit of everything, think about an all-in-one machine that can mop too. Eufy's X10 is the best 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 be programmed to automatically refill and wash mops once they are out.
The clear winner in our tests is the Dyson V810, because of its impressive carpet and hard floor pickup, superb hair pickup, tangle-free performance, and nearly perfect auto empty score. However, it's not cheap and unless you have a an apartment with no pets, it could be too expensive for some. The second choice is the Dreametech D10+, has the same performance, but costs about 25% less.
