The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Vacuuming is a major cause of many lives, but robot vacuums make it a little easier. Modern models can mop, and climb (small) steps.

They have a tiny dustbin that they empty themselves and some are operated by a smartphone app instead of an actual remote. Some come with mapping features to aid in navigation.

1. Power

With 8,000Pa of suction power, our top pick for robot vacuums is durable enough to handle the worst dirt patches and hairs. Its slim square shape enables it to slide beneath furniture such as sofas and beds. Dual-Laser LIDAR technology allows for precise obstacle avoidance as well as intelligent navigation. It is also great at cleaning pet hair, baking powder and other messes around baseboards and corners.

Other high-powered robots in this list in addition to the DEEBOT X2 OMNI, are the iRobot Roomba J7+ as well as the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. The Roborock S8 Pro Ultra comes with docking stations that automatically handles maintenance. It also comes with mopping capabilities. Its powerful suction and effective mopping made sure my floors were free of pet hair as well as muddy paw prints and other debris in every floor type test we ran.

A model with 2,500Pa suction will suffice for the majority of homes in the lower price range. These models are quieter, and therefore a better option for those who have sensitive ears. They're not quiet, but they're just about the same as a normal conversation at home.

Consider your budget and cleaning needs to determine the best combination of power and convenience. For regular light-duty cleaning it is recommended to have a longer runtime and less suction is needed. For heavy-duty cleaning, weekly runs require maximum power. Check your flooring, layout of your home, and cleaning schedules before selecting the right model. We suggest looking through our complete list of robot vacuum reviews and ratings for more details on the most recent models available. Many users have reported that their carpets and bare floors look cleaner after using a robotic vacuum.

2. Navigation

A robot autonomous vacuum isn't able to accomplish its task when it doesn't know how to navigate around your home. The most advanced robots utilize sophisticated navigation technologies to scan rooms and build maps, ensuring thorough cleaning without getting stuck or hitting obstacles. There are three major types of robot navigation: LiDAR-based, camera-based and sensor-based.

The most expensive models use LiDAR to build a virtual map of the room, delivering the highest levels of accuracy and efficiency. Less expensive models depend on bump sensors, which are more prone to error and tend to miss many debris in dark spaces. The majority of robots have cliff sensors to keep them from falling down stairs or other drops.

Several robots I tested used objects recognition to navigate through things like fake dog turds. However, the Eufy X10 was the best robotic mop and vacuum. It was equipped with powerful oscillating mop heads as well as a user-friendly application, and superb mapping capabilities.

Other features worth looking into include floor type sensors that recognize carpets that are hard and soft and automatically boost suction power when necessary. Some robots like the Roborock mop make use of mopping pads lift to reach into corners and clean up dried spills. Many hybrids can apply cleaning solutions to the most difficult stains.

A smaller size of the bin will require less frequent emptying while bigger ones can save money on replacements. The most affordable robotic cleaners generally use a small disposable dust bag, but most mid-range models have larger 3L dustbins that can last for many years. Some of the top models, like the EcoVACS DEEBOT OMNI station, will self-empty their trash bins and refill their water tanks to provide convenience without hands.

3. App control

The top robot vacuums have an app that lets you monitor cleaning progress and schedule sessions and connect to smart home devices for hands-free control. A lot of robot vacuums can be controlled by voice using Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Some have a dedicated remote control that lets you start the process, pause it and then 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 recognize obstacles, such as staircases, and prevents them from running into furniture. Others let you designate no-go zones and targeted rooms, so they only clean the areas that need it most. They also have cliff sensor to stop them from falling, which is especially beneficial in multi-level homes.

If you are planning to utilize your robot vacuum to clean your rugs pick one that is capable of both dry and wet mopping. You'll be able to get better cleaning results when your vacuum can also take off its mop pad. Rinse it and then attach it again when you are ready to run a new cleaning cycle. Also, look for a machine that has a rubber roller that is less prone to tangles due to pet hair and other debris than bristle rollers that is found on cheaper models. It's recommended to inspect the robot's brushroll as well as side brushes for debris stuck on every week or once, too. If you notice they are beginning to get clogged up, it may be time to purchase replacement parts.

4. Collection of debris

Like the name suggests robot vacuums are created to collect dust and debris from your floors. The most effective robot vacuums are able to pick up small particles such as baking soda and sand, as well as larger ones like screws made of metal, orzo, and pet hair. They also provide better results on low pile carpets than manual vacuums.

The top-performing robots across all flooring types had scores higher than 95 percent. The ECOVACS DEEBOT X2 OMNI and the Roborock Q Revo were two of our top-performing robots in this category. Both are highly automated and feature robust docking stations that perform maintenance on their own, and apps that make them incredibly user-friendly.

Both have self-emptying bins that take the contents of the wastebasket, and clean the washboard while mowing. They also have 8,000Pa suction, smart mapping technology, and advanced obstacle avoidance that can help them find their way around even the most difficult of spaces. The ECOVACS model is also one of the few robots we tested that can remove its mop pads and vacuum carpet which makes it the best choice for those who have to switch between mopping and vacuuming regularly.

If you're seeking a lower-cost alternative, take a look at the Roomba Combo J7 from iRobot Plus, our budget-friendly pick. It comes with LIDAR navigation at reasonable prices and decent debris collection performance. It can be a bit slow when it comes to mapping rooms and has a tendency of bumping into obstacles, but the price is lower than our other picks.

5. Battery life

The best robot vacuums let you go about your day while they keep your floors in pristine condition. You'll still have to manually clean your home every so often but robovacs can aid in maintaining a certain level of cleanliness, and will even clean while you're away.

To maximize the time you can use your robovac, choose an advancé with a long battery life. A good guideline is to expect a robovac to last for about two cleaning sessions when you run it at the highest power setting. This is less than a full-sized autonomous vacuum cleaner, but it will be sufficient to provide for the majority of 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 to buy a robovac with a bit of everything in it, you should consider an option that also mop. Eufy's X10, the best model in this class has self-emptying and self-refilling for the dust bin, the water tank, and the mop pad. It can also be programmed to automatically re-fill and wash its own mops when they're low.

Its respectable carpet and hard floor pickup as well as its excellent hair pickup and tangle prevention, and its an almost perfect auto empty score make it the clear winner of our test scores. However, it's not cheap and unless you have a the smallest of homes without pets, it may be too pricey for some. The Dreametech D10+ is the runner-up and has a similar performance, but costs around 25 percent less.