The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Robot vacuums can make the chore of vacuuming less painful. Modern models can also mop and climb (small) steps.

They have a small dustbin that they empty themselves and some of them can be controlled from a smartphone app instead of a physical remote. Some models have mapping capabilities to aid in navigating your home more efficiently.

1. Power

With 8,000Pa of suction power Our top pick for robot vacuums is durable enough to take care of the most difficult dirt patches and hairs. The ultra-thin shape of the square allows it to slide beneath furniture, such as beds and sofas. Dual-Laser LIDAR technology offers accurate obstacle avoidance and 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.

Apart from the DEEBOT X2 OMNI, the other powerful bots in this list include the iRobot Roomba J7+ as well as the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. The Roborock S8 Pro Ultra has docking station that automatically performs 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.

In the lower cost range, a model with a suction capacity of around 2,500Pa is sufficient for most homes. These units are quieter, making them a better choice for people who have sensitive hearing. They're still not quiet, but they're just about the same as normal conversations at home.

Think about your budget and cleaning needs to determine the best combination of power and usability. A regular light-duty cleaning schedule requires longer time to run and lower suction, whereas weekly heavy-duty cleaning requires the most power. Consider your flooring, layout of your home, and cleaning schedules to choose the right model to meet your requirements. We suggest looking through our full list of robot vacuum reviews and ratings to get more information on the latest models available. Many customers report that their carpets and floors appear cleaner after using a robotic vacuum.

2. Navigation

A robot vacuum isn't able to accomplish its task when it doesn't know how to navigate your home. The best robots use sophisticated navigation technology to scan rooms and build an outline map, which allows for thorough cleaning without getting stuck or hitting obstacles. There are three kinds of robot navigation that include LiDAR, camera and sensor.

The most expensive models use LiDAR to build a virtual map of the room, offering the highest levels of accuracy and efficiency. Cheaper models depend on bump sensors, which can be more inaccurate and are more likely to miss a lot of debris in dark spaces. Most robots are equipped with cliff sensors that stop them from falling down stairs or other drops.

A number of the robots I tested utilized object recognition to navigate around things like cords and fake dog turds. But the Eufy X10 was the best. It was a fantastic mapping device and powerful oscillating mops that could be used as a user-friendly app and the ability to clean by area, room or the entire home.

Other features worth a look include sensors for floors that can recognize hard floors and soft carpet, automatically boosting suction power when necessary. Some robots like the Roborock mop utilize mopping pad that lifts to reach into corners and clean up dried spills. Some hybrids even apply cleaning solution to stubborn staining.

A smaller size of the bin will require less frequent emptying while a larger one will cost less to replace. The cheapest robotic cleaners typically use a small disposable dust bag, whereas most mid-range models have larger 3L dustbins that can last for many years. Certain high-end robots, such as the EcoVACS DEEBOT OMNI Station are able to self-empty and fill up their water tanks for hands-free convenience.

3. App control

Most robot vacuums come with an app that can monitor the progress of cleaning and schedule sessions. They also connect to smart home devices. They also sync with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for control via voice. Some models have an on-screen remote that allows you to start, pause, and return to dock. Choose a model that has a larger dustbin and can self-empty, rather than one that needs manual emptying.

Some robots are equipped with mapping technology that can help them remember obstacles, such as staircases, and prevents them from running into furniture. Others let you set no-go zones or robot vacuum reviews targeted rooms, so that they only clean areas that require it the 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 pick one that can perform both dry mopping as well as wet. You'll get better cleaning results by having your robot vacuum also take off its mop pad. Clean it and attach it again when you are ready to run another cleaning cycle. Also, look for a model with a rubber roller that is less susceptible to tangles from pet hair and other debris than a bristle roll that is found on less expensive models. It's a good idea to inspect the robot's brushroll as well as side brushes for debris that has gotten stuck every once or twice per week as well. If you notice that they are starting to clog up, it may be time to purchase replacement parts.

4. Debris collection

Robot vacuums are created, as the name suggests to gather dust and debris from your floors. The most effective robot vacuums are able to collect tiny particles, such as baking soda and sand as well as larger ones such as metal screws, orzo, and pet hair. They also have better results on carpets with low pile than many manual vacuums.

The top-performing robots across all flooring types had pickup scores over 95%. The ECOVACS DEEBOT X2 OMNI and the Roborock Q Revo were two of our most efficient bots in this class. Both are highly automated, with robust docking stations that perform maintenance on their own and apps that make them incredibly user-friendly.

They both have self-emptying bins that automatically suck up the contents of the wastebasket and clean the washboard while mowing. They also feature 8,000Pa suction, smart mapping technology, and advanced obstacle avoidance technology that helps them navigate even the most challenging spaces. The ECOVACS model is also one of the few robots we tested that can take its mop pads and automatic vacuum cleaner carpet which makes it the ideal choice for users who need to change between mopping and vacuuming regularly.

If you're looking for a less expensive option, we recommend the iRobot Roomba Kombo J7+, our budget-friendly pick. It comes with LIDAR navigation at a reasonable price and a decent performance in the collection of debris. It's a bit slow to map out rooms and can be prone to bumping into obstacles, but it's less expensive than our other top selections.

5. Battery life

The most effective robot vacuums are made to let you move on with your life while they keep your floors clean and spick and clean. You'll still need to manually clean your home from time to time but robovacs can aid in maintaining a certain level of cleanliness and even clean while you're away.

To maximize the amount of time you get from your robovac, look for an advancé with a long battery life. A good guideline is to expect a model to last about two cleaning sessions if you run it on the highest power setting. This is less than a full-sized automatic vacuum cleaner cleaner, but it is enough to be sufficient for most homes. If you don't like to be waiting around while your robovac is charging, you can also select one that will automatically make its return to the base station to recharge.

If you're looking to buy a robovac with a bit of everything in it, then think about 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 mop pad. It can be programmed to automatically refill and wash mops when they run out.

Its high-quality carpet and hard floor pick up as well as its excellent hair pickup and tangle-free, and a an almost perfect auto vacuum and mop empty score makes it the clear winner of our test scores. However, it's not cheap and unless you have a a small home without pets, it may be too expensive for some. The runner-up is the Dreametech D10+, has identical performance, but costs about 25% less.