The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

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

They have a small dustbin which they empty themselves and some can be controlled from a smartphone app instead of a physical remote. Some have mapping features that aid in navigation.

1. Power

With an impressive 8,000Pa of suction Our top choice for robot vacuums is durable enough to take care of the most difficult hairs and dirt. The ultra-thin shape of the square allows it to slide beneath furniture such as sofas and beds. Dual-Laser LIDAR technology allows for precise obstacle avoidance and intelligent navigation. It is also great at cleaning baking powder, pet hair and other debris that can be found near baseboards and corners.

Other powerful robots on this list, in addition to the DEEBOT X2 OMNI include the iRobot Roomba J7+ aswell as the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. The latter comes bundled with a powerful docking station that automatically performs maintenance and has mopping functionality as well. Its powerful suction and effective mopping kept my floors free of pet hair, muddy paw prints, and other debris during every floor type test we ran.

In the lower cost range, a model that has 2,500Pa of suction is more than enough for most homes. They are also quieter, making them a better choice for people with hearing issues. They aren't silent, however they are not the same volume as conversations at home.

Take into consideration your budget and cleaning requirements to find the right combination of power and convenience. Frequent light-duty tidying requires a longer time to run and lower suction, while weekly heavy-duty cleaning requires the most power. Consider your flooring, layout of your home and cleaning schedules in order to choose the right model to meet your requirements. We recommend looking through our entire list of robot vacuum reviews and ratings for more information on the latest models available. Many users report that their carpets and floors looking much cleaner after introducing a robot vacuum into their home.

2. Navigation

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

LiDAR is used by the most expensive models to create a virtual room map, which offers the highest levels of precision and efficiency. Less expensive models depend on bump sensors which are more prone to error and tend to miss a lot of debris in dark spaces. Most robots come with cliff sensors to prevent them from falling off steps or other drops.

Many of the robots I tried used object recognition to navigate around things like cords and fake dog turds. But the Eufy X10 was the best. It was equipped with powerful mop heads that oscillate and a user-friendly app, and superb mapping capabilities.

Other features worth a look include floor type sensors that can detect carpets with soft and Robot Vacuum Reviews hard floors and automatically boost suction power when necessary. Some robots, such as the Roborock mops, use mopping pad lifts to get into corners and eliminate dried spills. Many hybrids are able to apply cleaning solutions to the most difficult stains.

A smaller dustbin will require less frequent emptying, whereas bigger ones can save money on replacements. The cheapest robotic cleaners typically employ a tiny disposable dust bag, while most mid-range models have larger 3L dustbins that can last for decades. Certain premium robots such as the ECOVACS DEEBOT OMNI Station are able to self-empty and refill their water tanks, allowing hands-free convenience.

3. App control

The top robot hoover vacuums have an app that lets you monitor the progress of cleaning and schedule sessions and connect to smart home devices to allow hands-free control. Many also connect to Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant to allow voice-controlled control. Some models have a separate remote control that lets you start, pause and return to dock. Choose a model that has a larger trash bin and can self-empty instead of one that requires manual emptying.

Some robovacs come with mapping technology that can help them recognize obstacles, such as the stairs, and also avoid getting into furniture. Others let you designate no-go zones and targeted rooms, so that they only clean areas that require the most. They also come with cliff sensors to keep them from falling down the stairs, which is especially useful in multi-level homes.

If you plan to utilize your robot automatic vacuum cleaner and mop to clean your rugs pick one that is capable of dry mopping and wet. You'll get better results from a robot vac that can remove its own mop pad and then wash and reattach when it comes time for another cleaning cycle. Also look for a robot with a rubber roller that is less susceptible to knots caused by pet hair and other debris than bristle rollers that is found on less expensive models. Examine the robot's side brushes and brushroll for any debris that might have gotten stuck on. Do this once or twice a week. If you notice they are getting clogged it might be time to buy replacement parts.

4. Collection of debris

As the name suggests, robot vacuums are designed to collect dust and debris from your floors. The best robot vacuums can pick up small particles such as baking soda and sand, in addition to larger ones like metal screws, orzo, and pet hair. They also deliver better results on carpets with low pile than manual vacuums.

In all flooring types, the top performing robots had pick-up scores of over 95%. Our two best-performing robots in this category were the ECOVACS DEEBOT X2 OMNI, and the Roborock Q Revo. 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 automatically empty the wastebasket. They also have the ability to clean the washboard as they mowing. They also have suction of 8,000Pa, smart mapping technology, and advanced obstacle avoidance that helps them navigate even the most challenging areas. The ECOVACS model is also among the few robots that we tested that can remove its mop pads and vacuum carpet making it the ideal choice for those who have to change between mopping and vacuuming frequently.

If you're looking for a less expensive option, we recommend the iRobot Roomba Kombo J7+, robot vacuum reviews our budget pick. It features LIDAR navigation and decent performance in the field of debris pickup for the price. It can be a bit slow in mapping rooms and has a tendency of hitting obstacles, but the price is less than our other picks.

5. Battery life

The best robot vacuum cleaner reviews vacuums are made to let you go on with your life while they keep your floors clean and spick and span. You'll still need to manually vacuum your home every so often but robovacs can help you maintain a basic level of cleanliness and even clean while you're away.

Look for a robovac with long-lasting batteries to get the most out of it. A good guideline is to expect a model to last for around two full cleaning sessions if you run it at the maximum power setting. This is smaller than a large automatic vacuum cleaner but should be sufficient to keep most homes clean. If you don't like to wait around while your robovac recharges, you can also opt for a model that automatically makes its way back to its base station to recharge.

If you're looking for a robot with a bit of everything in it, then consider an option that also mop. Eufy's X10 is the most effective model in this class and offers self-emptying, self-draining and self-refilling of your dust bin, water tank and mop pad. It is also programmable to automatically refill and wash mops when they're low.

The clear winner in our tests is the Dyson V810, thanks to its impressive carpet and hard floor pickup, excellent hair pickup, tangle-free performance and an almost perfect auto empty score. However, it's not cheap and unless you live in an apartment without pets, it may be too pricey for some. The Dreametech D10+ is the runner-up and has a similar performance, but is priced around 25 percent less.