The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

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

Some have a small bin that they empty on their own. Others are controlled with apps for smartphones instead of the physical remote. Some have mapping capabilities that assist in navigating your home with greater efficiency.

1. Power

With 8,000Pa of suction power, our top pick for robot vacuums is powerful enough to take care of the most difficult hairs and dirt. Its slim square shape enables it to slide underneath furniture, such as couches and beds. Dual-Laser LIDAR technology offers precise obstacle avoidance as well as intelligent navigation. It's also great for cleaning pet hair, baking powder, and other debris near corners and baseboards.

Apart from the DEEBOT X2 OMNI, the other high-powered bots on this list include the Robot Roomba j7+ and the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. It comes with a sturdy docking station that automates maintenance and mopping functions as well. Its powerful suction, combined with its effective mopping feature, made sure my floors were free of pet hair, muddy prints and other messes on all floors we tested.

A model that has 2,500Pa suction will suffice for homes that are in the lower price range. These models are quieter, and are therefore a better choice for those with sensitive ears. They aren't silent, but they are only as loud as normal conversations at home.

Think about your budget and cleaning requirements to find the right combination of power and convenience. Regular light-duty cleaning requires a longer runtime and a lower suction, whereas weekly heavy-duty cleaning demands maximum power. Consider your flooring, home layouts and cleaning schedules in order to determine the best model for your requirements. We suggest looking through our complete list of robot vacuum reviews and robot Vacuum Reviews ratings for more information on the latest models available. Many users have reported that their carpets and floor look cleaner after using a robot vacuum.

2. Navigation

A robot vacuum isn't able to do its job without knowing how to navigate around your home. For this reason, the most effective robots depend on advanced navigation technology that effectively scans rooms and then creates maps to ensure thorough cleaning without being lost or hitting obstacles. There are three major types of robot navigation: LiDAR-based camera-based and sensor-based.

LiDAR is utilized by the most expensive models to create a virtual room map, offering the highest levels in precision and efficiency. Bump sensors are utilized in less expensive models, but they aren't always accurate and miss a lot debris when working in dark areas. Many robots also have cliff sensors to stop them from falling down stairs or other falls.

Many of the robots I tried used object recognition to navigate around things like fake dog turds. However, the Eufy X10 was the best. It had superb mapping capabilities, powerful oscillating mops, an easy-to-use app, and the ability to clean a specific zone, room or all of the house.

Other features worth considering include floor type sensors that recognize carpets with soft and hard floors, automatically boosting suction power when necessary. Some robots like the Roborock mop utilize mopping pads lift to reach into corners and clean up dried spills. Many hybrids can apply cleaning solution to the most difficult stains.

A smaller bin will mean less frequent emptying while a bigger one can save you money on replacements. The majority of robotic cleaners that are low-cost use a small disposable dust bag. However, the majority of mid-range models come with larger 3L dustbins which last for a long period of time. Some of the top models, like the EcoVACS DEEBOT OMNI station, can self-empty their dustbin and refill their water tanks, allowing hands-free convenience.

3. App control

The majority of robot vacuums have an app to monitor cleaning progress and schedule cleaning sessions. They also connect to smart home devices. They also sync with Amazon Alexa and robot vacuum reviews Google Assistant for voice-based control. Certain models come with a remote control that lets you start the process, pause it, and return to dock. Look for a model with a bigger dustbin that can self-empty, as opposed to one that requires manual emptying.

Certain robovacs come with mapping technology to help them avoid obstacles like furniture and stairs. Certain robovacs permit you to designate no-go zones and specific rooms so that they only clean areas that require the most. They also have cliff sensor to prevent them from falling, which is especially useful in multi-level homes.

If you are planning to use your robot vacuum to clean rugs pick one that can perform both dry mopping and wet. You'll get better results from a robot vac that can remove its own mop pad as well, which you can then rinse and reconnect when it comes time for another cleaning cycle. Look for a robot with a rubber roller. This will be less likely to get caught from pet hair or other particles. Examine the robot's side brushes and brushroll for any debris that may have gotten stuck on. Do this once or twice per week. If you notice that they're beginning to clog, it may be time to buy replacement parts.

4. Collection of debris

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

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

They both have self-emptying bins that automatically take the contents of the wastebasket and can clean the washboard while mowing. They also have an 8,000Pa vacuum, intelligent mapping technology and advanced obstacle avoidance technology to help them navigate through even the most difficult areas. The ECOVACS robot is one of the few that can mop carpet and remove mop pads. This makes it an ideal option for those who need to switch between mopping and vacuuming regularly.

If you want a cheaper option, we suggest the iRobot Roomba Kombo J7+, our budget choice. It comes with LIDAR navigation and decent debris pickup capabilities for the price. It's not the fastest to map out rooms and may be susceptible to bumping into obstacles, but it's less expensive than our other Best robot vacuum cleaner UK-buy choices.

5. Battery life

The best automatic vacuum cleaner robot vacuums let you move about your day while they keep your floors in pristine state. While you'll still need to give your home a manual hoover every now and then Robotic vacuums can help maintain a baseline level of tidiness and even clean while you're away from home.

To maximize the time you get from your robovac, make sure you choose the model that has a high battery life. If you use the highest power setting, a model should last about two cleaning sessions. This is smaller than a larger vacuum but it should be sufficient to get the job done in most homes. If you don't want to wait while your robovac recharges you can opt for a model that automatically returns to the base station to charge.

If you are looking for a robovac that does a bit of everything, consider an all-in-one robot hoover and mop that is able to mop as well. Eufy's X10 is the most effective model in this category comes with self-emptying and self refilling for the dust bin, the water tank, and the mop pad. It can be programmed to automatically refill and wash mops as soon as they run out.

The clear winner in our tests is the Dyson V810 because of its impressive carpet and hard floor pickup, outstanding hair pickup, tangle-free performance and a near perfect auto empty score. It's expensive, and unless you have a small house with no pets, it could be too costly for certain. The Dreametech D10+ is the second choice and has the same performance, but it costs 25 percent less.