Best Self-Empting Robot Vacuums and Mops

The Eufy 11S robot vacuum is among the most affordable self-emptying vacuums that are available. In our tests, it was able to pick up dry oats on hard floors as well as low pile carpeting. Its dustbin is easy to empty and openit's much simpler than some other models in the same price range.

It recharges at its base and then resumes cleaning when ready. However, its obstacle-avoidance technology is caught in cords and socks, and it can't go under low thresholds.

1. iRobot Roomba 11S

The 11S is a less expensive self-emptying robotic vacuum cleaner that lots of people seem to like. It is a great choice for getting under furniture and is a good choice for those who have hard floors or who do a lot of cleaning. Its suction is a bit less powerful than our top picks, however it's still able to do the job. It has a large dust bin and a durable battery. The app allows you to schedule daily cleanings or choose a particular room. You can also create a map of your home to allow the device to stay clear of areas you don't wish it to visit.

The app is easy to use and has a simple layout. It doesn't come with any advanced features, but it's simple enough to use and makes it easy to monitor the status of your robot. It also includes an informative tutorial that can provide you with the basics.

Its cleaning pattern doesn't always appear logical - sometimes it is straight lines, other times it seeks out the edges of a room, however Bounce Navigation ensures your entire floor is kept clean. It is not the best at climbing obstacles - it was unable to get under our pet food bowls as well as piano pedals, and got caught in our 2.25 inch shag carpet a few times.

We believe there are better robot vacuums than the 11S. The iRobot Roomba is easier to maintain and has lower costs for recurring maintenance and is charged faster. It has a bigger bin, performs better on any surface and can climb over obstacles that are low in elevation (like electrical cables) more easily.

The eufy RoboVac 11S is another alternative for regular vacuuming. It is designed very similarly to our top choice, and it excels for picking up small particles and dirt on hard floors. It does a good job on carpets with a medium or low pile. It comes with a large dirt bin and uses BoostIQ for automatic suction power adjustment. It also has an easy-to-use remote control to operate and allows you to program daily Revolutionize Cleaning with iRobot Roomba j7+ routines with the app. The battery lasts for around an hour and the dustbin can be easily empty by removing it from its dock.

2. Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra

Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra robot mop and vacuum is a great robot with a surprising array of features for automation. The Roborock S7 MaxV is available in three models of the basic S7 model and the S7 Plus model and the S7 Ultra. Only the latter has an Empty Wash Fill Dock (or an alternative Auto-Empty Dock). These docks allow the robot to return to its base and empty the debris in a dust bag or reservoir, drain the dirty water tank and wash its mopping pads.

Sensors on the S7 collaborate to clean and eliminate obstacles. It can detect flooring types and save a map of rooms and zones. It can even detect dirt levels. It's also capable of scheduling and executing spot-cleaning sessions. It was able to perform well in our tests, but it didn't exactly match the Roomba j7+ during the carpet deep clean test.

Using the companion app, you can program the S7 to run a cleaning cycle according to your schedule. You can choose a time day, self-emptying robot vacuums week, or even a day and select among a range of cleaning modes such as automatic, eco and deep clean. You can also select whether the robot will stop if it is running out of power or encounters an obstacle.

If you don't have an iPhone however, you can still utilize the S7 by connecting a remote control to its charging dock. The controls are confusing initially but they're very efficient after you've become accustomed to them. The power button also acts as an 'Cleaning' button and the Spot Clean button instructs the robot to clean the area around itself. The "Spot Clean" button also activates the child lock.

Roborock's mobile application has been upgraded to include a live-view function that lets you see what the S7 does at home. You can activate it by pressing a specific sequence of buttons on your S7 and then creating an unlock pattern within the mobile app that you can use whenever you want to check out what the S7 is doing.

3. Shark IQ XL

Shark isn't as well-known in the field of robot vacuums as iRobot and Roborock however our hands-on testing of this model has shown it to be one of the best self-emptying robot vacuums currently on the market. It's simple to set up, comes with an enormous bin that's easy to empty (albeit a bit loudly) into a trash can when it's full and can be programmed to complete a home clean on a regular basis or as required.

The IQ XL can connect to your home WiFi and lets you monitor it via the Shark app and view its battery status as it cleans. The app lets you program a cleaning routine and also receive push notifications on its status in cleaning, pause it and then clean up, or set it for one specific area. You can also control it via voice commands via Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. The app can tell you which power mode it is currently in--Eco, Normal or Max--but we didn't find that any of the modes made a huge difference in cleaning performance.

The IQ XL will automatically empty the trash bin at the end of a cleaning cycle into the base, which will self-empty. The bin can hold up to 60 days' worth of waste, so it won't need emptying more frequently than that unless you have lots of pets with long hair. If you have to empty it, all you have to do is detach the side bin, place it up to a trash can, and press a button that will let you eject the contents.

The Shark IQ XL is a good vacuum cleaner. It does a great job cleaning floors that are not bare and can maneuver itself well. However it's not the best choice for carpeted floors. Shark IQ XL feels a bit less sturdy than the Roomba 694. It's good at cleaning carpeted floors, however, it isn't as efficient as the iRobot Roomba i7 in terms of bare floor performance. The i7 is also built better, feels more durable and robust, has less demanding maintenance requirements, has lower monthly costs, and charges faster, while offering similar battery performance, and offers far more advanced automation features such as no-go zones as well as the ability to choose specific rooms for a clean.

4. iRobot J7+

This robot vac/mop combo is a rarity because it can do both tasks exceptionally efficiently. IRobot's Combo j7+ offers all the features of its j7 counterpart including LiDAR mapping and self-emptying, but with additional features for both mopping and vacuuming.

The j7+ makes use of the latest acoustic sensor to determine the type of floor and allows it to clean or mop the area in its first attempt. This information can also be used to prioritize cleaning rooms with carpets and rug versus those with hard flooring.

The J7+ is more quiet than most robotic vacuums when it's running and is even quieter when it's mopping. The maximum reading of 64db on our decibel meter is comparable to normal office chatter.

It is easy to set up a cleaning schedule and alter what happens when the dust canister gets full. The j7+ is also controlled by voice assistants like Alexa, Google Assistant and others. to allow hands-free operation. the app allows you to create and look at maps of your home.

In our tests, the j7+ performed admirably on both hard and carpeted floors, and it cleaned up most of the dirt we threw at it. It isn't the best at dealing with pet hair as well as large particles like sand, however it can remove these items with a little more effort. It also has good navigation capabilities and a pair of cliff sensors that prevent it from plunging down stairs or getting stuck on furniture legs.

We did notice a couple of small niggles with the j7+, mostly that it can snag on cords and carpets, and it doesn't always turn off its mopping when it's finished vacuuming. Otherwise, this is an excellent model that checks all the right boxes.

The j7+ from iRobot also comes with one of the top self-emptying systems that we've tested. It deposits its 14oz / 0.4-liter dust canister into the base station where it automatically empties itself for you to. This helps reduce the amount of garbage you'll need to dispose of and you'll only have to change the reusable dust bag that is on the dock around every 60 days or so, based on how often you use the J7+.