The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Vacuuming is a major cause of many people's existence, but robot vacuums make it a little less tedious. Modern models mop and can even climb (small) steps.

They have a small trash bin which they empty themselves and some of them can be operated by a smartphone app instead of an actual remote. Some come with mapping features to aid in navigation.

1. Power

Our top pick for robot vacuums comes with a suction force of 8,000Pa, which is enough to get rid of even the most stubborn hairs and dirt. The ultra-thin design of the square allows it to slide beneath furniture, such as beds and sofas, and its Dual-Laser LiDAR technology supports precise navigation and accurate obstacle avoidance. It also does an excellent job at cleaning up pet hair baking soda, sand, and other debris that can be found near baseboards and 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. It comes with a sturdy docking station that automates maintenance and includes mopping capabilities as well. Its powerful suction and effective mopping helped keep my floors clear of pet hair, muddy paw prints, and other debris in every flooring type test we conducted.

In the lower cost range, a model with a suction capacity of around 2,500Pa is more than adequate for the majority of homes. These models are quieter, making them a better option for those with hearing issues. They're not silent, but they're only the same volume as a normal conversation at home.

For the best automatic vacuum mix of power and usability take into consideration your cleaning needs and budget. Frequent light-duty tidying requires a longer time to run and lower suction, whereas weekly heavy-duty cleaning requires the most power. Examine your flooring, layout of your home, and cleaning schedules before selecting the right model. We suggest looking through our entire list of robot vacuum reviews and ratings to get more information on the latest models available. Many users have reported that their carpets and floors appear cleaner after introducing a robotic vacuum into their home.

2. Navigation

A robot vacuum can't do its job without knowing how to navigate around your home. The most advanced robots utilize sophisticated navigation technologies to scan rooms and make maps, ensuring thorough cleaning without getting stuck or hitting obstacles. There are three types of robot navigation including LiDAR, camera, and sensor.

The most expensive models use LiDAR to create a digital map of the room, offering the highest level of accuracy and efficiency. Bump sensors are utilized in cheaper models, but they aren't always accurate and miss a lot debris when working in dark places. The majority of robots have cliff sensors, which stop them from falling off steps or other drops.

Many of the robots I tried used objects recognition to navigate through things such as cords and fake dog turds. But the Eufy X10 was the best. It had powerful mop heads that oscillate, a user friendly app and a superb mapping capability.

Consider features such as sensors for floors that automatically boost suction power when required. Certain robots such as the Roborock mop use a mopping pads lift to reach into corners and clean dried spills. Many hybrids are able to apply cleaning solutions to stubborn staining.

A smaller size of the bin will require less frequent emptying, whereas larger ones will save money on replacements. The most affordable robotic cleaners generally utilize a small disposable dust bag, but most mid-range models have larger dust bins of 3L that last for ages. Certain high-end robots, such as the ECOVACS DEEBOT OMNI station, will automatically empty their dustbin and refill their water tanks for hands-free convenience.

3. App control

The majority of robot vacuums come with an app that monitors the progress of cleaning, schedule sessions and connect to smart home devices. Many robot vacuums can also be controlled using voice commands, such as Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Certain models come with a remote control that allows you to begin the process, pause it, and return to dock. Choose a model that has an extra large dustbin and is able to self-empty rather than one that requires manual emptying.

Some robots are equipped with mapping technology that helps them remember obstacles, such as stairs, and avoid getting into furniture. Certain robovacs let you designate no-go zones and specific rooms so that they only clean the areas that require it the most. They also come with cliff sensors to keep them from falling down stairs, which is particularly beneficial in multi-level homes.

If you want to make use of your robot vacuum for cleaning rugs, choose a model which can be used both for wet and dry mopping. You'll have better results cleaning by having your robot vacuum remove its mop pad. Clean it and reattach it when you need to conduct a clean-up cycle. Also, look for a machine that has a rubber roller that is less prone to knots caused by pet hair and other debris than bristle rollers like those found on less expensive models. Check the robot's side brush and brushroll for any debris that has been stuck to them. Do this at least twice per week. If you notice that they're starting to clog up it could be time to buy replacement parts.

4. Collection of debris

As the name implies, robot vacuums are designed to collect dust and other debris from your floors. The best automatic vacuum and mop robot vacuum cleaners best vacuums will collect tiny particles, such as baking soda and sand, as well as larger ones such as metal screws orzo, pet hair. They also provide better pick-up results on carpets with low pile than manual vacuums.

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

Both come with self-emptying bins which automatically collect the waste from the wastebasket and can clean the washboard while you mow. They also have an 8,000Pa vacuum, intelligent mapping technology, and advanced obstacle avoidance to help them navigate even the most difficult of spaces. The ECOVACS robot is one of the few that can vacuum carpet and remove the mop pads. This makes it an ideal option for those who need to switch between mopping and vacuuming regularly.

If you're seeking a lower-cost option, look into the Roomba Combo J7 from iRobot Plus, our budget-friendly pick. It features LIDAR navigation for an affordable price and decent debris collection performance. It is slow in mapping rooms and has a tendency of bumping into obstacles, but the cost is lower than our other picks.

5. Battery life

The best robot vacuums let you get on with your day while they keep your floors in top state. You'll still have to manually clean your home every so often, but robovacs will help you maintain a basic standard of cleanliness, and even clean while you're away.

Find a robovac equipped with long-lasting batteries to get the most out of it. If you choose to use the most powerful power setting, a model should last about two cleaning sessions. This is less than a full-sized 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 choose an option that will automatically return to the base station to charge.

If you're looking for a robot that does a bit of everything, think about an all-in-one robot that is able to mop as well. Eufy's X10 is the best model in this category. It offers self-emptying, self-draining and self-refilling of the dust bin and mop pad. It can also be programmed to automatically refill and wash its own mop pads when they're running low.

Its high-quality carpet and hard floor pick-up as well as its excellent hair pickup and tangle avoidance, and close to perfect auto empty scores makes it the clear winner of our test scores. It's expensive, and unless you have a small house with no pets, it may be too expensive for some. The second-placed model is the Dreametech D10+, has identical performance, but costs about 25% less.