The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Robot vacuums can make the task of vacuuming a bit less painful. Modern models mop and climb (small) stairs.

Some have a small trash bin that they empty by themselves. Others can be controlled by a smartphone app rather than an actual remote. Some models have mapping capabilities to help them navigate your home more effectively.

1. Power

Our top pick for robotic vacuums has suction power of 8,000Pa, which is powerful enough to get rid of even the most difficult hairs and dirt. Its ultra-thin square design allows it to slide beneath furniture, such as beds and sofas, and its Dual-Laser LiDAR technology provides intelligent navigation and accurate obstacle avoidance. It's also great for cleaning pet hair, baking powder, and other debris near corners and baseboards.

Other powerful robots on this list, apart from the DEEBOT X2 OMNI, include the IRobot Roomba J7+ aswell as the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. The Roborock S8 Pro Ultra comes with a docking station which automatically handles maintenance. It also comes with mopping capabilities. Its powerful suction, coupled with its effective mopping, kept my floors clean of pet hair, muddy prints, and other debris on every floor we tested.

In the lower price range, a unit with a suction capacity of around 2,500Pa is more than adequate for most homes. They are also quieter, making them a better option for people with hearing issues. They're not silent but they are only as loud as normal conversations at home.

For the best mix of usability and power take into consideration your cleaning needs and budget. Frequent light-duty tidying requires a longer runtime and a lower suction, while weekly high-volume cleaning requires the most power. Check your flooring, home layout, and cleaning schedules before selecting the right model. We suggest looking through our complete list of robot vacuum reviews and ratings to get more information on the latest models available. Many customers report that their carpets and floors looking significantly cleaner after introducing a robot vacuum in their home.

1. Navigation

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

LiDAR is employed by the most expensive models to create a virtual room map, which provides the highest levels in precision and efficiency. Bump sensors are employed in less expensive models, but they can be inaccurate and miss a lot debris when working in dark places. Most robots come with cliff sensors that prevent them from falling off stairs or other drops.

Several robots in my tests employed object recognition to skillfully navigate things like fake cords and dog turds but the most effective was the Eufy X10. It had powerful mop heads that oscillate as well as a user-friendly application and a superb mapping capability.

Other features worth a look include floor type sensors that recognize hard floors and soft carpet, automatically boosting suction power when needed. Some robots, such as the Roborock mop make use of mopping pad that lifts to reach into corners and clean up dried spills. Many hybrids can apply cleaning solutions to the most difficult stains.

A smaller size of the bin will require less frequent emptying while larger ones will cost less to replace. The cheapest robotic cleaners typically use a small disposable dust bag, but most mid-range models have larger dust bins of 3L that last for decades. Some of the top models, like the EcoVACS DEEBOT OMNI station, will self-empty their dustbin and refill their water tanks to provide convenience without hands.

1. App control

The majority of robot vacuums come with an app that can monitor the progress of cleaning and schedule cleaning sessions. They also connect to smart home devices. Most also sync with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for control via voice. Certain models come with an on-screen remote that lets you start or pause and then return to dock. Look for a model with larger dustbins that self-empty, as opposed to one that requires manual emptying.

Some robovacs come with mapping technology that helps them remember obstacles, such as staircases, and prevents them from getting into furniture. Certain robovacs permit you to define no-go zones and rooms to ensure that they only clean areas that require the most. They also have a cliff sensor to keep them from falling, which is particularly helpful in multi-leveled homes.

If you plan to make use of your robot vacuum to clean your rugs, opt for one that is capable of dry mopping as well as wet. You'll be able to get better cleaning results by having your robot vacuum also remove its mop pad. Rinse it and then reconnect it when you want to run a new cleaning cycle. Find robots that have a rubber roller. It will be less likely to get caught from pet hair or other debris. It's recommended to inspect the robot's brushroll as well as side brushes for stuck-on debris every once or twice per week Also. If you notice that they're beginning to clog, it may be time to replace parts.

1. Collection of debris

As the name implies, robot vacuums are designed 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.

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

Both have self-emptying bins that collect the waste from the wastebasket and can clean the washboard while mowing. They also feature 8,000Pa suction and smart mapping technology and advanced obstacle avoidance that can help them navigate even the most challenging areas. The ECOVACS model is also among the few robots that we tested that could remove its mop pads and vacuum carpet which makes it the best choice for those who have to change between mopping and vacuuming frequently.

If you're seeking a lower-cost alternative, take a look at the iRobot Roomba Combo J7 Plus, our budget choice. It has LIDAR navigation and decent performance in the field of debris pickup for the price. It's not the fastest to map rooms and can be prone to bumping into obstacles, but it's less expensive than our other top picks.

1. Battery life

The most effective robot vacuums let you go about your day while they keep your floors in perfect state. You'll still need to manually clean your home every so often however, robovacs can assist you in maintaining a minimum standard of cleanliness, and even clean when you are away.

Look for a robovac with an extended-lasting battery to get the most use of it. A good guideline is to expect a robovac to last about two complete cleaning sessions when you run it on the highest power setting. This is not as long as a large vacuum cleaner, but it is enough to cover most homes. If you don't wish to wait while your robovac charges you can select a model that automatically returns to the base station for charging.

If you're looking to buy a robovac that has a little bit of everything in it, then consider an option that also mop. Eufy's X10 is the most effective model in this category has self-emptying and self-refilling for the dust bin, the water tank, and mop pad. It is also programmable to automatically refill and wash its own mop pads when they're empty.

The clear winner in our tests is the Dyson V810 due to its outstanding carpet and hard floor pickup, superb hair pickup, tangle-free performance, and an almost perfect auto empty score. It's not cheap and, unless you live in a an apartment that is small and has no pets, it may be too expensive for certain. The second-placed model one, the Dreametech D10+, has the same performance, however it costs 25 percent less.