The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

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

Some have a small trash bin which they empty themselves. Others are controlled with an app on your smartphone instead of the physical remote. Some come with mapping features to assist in navigation.

1. Power

With 8,000Pa of suction power Our top choice for robot vacuum that mops vacuums is powerful enough to handle the worst hairs and dirt. Its ultra-thin square shape allows it to slide underneath furniture, such as sofas and beds. Dual-Laser LIDAR technology provides precise obstacle avoidance and intelligent navigation. It is also great at cleaning pet hair, baking powder, and other debris near baseboards and corners.

Other powerful robots that are listed besides the DEEBOT X2 OMNI include the iRobot Roomba j7+ as well as the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. The Roborock S8 Pro Ultra includes a docking station which automatically handles maintenance. It also comes with mopping capabilities. Its powerful suction, coupled 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 with 2,500Pa suction will suffice for homes that are in the lower price range. They are also quieter, which makes them an ideal option for those with sensitive hearing. They're not silent, but they're only as loud as a normal conversation at home.

Take into consideration your budget and cleaning requirements to find the perfect combination of power and usability. Frequent light-duty tidying requires a longer runtime and lower suction, while weekly heavy-duty cleaning requires the most power. Take a look at your flooring, layout of your home and cleaning schedules in order to select the best model to meet your needs. Check out our complete list of robot vacuum ratings and reviews for more information about the latest models. Many users have reported that their carpets and bare floor look cleaner after using a robotic vacuum.

2. Navigation

A robot vacuum isn't able to perform its job properly without knowing how to navigate your home. For this reason, the best robots use sophisticated navigation systems that consistently scans rooms and creates an outline map to ensure thorough cleaning without being lost or hitting obstacles. There are three types of robot navigation: LiDAR-based sensor-based, and camera-based.

The most expensive models utilize LiDAR to create a digital map of the room. This model offers the highest levels of accuracy and efficiency. Bump sensors are utilized in less expensive models, but they can be inaccurate and miss a lot of debris when working in dark environments. Many robots also have cliff sensors to keep them from falling down stairs or other falls.

A number of the robots I tested utilized object recognition to navigate things such as cords and fake dog turds. But the Eufy X10 was the best robot vacuum cleaner and mop. It had superb mapping capabilities, powerful oscillating mops, a user-friendly app and the ability to clean by zones, rooms or even the entire home.

Consider features such as floor type sensors that automatically boost suction power when required. Some robots, such as the Roborock mops, use a mopping pad lift to get into corners and clean up dried spills. Many hybrids can even apply cleaning solutions to stubborn staining.

A smaller bin will require less frequent emptying, however, a larger one can save you money on replacements. The cheapest robotic cleaners usually employ a tiny disposable dust bag, while the majority of mid-range models come with larger 3L dustbins that can last for many years. Some premium robots, like the ECOVACS DEEBOT OMNI station, can self-empty their trash bins and refill their water tanks to provide convenience without hands.

3. App control

The best robot vacuums come with an application that lets you track cleaning progress and schedule sessions, and most can connect to your smart home devices to allow hands-free control. Many robot vacuums can be controlled using voice commands, such as Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Some models have a separate remote control that lets you start or pause, and then return to dock. Select a model with an extra large dustbin and is able to self-empty rather than one that needs manual emptying.

Some robovacs come with mapping technology that helps them remember obstacles, like staircases, and prevents them from getting into furniture. Certain robovacs permit you to define no-go zones and rooms to clean areas that require it the most. They also have cliff sensor to prevent them from falling, which is particularly useful in multi-level homes.

If you intend to make use of your robot vacuum to clean your rugs, opt for one that can perform both dry mopping as well as wet. You'll get better results with the robot vacuum that can remove its own mop pad and then wash and reattach when it comes time for another cleaning cycle. Look for a robot with an elastomer roller. It will be less likely to get caught from pet hair or other debris. Check the robot's side brush and brushroll for any debris that has gotten stuck on. Make sure to do this at least twice per week. If you notice that they're starting to clog, it may be time to purchase replacement parts.

4. Debris collection

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

Across all flooring types, the top robots had pickup scores of greater than 95 95%. The ECOVACS DEEBOT X2 OMNI and the Roborock Q Revo were our two best-performing bots in this category. Both are highly automated, equipped with docking stations that perform maintenance by themselves and app features which make them extremely user-friendly.

They both have self-emptying bins that automatically collect the waste from the wastebasket and clean the washboard while mowing. They also come with an 8,000Pa vacuum, intelligent mapping technology and advanced obstacle avoidance that helps them navigate even the most difficult spaces. The ECOVACS model is also one of the few robots we tested that could remove its mop pads and vacuum carpet, which makes it the best option for those who need to switch between mopping and vacuuming regularly.

If you're seeking a lower-cost option, check out the Roomba Combo J7 by iRobot 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 is susceptible to crashing into obstacles, however, it's cheaper than our other top selections.

5. Battery life

The top robot vacuums are designed to let you get on with your life while keeping your floors in tip-top clean. Although you'll need to give your home a manual vacuum every now and then robot vacuums can help you maintain a baseline level of cleanliness, and even wash when you're away.

To maximize the amount of time you can get out of your robovac, choose the model that has a high battery life. A good rule of thumb is to expect a robovac to last for around two complete cleaning sessions if you use it at the maximum power setting. This is smaller than a full-sized automatic vacuum cleaner and mop, however, it should be enough to get the job done in most homes. If you don't want to sit while your robovac recharges, you can choose an option that automatically returns to the base station to charge.

If you are looking for a robovac that does a little bit of everything, think about an all-in-one machine that can mop too. Eufy's X10, the best model of this category, offers self-emptying and self-refilling for the dust bin and the water tank and the mop pad. It can be programmed to automatically refill and wash mops once they are out.

The clear winner in our tests is the Dyson V810, due to its outstanding carpet and hard floor pickup, excellent hair pickup, tangle-free performance, and a near perfect auto vacuum and mop empty score. It's not cheap, however and unless you live in the smallest of homes without pets, it may be too expensive for some. The Dreametech D10+ is the second choice and has the same performance, but costs around 25% less.