The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

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

They have a tiny dustbin which they empty themselves and some of them can be operated by a smartphone app instead of the physical remote. Some models have mapping capabilities to help them navigate your home more effectively.

1. Power

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

In addition to the DEEBOT X2 OMNI, the other top-of-the-line bots on this list include the iRobot Roomba J7+ and the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. The Roborock S8 Pro Ultra has docking station that automatically performs maintenance. It also comes with mopping capabilities. Its powerful suction, coupled with its effective mopping, ensured my floors were free of pet hair, muddy prints, and other messes on every floor we tested.

A model that has 2,500Pa suction is sufficient for most homes in the lower price range. These units are quieter, which makes them the ideal choice for people with sensitive hearing. They're still not quiet, but they're just the same volume as normal conversations at home.

For the best mix of usability and power, consider your cleaning needs and budget. For light-duty cleaning that is frequent, a longer runtime with a lower suction is required. Weekly heavy-duty cleaning requires the most power. Assess your flooring, layout of your home, and cleaning schedules before selecting the best model. We recommend looking through our full list of robot vacuum reviews and ratings to get more information on the latest models available. Many customers report that their carpets and bare floors appear cleaner after using a robot vacuum.

2. Navigation

A robot vacuum cleaners uk vacuum can't do its job well without knowing how to navigate your home. Because of this, the best robots rely on sophisticated navigation technology that reliably scans rooms and then creates maps to ensure thorough cleaning without getting lost or hitting obstacles. There are three types of robot vacuum cleaner best navigation including LiDAR, camera, and sensor.

LiDAR is used by the most expensive models to create a virtual room map, which provides the highest levels of accuracy and efficiency. The less expensive models depend on bump sensors which can be more inaccurate and can miss many debris in dark areas. Most robots also feature cliff sensors to stop them from falling down stairs or other falls.

Many of the robots I tested utilized object recognition to efficiently navigate things like fake cords and dog turds but the best robot vacuum and mop was the Eufy X10. It was a fantastic mapping device with powerful oscillating mops, a user-friendly app and the ability to clean a specific zone, room or whole house.

Consider features such as sensors that detect floors that automatically increase suction power when needed. Certain robots such as the Roborock mop utilize mopping pad that lifts to reach into corners and clean dried spills. Many hybrids can even apply cleaning solution to stubborn staining.

A smaller size of the bin will require less frequent emptying, while a larger one will save money on replacements. Most low-cost robotic cleaners use the smallest, disposable dust bag. However, the majority of mid-range models have larger 3L dustbins which last for a long time. Some premium robots, like the EcoVACS DEEBOT OMNI station, can self-empty their dustbin and refill their water tanks for hands-free convenience.

3. App control

The best robot vacuums come with an application that lets you track cleaning progress and schedule sessions and can connect to smart home devices to allow hands-free control. Many robot vacuums can be controlled via voice using Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Certain models come with a remote control that allows you to start the process, pause it, and return to dock. Look for a model with larger dustbins that self-empty, rather than one that requires manual emptying.

Some robovacs come with mapping technology that allows them to remember obstacles, like the stairs, and also avoid running into furniture. Others let you create no-go zones or specific rooms, so they only clean the areas that need it most. They also have cliff sensor to keep them from falling, which is particularly useful in multi-level homes.

If you intend to make use of your robot vacuum to clean rugs pick a model that can do dry and wet mopping. You'll get better cleaning results by having your robot vacuum also take off its mop pad. Clean it and attach it again when you are ready to run another cleaning cycle. Also, look for a machine with a rubber roller that is less susceptible to tangles from pet hair and other debris than bristle rollers like those found on less expensive models. Check the robot's side brushes and brushroll for any debris that might have become stuck on. Make sure to do this at least every week. If you notice that they're beginning to clog, it may be time to purchase replacement parts.

4. Collection of debris

Like the name suggests robot vacuum reviews vacuums are made to collect dust and debris from your floors. The best ones pick small particles such as baking soda and sand, as well as larger pieces like metal screws, orzo pasta and pet hair. They also have better pickup results on carpets with low pile than the majority of manual vacuums.

The top-performing robots across all flooring types had a pickup score higher than 95%. The ECOVACS DEEBOT X2 OMNI and the Roborock Q Revo were two of our most efficient bots in this class. Both are highly automated, with robust docking stations that do maintenance on their own, and apps that make them extremely user-friendly.

They both have self-emptying bins that automatically collect the waste from the wastebasket, and clean the washboard while you mow. They also come with an 8,000Pa vacuum, intelligent mapping technology and advanced obstacle avoidance that helps them navigate even the most difficult areas. The ECOVACS model is also the few robots that we tested that can take its mop pads and vacuum carpet making it the ideal choice for those who have to switch between vacuuming and mopping regularly.

If you want a cheaper option, we recommend the iRobot Roomba Combo J7+, our budget pick. It comes with LIDAR navigation and decent performance in the field of debris pickup for the price. It's not the fastest to map out rooms and is susceptible to crashing into obstacles, but it's less expensive than our other top picks.

5. Battery life

The most effective robot vacuums are made to let you go on with your life while they keep your floors in tip-top span. It is still necessary to manually clean your home on a regular basis, but robovacs will aid in maintaining a certain level of cleanliness, and will even clean while you're away.

To maximize the time you get from your robovac, choose a model with excellent battery life. If you select the highest power setting, a model should last for about two cleaning sessions. This is smaller than a full-sized vacuum, but should be sufficient to get the job done in most homes. If you don't wish to wait while your robovac recharges, you can choose an option that automatically returns to the base station to charge.

If you want a robovac that can do a bit of everything, think about an all-in-one robot that can mop too. Eufy's X10 is the top model in this category and provides self-emptying, auto-draining and self-refilling of your dust bin as well as the mop pad. It is also programmable to automatically refill and wash its own mops when they're running low.

The clear winner of our tests is the Dyson V810, thanks to its impressive carpet and hard floor pickup, superb hair pickup, tangle-free performance and an almost perfect auto empty score. However, it's not cheap and unless you live in an apartment without pets, it may be too expensive for some. The Dreametech D10+ is the runner-up and has a similar performance, but it costs 25 percent less.