The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Robot vacuums can make the task of vacuuming a little less painful. Today’s models also mop and climb (small) stairs.

They have a small trash bin that they empty themselves and some are controlled from a smartphone app instead of a physical remote. Some of them have mapping capabilities that aid in navigating your home with greater efficiency.

1. Power

Our top pick for robot vacuums has a suction power of 8,000Pa, which is enough to eliminate even the most stubborn dirt patches and hairs. Its ultra-thin square shape allows it to slide underneath furniture like couches and beds. Dual-Laser LIDAR technology provides accurate obstacle avoidance and intelligent navigation. It also does a great job at cleaning up pet hair baking soda, sand, and other debris that can be found near the baseboards and in corners.

Other high-powered robots that are listed in addition to the DEEBOT X2 OMNI include the iRobot Roomba J7+ as well as the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. The latter comes with a sturdy docking station that automatically performs maintenance and mopping functions as well. Its powerful suction and effective mopping helped keep my floors clear of pet hair and muddy footprints and other debris during every floor type test we ran.

A model that has 2,500Pa suction will suffice for homes that are in the lower price range. They are also quieter and are therefore a better choice for those with sensitive ears. These units are not silent but they’re not the same volume as conversations at home.

To find the ideal balance of performance and convenience, consider your cleaning needs and budget. A regular light-duty cleaning schedule requires longer time to run and lower suction, while weekly heavy-duty cleaning demands maximum power. Then assess your flooring, home layouts and cleaning schedules to choose the right model to meet your needs. We recommend checking out our entire list of robot vacuum reviews and ratings for more information on the latest models available. Many users report that their carpets and floors look cleaner after using a robotic vacuum.

2. Navigation

A robot vacuum isn’t able to perform its task without knowing how to navigate around your home. The best robots use sophisticated navigation technologies to scan rooms and make an outline map, which allows for thorough cleaning without getting stuck or hitting obstacles. There are three kinds of robot navigation: LiDAR-based camera-based and sensor-based.

LiDAR is utilized by the most expensive models to create a virtual space map, offering the highest levels of precision and efficiency. The less expensive models rely on bump sensors, which are more prone to error and can miss the majority of debris in dark spaces. Most robots also feature cliff sensors to keep them from falling down stairs or other drops.

A variety of robots I tested used object recognition to deftly navigate around things such as fake cords and dog turds, but the most effective was the Eufy X10. It had powerful oscillating mop heads as well as a user-friendly application with excellent mapping capabilities.

Other features worth considering include floor type sensors that recognize carpets that are hard and soft, automatically boosting suction power when needed. Some robots, like the Roborock mop, make use of a mopping pad lift to get into corners and eliminate dried spills. Many hybrids can apply cleaning solutions to the most difficult stains.

A smaller size of the bin means less frequent emptying, while a bigger one can save you money on replacements. The majority of robotic cleaners that are low-cost use a small, disposable dust bag. However, the majority of middle-priced models have larger 3L dustbins that last a long time. Certain premium robots such as the EcoVACS DEEBOT OMNI Station will self-empty and refill their water tanks, allowing hands-free convenience.

3. App control

The majority of robot vacuums have an app to monitor cleaning progress, 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. Some models have a separate remote control that lets you start, pause 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 robovacs have technology for mapping to help them avoid obstacles like stairs and furniture. Some allow you to designate no-go zones and targeted rooms, so that they only clean the areas that require the most. They also have a cliff detector to stop them from falling, which is especially beneficial in multi-level homes.

If you intend to use your robot vacuum to clean rug carpets, you should choose one that can be used both for dry and wet mopping. You’ll be able to get better results from the robot vacuum that can remove its own mop pad, and then wash and reattach when it’s time to do another cleaning cycle. Look for robots with the rubber roller. This is less likely to become tangled from pet hair or other debris. Examine the robot’s side brushes and brushroll for any debris that has been stuck to them. Make sure to do this at least twice per week. If you notice that they are starting to clog up it might be time to buy replacement parts.

4. Collection of debris

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

The top-performing robots across all flooring types had a pickup score over 95 percent. The two top-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 do maintenance on their own. They also have app features that make them incredibly user-friendly.

Both have self-emptying bins which automatically empty the wastebasket. They can also clean the washboard while they mow. They also come with an 8,000Pa vacuum, smart mapping technology, and advanced obstacle avoidance that helps them navigate even the most difficult of spaces. The ECOVACS robot is among the few that can mop carpet and remove the mop pads. This makes it an ideal choice for users who have to switch between mopping and vacuuming frequently.

If you’re looking for a less expensive option, we suggest the iRobot Roomba Kombo J7+, our budget choice. It comes with LIDAR navigation at a reasonable price and a decent performance in the collection of debris. It can be a bit slow in mapping rooms and is susceptible to bumping against obstacles, but the price is less than our other picks.

5. Battery life

The top robot vacuums are designed to let you go on with your life while keeping your floors looking spick and clean. It is still necessary to manually vacuum your home on a regular basis, but robovacs will assist you in maintaining a minimum level of cleanliness, and will even keep your home clean when you’re away.

To maximize the amount of time you can get out of your robovac, make sure you choose the model that has a high battery life. A good rule of thumb is to anticipate a model to last for around two full cleaning sessions when you run it at the highest power setting. This is smaller than a full-sized vacuum, but should be sufficient to get the job done in most homes. If you don’t like to sit around waiting for your robovac is charging, you can also opt for a model that automatically makes its way back to the base station to recharge.

If budget robot vacuum looking for a robovac with a variety of features in it, then think about one that is able to mop. Eufy’s X10, the best model of this category comes with self-emptying and self refilling for the dust bin, the water tank, and the mop pad. It can be programmed to automatically refill and wash its mops as soon as they run out.

Its dependable carpet and hard floor pickup, great hair pickup and tangle prevention, and its an almost perfect auto empty score makes it the clear winner of our test scores. However, it’s not cheap and unless you have a a small home without pets, it may be too pricey for some. The Dreametech D10+ is the second-placed model and offers the same performance, but is priced around 25% less.