The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Vacuuming is the bane of many people's existence however, robot vacuums make it a little easier. Modern models can mop, and even climb (small) steps.

Some have a small trash bin that they empty on their own. Others are controlled with a smartphone app rather than the physical remote. Some models have mapping features that assist in navigation.

1. Power

With an impressive 8,000Pa of suction Our top pick for robot vacuums is powerful enough to take care of the most difficult hairs and dirt. Its slim square shape enables it to slide under furniture such as beds and sofas. Dual-Laser LIDAR technology allows for precise obstacle avoidance and intelligent navigation. It also does an excellent job of cleaning pet hair, baking soda, and other debris that can be found near the baseboards as well as in corners.

Other powerful robots that are listed apart from the DEEBOT X2 OMNI, are 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, combined with its efficient mopping, ensured my floors were free of pet hair, muddy prints, and other debris on every floor we test.

A model with 2500Pa suction should be sufficient for the majority of homes in the lower price range. These units are quieter and, therefore, a better choice for those with sensitive ears. They're not quiet, but they're just about the same as a normal conversation at home.

Think about your budget and cleaning needs to find the perfect combination of power and convenience. Frequent light-duty tidying requires a longer runtime and a lower suction, while weekly heavy-duty cleaning demands maximum power. Take a look at your flooring, layout of your home and cleaning schedules in order to determine the best model for your needs. We suggest looking through our full list of robot vacuum reviews and ratings for more details about the latest models available. Many customers report that their carpets and floors looking much cleaner after introducing a robotic vacuum in their home.

1. Navigation

A robot vacuum cannot accomplish its task when it doesn't know how to navigate your home. Because of this, the most effective robots depend on sophisticated navigation technology that reliably scans rooms and builds an outline map to ensure thorough cleaning without getting lost or hitting obstacles. There are three types of robot navigation including LiDAR, camera, and sensor.

LiDAR is employed by the most expensive models to create a virtual space map, which provides the highest levels in precision and efficiency. Cheaper models depend on bump sensors, which are more prone to error and tend to miss a lot of debris in dark areas. Most robots come with cliff sensors, which keep them from falling off stairs or other drops.

A number of the robots I tested utilized object recognition to navigate things like cords and fake dog turds. However, the Eufy X10 was the best. It had excellent mapping capabilities and powerful oscillating mops that could be used as an easy-to-use app, and the ability to clean a specific zone, room or entire home.

Other features worth looking into include floor type sensors that recognize carpets that are hard and soft automatically increasing suction power when needed. Some robots, like the Roborock mop, utilize mopping pad lifts to get into corners and eliminate dried spills. Many hybrids are able to apply cleaning solutions to staining that is difficult to remove.

A smaller bin will require less frequent emptying while larger ones will cost less to replace. The cheapest robotic cleaners typically utilize a small disposable dust bag, but most mid-range models have larger 3L dustbins that last for many years. Some premium robots like the EcoVACS DEEBOT OMNI Station will self-empty and fill up their water tank for hands-free convenience.

1. App control

The best Robot Vacuum Mops vacs have an app that lets you monitor cleaning progress and schedule your sessions and can connect to your smart home devices to allow hands-free control. They also sync with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for voice-based control. Certain models come with an on-screen remote that lets you start or pause and then return to dock. Find a model with larger dustbins that self-empty, rather than one that requires manual emptying.

Some robots are equipped with mapping technology that helps them remember obstacles, such as staircases, and prevents them from running into furniture. Others allow you to 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 helpful in multi-leveled homes.

If you plan to utilize your robot vacuum for cleaning rugs, choose a model which can be used both for wet and dry mopping. You'll get better results from an vac that is able to remove its own mop pad, as well, which you can then rinse and reattach when it's time for another cleaning cycle. Look for robots with an elastomer roller. This will be less likely to get caught from pet hair or other particles. Check the robot's side brush and brushroll for any debris that might have become stuck on. Do this once or every week. If you notice that they're starting to clog, it may be time to purchase replacement parts.

1. Collection of debris

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

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

Both have self-emptying bins that eliminate the contents of the wastebasket. They can also clean the washboard while they mowing. They also feature 8,000Pa suction and smart mapping technology and advanced obstacle avoidance that can help them navigate even the most challenging spaces. The ECOVACS robot is among the few that can vacuum carpet and take away mop pads. This makes it a great option for people who need to switch between mopping and vacuuming frequently.

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

1. Battery life

The best robot vacuums let you get on with your day while they keep your floors in perfect condition. While you'll still have to give your home a manual hoover every now and then, robovacs can help you maintain a baseline level of cleanliness, and even wash while you're away from home.

To maximize the amount of time you can use your robovac, choose an advancé with a long battery life. A good rule of thumb is to expect a robovac to last for about two complete cleaning sessions when you run it on the highest power setting. This is not as long as a full-sized vacuum cleaner, but it should be enough to provide for the majority of homes. If you don't like to be waiting around while your robovac charges you could choose one that will automatically make its return to the base station to recharge.

If you are looking for a robovac that does a little amount of everything, you should consider an all-in-one model that can mop too. Eufy's X10 is the most effective model in this class comes with self-emptying and self refilling for the dust bin as well as the water tank and the mop pad. It can also be programmed to automatically refill and wash its own mops when they're empty.

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 nearly perfect auto empty score. It's not cheap and, unless you live in a the space of a small home with no pets, it could be too expensive for certain. The Dreametech D10+ is the runner-up and has a similar performance, but it costs 25% less.