Jade Ketner

The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

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

Some have a smaller bin that they empty on their own. Others are controlled with a smartphone app rather than a physical remote. Some of them have mapping capabilities that aid in navigating your home with greater efficiency.

1. Power

Our top pick for robotic vacuums comes with a suction force of 8,000Pa, which is enough to get rid of even the most difficult dirt patches and hairs. Its slim square shape enables it to slide beneath furniture, such as couches and beds. Dual-Laser LIDAR technology provides precise obstacle avoidance as well as intelligent navigation. It also does a fantastic job at cleaning pet hair, baking soda, and other debris close to baseboards and in corners.

Other high-powered robots in this list apart from the DEEBOT X2 OMNI include the IRobot Roomba J7+ as well as the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. The Roborock S8 Pro Ultra includes docking station that automatically performs maintenance. It also has mopping capabilities. Its powerful suction, coupled with its effective mopping, kept my floors clean of pet hair, muddy prints and other messes on every type of floor we test.

In the lower cost range, a model that has 2,500Pa of suction is more than enough for the majority of homes. These models are quieter, making them a better option for people who have sensitive hearing. They aren't silent, however they are not the same volume as conversations at home.

For the best mix of usability and power Consider your cleaning requirements and budget. For frequent light-duty cleaning, a longer runtime with less suction is recommended. Weekly heavy-duty cleaning requires the maximum power. Assess your flooring, home layout and cleaning schedule prior to selecting the right model. We recommend checking out our complete list of robot vacuum reviews and ratings for more information on the latest models available. Many customers report that their carpets and floors appear cleaner after using a robotic vacuum.

2. Navigation

A robot vacuum isn't able to do its job if it does not know how to navigate around 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 kinds 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 of precision and efficiency. The less expensive models depend on bump sensors, which are more prone to error and tend to miss the majority of debris in dark areas. The majority of robots have cliff sensors to keep them from falling down stairs or other drops.

Several robots I tested used objects recognition to navigate through things like cords and fake dog turds. However, the Eufy X10 was the best. It had superb mapping capabilities, powerful oscillating mops, a user-friendly app and the ability to clean a specific zone, room or all of the house.

Other features worth considering include sensors for floors that can recognize carpets with soft and hard floors, automatically boosting suction power when needed. Some robots, such as the Roborock mop make use of mopping pads lift to reach into corners and clean dry spills. Many hybrids can apply cleaning solution to the most difficult stains.

A smaller bin will require less frequent emptying, while bigger ones will cost less to replace. The majority of robotic cleaners that are low-cost use the smallest, disposable dust bag. However, the majority of mid-range models have larger 3L dustbins which last for a long time. Certain premium robots such as the ECOVACS DEEBOT OMNI Station will self-empty and fill up their water tank for hands-free convenience.

3. App control

The majority of robot hoover vacuums come with an app to monitor the progress of cleaning, schedule sessions and connect to smart home devices. Many also connect to Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant to allow voice-controlled control. Some have a remote control that allows you to start, pause and return to dock. Pick a model that comes with a larger dustbin and can self-empty instead of one that needs manual emptying.

Some robots are equipped with technology for mapping to help them avoid obstacles such as stairs and furniture. Others allow you to designate no-go zones and targeted rooms, ensuring that they only clean the areas that require the most. They also have a cliff detector to stop them from falling, which is particularly helpful in multi-leveled homes.

If you plan to make use of your robot vacuum to clean rugs pick one that is capable of both dry and wet mopping. You'll be able to get better cleaning results if your robot vacuum can also take off its mop pad. Clean it and reattach it when you need to run 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 might have become stuck on. Do this at least twice a week. If you notice that they're beginning to get clogged up it could be time to buy replacement parts.

4. Collection of debris

Robot vacuums are designed according to the name to collect dust and debris from your floors. The best robot vacuum cleaner and mop robot cleaner with mop vacuums can take tiny particles like baking soda and sand as well as larger ones such as metal screws orzo, as well as pet hair. They also provide better results on low pile carpets than many manual vacuums.

The top-performing robots across all flooring types had scores over 95 percent. 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 on their own, and app features which make them extremely user-friendly.

Both have self-emptying bins that automatically take the contents of the wastebasket, and clean the washboard while you mow. They also have 8,000Pa suction, smart mapping technology, and advanced obstacle avoidance that helps them find their way around even the most challenging spaces. The ECOVACS robot cleaner is among the few that can clean carpet and take away mop pads. This makes it a perfect option for those who need to switch between mopping and vacuuming regularly.

If you're looking for a more affordable option, we suggest the iRobot Roomba Combo J7+, our budget-friendly pick. It features LIDAR navigation for an affordable price and decent debris collection performance. It is slow when it comes to mapping rooms and is prone to hitting obstacles, but the cost is less than the other choices.

5. Battery life

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

To maximize the time you get from your robovac, choose a model with excellent battery life. If you choose to use the most powerful power setting, the model should last for about two cleaning sessions. This is smaller than a large vacuum but it should be sufficient to keep most homes clean. If you don't want to wait around while your robovac recharges you could select an automatic model that makes its way back to the base station to recharge.

If you're looking for a robovac with a bit of everything in it, then consider an option that also mop. Eufy's X10 is the most effective model in this class and provides self-emptying, auto-draining and self-refilling of the dust bin as well as the mop pad. It can be programmed to automatically refill and wash its mop pads when they run out.

Its respectable carpet and hard floor pick up, great hair pickup and tangle avoidance, and an almost perfect auto empty score makes it the clear winner of our test scores. However, it's not cheap and unless you live in the smallest of homes with no pets it might be too expensive for some. The second-placed model is the Dreametech D10+, has identical performance, but costs about 25% less.