Lavonda Tishler

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) steps.

Some have a small bin that they empty by themselves. Others can be controlled by a smartphone app rather than a physical remote. Some come with mapping features to aid in navigation.

1. Power

Our top pick for robot vacuums has suction power of 8,000Pa, which is powerful enough to get rid of even the most difficult hairs and dirt. The ultra-thin shape of the square allows it to slide underneath furniture, such as sofas and beds. Dual-Laser LIDAR technology provides precise obstacle avoidance as well as intelligent navigation. It is also great at cleaning baking powder, pet hair, and other debris near baseboards and corners.

Apart from the DEEBOT X2 OMNI, the other high-powered bots on this list include the iRobot Roomba J7+ and the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. The latter comes with a powerful docking station that automates maintenance and has mopping functionality as well. Its powerful suction, combined with its effective mopping, ensured my floors were free of pet hair, muddy prints and other debris on every floor we test.

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

Take into consideration your budget and cleaning needs to find the perfect combination of power and efficiency. Regular light-duty cleaning requires a longer runtime and lower suction, while weekly heavy-duty cleaning requires the most power. Consider your flooring, home layouts and cleaning schedules to choose the right model to meet your requirements. Check out our complete list of robot vacuum ratings and reviews for more details about the most recent models. Many users have reported that their carpets and floors looking significantly cleaner after introducing a robot vacuum in their home.

2. Navigation

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

LiDAR is employed by the most expensive models to create a virtual room map, offering the highest levels of accuracy and efficiency. Less expensive models rely on bump sensors, which are less accurate and tend to miss many debris in dark spaces. Most robots are equipped with cliff sensors that stop them from falling off steps or other drops.

A variety of robots I tested used object recognition to deftly navigate objects such as fake cords and dog turds, but the most effective was the Eufy X10. It was a fantastic mapping device and powerful oscillating mops that could be used as a user-friendly app and the ability to clean a specific area, room or the whole house.

Other features worth a look include sensors for floors that can recognize carpets that are hard and soft and automatically boost suction power when required. Some robots, like the Roborock mops, use a mopping pad lift to reach corners and clean up dried spills. Many hybrids can even apply cleaning solutions to stubborn stains.

A smaller dustbin means less frequent emptying, however, a larger one can save you money on replacements. The cheapest robotic cleaners usually use a small disposable dust bag, whereas the majority of mid-range models come with larger dust bins of 3L that last for decades. Certain high-end robots, such as the ECOVACS DEEBOT OMNI Station will self-empty and fill up their water tanks, allowing hands-free convenience.

3. App control

The best robot vacuums come with an application that lets you track the progress of cleaning and schedule sessions and connect to your smart home devices to allow hands-free control. Many robot vacuums can be controlled via voice using Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Some have a remote control that allows you to start, pause and return to dock. Choose a model that has a larger trash bin and can self-empty rather than one that requires manual emptying.

Some robovacs come with mapping technology that allows them to recognize obstacles, such as staircases, and prevents them from hitting furniture. Certain robovacs permit you to create no-go zones as well as specific rooms so that they only clean areas that require it the most. They also have cliff sensor to stop them from falling, which is especially beneficial in multi-level homes.

If you plan to make use of your robot vacuum to clean your rugs, opt for one that is capable of dry mopping as well as wet. You'll get better cleaning results when your autonomous vacuum can also take off its mop pad. Rinse it and then reattach it when you need to run another cleaning cycle. Also, look for a machine that has a rubber roll that is less susceptible to knots caused by pet hair and other debris than a bristle roller that is found on cheaper models. It's recommended to examine the robot's brushroll and side brushes for debris stuck on every once or twice per week Also. If you notice they are starting to clog up it might be time to replace parts.

4. Collection of debris

As the name suggests robot vacuums are made to collect dust and other debris from your floors. The best robot vacuums can collect tiny particles like sand and baking soda, as well as larger ones like screws made of metal, orzo, and pet hair. They also have better results on carpets with a low pile than many manual vacuums.

The top-performing robots across all flooring types had scores greater 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 and feature robust docking stations that do maintenance on their own, and features in the app that make them extremely user-friendly.

They both have self-emptying bins that automatically remove the contents of the wastebasket. They can also clean the washboard as they mowing. They also have an 8,000Pa vacuum cleaner, smart mapping technology, and advanced obstacle avoidance that helps them navigate through even the most difficult of spaces. The ECOVACS model is also the only robots that vacuum and mop we tested that can take its mop pads and vacuum carpet which makes it the best choice for those who have to change 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 choice. It comes with LIDAR navigation for reasonable prices and decent debris collection performance. It is slow in mapping rooms and is prone to bumping into obstacles, but it is lower than our other picks.

5. Battery life

The best robot vacuums are designed to let you move moving with your day while keeping your floors looking spick and span. While you'll still need to give your home a manual vacuum every now and then Robotic vacuums can help maintain a baseline level of cleanliness and even keep your home clean while you're away from home.

To maximize the time you get from your robovac, choose an advancé with a long battery life. If you select the highest power setting, a 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 wish to wait while your robovac recharges you can select a model that automatically returns to the base station for charging.

If you are looking for a robovac that does a bit of everything, consider an all-in-one robot vacuums uk that can mop as well. Eufy's X10 is the top model of this category comes with self-emptying and self refilling for the dust bin and the water tank and mop pad. It can also be programmed to automatically refill and wash mops when they're running low.

The clear winner in our tests is the Dyson V810, thanks to its impressive carpet and hard floor pickup, excellent hair pickup, tangle-free performance and an almost perfect auto empty score. It's not cheap, however and unless you have a the smallest of homes with no pets it might be too pricey for some. The second-placed model one, the Dreametech D10+, has the same performance, however it costs 25 percent less.