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best automatic vacuum cleaner Robot Vacuum Cleaner UK

Robot vacuum cleaners are ideal if you don't like to get your hands messy. They can save time and effort in comparison to manual cleaning and are ideal for flats or single-storey homes.

Smart features are an added bonus. They include mapping technology that can remember your home's layout, avoiding furniture and rugs and avoiding those nipples under low furniture that bigger robots struggle with.

iRobot Roomba j7+

The iRobot Roomba J7+, an upgrade over the previous model by the company, adds new technology that makes it more effective in avoiding pet waste. It makes use of smart mapping and navigation to create maps of rooms and floors and works hard to avoid obstacles like charging cords, furniture and shoes. It also detects dirt, and prioritise areas of cleaning that are particularly filthy. This is a major improvement over older models that sometimes ignore the dirtiest spots or only clean them for a brief period of time.

The robot vacuum is fitted with a self-emptying base which can put dustbin debris into its own 2.4L dirt bag. iRobot claims that the bag can hold debris for up to 60 days. This means that you'll only need to empty it and refill it every three months. The base station can also store a spare bag for quick replacements.

It's easy to set-up and use the Roomba device, which is compatible with Alexa, Google Assistant and is fully controllable via the iRobot Genius app. Using the app, you can choose to start or end cleaning, set the amount of time it will be able to spend on each task and then create a timetable.

In our tests, the iRobot Roomba J7+ was capable of cleaning areas rug and hardwood floors without issue in the foyer, kitchen and family room. It was quiet and listened to us while it did its job. The decibel meter registered only 64 decibels in the operation. It took around 90 minutes to complete a single cleaning, and its battery required an hour and 58 mins to recharge following the cleaning. You can also grow your iRobot ecosystem by using the Combo j7, which allows you to connect it with the iRobot mop m6 and have one machine run while the other moves around the room.

Dyson 360 Viz Nav

The Dyson 360 Viz Nav robot vacuum cleaner is a great option for those who live in a multi-floored residence. The model can create maps of different floors and save them to the app, making it simple to switch between spaces without repeating the setup process. The Robot Mop can also be controlled via voice, and can be controlled by Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.

Dyson has adopted a different method of obstacle detection than other robot vacuums, employing a combination of sensors and cameras. A panoramic camera mounted on the top of the robot, together with 26 sensors externally can help create a map of the space as it moves. This aids to avoid obstacles and furniture.

In our tests, we discovered that the Dyson 360 Vis Nav could reach all the way to baseboards and edges, and was able navigate around furniture with tight corners. The suction of the robot was strong, and it was able to take every speck of dust, strand of hair and dried-out bit of Playdoh that we threw at it. The vacuum also took the bin out effortlessly and quickly, reducing clean-up time by half.

However, the Dyson 360 Viz Nav didn't do as well as other robots in our obstacle-avoidance tests. It was unable to avoid a temporary drying rack that it repeatedly tried to move under. It eventually became stuck and halted the cleaning cycle. It also had trouble avoiding furniture pieces that are taller such as the chair or coffee table. The Dyson 360 Vis Nav is also not able to climb stairs, which can be an issue for many people who live in multi-story houses.

Roborock

Roborock robotic vacuum cleaners have top-of-the-line cleaning features that are a cut above the other. Dual mops are included that spin and lift stains when pressing down. They also automatically lift carpets when vacuuming to keep streaks of dirt from being left behind and cleaning the vacuum of dirt. They have extreme suction of 5,500 Pa to ensure superior dust and dirt removal. In addition to this they also have an intelligent water flow control to ensure the correct amount of moisture for each flooring type.

Roborock's ability of mapping your entire home using laser technology is among its most impressive features. The LiDAR system of the Roborock robotic arm is constantly rotating emitting lasers and determining the time it takes for to bounce off the other objects. This information is then used to construct a real-time map of your home layout, allowing it to navigate with precision and avoid obstacles.

Based on the model you select depending on the model you select, you can modify your map to include no-go zones, furniture placements and room-specific cleaning. You can also choose the option to only vacuum, mop only, or vacuum+mop, and schedule regular cleaning with an app-based cleaning cycle that allows you to set it and forget it.

Roborock has a broad range of options, ranging from the budget-friendly S6 MaxV to the premium S7 MaxV Ultra. All models feature advanced mapping as well as a battery that lasts for a long time and a large dustbin. The docking station has a variety of features, including charging and refilling the hot water tank. In the UK they also have a two-year warranty.

Beko RCV 5

The Beko RCV 5 may be an unassuming newcomer to the robotic vacuum and mopping market but its sleek style and reasonable cost have already made it a cult. This robot has some tricks to set it apart from other robotic vacuums, including self-emptying capabilities. It's simple to set up and use using an easy-to-use application that lets you customize many options.

This model's navigation system uses sensors and a combination of mapping to navigate through your home. It does a good robot vacuum amount of avoiding obstacles. You can also adjust the cleaning route using the app, making it easier to clean certain areas more frequently than others. The app is a bit difficult initially but once you get the grasp of it, you'll be able to plan your cleaning schedule and monitor the power of your robot easily.

Despite its impressive list of features however, the RCV 5 is not without its faults. It has a relatively small water tank that can hold up to 240 ml of water at one time. This is sufficient for a basic wipe-clean but not the best rated robot vacuum option for tough stains. The plate is also not equipped with a rotation or vibration function.

The battery life of the robots in this price range isn't the length one would think. The RCV 5's battery only lasts about a third a cleaning cycle. This isn't a dealbreaker however it is something to keep in mind when shopping for a new robotic vacuum cleaner.

Karcher RCV 5

The German manufacturer Karcher is most famous for its pressure washers but it has entered the robot vacuum that mops vacuum market with a model that both vacuums and mop. The RCV 5 offers an impressive array of features, including superb obstacle detection (with dual lasers) and mapping that can be monitored in real-time via the app that is smart.

It's also able to sense carpeted surfaces, which automatically triggers wet mopping mode. It also has a spot cleaning feature that cleans a localised area of about 3 feet and can be programmed to repeat every week. The RCV 5 is a decent suction power of 2,500 pascals and a good sweeping capacity for both hard and soft flooring. It is able to reach into tight spaces and under low furniture that often halt bigger robot cleaners.

Like a lot of modern robots, the RCV 5 has a smartphone-powered app called Karcher Home Robots that can be used to start cleaning and manage maps of your home. It's also possible to create virtual walls and zones within which the RCV 5 can't drive, along with various other controls.

The RCV 5 has a downside in that its dust container is only a litre, and it will need to be emptied regularly. This is in contrast to other models that incorporate disposal technology within their docking station. It's also a bit heavier than other devices, making it less portable and requiring a bit more space in its charging station. Nonetheless, testers found the RCV 5 easy to use and rated its app control high. It performed well on our tests, but some users struggled to get the voice technology to work correctly and also found its docking station fiddly to put in an upright position.