The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

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

Some have a smaller bin that they empty by themselves. Others can be controlled via an app on your smartphone instead of an actual remote. Some have mapping features that help them navigate more efficiently.

1. Power

With 8,000Pa of suction power Our top pick for robot vacuums is durable enough to take care of the most difficult hairs and dirt. Its super-thin square design allows it to slide underneath furniture, such as beds and sofas, and its Dual-Laser LiDAR technology allows for precise navigation and obstacle avoidance. It also does a fantastic job of cleaning pet hair baking soda, sand, and other debris close to the baseboards as well as in corners.

Other powerful robots that are listed besides the DEEBOT X2 OMNI, include the iRobot Roomba j7+ as well as the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. The Roborock S8 Pro Ultra includes a docking station which automatically performs maintenance. It also comes with mopping capabilities. Its powerful suction and efficient mopping helped keep my floors clear of pet hair and muddy footprints and other debris during every floor type test we ran.

In the lower price range, a model with a suction capacity of around 2,500Pa is more than adequate for most homes. These models are quieter, making them an ideal choice for people with sensitive hearing. They're not silent however they are not the same volume as conversations at home.

Take into consideration your budget and cleaning needs to find the right combination of power and convenience. For light-duty cleaning that is frequent it is recommended to have a longer runtime and less suction is needed. For heavy-duty cleaning, weekly runs require the most power. Take a look at your flooring, home layouts and cleaning schedules in order to determine the best model for your requirements. We suggest looking through our entire list of robot vacuum reviews and ratings to get more details about the latest models available. Many users have reported that their carpets and bare floor look cleaner after using a robot vacuum.

2. Navigation

A robot vacuum isn't able to perform its job effectively when it doesn't know how to get around your home. Because of this, the best robots use advanced navigation technology that effectively scans rooms and builds maps to ensure thorough cleaning without being lost or hitting obstacles. There are three kinds of robot navigation that include LiDAR, camera and sensor.

The most expensive models use LiDAR to create a digital map of the room, offering the highest levels of precision and efficiency. Cheaper models depend on bump sensors, which are less accurate and tend to miss the majority of debris in dark spaces. The majority of robots have cliff sensors, which stop them from falling off steps or other drops.

Several robots I tested used objects recognition to navigate through things such as cords and fake dog turds. However, the Eufy X10 was the best. It was equipped with powerful oscillating mop heads and a user-friendly app and a superb mapping capability.

Consider features such as floor type sensors that automatically increase suction power when needed. Certain robots, like the Roborock mop, utilize mopping pad lifts to reach corners and eliminate dried spills. Some hybrids even apply cleaning solution to stubborn stains.

A smaller dustbin will require less frequent emptying, while a larger one will cost less to replace. The cheapest robotic cleaners usually employ a tiny disposable dust bag, but the majority of mid-range models come with larger dust bins of 3L that last for ages. Certain high-end robots, such as the EcoVACS DEEBOT OMNI Station can self-empty and refill their water tanks for hands-free convenience.

3. App control

The best robot vacuum with mop vacs have an application that lets you track cleaning progress and schedule your sessions and can connect to smart home devices for hands-free control. Many robot cleaner vacuums can also be controlled using voice commands, such as Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Some models have an on-screen remote that lets you start, pause, and return to dock. Find a model with larger dustbins that self-empty, rather than one that requires manual emptying.

Certain robovacs have mapping technology that can help them remember obstacles, such as stairs, and avoid running into furniture. Certain robovacs permit you to designate no-go zones and specific rooms to ensure that they only clean the areas that require the most. They also have cliff sensor to keep them from falling, which is useful in multi-level homes.

If you plan to use your robot vacuum to clean your rugs, opt for a model that can do dry mopping as well as wet. You'll be able to get better cleaning results if your robot vacuum can also remove its mop pad. Clean it and reattach it when you need to run a new cleaning cycle. Find robots that have a rubber 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 been stuck to them. Do this once or every week. If you notice they are beginning to get clogged up it might be time to replace parts.

4. Debris collection

Robot vacuums are designed to, as the name suggests, to gather dust and debris on your floors. The best ones pick small particles such as baking soda and sand as larger pieces such as orzo pasta, metal screws, and pet hair. They also deliver better results on carpets with a low pile than many manual vacuums.

The top-performing robots across all flooring types had a pickup score higher than 95%. The ECOVACS DEEBOT X2 OMNI and the Roborock Q Revo were our two best-performing bots in this category. Both are highly automated with docking stations that can perform maintenance by themselves and apps that make them extremely user-friendly.

They both have self-emptying bins that take the contents of the wastebasket and clean the washboard while you mow. They also have an 8,000Pa vacuum, intelligent mapping technology and advanced obstacle avoidance technology to help them navigate through even the most difficult of spaces. The ECOVACS robot vacuums best is one of the few that can clean carpet and take away mop pads. This makes it a perfect choice for users who have to switch between mopping and vacuuming regularly.

If you're looking for a cheaper option, check out the iRobot Roomba Combo J7 Plus, our budget-friendly pick. It offers LIDAR navigation at a reasonable price and a decent performance in the collection of debris. It is slow at mapping out rooms and is prone to hitting obstacles, but the cost is less than the other choices.

5. Battery life

The most effective robot vacuums let you move about your day while keeping your floors in pristine in good condition. While you'll still need to give your home a manual vacuum every now and again robot vacuums can help you keep a certain level of cleanliness and even keep your home clean even when you're away.

Look for a robovac with an extended-lasting battery to get the most use of it. If you choose to use the most powerful power setting, the model should last two cleaning sessions. This is less than a large vacuum however, it should be enough to clean most homes. If you don't like to wait around while your robovac recharges, you can also select an automatic model that makes its way back to its base station to recharge.

If you're looking to buy a robovac with a bit of everything in it, you should consider an option that also mop. Eufy's X10 is the most effective model in this category, offers 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 once they are out.

Its respectable carpet and hard floor pick-up excellent hair pickup, tangle-free, and a an almost perfect auto empty score make it the clear winner of our test scores. However, it's not cheap and unless you have a the smallest of homes without pets, it may be too pricey for some. The second-placed model one, the Dreametech D10+, has the same performance, but costs about 25 percent less.