The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Vacuuming is the bane of many people's existence, but robot vacuums make it less tedious. Modern models can also mop, and even climb (small) steps.

Some have a small trash bin which they empty themselves. Others can be controlled by apps for smartphones instead of a physical remote. Some of them have mapping capabilities that aid in navigating your home more effectively.

1. Power

Our top choice for robot hoover vacuums comes with a suction force of 8,000Pa, which is powerful enough to eliminate even the most difficult dirt patches and hairs. The ultra-thin design of the square allows it to slide underneath furniture like sofas and beds, and its Dual-Laser LiDAR technology supports intelligent navigation and accurate obstacle avoidance. It also does a great job at cleaning pet hair baking soda, other debris close to baseboards and in corners.

Other high-powered robots on this list, apart from the DEEBOT X2 OMNI, include the IRobot Roomba J7+ aswell as the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. It comes with a sturdy docking station that automates maintenance and mopping functions as well. Its powerful suction system, along with its effective mopping feature, ensured my floors were free of pet hair, muddy prints, and other messes on every floor we tested.

A model that has 2500Pa suction should be sufficient for homes that are in the lower price range. These units are quieter and therefore a better option for those with sensitive ears. They're not silent however they are not as loud as normal conversations at home.

To get the most effective mix of performance and convenience, consider your cleaning needs and budget. For regular light-duty cleaning you will require a longer time-to-run and less suction is recommended. Weekly heavy-duty cleaning requires the most power. Check your flooring, layout of your home and cleaning schedules prior to choosing the right model. We suggest looking through our complete list of robot vacuum reviews (please click Best) and ratings for more details about the latest models available. Many customers report that their carpets and floor look cleaner after using a robot vacuum.

2. Navigation

A robot vacuum can't accomplish its task if it does not know how to navigate around your home. For this reason, the most effective robots depend on advanced navigation technology that effectively scans rooms and creates a map to ensure thorough cleaning without getting lost or hitting obstacles. There are three kinds of robot mop navigation including LiDAR, camera, and sensor.

The most expensive models employ LiDAR to create a digital map of the room, offering the highest levels of precision and efficiency. Bump sensors are employed in lower-end models, however they can be inaccurate and miss a lot of debris when working in dark areas. The majority of robots have cliff sensors that prevent them from falling down stairs or other drops.

A number of the robots I tested utilized object recognition to navigate things such as cords and fake dog turds. But the Eufy X10 was the best robot hoover. It had superb mapping capabilities, powerful oscillating mops, an easy-to-use app, and the ability to clean by zones, rooms or even the all of the house.

Take into consideration features such as sensors that detect floors that automatically boost suction power when needed. Some robots, like the Roborock mops, use mopping pad lifts to get into corners and clean up dried spills. Many hybrids are able to apply cleaning solutions to the most difficult stains.

A smaller size of the bin will require less frequent emptying, while a bigger one can save you money on replacements. The cheapest robotic cleaners usually employ a tiny disposable dust bag, but the mid-range models typically have larger 3L dustbins that last for ages. Certain premium robots such as the ECOVACS DEEBOT OMNI Station can self-empty and refill their water tank for hands-free convenience.

3. App control

The best robot vacs have an app that lets you monitor the progress of cleaning and schedule sessions, and most can connect to smart home devices to allow hands-free control. Many robot vacuums can be controlled by voice using Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Some models have a remote control that allows you to begin or pause and then return to dock. Choose a model that has larger dustbins that self-empty, as opposed to one that requires manual emptying.

Certain robovacs have mapping technology that helps them recognize obstacles, such as the stairs, and also avoid getting into furniture. Certain robovacs let you define no-go zones and rooms so that they only clean the areas that require it the most. They also have cliff sensors to prevent them from falling down the stairs, which is especially beneficial in multi-level homes.

If you want to use your robot vacuum for cleaning carpets, select a model which can be used both for dry and wet mopping. You'll get better results with an vac that is able to remove its own mop pad, and then rinse and reattach when it's time to do another cleaning cycle. Look for a robot with the rubber roller. It is less likely to become tangled from pet hair or other particles. It's a good idea to inspect the robot's brushroll as well as side brushes for debris stuck on once or twice a week, too. If you notice that they're getting clogged, it may be time to purchase replacement parts.

4. Debris collection

Robot vacuums are created to, as the name suggests, to remove dust and other debris from your floors. The most effective robot vacuums are able to take tiny particles, such as baking soda and sand, and larger ones such as metal screws orzo, as well as pet hair. They also provide better pick-up results on carpets with low pile than the majority of manual vacuums.

The top-performing robots across all flooring types had a pickup score greater than 95 percent. Our two best-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 perform maintenance on their own, and apps that make them extremely user-friendly.

Both have self-emptying bins that collect the waste from the wastebasket and can clean the washboard while mowing. They also have 8,000Pa suction, smart mapping technology, and advanced obstacle avoidance that can help them find their way around even the most difficult of areas. The ECOVACS model is also one of the few robots that we tested that could remove its mop pads and autonomous vacuum carpet which makes it the best choice for those who have to change between mopping and vacuuming frequently.

If you're looking for a less expensive option, we recommend the iRobot Roomba Combo J7+, our budget-friendly pick. It features LIDAR navigation and decent debris pickup performance for the price. It can be a bit slow at mapping out rooms and is susceptible to hitting obstacles, but the cost is less than our other picks.

5. Battery life

The most effective robot vacuums are made to let you move to work while they keep your floors looking spick and clean. It is still necessary to manually vacuum your home from time to time however, robovacs can help you maintain a basic standard of cleanliness, and even clean while you're away.

To maximize the amount of time you can get out of your robovac, look for an advancé with a long battery life. If you use the highest power setting, the model should last two cleaning sessions. This is less than a size vacuum cleaner, however it is enough to cover most homes. If you don't want to sit for your robovac to recharge, you can choose a model that will automatically return to the base station to charge.

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

Its respectable carpet and hard floor pick up as well as its excellent hair pickup and tangle-free, and a close to perfect auto empty scores makes it the clear winner of our test scores. It's not cheap and unless you have an apartment that is small and has no pets, it could be too expensive for some. The second choice one, the Dreametech D10+, has identical performance, however it costs 25 percent less.