The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Vacuuming is a major cause of many lives, but robot vacuums make it a little more enjoyable. Today's models also mop and can even climb (small) stairs.
Some have a small bin which they empty themselves. Others can be controlled via a smartphone app rather than a physical remote. Some come with mapping features to help them navigate more efficiently.
1. Power
With the suction power of 8,000Pa Our top pick for robot vacuums is strong enough to take care of the most difficult hairs and dirt. The ultra-thin shape of the square allows it to slide under furniture like beds and sofas. Dual-Laser LIDAR technology offers precise obstacle avoidance and intelligent navigation. It also does an excellent job at cleaning pet hair, baking soda, and other debris near baseboards and in corners.
Apart from the DEEBOT X2 OMNI, the other powerful bots in this list include the iRobot Roomba J7+ and the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. It comes with a robust docking station that is able to perform maintenance and includes mopping capabilities as well. Its powerful suction and effective mopping helped keep my floors clear of pet hair as well as muddy paw prints and other debris throughout every floor type test we ran.
A model that has 2500Pa suction should be sufficient for homes that are in the lower price range. These models are quieter, which makes them an ideal choice for people with sensitive hearing. They're still not quiet, but they're just about the same as a normal conversation at home.
To get the most effective mix of performance and convenience take into consideration your cleaning needs and budget. For light-duty cleaning that is frequent it is recommended to have a longer runtime and less suction is recommended. For heavy-duty cleaning, weekly runs require maximum power. Check your flooring, home layout and cleaning schedule prior to choosing the right model. Take a look at our comprehensive list of robot vacuum reviews and ratings to learn more about the latest models. Many users report having their carpets and floors looking much cleaner after introducing a robotic vacuum in their home.
2. Navigation
A robot vacuum can't do its job effectively without knowing how to get around your home. The best robots use sophisticated navigation technology to scan rooms and make maps, ensuring thorough cleaning without getting stuck or hitting obstacles. There are three types of robot navigation: LiDAR, camera and sensor.

The most expensive models use LiDAR to build a virtual map of the room. This model offers the highest levels of precision and efficiency. Less expensive models depend on bump sensors which are more prone to error and tend to miss the majority of debris in dark areas. Most robots come with cliff sensors to prevent them from falling off 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 with powerful oscillating mops, a user-friendly app and the ability to clean by zones, rooms or even the whole house.
Consider features such as floor type sensors, which automatically boost suction power when required. Certain robots such as the Roborock mop make use of mopping pads lift to reach into corners and clean up dried spills. Many hybrids can apply cleaning solution on staining that is difficult to remove.
A smaller dustbin means less frequent emptying, however, a larger 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 decades. Certain premium 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 vacuums come with an application that lets you track cleaning progress and schedule sessions and connect to smart home devices for hands-free control. Most also can sync with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant to allow voice-controlled control. Some have a remote control that lets you start or pause, and then return to dock. Select a model with an extra large dustbin and is able to self-empty rather than one that needs manual emptying.
Some robots are equipped with mapping technology that helps them avoid obstacles such as furniture and stairs. Others let you create no-go zones or specific rooms, so they only clean the areas that require it the most. They also have cliff sensors to stop them from falling down staircase, which is particularly helpful in multi-level homes.
If you want to make use of your robot vacuum for cleaning carpets, select one that can be used both for wet and dry mopping. You'll get better cleaning results by having your robot vacuum also take off its mop pad. Rinse it, and then reconnect it when you want to run another cleaning cycle. Find robots that have the rubber roller. This will be less likely to get caught from pet hair or other debris. It's a good idea to examine the robot's brushroll and side brushes for stuck-on debris every once or twice per week Also. If you notice that they're getting clogged, it may be time to purchase replacement parts.
4. Collection of debris
As the name suggests, robot vacuums are designed to collect dust and debris from your floors. The most effective ones can pick up fine particles like baking soda and sand as well as larger pieces like orzo pasta, metal screws, and pet hair. They also get better pickup results on low-pile carpets than most 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 the two top-performing robots in this category. Both are highly automated with robust docking stations that can perform maintenance on their own. They also have features in the app that make them extremely user-friendly.
They both come with self-emptying bins which automatically suck up the contents of the wastebasket, and clean the washboard while you mow. They also come with an 8,000Pa vacuum, smart mapping technology and advanced obstacle avoidance that helps them navigate even the most difficult of spaces. The ECOVACS model is also one of the few robots that we tested that can take its mop pads and vacuum carpet making it the ideal choice for users who need to switch between vacuuming and mopping regularly.
If affordable robot vacuum looking for a less expensive option, we suggest the Roomba Combo J7 from iRobot+, our budget-friendly pick. It comes with LIDAR navigation for a reasonable price and a decent debris collection performance. It's a bit slow to map out rooms and may be susceptible to bumping into obstacles, however, it's cheaper than our other top picks.
5. budget robot vacuum are designed to let you get on with your life while they keep your floors in tip-top clean. While you'll still have to give your home a manual hoover every now and again Robotic vacuums can help maintain a baseline level of tidiness and even clean while you're away from home.
Look for a robovac with an extended-lasting battery to get the most use of it. If you select the highest power setting, the model should last two cleaning sessions. This is less than a size vacuum cleaner, however it will be sufficient to cover most homes. If you don't want to sit around waiting for your robovac charges you, you can select one that will automatically make its return to the base station to recharge.
If you want a robovac that can do a amount of everything, you should consider an all-in-one model that can mop as well. Eufy's X10 is the top model in this class comes with self-emptying and self refilling for the dust bin and the water tank and mop pad. It can be programmed to automatically refill and wash mops as soon as they run out.
Its respectable carpet and hard floor pick-up, great hair pickup and tangle prevention, and its near-perfect auto empty score make it the clear winner of our test scores. best robot vacuum cleaner and, unless you live in a a small house with no pets, it may be too expensive for some. The Dreametech D10+ is the second choice and has the same performance, but costs around 25% less.