Top Robot Vacuum 101: It's The Complete Guide For Beginners

Top Robot Vacuums and Mop Combos

Robots aren't quite as adept at picking up debris such as metal screws or pieces of pasta. They are however excellent at cleaning pet hair, dust and food particles. The best floor vacuum robot models have smart navigation technology and object avoidance capabilities which allow them to navigate around toys, cords and other obstacles in the household.

1. IRobot Roomba i3+ EVO

The iRobot Roomba i3+ EVO is a fantastic robot vacuum with a number of clever features that make it more easy to maintain than many competing models. Its automatic bin emptying is among the most convenient features we've seen on the form of a robot, and it works well with hard floors as well as carpets. It's also easy to install and use and the app will guide you through the process step-by-step. Another impressive feature is the ability to go back to the spot where it was when we tested it. It did this for 77 mins on one cleaning, before running out of battery.

The i3+ EVO is different from the other robot vacuums that we tested has a self vacuum emptying bin that automatically disposes of debris in an external dirt container on the base of its charging once it's full. The i3+ EVO can be kept from overfilling with a self-emptying bin. However it must be manually emptied at the end of each cleaning session. The i3+ EVO dustbin can hold 2.4L that is enough to last through four to five cleaning sessions.

Like the i7model, this model is equipped with state-of-the-art floor sensors to create maps and navigate in neat rows. However the i3+ EVO only stores one map, whereas the i7 is able to store multiple maps. The i7 can also use its map to create no-go zones and virtual barriers, but the i3+ EVO can't.

While the i3+ EVO is better at picking up debris on surfaces than the other robovacs we looked at however, it's not the most effective in terms of cleaning edges and corners. It's also not as gentle on furniture, despite being fairly quiet. It pushed chairs away from walls, and made some collisions with the sides of our bed, and also got stuck on cords and toys during testing.

2. Black & Decker Q5 Pro

If you're looking to increase your collection of robot vacuums, or are just starting out, the Q5 Pro is a great option. It has a sleek design, powerful navigation, and effective automation at a reasonable cost. It's the best pound-for-pound model available today and even matches Roborock's higher-priced models in many ways.

This robot is excellent at cleaning floors that are not clean and its avoidance technology helps it to steer away from furniture legs or other obstacles. It also performs well on carpet and earns a high score in our navigation tests. The only snag is that it's more raucous than the other models we test, and it doesn't fare similarly in our user satisfaction and predicted reliability assessments.

The Q5 Pro comes with a large dust container of 770ml, which means that you won't need to empty it as often as other 2-in-1 robots. The Q5 Pro's 240-minute running time is also impressive when in comparison to other 2-in-1 robots we tested. When the battery is low, it will automatically return to its dock where it recharges and resumes cleaning from where it left off. You can control the Q5 Pro via the app and make voice commands using Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant.

This is one of the first robots we've seen incorporate 3D mapping. This, along with other innovations, helped it perform exceptionally well in our vacuuming tests and mopping tests. You can plan cleaning schedules, create no-go zones, and view the battery's status as well as other things. The app is simple to use, however it does not support Apple HomeKit. This feature is scheduled to be added in 2025. As of early November, Apple has updated a footnote on its website to reflect that this feature will be delayed until 2025. HomeKit isn't compatible with several other robots, but Siri Shortcuts are.

3. TP-Link Tapo RV30 Plus

The TP-Link Tapo R30 Plus robot vacuum cleaner sale vacuum cleaner comparison (additional reading) robotic vacuum cleaners cleaner is an excellent choice if you are looking for a vacuum that is able to mop and is priced reasonably. It features a sleek design and impressive features for its price. You can control it with the buttons on the device, via the app or even using voice commands. The device has an extended battery life and the vacuum container can be auto-emptied.

The TP-Link RV30 Plus does a excellent job of cleaning up normal messes and is suitable for light mopping on hard floors. It comes with a new sweeping brush and mopping cloth, as well with an HEPA-filter. It can be combined with a smart home hub, such as Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant for easy voice control. The TP-Link RV30 Plus can be easily set up and connect to different floor surfaces by using the automatic mode. This assures that the most effective results are achieved for each room and type of floor.

You can choose from three cleaning options to meet your requirements. The vacuuming mode cleanses the entire room and uses the sensor's smart technology to detect edges, stairs, furniture and other obstacles. The mopping mode is utilized to clean the floor on a regular basis or to eliminate liquid spills and stubborn stains. You can combine the two functions to achieve an efficient and thorough cleaning.

With a powerful suction and 3 settings for dry mopping, the TP Link RV30 Plus quickly picks up dust, pet hair, crumbs and other debris from all flooring types. It can clean carpets without damaging the material due to specially-designed mopping tools.

In its first mapping run, TP-Link RV30 Plus scans your home and saves it with its dual navigation system that consists of LiDAR and Gyro. The map can be edited within the app and you can combine or split rooms as you prefer. You can also create virtual walls and no-go zones to stop the RV30 Plus from wandering into areas that you don't want to access.

4. Eufy iMop

The Eufy iMop robot robotic vacuum cleaner and mop is among the top fully-featured machines for flooring made of hard wood. It comes with a cutting-edge mapping system that maps your home even across several floors. The extremely well-designed base station virtually automates the cleaning process. It also offers amazing obstacles-avoiding and navigation.

The model is equipped with an internal dToF LiDAR sensor to map your home and create efficient cleaning routes. The iMop awed us with its analysis of coverage and navigation efficiency and was also good at getting around obstacles, such as furniture. It also finds its way back to the base station if it is unable to recharge its batteries during cleaning.

It also has a spot cleaning mode that lets you to clean or mop a specific part of your floor. It can also be programmed to follow a particular route. This is a great option if you have narrow hallways or stairs. It was capable of cleaning carpets during our carpet cleaning review however it had a difficult time with higher pile carpets and carpets. It can be set up to lift the mop pad when it comes into contact with carpet. This is an excellent feature for those who want to not have to mop their carpets.

The iMop has an onboard dust bin as well as a water tank which it fills and refills at the end of each cleaning session. The onboard dust bin holds up to 2.5 liters of debris. It will only require emptying after a few cleaning cycles. The water tank can withstand about a dozen mopping sessions before it runs dry. The iMop is easier to clean and maintain than a typical robot cleaner, which could be an important selling point for busy families.

The iMop's smartphone app is user-friendly and packed with options for configuration. It offers multiple suction modes, mopping settings and also scheduling. It also lets you design virtual walls and no-go zones, to ensure that the robot doesn't wander into rooms that aren't allowed. In addition, the application gives you access to your iMop's status and error messages.