Why We Do We Love Robot Vacuum (And You Should Also!)

The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Vacuuming is the bane of many lives however, robot vacuums make it less tedious. Modern models mop and even climb (small) steps.

They have a small dustbin that they empty themselves, and some can be controlled from a smartphone app instead of an actual remote. Some come with mapping features to help them navigate more efficiently.

1. Power

Our top pick for robotic vacuums has a suction power of 8000Pa, which is strong enough to remove 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 precise navigation and obstacle avoidance. It is also great at cleaning baking powder, pet hair and other messes around baseboards and corners.

Other high-powered robots that are listed besides the DEEBOT X2 OMNI, are the IRobot Roomba J7+ aswell as the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. The latter comes with a robust docking station that automatically performs maintenance and includes mopping capabilities as well. Its powerful suction and efficient mopping helped keep my floors clear of pet hair, muddy paw prints, and other debris during every flooring type test we conducted.

A model that has 2,500Pa suction will suffice for homes that are in the lower price range. They are also quieter, making them a better choice for people who have sensitive hearing. These units are not silent however they are not about the same as normal conversations at home.

Think about your budget and cleaning needs to find the perfect combination of power and usability. For frequent light-duty cleaning you will require a longer time-to-run and a lower suction is required. For heavy-duty cleaning, weekly runs require the most power. Consider your flooring, layout of your home and cleaning schedules to select the best model for your needs. We recommend looking through our entire list of robot vacuum reviews and ratings to get more details on the most recent models available. Many users have reported having their carpets and floors looking much cleaner after introducing a robot vacuum into their home.

2. Navigation

A robot vacuum isn't able to perform its job properly if it doesn't know how to navigate around your home. The best rated robot vacuum robots employ sophisticated navigation technologies to scan rooms and create maps, ensuring thorough cleaning without getting stuck or hitting obstacles. There are three types of robot vacuums best navigation: LiDAR-based, sensor-based and camera-based.

The most expensive models utilize LiDAR to create a virtual map of the room. This model offers the highest levels of accuracy and efficiency. Bump sensors are utilized in lower-end models, however they aren't always accurate and miss a lot of debris when working in dark environments. Most robots come with cliff sensors to stop them from falling down stairs or other drops.

A number of the robots I tested utilized object recognition to navigate around things like fake dog turds. However, the Eufy X10 was the best. It had excellent mapping capabilities and powerful oscillating mops that could be used as an intuitive app and the ability to clean a zones, rooms or even the whole home.

Other features worth considering include floor type sensors that recognize carpets with soft and hard floors, automatically boosting suction power when required. Certain robots such as the Roborock mop make use of mopping pad lift that allows you to get into corners and clean dry spills. Many hybrids are able to apply cleaning solutions to tough staining.

A smaller bin will require less frequent emptying, while a larger one will save money on replacements. Most low-cost robotic cleaners use the smallest disposable dust bag. However, the majority of mid-range models have larger dustbins of 3L that last for a long period of time. Some of the top models, like the ECOVACS DEEBOT OMNI station, will self-empty their trash bins and refill their water tanks for hands-free convenience.

3. App control

Most robot vacuums come with an app to monitor cleaning progress and schedule cleaning sessions. They also connect to smart home devices. They also connect to Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for voice-based control. Some have a remote control that allows you to start or pause, and then return to dock. Select a model with a larger dustbin and can self-empty, rather than one that requires manual emptying.

Certain robovacs come with mapping technology that helps them avoid obstacles such as stairs and furniture. Some allow you to designate no-go zones and targeted rooms, ensuring that they only clean areas that need it most. They also have a cliff detector to keep them from falling, which is especially helpful in multi-leveled homes.

If you intend to utilize your robot vacuum to clean carpets, select a model which can be used both for wet and dry mopping. You'll get better results from a robot vac that can remove its own mop pad, as well, which you can then rinse and reattach when it comes time for another cleaning cycle. Look for robots with an elastomer roller. It is less likely to become tangled from pet hair or other particles. Examine the robot's side brushes and brushroll for any debris that may have been stuck to them. Make sure to do this at least twice per week. If you notice that they're starting to clog, it may be time to buy replacement parts.

4. Debris collection

As the name implies, robot vacuums are designed to remove dust and other debris from your floors. The best ones are able to pick up fine particles like baking soda and sand as as larger pieces like metal screws, orzo pasta and pet hair. They also provide better pick-up results on carpets with low piles than the majority of manual vacuums.

The top-performing robots across all flooring types had pickup scores greater than 95 percent. The two top performers in this category were the ECOVACS DEEBOT X2 OMNI and the Roborock Q Revo. Both are highly automated, with robust docking stations that perform maintenance on their own, and apps that make them extremely user-friendly.

Both have self-emptying bins which eliminate the contents of the wastebasket. They can also clean the washboard as they mow. They also have suction of 8,000Pa, smart mapping technology, and advanced obstacle avoidance that helps them find their way around even the most difficult spaces. The ECOVACS model is also one of the few robots we tested that can take its mop pads and vacuum carpet, which makes it the ideal choice for users who need to switch between vacuuming and mopping regularly.

If you're seeking a lower-cost option, look into the iRobot Roomba Combo J7 Plus, our budget choice. It offers LIDAR navigation at an affordable price and decent performance in the collection of debris. It's slow to map rooms and may be susceptible to hitting obstacles however it's much less expensive than our other best-buy choices.

5. Battery life

The most effective robot vacuums let you go about your day while keeping your floors in perfect condition. You'll still need to manually vacuum your home every so often however, robovacs can aid in maintaining a certain level of cleanliness and even clean when you are away.

To maximize the time you can get out of your robovac, look for an advancé with a long battery life. If you select the highest power setting, a model should last about two cleaning sessions. This is less than a full-sized vacuum cleaner, but it is enough to cover most homes. If you don't like to wait around while your robovac is charging you could opt for an automatic model that makes its return to the base station to recharge.

If you're looking to buy a robovac that has a little bit of everything in it, you should consider a robot that can also mop. Eufy's X10, the best model of this category has self-emptying and self-refilling for the dust bin as well as the water tank and mop pad. It can be programmed to automatically refill and wash mops when they run out.

Its dependable carpet and hard floor pick-up excellent hair pickup, tangle-free, and a an almost perfect auto empty score makes it the clear winner of our test scores. It's not cheap, and unless you have a small house with no pets, it might be too costly for some. The Dreametech D10+ is the second-placed model and offers the same performance, but costs around 25 percent less.