The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Vacuuming is a major cause of a lot of people's lives however, robot vacuums make it a little more enjoyable. Modern models can also mop, and climb (small) steps.

They have a small dustbin which they empty themselves and some can be operated by a smartphone app instead of an actual remote. Some of them have mapping capabilities that help them navigate your home more efficiently.

1. Power

With the suction power of 8,000Pa Our top choice for robot vacuums is powerful enough to handle the worst dirt patches and hairs. The ultra-thin shape of the square allows it to slide under furniture such as beds and sofas. Dual-Laser LIDAR technology offers accurate obstacle avoidance and intelligent navigation. It's also great for cleaning baking powder, pet hair and other messes around baseboards and corners.

Other high-powered robots on this list, in addition to the DEEBOT X2 OMNI, include the IRobot Roomba J7+ as well as the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. The latter comes bundled with a sturdy docking station that automatically performs maintenance and has mopping functionality as well. Its powerful suction and effective mopping kept my floors free of pet hair and muddy footprints and other debris during every floor type test we ran.

In the lower price range, a unit with around 2,500Pa of suction is more than adequate for the majority of homes. These models are quieter, and are therefore a better choice for those who have sensitive ears. They're not silent, but they're only as loud as normal conversations at home.

Consider your budget and cleaning requirements to determine the best combination of power and convenience. For light-duty cleaning that is frequent, a longer runtime with less suction is needed. Cleaning that is heavy-duty every week requires the maximum power. Examine your flooring, layout of your home and cleaning schedule prior to choosing the right model. We suggest looking through our complete list of robot vacuum reviews and ratings for more information on the latest models available. Many users have reported that their carpets and floors appear cleaner after introducing a robotic vacuum into their home.

2. Navigation

A robot vacuum won't be able to do its job effectively without knowing how to get around your home. The best robots use sophisticated navigation technologies to scan rooms and create a map, ensuring thorough cleaning without getting stuck or hitting obstacles. There are three main types of robot navigation: LiDAR-based, sensor-based and camera-based.

The most expensive models use LiDAR to create a virtual map of the room. This model offers the highest level of accuracy and efficiency. Less expensive models depend on bump sensors, which are less accurate and tend to miss a lot of debris in dark spaces. Most robots come with cliff sensors that prevent them from falling off steps or other drops.

Several robots I tested used object recognition to navigate things such as cords and fake dog turds. However, the Eufy X10 was the best robot vacuum and mop. It had powerful mop heads that oscillate as well as a user-friendly application with excellent mapping capabilities.

Other features worth a look include floor type sensors that recognize hard floors and soft carpet and automatically boost suction power when needed. Some robots, like the Roborock mop, utilize a mopping pad lift to get into corners and clean up dried spills. Many hybrids can even apply cleaning solutions to tough stains.

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

3. App control

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

Some robots are equipped with mapping technology that helps them avoid obstacles such as stairs and furniture. Some allow you to create no-go zones or specific rooms, so that they only clean the areas that need it most. They also come with cliff sensors to keep them from falling down the stairs, which is particularly helpful in multi-level homes.

If you want to utilize your robot vacuum to clean carpets, select one that can be used both for wet and dry mopping. You'll have better results cleaning if your robot vacuum can also remove its mop pad. Clean it and reattach it when you need to run another cleaning cycle. Look for a robot with 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 may have been stuck to them. Do this at least every week. If you notice they are starting to clog up it might be time to buy replacement parts.

4. Collection of debris

Robot vacuums are made, as the name suggests to remove dust and other debris on your floors. The best ones pick fine particles such as baking soda and sand, as well as larger pieces like orzo pasta, metal screws and pet hair. They also get better pickup results on carpets with low piles than most manual vacuums.

Across all flooring types, the top performing robots had pick-up scores of more than 95%. The two top performers in this category were the ECOVACS DEEBOT X2 OMNI, and the Roborock Q Revo. Both are highly automated and feature robust docking stations that perform maintenance on their own, and features in the app that make them incredibly user-friendly.

They both have self-emptying bins that automatically remove the contents of the wastebasket. They also have the ability to clean the washboards as they mow. They also come with an 8,000Pa vacuum, smart mapping technology and advanced obstacle avoidance to help them navigate through even the most difficult of spaces. The ECOVACS model is also one of the only robots we tested that can take its mop pads and vacuum carpet, which makes it the best option for those who need to switch between mopping and vacuuming frequently.

If you want a cheaper option, we recommend the Roomba Combo J7 from iRobot+, our budget choice. It has LIDAR navigation and decent performance in the field of debris pickup for the price. It's slow to map rooms and may be susceptible to crashing into obstacles, however it's much less expensive than our other top picks.

5. Battery life

The most effective robot vacuums let you go about your day while keeping your floors in top in good condition. Although you'll need to give your home a manual vacuum mop cleaner robot every now and again robot vacuum reviews vacuums can help you keep a certain level of cleanliness, and even wash when you're away.

Choose a robovac that has long-lasting batteries to get the most out of it. A good rule of thumb is to expect a model to last about two cleaning sessions if you run it at the highest power setting. This is smaller than a larger vacuum but should be sufficient to get the job done in most homes. If you don't like to wait around while your robovac recharges, you can also choose an automatic model that makes its return to the base station to recharge.

If you want a robovac that does a bit of everything, think about an all-in-one robot that can mop as well. Eufy's X10 is the best model in this category. It provides self-emptying, auto-draining and self-refilling of the dust bin and mop pad. It can be programmed to refill and wash its mop pads once they are out.

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 make it the clear winner of our test scores. It's not cheap and, unless you live in a the space of a small home with no pets, it could be too expensive for some. The Dreametech D10+ is the second-placed model and offers the same performance, but costs around 25 percent less.