The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Robot vacuums can make the task of vacuuming less painful. Modern models can also mop and climb (small) steps.

Some have a small trash bin that they empty on their own. Others can be controlled by apps for smartphones instead of a physical remote. Some come with mapping features to assist in navigation.

1. Power

Our top choice for robot vacuums has suction power of 8,000Pa, which is powerful enough to remove even the most stubborn dirt patches and hairs. Its ultra-thin square shape allows it to slide beneath furniture such as sofas and beds. Dual-Laser LIDAR technology provides precise obstacle avoidance as well as intelligent navigation. It is also great at cleaning pet hair, baking powder, and other debris near corners and baseboards.

In addition to the DEEBOT X2 OMNI, other top-of-the-line bots on this list include the iRobot Roomba J7+ as well as the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. The latter comes with a robust docking station that is able to perform maintenance and includes mopping capabilities as well. Its powerful suction, combined with its effective mopping, ensured my floors were free of pet hair, muddy prints, and other messes on every type of floor we tested.

In the lower cost range, a model with around 2,500Pa of suction is more than adequate for the majority of homes. They are also quieter and, therefore, a better choice for those with sensitive ears. They're still not silent, but they're only as loud as a normal conversation at home.

Think about your budget and cleaning requirements to find the right combination of power and convenience. Regular light-duty cleaning requires a longer runtime and lower suction, while weekly high-volume cleaning requires the most power. Check your flooring, layout of your home and cleaning schedule prior to selecting the best model. We suggest looking through our complete list of robot vacuum reviews and ratings to get more information on the latest models available. Many users have reported seeing their carpets and bare floors looking much cleaner after introducing a robot vacuum to their home.

2. Navigation

A robot automatic vacuum and mop robot can't do its job when it doesn't know how to navigate your home. The best robots use sophisticated navigation technologies to scan rooms and create maps, ensuring thorough cleaning without getting stuck or hitting obstacles. There are three kinds of robot vacuums best navigation: LiDAR-based sensor-based and camera-based.

The most expensive models employ LiDAR to build a virtual map of the room, delivering the highest level 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 areas. The majority of robots have cliff sensors to keep them from falling down stairs or other drops.

A variety of robots I tested employed object recognition to skillfully navigate objects such as fake cords and dog turds, but the most effective was the Eufy X10. It was a fantastic mapping device with powerful oscillating mops, a user-friendly app and the ability to clean a specific zones, rooms or even the entire home.

Other features worth a look include sensors for floors that can recognize carpets with soft and hard floors and automatically boost suction power when required. Certain robots, like the Roborock mops, use a mopping pad lift to reach corners and tackle dried spills. Many hybrids can even apply cleaning solution to stubborn stains.

A smaller bin will require less frequent emptying, and a larger one will save you money on replacements. Most low-cost robotic cleaners use the smallest, disposable dust bag. However, most mid-range models come with larger dustbins of 3L that last a long time. Some premium robots, like the EcoVACS DEEBOT OMNI station, will self-empty their trash bins and refill their water tanks to provide convenience without hands.

3. App control

The majority of robot vacuums come with an app to monitor cleaning progress, schedule sessions and connect to smart home devices. Many also sync with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for voice-based control. Certain models come with an on-screen remote that allows you to begin or pause and then return to dock. Pick a model that comes with a larger trash bin and can self-empty instead of one that needs manual emptying.

Some robovacs come with mapping technology that allows them to remember obstacles, like stairs, and avoid getting into furniture. Certain robovacs permit you to create no-go zones as well as specific rooms so that they only clean those areas which need it the most. They also have a cliff sensor to stop them from falling, which is especially helpful in multi-leveled homes.

If you intend to use your robot vacuum to clean rugs pick one that is capable of dry mopping and wet. 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. Also, look for a model that has a rubber roller that is less prone to knots caused by pet hair and other debris than a bristle roller that is found on smaller models. It's a good idea to check the robot vacuum cleaner reviews's brushroll and side brushes for stuck-on debris once or twice a week, too. If you notice that they're starting to get blocked, it could be time to purchase replacement parts.

4. Debris collection

Robot vacuums are designed according to the name to remove dust and other debris from your floors. The most effective robot vacuums are able to take small particles such as baking soda and sand, in addition to larger ones like screws made of metal orzo, as well as pet hair. They also have better pickup results on low-pile carpets than 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 best-performing bots in this category. Both are highly automated, with robust docking stations that can perform maintenance on their own and apps that make them incredibly user-friendly.

They both have self-emptying bins that automatically remove the contents of the wastebasket. They can also clean the washboards as they mow. They also have an 8,000Pa vacuum, smart mapping technology and advanced obstacle avoidance that helps them navigate through the most difficult areas. The ECOVACS robot is one of the few that can mop carpet and remove the mop pads. This makes it a perfect option for people who need to switch between mopping and vacuuming regularly.

If you're looking for a cheaper option, look into the Roomba Combo J7 by iRobot Plus, our budget choice. It offers LIDAR navigation for reasonable prices and decent debris collection performance. It's slow to map rooms and may be susceptible to hitting obstacles however it's much less expensive than our other top choices.

5. Battery life

The best robot vacuums are made to let you go moving with your day while they keep your floors clean and spick and clean. While you'll still have to give your home a manual sweeping every now and again Robotic vacuums can help keep a certain level of cleanliness, and even wash while you're away from home.

To maximize the time you get from your robovac, choose the model that has a high battery life. A good guideline is to expect a robovac to last about two full cleaning sessions if you use it at the highest power setting. This is less than a large vacuum cleaner, but it should be enough to provide for the majority of homes. If you don't want to sit while your robovac recharges, you can choose one that automatically returns to the base station for charging.

If you are looking for a robovac that can do a amount of everything, you should consider an all-in-one machine that can mop too. Eufy's X10 is the most effective model in this category has self-emptying and self-refilling for the dust bin, the water tank, and mop pad. It can even be programmed to automatically refill and wash its own mop pads when they're empty.

The clear winner in our tests is the Dyson V810 due to its outstanding carpet and hard floor pickup, excellent hair pickup, tangle-free performance, and nearly perfect auto empty score. However, it's not cheap and unless you have a the smallest of homes with no pets, it could be too expensive for some. The runner-up one, the Dreametech D10+, has very similar performance but is priced 25 percent less.