The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Robot vacuums can make the task of vacuuming a little less painful. Today's models also mop and can even climb (small) stairs.

Some have a small trash bin that they empty by themselves. Others can be controlled via apps for smartphones instead of an actual remote. Some come with mapping features to aid in navigation.

1. Power

With an impressive 8,000Pa of suction Our top choice for robot vacuums is powerful enough to take care of the most difficult hairs and dirt. Its super-thin square design allows it to slide underneath furniture like sofas and beds and its Dual-Laser LIDAR technology allows for precise navigation and accurate obstacle avoidance. It also does a fantastic job at cleaning pet hair baking soda, other debris that can be found near the baseboards and in corners.

Apart from the DEEBOT X2 OMNI bot, other top-of-the-line bots on this list include the IRobot Roomba j7+ and the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. The Roborock S8 Pro Ultra comes with a docking station which automatically performs maintenance. It also comes with mopping capabilities. Its powerful suction and effective mopping helped keep my floors clear of pet hair and muddy footprints and other debris in every floor type test that we conducted.

A model with 2500Pa suction should be sufficient for most homes in the lower price range. These models are quieter, making them the ideal choice for people with hearing issues. They're still not silent, but they're only as loud as a normal conversation at home.

To get the most effective mix of usability and power Consider your cleaning requirements and budget. For regular light-duty cleaning, a longer runtime with a lower suction is required. For heavy-duty cleaning, weekly runs require maximum power. Then assess your flooring, layout of your home and cleaning schedules in order to choose the right model to meet your needs. We recommend checking out our entire list of robot vacuum reviews and ratings to get more details on the most recent models available. Many users have reported that their carpets and floors appear cleaner after using a robotic vacuum.

2. Navigation

A robot vacuum can't do its job without knowing how to navigate around your home. The most advanced robots utilize sophisticated navigation technology to scan rooms and make an outline map, which allows for thorough cleaning without getting stuck or hitting obstacles. There are three kinds of robot navigation: LiDAR, camera and sensor.

The most expensive models utilize LiDAR to create a digital map of the room. This model offers the highest level of accuracy and efficiency. Cheaper models depend on bump sensors, which can be more inaccurate and can miss many debris in dark spaces. Many robots also have cliff sensors to prevent them from falling down stairs or other drops.

A variety of robots I tested employed object recognition to skillfully navigate things like fake dog turds and cords, but the most effective was the Eufy X10. It had powerful mop heads that oscillate as well as a user-friendly application with excellent mapping capabilities.

Think about features like floor type sensors that automatically boost suction power when needed. Some robots, such as the Roborock mop, make use of a mopping pad lift to get into corners and eliminate dried spills. Many hybrids can even apply cleaning solution to stubborn staining.

A smaller dustbin will mean less frequent emptying and a larger one will save you money on replacements. The most affordable robotic cleaner and mop cleaners generally use a small disposable dust bag, best robot cleaner but the mid-range models typically have larger dust bins of 3L that last for many years. Some premium robots, like the ECOVACS DEEBOT OMNI station, can self-empty their trash bins and refill their water tanks, allowing 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. Many robot vacuums can be controlled using voice commands, such as Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Some models have a separate remote control that lets you start, pause and return to dock. Pick a model that comes with a larger dustbin and can self-empty, rather than one that needs manual emptying.

Some robovacs come with mapping technology that helps them remember obstacles, like the stairs, and also avoid getting into furniture. Certain robovacs let you define no-go zones and rooms to clean the areas that require the most. They also have a cliff detector to prevent them from falling, which is particularly useful in multi-level homes.

If you intend to make use of your robot vacuum to clean your rugs, opt for a model that can do both dry and wet mopping. You'll be able to get better cleaning results when your vacuum can also take off its mop pad. Rinse it and then attach it again when you are ready to conduct a clean-up cycle. Find robots that have an elastomer roller. This is less likely to tangle from pet hair or other debris. It's a good idea to examine the robot's brushroll and side brushes for debris that has gotten stuck every once or twice per week, too. If you notice that they're starting to clog, it might be time to replace parts.

4. Collection of debris

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

The top-performing robots across all flooring types had a pickup score higher than 95 percent. The ECOVACS DEEBOT X2 OMNI and the Roborock Q Revo were two of our top-performing robots in this category. Both are highly automated with docking stations that can perform maintenance by themselves and app features which make them extremely user-friendly.

Both come with self-emptying bins which automatically suck up the contents of the wastebasket and can clean the washboard while mowing. They also have an 8,000Pa vacuum cleaner, smart mapping technology and advanced obstacle avoidance to help them navigate through the most difficult areas. The ECOVACS model is also the few robots we tested that can remove its mop pads and vacuum carpet which makes it the best robot vacuum and mop choice for those who have to switch between mopping and vacuuming frequently.

If you're seeking a lower-cost option, look into the Roomba Combo J7 from iRobot Plus, our budget choice. It comes with LIDAR navigation and decent debris pickup capabilities for the price. It's slow to map out rooms and is susceptible to crashing into obstacles, however, it's cheaper than our other top-rated picks.

5. Battery life

The most effective robot vacuums let you get on with your day while keeping your floors in top condition. It is still necessary to manually vacuum your home from time to time but robovacs can assist you in maintaining a minimum level of cleanliness and even clean while you're away.

To maximize the amount of time you can get out of your robovac, make sure you choose an advancé with a long battery life. A good rule of thumb is to expect a robovac to last for about two cleaning sessions if you run it at the highest power setting. This is smaller than a full-sized automatic vacuum cleaner, but should be sufficient to get the job done in most homes. If you don't like to be waiting around while your robovac is charging you could choose a model that automatically makes its return to the base station to recharge.

If you're looking for a robot that has a little bit of everything in it, then consider one that is able to mop. Eufy's X10 is the top model in this category and offers self-emptying, self-draining and self-refilling of your dust bin and mop pad. It can also be programmed to automatically re-fill and wash its own mop pads when they're low.

The clear winner in our tests is the Dyson V810 because of its impressive carpet and hard floor pickup, excellent hair pickup, tangle-free performance, and nearly perfect auto empty score. It's not cheap, and unless you have the space of a small home with no pets, it could be too expensive for certain. The second choice is the Dreametech D10+, has very similar performance but is priced 25 percent less.