How to Find the Best Budget Robot Vacuum

A bargain robotic vacuum is a great deal. However, it can cost more than you anticipated in maintenance: detangling the fur from brushes, blocking inlets, and emptying tiny dust bins could quickly turn your dream of automating cleaning to be a chore.

For a lot of people the most affordable robot is the iRobot j7 Combo. It offers the same hands-free experience for only a fraction of the cost.

Suction Power

Some models in this range have enough suction to do basic vacuuming. Others may require an nozzle that can be held in a handheld for more thorough cleaning. A budget-friendly vacuum is likely to do the job if you live in a home that has primarily hard floors. However, if the floors are an assortment of surfaces and there are rug, or have pets that shed, a better model will give you the best auto vacuum results for your money.

A few budget models include a water tank and mopping capabilities, which adds to their versatility. The Dyson R7050C comes with an oversized 770ml bin and excellent navigation scores, but is louder and does not have mopping capabilities. Eufy Roborock Q5 Pro is smaller and quieter and has an automated dock. It has a reservoir of water and a suction power of 5,500-pascals and a large bin you can fill with cleaning products to make it more efficient. You can control the Q5 Pro via the smart app to mop or vacuum in the room, or a series of rooms, or an area and set no-go zones and customise mopping and suction settings for different rooms.

The budget Shark ION is a great pick for those looking for something basic, affordable and reliable. It's not as advanced as the other models we test, with a no-frills app and basic mapping capabilities, but it has excellent navigation and cleaning capabilities. It is also one of the few robots we've tested that can distinguish between carpets and hard flooring, and it has a 300ml dustbin that needs to be empty every 30 days.

If you want an upgraded model that can remote vacuum cleaner, mop and create a map of your house to avoid obstacles more effectively look at some of the most expensive options in this price range. The iRobot Roomba 650/750 has a powerful suction and combs to get rid of pet hair and dust, and it can be controlled via your smart home assistant. The Samsung Cleanbot SV8000 is another option that offers superior cleaning capabilities for the price.

Navigation Efficiency

A budget robot vacuum can be as effective as a higher-priced model in the event that it is able to navigate your home and avoid obstacles. To measure the effectiveness of navigation our lab technicians installed a tracking device to watch a robot's movement through a multiroom test house and evaluate its ability to locate the areas it has to clean in a given time frame, while avoiding hazards such as rug power cords, power cords and furniture. We also evaluate how fast a robot can navigate through different terrains within the home, like the floor and stairways.

The best budget robot vacuums are equipped with navigation systems that enable them to efficiently clean a space without getting lost or running into obstacles. Most robot vacuums have mapping capabilities that are necessary for a complete house cleaning. But even budget models without mapping can effectively cover a space and it's crucial to consider the cost and features you require for your home.

We also look at how easily a robot can cross over thresholds in the home, for example the heights of a door's sill and the heights of a sofa. A good budget robot should be able to transition over these obstacles, and a few offer settings that alter suction power to suit different floor types. We also consider whether the robot is compatible with smart home technology and can be controlled remotely using an app or voice command.

One example of an excellent budget robot is the iLife V3s Pro, which includes basic mapping capabilities and other advanced features in a very affordable price. It is controlled via the iRobot App and comes with an automatic return feature that returns the robot to its base when the battery is exhausted, then continues where it left off.

The iLife V3s Pro does not come with the advanced object-avoidance technology that is found on many premium robots. However, it does have live cameras that transmit a grainy stream to your phone so you can observe it working. The cameras can also spot stairs and other obstacles and alert you if the robot encounters them. However, the iLife utilizes random navigation rather than an approach designed to keep objects from getting stuck against furniture legs, therefore it might not be able to maneuver around a leg of a chair or another tight spot as easily as a robot with mapping capabilities.

Cleaning Performance

When choosing a robotic vacuum, you should balance the cost and performance. The cheapest models might not include advanced features such as mapping, but you can find many that perform very well in cleaning your home. Pay attention to the size and capacity of the robot's dustbin. You'll need to have enough space to accommodate all the garbage a robot collects including pet dander, dirt, and hair.

You'll also want a robot vacuum that removes staining from carpets. We test each model in the ZDNET chart to determine whether it is able to remove hair and dirt from carpet. The top models come with an exclusive brush that digs through the fibers to remove debris.

The budget models are great at cleaning small spills from plain floors or low-pile floor coverings, but they struggle to get rid of bigger debris and pet hairs from higher-pile carpets. These models typically have less suction, but they can still be effective in cleaning particles from tight spaces like corners and under furniture.

The iLife V3s Pro is the most affordable vacuuming model, scoring high marks in our tests because of its ability to lift dirt and hair from carpets. It's also one of the quieter models we test and is user-friendly. It features a suction opening that scoops up debris instead of pushing it through the bar. It also has the ability to adjust the power to match the surface. It also comes with a side-brush that has three bristles that push hair and debris into the robot's path, but it doesn't do as good a job of picking up fine dust.

Choose a model that includes mop and auto vacuum cleaner functions, such as the Combo j9 Plus. This robot can simultaneously vac and mop, and it is possible to set specific vac/mop settings for each room. It's more expensive than other budget robot vacuums on our list, but it has the advantages of having a forward-facing camera, which allows for more precise mapping and better protection against obstacles such as power cords and cat Poop.

Maintenance

The convenience that robot vacuums offer is fantastic, but the technology comes with a price. They require regular maintenance, from emptying their dustbin to replacing filters and cleaning the brush bar. They can also get tangled in cords and drop off the stairs, so they must be watched attentively.

The most affordable robot vacuums reduce these issues through requiring minimal oversight from the user. The top models come with navigation systems that avoid objects and stay clear of dangers, like tangled electrical cords and dropped food items. They also use a combination of sensors to map rooms, and then create maps that indicate the areas they've cleaned before so they don't go over the same spots repeatedly.

Even the cheapest robotic vacuums can give a decent clean if you try them and don't be put off by the high cost of higher-end models. Our top picks for budget-friendly models are from leading OEMs like iRobot Roborock Dreame. You can be certain that they have been designed with attention to detail and are built to last.

If you're willing more, think about a mopping robot. These machines can be used to swish a damp cloth across floors to scrub them and remove stubborn stains and they can be used with a mop pad that is specifically designed to tackle tough jobs such as dried coffee.

There are many mopping robots featured in our list, but the best budget model is the TP Link Tapo RV30 Plus. It has a clean, uncluttered appearance, but it also comes with all the features and performance of a top rated robot vacuum. During our tests it was able to navigate without a hitch. RV30 was able to navigate without hitting furniture, and also create detailed floor plans that it can reference on future runs. It's the only budget robot we've tested to include this feature, however iRobot's Roomba also has similar mapping capabilities with an in-app configuration that walks you through the process step-by-step.

If you decide to go with an expensive robovac or a more affordable option, make sure you keep your robovac in good condition. It's a good idea empty its dustbin after every cleaning job and to clean the filter if one is present (check the owner's manual or the manufacturer's website for more details). Replace the battery when required and test its Wi-Fi connectivity.