15 Reasons You Shouldn't Ignore Robot Vacuum

The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

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

They have a small trash bin that they empty themselves and some can be operated by a smartphone app instead of the physical remote. Some have mapping capabilities that assist in navigating your home more efficiently.

1. Power

With 8,000Pa of suction power, our top pick for robot vacuums is durable enough to take care of the most difficult dirt patches and hairs. The ultra-thin shape of the square allows it to slide underneath furniture like beds and sofas. Dual-Laser LIDAR technology offers precise obstacle avoidance as well as intelligent navigation. It also does a great job at cleaning pet hair, baking soda, and other debris that can be found near baseboards and in corners.

In addition to the DEEBOT X2 OMNI bot, other high-powered bots on this list include the Robot Roomba J7+ and the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. The Roborock S8 Pro Ultra comes with docking station that automatically performs maintenance. It also comes with mopping capabilities. Its powerful suction, coupled with its efficient mopping, ensured my floors were free of pet hair, muddy prints and other debris on every floor we tested.

In the lower cost range, a model with a suction capacity of around 2,500Pa is more than adequate for the majority of homes. These models are quieter, making them an ideal option for people with sensitive hearing. These units are not silent but they are only about the same as normal conversations at home.

Take into consideration your budget and cleaning requirements to determine the best combination of power and efficiency. For frequent light-duty cleaning you will require a longer time-to-run and less suction is recommended. Cleaning that is heavy-duty every week requires the maximum power. Take a look at your flooring, home layouts and cleaning schedules in order to determine the best model for your needs. We suggest looking through our entire list of robot vacuum reviews and ratings for more information on the latest models available. Many customers report that their carpets and floors appear cleaner after using a robot vacuum.

2. Navigation

A robot vacuum isn't able to perform its job properly if it doesn't know how to get around your home. The best robots employ 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 vacuum cleaners best navigation: LiDAR-based camera-based and sensor-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 used in less expensive models, but they can be inaccurate 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 falls.

Many of the robots I tested used object recognition to deftly navigate things like fake cords and dog turds but the best was the Eufy X10. It had excellent mapping capabilities, powerful oscillating mops, an easy-to-use app, and the ability to clean a zone, room or whole home.

Other features worth considering include floor type sensors that can detect hard floors and soft carpet automatically increasing suction power when needed. Some robots, such as the Roborock mop use a mopping pad that lifts to reach into corners and clean dry spills. Some hybrids even apply cleaning solution to stubborn stains.

A smaller size of the bin will require less frequent emptying, while a larger one will cost less to replace. The majority of low-cost robotic cleaners utilize the smallest disposable dust bag. However, the majority of middle-priced models have larger 3L dustbins that last for a long period of time. Certain high-end robots, such as the EcoVACS DEEBOT OMNI station, will self-empty their bins and fill their water tanks for convenience without hands.

3. App control

The majority of robot vacuums come with an app to monitor the progress of cleaning, schedule sessions and connect to smart home devices. Many robot vacuums can also be controlled via voice using Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Certain models come with an on-screen remote that allows you to begin, pause, and return to dock. Look for a model with larger dustbins that self-empty instead of one that requires manual emptying.

Some robots are equipped with technology for mapping to help them avoid obstacles such as furniture and stairs. Some allow you to designate no-go zones and targeted rooms, so they only clean the areas that need it most. They also have cliff sensors to prevent them from falling down the staircase, which is particularly useful in multi-level homes.

If you want to make use of your robot vacuum to clean rugs, choose a model which can be used both for dry and wet mopping. You'll be able to get better cleaning results when your vacuum can remove its mop pad. Rinse it and then attach it again when you are ready to run another cleaning cycle. Also look for a robot that has a rubber roller that is less prone to tangles due to pet hair and other debris than a bristle roll like those found on smaller models. It's recommended to examine the robot's brushroll and side brushes for stuck-on debris once or twice a week as well. If you notice they are starting to clog up it might be time to replace parts.

4. Collection of debris

As the name implies robot vacuums are made to collect dust and debris from your floors. The best robot vacuums can take small particles such as baking soda and sand as well as larger ones like metal screws, orzo, and pet hair. They also provide better pick-up results on carpets with low piles than the majority of manual vacuums.

In all flooring types, the top robots had pickup scores of greater than 95 95%. 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 do maintenance on their own and app features which make them extremely user-friendly.

They both have self-emptying bins that automatically empty the wastebasket. They can also clean the washboard while they mow. They also come with an 8,000Pa vacuum, intelligent mapping technology, and advanced obstacle avoidance to help them navigate even the most difficult spaces. The ECOVACS robot is among the few that can vacuum carpet and remove mop pads. This makes it a perfect option for those who need to switch between mopping and vacuuming regularly.

If you're looking for a less expensive alternative, we suggest the iRobot Roomba Kombo J7+, our budget pick. It features LIDAR navigation and decent debris pickup performance for the price. It's not the fastest to map out rooms and is susceptible to crashing into obstacles, however, it's cheaper than our other best-buy choices.

5. Battery life

The best robot vacuums are made to let you move to work while they keep your floors looking spick and span. Although you'll need to give your home a manual hoover every now and then, robovacs can help you maintain a baseline level of cleanliness, and even wash while you're away from home.

To maximize the time you get from your robovac, choose a model with excellent battery life. A good guideline is to expect a robovac to last for about two full cleaning sessions when you run it at the maximum power setting. This is less than a larger vacuum but should be sufficient to keep most homes clean. If you don't wish to wait while your robovac recharges you can opt for one that will automatically return to the base station to charge.

If you're looking for a robovac with a bit of everything in it, then consider a robot mop that can also mop. Eufy's X10 is the most effective model of this category comes with self-emptying and self refilling for the dust bin as well as the water tank and mop pad. It can even be programmed to automatically re-fill and wash its own mop pads when they're empty.

The clear winner of our tests is the Dyson V810, thanks to its impressive carpet and hard floor pickup, outstanding hair pickup, tangle-free performance and an almost perfect auto empty score. It's not cheap, however and unless you live in an apartment with no pets, it could be too pricey for some. The Dreametech D10+ is the second choice and has the same performance, but is priced around 25% less.