The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Vacuuming is a major cause of many lives however, robot vacuums make it easier. Modern models can also mop and climb (small) steps.

Some have a smaller bin that they empty by themselves. Others can be controlled via an app on your smartphone instead of a physical remote. Some have mapping features that aid in navigation.

1. Power

Our top pick for robot vacuums has a suction power of 8,000Pa, which is powerful enough to get rid of even the most stubborn dirt patches and hairs. The ultra-thin shape of the square allows it to slide underneath furniture, such as sofas and beds. Dual-Laser LIDAR technology provides precise obstacle avoidance and intelligent navigation. It also does a great job at cleaning up pet hair, baking soda, and other debris close to baseboards and in corners.

Other powerful robots that are listed in addition to the DEEBOT X2 OMNI, include the IRobot Roomba j7+ as well as the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. The Roborock S8 Pro Ultra has docking stations that automatically handles maintenance. It also has mopping capabilities. Its powerful suction and efficient mopping kept my floors free of pet hair as well as muddy paw prints and other debris during every floor type test that we conducted.

In the lower cost range, a model that has 2,500Pa of suction is sufficient for most homes. These units are quieter, making them a better choice for people who have sensitive hearing. They're not quiet, but they're not the same volume as a normal conversation at home.

Consider your budget and cleaning requirements to find the perfect combination of power and usability. For light-duty cleaning that is frequent you will require a longer time-to-run and less suction is needed. For heavy-duty cleaning, weekly runs require maximum power. Then assess your flooring, home layouts, and cleaning schedules to choose the right model for your requirements. We suggest looking through our full list of robot vacuum reviews and ratings to get more details about the latest models available. Many customers report having their carpets and floors looking much cleaner after introducing a robot vacuum to their home.

2. Navigation

A robot vacuum cannot do its job if it does not know how to navigate your home. The best automatic vacuum and mop robots use sophisticated navigation technologies to scan rooms and build a map, ensuring thorough cleaning without getting stuck or hitting obstacles. There are three kinds of robot navigation: LiDAR, camera and sensor.

The most expensive models employ LiDAR to create a virtual map of the room, delivering the highest levels of precision and efficiency. Bump sensors are employed in less expensive models, but they aren't always accurate and miss a lot of debris when working in dark places. The majority of robots have cliff sensors, which stop them from falling off steps or other drops.

Several robots I tested used objects recognition to navigate through things like cords and fake dog turds. However, the Eufy X10 was the best. It had powerful mop heads that oscillate and a user-friendly app, and superb mapping capabilities.

Think about features like floor type sensors that automatically boost suction power when needed. Certain robots such as the Roborock mop make use of mopping pad that lifts to reach into corners and clean dried spills. Many hybrids are able to apply cleaning solutions to stubborn stains.

A smaller dustbin will mean less frequent emptying however, a larger one can save you money on replacements. Most low-cost robotic cleaners use the smallest disposable dust bag. However, the majority of mid-range models come with larger 3L dustbins that last for a long period of time. Certain high-end robots, such as the ECOVACS DEEBOT OMNI station, will automatically empty their dustbin and refill their water tanks for convenience without hands.

3. App control

The best robot vacs have an app that lets you monitor cleaning progress and schedule your sessions and can connect to smart home devices for hands-free control. Many also sync with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for voice-based control. Certain models come with a remote control that allows you to begin the process, pause it, and return to dock. Find a model with a bigger dustbin that can self-empty, rather than one that requires manual emptying.

Some robots are equipped with mapping technology that allows them to remember obstacles, like the stairs, and also avoid getting into furniture. Others allow you to set no-go zones or targeted rooms, so they only clean areas that need it most. They also have a cliff sensor to stop them from falling, which is particularly beneficial in multi-level homes.

If you are planning to utilize your robot vacuum to clean rugs pick one that is capable of both dry mopping and wet. You'll get better results from the robot vacuum that can remove its own mop pad, too, which you can then rinse and reconnect when it comes time for another cleaning cycle. Look for robots with an elastomer roller. This will be less likely to get caught from pet hair or other debris. It's a good idea examine the robot's brushroll and side brushes for debris that has gotten stuck once or twice a week, too. If you notice that they are beginning to get clogged up it might be time to buy replacement parts.

4. Collection of debris

As the name implies robot vacuum cleaner reviews vacuums are created to remove dust and other debris from your floors. The best robot hoover ones pick small particles such as baking soda and sand as in larger pieces of metal screws, orzo pasta, and pet hair. They also provide better pick-up results on low-pile carpets than most manual vacuums.

In all flooring types, the top-performing robots had pickup scores of over 95 percent. The two top-performing robots in this category were the ECOVACS DEEBOT X2 OMNI, and the Roborock Q Revo. Both are highly automated, with docking stations that can do maintenance on their own and apps that make them extremely user-friendly.

They both have self-emptying bins that suck up the contents of the wastebasket and clean the washboard while mowing. They also have 8,000Pa suction and smart mapping technology and advanced obstacle avoidance that helps them find their way around even the most challenging spaces. The ECOVACS robot is one of the few that can vacuum carpet and remove mop pads. This makes it a perfect choice for users who have 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 choice. It has LIDAR navigation and decent debris pickup performance for the price. It is slow when it comes to mapping rooms and has a tendency of bumping against obstacles, but it is lower than the other choices.

5. Battery life

The best robot cleaner robot vacuums let you move about your day while keeping your floors in top state. You'll still need to manually clean your home from time to time, but robovacs will aid in maintaining a certain level of cleanliness, and will even clean while you're away.

Choose a robovac that has a long-lasting battery to get the most use of it. If you choose to use the most powerful power setting, the model should last for about two cleaning sessions. This is smaller than a full-sized vacuum, but should be sufficient to clean most homes. If you don't want to wait for your robovac to recharge you can select an option that automatically returns to the base station for charging.

If you're looking for a robovac that has a little bit of everything in it, you should consider a robot that can also mop. Eufy's X10 is the most effective model in this class has self-emptying and self-refilling for the dust bin as well as the water tank and mop pad. It can be programmed to automatically refill and wash its mop pads when they run out.

The clear winner of our tests is the Dyson V810 due to its outstanding carpet and hard floor pickup, superb hair pickup, tangle-free performance and nearly perfect auto vacuum and mop empty score. It's expensive and unless you have the space of a small home with no pets, it may be too costly for some. The Dreametech D10+ is the second choice and has the same performance, but costs around 25 percent less.