The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Vacuuming is the bane of many lives, but robot vacuums make it a little less tedious. Modern models can mop, and even climb (small) steps.

Some have a smaller bin that they empty on their own. Others can be controlled via a smartphone app rather than a physical remote. Some of them have mapping capabilities that help them navigate your home more efficiently.

1. Power

Our top pick for robotic vacuums has a suction power of 8,000Pa, which is powerful enough to remove even the most stubborn dirt patches and hairs. Its super-thin square design allows it to slide under furniture like sofas and beds and its Dual-Laser LIDAR technology provides intelligent navigation and accurate obstacle avoidance. It also does a great job at cleaning pet hair, baking soda, and other debris that can be found near the baseboards as well as in corners.

Other high-powered robots that are listed in addition to the DEEBOT X2 OMNI, include the IRobot Roomba J7+ aswell as the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. The latter comes bundled with a robust docking station that is able to perform maintenance and has mopping functionality as well. Its powerful suction and effective mopping made sure my floors were free of pet hair as well as muddy paw prints and other debris in every flooring type test we conducted.

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, which makes them a better option for those who have sensitive hearing. They're still not silent, but they're only about the same as normal conversations at home.

To get the most effective mix of performance and convenience take into consideration your cleaning needs and budget. A regular light-duty cleaning schedule requires longer runtime and a lower suction, while weekly heavy-duty cleaning requires a lot of power. Then assess your flooring, layout of your home and cleaning schedules in order to determine the best model for your requirements. We suggest looking through our complete list of robot vacuum reviews and ratings to get more information on the latest models available. Many users report that their carpets and bare floors appear cleaner after using a robotic vacuum.

2. Navigation

A robot vacuum isn't able to perform its job effectively without knowing how to get around your home. The best robots use sophisticated navigation technologies to scan rooms and make maps, ensuring 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 virtual map of the room, delivering the highest levels of precision and efficiency. The less expensive models depend on bump sensors, which can be more inaccurate and are more likely to miss many debris in dark areas. Most robots also feature cliff sensors to stop them from falling down stairs or other falls.

Many of the robots I tried used objects recognition to navigate through things like cords and fake dog turds. However, the Eufy X10 was the best. It was a fantastic mapping device, powerful oscillating mops, a user-friendly app and the ability to clean a specific zones, rooms or even the entire home.

Other features worth looking into include sensors for floors that can recognize carpets that are hard and soft automatically increasing suction power when needed. Some robots, like the Roborock mops, use a mopping pad lift to reach corners and clean up dried spills. Some hybrids even apply cleaning solutions to stubborn staining.

A smaller bin will require less frequent emptying, whereas larger ones will cost less to replace. The cheapest robotic cleaners usually utilize a small disposable dust bag, while the majority of mid-range models come with larger 3L dustbins that can last for ages. Some premium robots like the ECOVACS DEEBOT OMNI Station are able to self-empty and refill their water tanks, allowing hands-free convenience.

3. App control

The best robot vacs have an app that allows you to monitor cleaning progress and schedule your sessions, and most can connect to smart home devices for hands-free control. They also connect to Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant to allow voice-controlled control. Some have a dedicated remote control that lets you start or pause, and then return to dock. Choose a model that has a bigger dustbin that can self-empty, as opposed to one that requires manual emptying.

Some robovacs come with mapping technology that allows them to remember obstacles, such as stairs, and avoid hitting furniture. Others allow you to create no-go zones or specific rooms, ensuring that they only clean areas that require it the most. They also have cliff sensors to prevent them from falling down staircase, which is particularly useful in multi-level homes.

If you plan to use your robot vacuum to clean your rugs choose one that can perform both dry mopping as well as wet. You'll be able to get better cleaning results when your vacuum can also remove its mop pad. Rinse it and then attach it again when you are ready to conduct a clean-up cycle. Look for robots with the rubber roller. This will be less likely to get caught from pet hair or other debris. It's recommended to check the robot's brushroll and side brushes for debris that has gotten stuck once or twice a week as well. If you notice that they are getting clogged it could be time to replace parts.

4. Debris collection

robot vacuum reviews vacuums are made, as the name suggests to remove dust and other debris on your floors. The best automatic vacuum and mop robot vacuums can collect tiny particles like sand and baking soda, and larger ones like screws made of metal orzo, as well as pet hair. They also deliver better results on low pile carpets than manual vacuums.

Across all flooring types, the top robots had pickup scores of over 95%. Our two best-performing robots in this category were the ECOVACS DEEBOT X2 OMNI and the Roborock Q Revo. Both are highly automated equipped with docking stations that perform maintenance by themselves and app features which make them extremely user-friendly.

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

If you're looking for a cheaper alternative, take a look at the iRobot Roomba Combo J7 Plus, our budget choice. It comes with LIDAR navigation and decent debris pickup performance for the price. It's slow to map out rooms and may be susceptible to crashing into obstacles, however, it's cheaper than our other top-rated picks.

5. Battery life

The best robot vacuum that vacuums and mops vacuums let you move about your day while they keep your floors in pristine state. You'll still have to manually clean your home every so often however, robovacs can aid in maintaining a certain level of cleanliness and even clean when you are away.

Find a robovac equipped with long-lasting batteries to get the most of it. If you choose to use the most powerful power setting, a model should last for about two cleaning sessions. This is less than a size vacuum cleaner, however it should be enough to provide for the majority of homes. If you don't want to sit while your robovac recharges you can opt for an option that automatically returns to the base station to charge.

If you're looking for a robovac with a bit of everything in it, then think about a robot that can also mop. Eufy's X10, the best model of this category has self-emptying and self-refilling for the dust bin, the water tank, and mop pad. It is also programmable to automatically refill and wash its own mops when they're low.

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 expensive and unless you have the space of a small home with no pets, it might be too expensive for certain. The Dreametech D10+ is the runner-up and has a similar performance, but it costs 25% less.