The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

robot cleaner vacuums can make the task of vacuuming a bit less painful. Modern models mop and climb (small) stairs.

Some have a small trash bin which they empty themselves. Others are controlled with an app on your smartphone instead of a physical remote. Some models have mapping features that aid in navigation.

1. Power

Our top pick for robotic vacuums has suction power of 8,000Pa, which is enough to eliminate even the most difficult hairs and dirt. Its slim square shape enables it to slide underneath furniture such as couches and beds. Dual-Laser LIDAR technology offers accurate obstacle avoidance and intelligent navigation. It also does an excellent job of cleaning pet hair baking soda, other debris near the baseboards as well as in corners.

Aside from the DEEBOT X2 OMNI, the other powerful bots in this list include the IRobot Roomba J7+ and the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. The Roborock S8 Pro Ultra includes docking station that automatically handles maintenance. It also comes with mopping capabilities. Its powerful suction and efficient mopping helped keep my floors clear of pet hair as well as muddy paw prints and other debris in every floor type test we ran.

A model with 2,500Pa suction is sufficient for most homes in the lower price range. These models are quieter, which makes them an ideal option for people with sensitive hearing. They're not silent but they are only the same volume as conversations at home.

Consider your budget and cleaning requirements to determine the best combination of power and convenience. Frequent light-duty tidying requires a longer runtime and lower suction, whereas weekly heavy-duty cleaning requires a lot of power. Consider your flooring, layout of your home, and cleaning schedules to determine the best model for your needs. We recommend checking out our entire list of robot vacuum reviews and ratings for more information on the latest models available. Many users have reported that their carpets and floors looking significantly cleaner after introducing a robotic vacuum in their home.

2. Navigation

A robot vacuum cannot accomplish its task if it does not know how to navigate around your home. The best robots use sophisticated navigation technology to scan rooms and create a map, ensuring thorough cleaning without getting stuck or hitting obstacles. There are three types of robot navigation that include LiDAR, camera and sensor.

LiDAR is utilized by the most expensive models to create a virtual room map, which provides the highest levels of accuracy and efficiency. Bump sensors are used in less expensive models, but they aren't always accurate and miss a lot of debris when working in dark places. Most robots come with cliff sensors to keep them from falling down stairs or other drops.

Many of the robots I tried used object recognition to navigate things like fake dog turds. But the Eufy X10 was the best automatic vacuum and mop. It had superb mapping capabilities and powerful oscillating mops that could be used as an intuitive app and the ability to clean a zone, room or entire house.

Consider features such as sensors for floors that automatically boost suction power when needed. Some robots, like the Roborock mop, make use of mopping pad lifts to reach corners and tackle dried spills. Many hybrids can even apply cleaning solutions to tough stains.

A smaller bin will require less frequent emptying, while larger ones will cost less to replace. The most affordable robotic cleaners generally employ a tiny disposable dust bag, but the mid-range models typically have larger 3L dustbins that can last for ages. Some premium robots, like the EcoVACS DEEBOT OMNI station, will automatically empty their dustbin and refill their water tanks for hands-free convenience.

3. App control

The majority of robot vacuums have an app that can monitor cleaning progress, 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 a remote control that allows you to begin or pause and then return to dock. Find a model with larger dustbins that self-empty, rather than one that requires manual emptying.

Some robovacs come with mapping technology that allows them to recognize obstacles, such as the stairs, and also avoid getting into furniture. Some allow you to set no-go zones or targeted rooms, so that they only clean areas that require it the most. They also come with cliff sensors to keep them from falling down the staircase, which is particularly useful in multi-level homes.

If you plan to use your robot vacuum for cleaning rug carpets, you should choose one that can be used both for wet and dry mopping. You'll be able to get better results from an vac that is able to remove its own mop pad, and then rinse and reattach when it comes time for another cleaning cycle. Find robots that have the rubber roller. This will be less likely to get caught from pet hair or other debris. It's recommended to examine the robot's brushroll and side brushes for debris stuck on once or twice a week, too. If you notice that they're beginning to clog, it might be time to replace parts.

4. Debris collection

Robot vacuums are designed, as the name suggests to collect dust and debris on your floors. The best ones pick fine particles such as baking soda and sand, as well in larger pieces of orzo pasta, screws made of metal, and pet hair. They also deliver better results on carpets with low pile than manual vacuums.

Across all flooring types, the top performing robots had pick-up scores of more than 95 95%. The two top-performing robots in this category were the ECOVACS DEEBOT X2 OMNI and the Roborock Q Revo. Both are highly automated and feature robust docking stations that can perform maintenance on their own. They also have apps that make them extremely user-friendly.

Both have self-emptying bins that suck up the contents of the wastebasket and can clean the washboard while you mow. They also come with an 8,000Pa vacuum, smart mapping technology, and advanced obstacle avoidance to help them navigate through the most difficult spaces. The ECOVACS robot vacuum best is one of the few that can clean carpet and remove mop pads. This makes it a great option for those who need to switch between mopping and vacuuming regularly.

If you're looking for a more affordable alternative, we suggest the Roomba Combo J7 from iRobot+, our budget choice. 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 top selections.

5. Battery life

The most effective robot vacuums let you get on with your day while they keep your floors in pristine in good condition. While you'll still need to give your home a manual sweeping every now and again robot vacuums can help you maintain a baseline level of cleanliness and even keep your home clean when you're away.

Look for a robovac with an extended-lasting battery to get the most of it. A good guideline is to expect a robovac to last for around two cleaning sessions when you run it at the highest power setting. This is smaller than a larger vacuum but should be sufficient to clean most homes. If you don't want to wait while your robovac charges you can opt for one that automatically returns to the base station to charge.

If you're looking for a robot that does a little amount of everything, you should consider an all-in-one robot that is able to mop as well. Eufy's X10 is the most effective model in this category. It provides self-emptying, auto-draining and self-refilling of the dust bin and mop pad. It can be programmed to refill and wash its mops when they run out.

Its dependable carpet and hard floor pick up as well as its excellent hair pickup and tangle-free, and a close to perfect auto empty scores makes it the clear winner of our test scores. It's not cheap, however and unless you have a a small home with no pets it might be too expensive for some. The Dreametech D10+ is the runner-up and has a similar performance, but it costs 25% less.