Why We Enjoy Robot Vacuum (And You Should Also!)
The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Vacuuming is the bane of many lives however, robot vacuums make it a little more enjoyable. Modern models mop and even climb (small) steps.
Some have a small bin that they empty by themselves. Others can be controlled via a smartphone app rather than the physical remote. Some of them have mapping capabilities that assist in navigating your home more effectively.
1. Power
Our top pick for robotic vacuums has suction power of 8,000Pa, which is powerful enough to eliminate even the most stubborn dirt patches and hairs. The ultra-thin design of the square allows it to slide under furniture, such as beds and sofas and its Dual-Laser LIDAR technology supports precise navigation and accurate obstacle avoidance. It is also great at cleaning pet hair, baking powder and other debris that can be found near baseboards and corners.
In addition to the DEEBOT X2 OMNI, other powerful bots in this list include the IRobot Roomba J7+ as well as the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. The Roborock S8 Pro Ultra has docking stations that automatically performs maintenance. It also comes with mopping capabilities. Its powerful suction, coupled with its effective mopping feature, ensured my floors were free of pet hair, muddy prints, and other messes on every floor we test.
In the lower price range, a model that has 2,500Pa of suction is more than enough for the majority of homes. They are also quieter, making them a better option for those with sensitive hearing. They're not silent, but they're only about the same as a normal conversation at home.
Take into consideration your budget and cleaning requirements to find the perfect combination of power and efficiency. Regular light-duty cleaning requires a longer runtime and a lower suction, while weekly high-volume cleaning demands maximum power. Take a look at your flooring, home layouts and cleaning schedules to choose the right model for your needs. We recommend checking out our complete list of robot vacuum reviews and ratings for more information on the latest models available. Many users have reported that their carpets and bare floors look cleaner after using a robot vacuum.
2. Navigation
A robot vacuum won't be able to do its job well without knowing how to navigate around your home. For this reason, the best robots rely on sophisticated navigation systems that consistently scans rooms and builds maps to ensure thorough cleaning without getting lost or hitting obstacles. There are three kinds of robot navigation: LiDAR-based sensor-based, and camera-based.
The most expensive models use LiDAR to create a virtual map of the room. This model offers the highest levels of accuracy and efficiency. Bump sensors are utilized in cheaper models, but they can be inaccurate and miss a lot debris when working in dark places. The majority of robots have cliff sensors that prevent them from falling down stairs or other drops.
Many of the robots I tested used object recognition to deftly navigate objects such as fake dog turds and cords, but the most effective was the Eufy X10. It had superb mapping capabilities with powerful oscillating mops, an easy-to-use app, and the ability to clean by area, room or the whole home.
Take into consideration features such as floor type sensors that automatically increase suction power when needed. Some robots like the Roborock mop make use of mopping pad lift that allows you to get into corners and clean dry spills. Many hybrids can even apply cleaning solutions to stubborn staining.
A smaller size of the bin will require less frequent emptying, while bigger ones will cost less to replace. The cheapest robotic cleaners typically use a small disposable dust bag, whereas most mid-range models have larger 3L dustbins that last for many years. Certain high-end robots, such as the ECOVACS DEEBOT OMNI station, will self-empty their dustbin and refill their water tanks to provide convenience without hands.
3. App control
The best robot vacuums come with an app that allows you to monitor the progress of cleaning and schedule sessions and connect to smart home devices to allow hands-free control. Most also can sync with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for control via voice. Some models have a separate remote control that lets you start or pause, and then return to dock. Choose a model that has an extra large dustbin and is able to self-empty rather than one that requires manual emptying.
Some robovacs come with mapping technology that can help them remember obstacles, such as the stairs, and also avoid hitting furniture. Some robovacs allow you to create no-go zones as well as specific rooms so that they only clean those areas which need the most. They also have cliff sensors to stop them from falling down stairs, which is especially beneficial in multi-level homes.
If you are planning to utilize your robot vacuum to clean rugs choose a model that can do dry mopping and wet. You'll get better results from an vac that is able to remove its own mop pad as well, which you can then rinse and reattach when it comes time for another cleaning cycle. Look for a robot with the rubber roller. remote hoover will be less likely to get caught from pet hair or other debris. It's a good idea check the robot's brushroll and side brushes for debris stuck on every week or once, too. If you notice that they're beginning to get clogged up, it may be time to replace parts.
4. Collection of debris
As the name suggests robot vacuums are made to remove dust and other debris from your floors. The most effective ones can pick fine particles such as baking soda and sand as in larger pieces of orzo pasta, metal screws and pet hair. They also deliver better results on carpets with low pile than manual vacuums.
In all flooring types, the top-performing robots had pickup scores of greater than 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, equipped with docking stations that perform maintenance by themselves and app features which make them extremely user-friendly.
Both have self-emptying bins which automatically empty the wastebasket. They also have the ability to clean the washboard while they mowing. They also come with an 8,000Pa vacuum cleaner, smart mapping technology and advanced obstacle avoidance technology to help them navigate even the most difficult areas. The ECOVACS robot is among the few that can clean 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 cheaper alternative, take a look at the Roomba Combo J7 by iRobot Plus, our budget choice. It comes with LIDAR navigation at reasonable prices and decent debris collection performance. It is slow at mapping out rooms and has a tendency of hitting obstacles, but the price is lower than our other picks.
5. Battery life
The best robot vacuums let you get on with your day while they keep your floors in pristine condition. It is still necessary to manually clean your home from time to time however, robovacs can help you maintain a basic standard of cleanliness, and even clean when you are away.
To maximize the time you can get out of your robovac, make sure you choose an advancé with a long battery life. A good guideline is to expect a robovac to last for about two full cleaning sessions when you run it on the highest power setting. This is smaller than a full-sized vacuum, however, it should be enough to clean most homes. If you don't like to be waiting around while your robovac recharges you could opt for a model that automatically makes its return to the base station to recharge.
If you are looking for a robovac that does a little bit of everything, consider an all-in-one model that can mop too. Eufy's X10 is the best model in this category. It provides self-emptying, auto-draining and self-refilling of your dust bin as well as the mop pad. It is also programmable to automatically refill and wash its own mop pads when they're low.
Its dependable carpet and hard floor pick-up excellent hair pickup, tangle-free, and a near-perfect auto empty score make it the clear winner of our test scores. It's expensive and unless you have a small house with no pets, it might be too expensive for some. The second-placed model is the Dreametech D10+, has the same performance, but is priced 25 percent less.