The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Robot vacuums can make the chore of vacuuming a little less painful. Modern models can also mop, and even climb (small) steps.

Some have a smaller bin that they empty by themselves. Others can be controlled via apps for Best Robot Vacuum smartphones instead of the physical remote. Some come with mapping features to assist in navigation.

1. Power

Our top choice for robot vacuums has suction power of 8,000Pa, which is powerful enough to eliminate even the most difficult dirt patches and hairs. Its ultra-thin square design allows it to slide under furniture, such as beds and sofas, and its Dual-Laser LiDAR technology allows for precise navigation and obstacle avoidance. It's also great for cleaning pet hair, baking powder, and other debris near corners and baseboards.

Aside from the DEEBOT X2 OMNI bot, other top-of-the-line bots on this list include the Robot Roomba j7+ and the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. The Roborock S8 Pro Ultra includes docking station that automates maintenance. It also comes with mopping capabilities. Its powerful suction system, along with its efficient mopping, ensured my floors were free of pet hair, muddy prints, and other debris on every floor we test.

In the lower cost range, a model with around 2,500Pa of suction is more than adequate for the majority of homes. These models are quieter, and, therefore, a better choice for those who have sensitive ears. They're not quiet, but they're just about the same as a normal conversation at home.

To find the ideal balance of usability and power, consider your cleaning needs and budget. For regular light-duty cleaning it is recommended to have a longer runtime and less suction is needed. Weekly heavy-duty cleaning requires the maximum power. Assess your flooring, home layout and cleaning schedule prior to selecting the best model. We recommend checking out our full list of robot vacuum reviews and ratings for more details on the most recent models available. Many customers report that their carpets and floors looking much cleaner after introducing a robot vacuum in their home.

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 use sophisticated navigation technology to scan rooms and best robot vacuum create an outline map, which allows for thorough cleaning without getting stuck or hitting obstacles. There are three kinds of robot navigation that include LiDAR, camera and sensor.

LiDAR is used by the most expensive models to create a virtual room map, which offers the highest levels of accuracy and efficiency. The less expensive models depend on bump sensors which are more prone to error and can miss a lot of debris in dark areas. Most robots also feature cliff sensors to prevent them from falling down stairs or other drops.

Many of the robots I tested utilized object recognition to efficiently navigate around things such as fake dog turds and cords, however, the best robotic mop and vacuum was the Eufy X10. It had superb mapping capabilities, powerful oscillating mops, a user-friendly app and the ability to clean a zone, room or entire house.

Other features worth a look include floor type sensors that can detect carpets that are hard and soft automatically increasing suction power when needed. Some robots like the Roborock mop make use of mopping pads lift to reach into corners and clean dried spills. Many hybrids are able to apply cleaning solutions to stubborn staining.

A smaller bin will require less frequent emptying, whereas a larger one can save money on replacements. The most affordable robotic cleaners generally employ a tiny disposable dust bag, but the mid-range models typically have larger dust bins of 3L that last for decades. Some premium robots, like the EcoVACS DEEBOT OMNI station, will automatically empty their trash bins and refill their water tanks to provide convenience without hands.

3. App control

The best robot vacuums come with an app that lets you monitor cleaning progress and schedule sessions and connect to smart home devices to allow hands-free control. Many robot vacuums can be controlled via voice using Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Some have a remote control that allows you to start or pause, and then return to dock. Choose a model that has a larger dustbin and can self-empty, rather than one that needs manual emptying.

Certain robovacs come with mapping technology that helps them avoid obstacles like furniture and stairs. Some robovacs allow you to designate no-go zones and specific rooms to clean those areas which need it the most. They also come with cliff sensors to keep them from falling down staircase, which is particularly helpful in multi-level homes.

If you intend to use your robot vacuum to clean carpets, select a model which can be used both for dry and wet mopping. You'll get better results from the robot vacuum cleaner uk vacuum that can remove its own mop pad, as well, which you can then wash and reattach when it's time to do another cleaning cycle. Also look for a robot with a rubber roller that is less prone to knots caused by pet hair and other debris than a bristle roll like those found on smaller models. Check the robot's side brush and brushroll for any debris that may have been stuck to them. Do this once or every week. If you notice that they're starting to clog, it may be time to purchase replacement parts.

4. Collection of debris

Robot vacuums are designed, as the name suggests to collect dust and debris on your floors. The best robot vacuums can take tiny particles, such as baking soda and sand and larger ones such as metal screws orzo, as well as pet hair. They also get better pickup results on low-pile carpets than the majority of manual vacuums.

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

Both have self-emptying bins that automatically take the contents of the wastebasket and clean the washboard while mowing. They also come with an 8,000Pa vacuum, intelligent mapping technology, and advanced obstacle avoidance technology to help them navigate through the most difficult spaces. The ECOVACS model is also among the few robots we tested that can remove its mop pads and vacuum carpet, making it the ideal option for those who need to switch between mopping and vacuuming regularly.

If you want a cheaper option, we suggest the iRobot Roomba Combo J7+, our budget-friendly pick. It comes with LIDAR navigation and decent debris pickup performance for the price. It's a bit slow to map out rooms and is susceptible to crashing into obstacles, but it's less expensive than our other top-rated selections.

5. Battery life

The top robot vacuums are designed to let you get on with your life while they keep your floors clean and spick and span. While you'll still need to give your home a manual vacuum every now and then robot vacuum cleaner reviews vacuums can help you maintain a standard of tidiness and even clean while you're away from home.

To maximize the time you can get out of your robovac, choose the model that has a high battery life. A good robot vacuum rule of thumb is to anticipate a model to last about two complete cleaning sessions when you run it at the maximum power setting. This is less than a larger vacuum but it should be sufficient to clean most homes. If you don't wish to wait while your robovac charges, you can choose a model that will automatically return to the base station for charging.

If you want a robovac that does a bit of everything, think about an all-in-one model that is able to mop as well. Eufy's X10 is the top model in this class, offers self-emptying and self-refilling for the dust bin and the water tank and the mop pad. It can be programmed to refill and wash its mop pads as soon as they run out.

The clear winner in our tests is the Dyson V810 thanks to its impressive carpet and hard floor pickup, excellent hair pickup, tangle-free performance and nearly perfect auto empty score. It's not cheap, however and unless you have a an apartment with no pets it might be too pricey for some. The second-placed model is the Dreametech D10+, has identical performance, however it costs 25 percent less.