14 Misconceptions Commonly Held About Robot Vacuum

The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Robot vacuums can make the task of vacuuming a little less painful. Today's models also mop and even climb (small) steps.

They have a small dustbin that they empty themselves and some are controlled from a smartphone app instead of an actual remote. Some come with mapping features to aid in navigation.

1. Power

Our top pick for robotic vacuums comes with a suction force of 8,000Pa, which is enough to remove even the most difficult dirt patches and hairs. The ultra-thin shape of the square allows it to slide beneath furniture like sofas and beds. Dual-Laser LIDAR technology allows for accurate obstacle avoidance and intelligent navigation. It is also great at cleaning baking powder, pet hair and other debris that can be found near baseboards and corners.

Aside from the DEEBOT X2 OMNI bot, other powerful bots in this list include the iRobot Roomba J7+ and the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. The Roborock S8 Pro Ultra includes a docking station which automates maintenance. It also has mopping capabilities. Its powerful suction, combined with its effective mopping, made sure my floors were free of pet hair, muddy prints and other messes on all floors we test.

In the lower price range, a model with a suction capacity of around 2,500Pa is more than enough for the majority of homes. They are also quieter, making them an ideal option for those with sensitive hearing. They're still not silent, but they're only as loud as normal conversations at home.

For the best mix of usability and power, consider your cleaning needs and budget. Regular light-duty cleaning requires a longer time to run and lower suction, while weekly heavy-duty cleaning requires a lot of power. Consider your flooring, layout of your home and cleaning schedules in order to select the best model to meet your requirements. We suggest looking through our entire list of robot vacuum reviews and ratings for more details about the latest models available. Many users report that their carpets and floor look cleaner after using a robotic vacuum.

2. Navigation

A robot vacuum isn't able to perform its job effectively if it doesn't know how to navigate around your home. The best robots use sophisticated navigation technology to scan rooms and make a map, ensuring thorough cleaning without getting stuck or hitting obstacles. There are three types of robot navigation including LiDAR, camera, and sensor.

The most expensive models employ LiDAR to build a virtual map of the room. This model offers the highest level of accuracy and efficiency. Bump sensors are used in cheaper models, but they aren't always accurate and miss a lot of debris when working in dark areas. Most robots also feature cliff sensors to prevent them from falling down stairs or other falls.

A number of the robots I tested utilized objects recognition to navigate through things such as cords and fake dog turds. But the Eufy X10 was the best. It was equipped with powerful oscillating mop heads as well as a user-friendly application with excellent mapping capabilities.

Other features worth looking into include floor type sensors that recognize carpets with soft and hard floors automatically increasing suction power when needed. Some robots, such as the Roborock mop utilize mopping pad that lifts to reach into corners and clean dry spills. Many hybrids are able to apply cleaning solutions to the most difficult stains.

A smaller size of the bin will require less frequent emptying, while a bigger one can save you money on replacements. The majority of robotic cleaners that are low-cost use an inexpensive, disposable dust bag. However, most mid-range models have larger 3L dustbins which last for a long time. Certain premium robots such as the ECOVACS DEEBOT OMNI Station can self-empty and fill up their water tanks for hands-free convenience.

3. App control

The top robot vacuum cleaner reviews vacuums have an app that allows you to monitor the progress of cleaning and schedule sessions and can connect to smart home devices for hands-free control. Many also connect to Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant to allow voice-controlled control. Some models have a remote control that allows you to start the process, pause it, and return to dock. Select a model with an extra large dustbin and is able to self-empty rather than one that requires manual emptying.

Some robots are equipped with mapping technology that allows them to remember obstacles, such as staircases, and prevents them from getting into furniture. Certain robovacs permit you to define no-go zones and rooms to ensure that they only clean the areas that require it the most. They also have cliff sensor to keep them from falling, which is particularly beneficial in multi-level homes.

If you plan to make use of your robot vacuum to clean rugs pick a model that can do both dry and wet mopping. You'll get better results from an vac that is able to remove its own mop pad, too, which you can then wash and reattach when it's time to do another cleaning cycle. Look for a robot with an elastomer roller. It is less likely to become tangled from pet hair or other particles. Check the robot's side brushes and brushroll for any debris that might have become stuck on. Make sure to do this at least twice a week. If you notice that they're starting to clog, it may be time to buy replacement parts.

4. Debris collection

Like the name suggests, robot vacuums are designed to collect dust and other debris from your floors. The best robot cleaner vacuums can collect small particles such as baking soda and sand and larger ones such as metal screws orzo, pet hair. They also provide better results on carpets with a low pile than manual vacuums.

Across all flooring types, the top performing robots had pick-up scores of greater than 95 95%. The ECOVACS DEEBOT X2 OMNI and the Roborock Q Revo were the two most efficient bots in this class. Both are highly automated with docking stations that can 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 have 8,000Pa suction, smart mapping technology, and advanced obstacle avoidance technology that helps them find their way around even the most difficult of areas. The ECOVACS robot is one of the few that can clean carpet and remove mop pads. This makes it an ideal option for people who need to switch between mopping and vacuuming regularly.

If you're looking for a cheaper option, look into the iRobot Roomba Combo J7 Plus, 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 can be prone to bumping into obstacles, but it's less expensive than our other best automatic vacuum-buy picks.

5. Battery life

The best robot vacuums let you get on with your day while keeping your floors in top in good condition. It is still necessary to manually vacuum your home every so often, but robovacs will assist you in maintaining a minimum level of cleanliness and even keep your home clean when you're away.

Choose a robovac that has a long-lasting battery to get the most out of it. If you select the highest power setting, a model should last about two cleaning sessions. This is less than a typical size vacuum cleaner, however it should be enough to be sufficient for most homes. If you don't want to wait for your robovac to recharge you can opt for an option that automatically returns to the base station to charge.

If you want a robovac that can do a bit of everything, think about an all-in-one robot that can mop as well. Eufy's X10 is the most effective model in this category. It includes self-emptying, self-draining and self-refilling of the dust container, water tank and mop pad. It can be programmed to refill and wash its mops 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 an almost perfect auto empty score. However, it's not cheap and unless you live in a an apartment with no pets, it could be too pricey for some. The Dreametech D10+ is the runner-up and has a similar performance, but it costs 25 percent less.