20 Fun Infographics About Robot Vacuum

The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

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

Some have a small bin that they empty on their own. Others can be controlled by a smartphone app rather than the physical remote. Some have mapping features that aid in navigation.

1. Power

With 8,000Pa of suction power, our top pick for robot vacuums is durable enough to take care of the most difficult hairs and dirt. Its super-thin square design allows it to slide under furniture, such as beds and sofas and its Dual-Laser LiDAR technology provides intelligent navigation and accurate obstacle avoidance. It's also great at cleaning pet hair, baking powder and other messes around baseboards and corners.

Aside from the DEEBOT X2 OMNI, 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 comes with a docking station which automates maintenance. It also has mopping capabilities. Its powerful suction, combined with its effective mopping feature, ensured my floors were free of pet hair, muddy prints and other debris on every type of floor we test.

A model with 2,500Pa suction is sufficient for homes that are in the lower price range. These models are quieter, which makes them a better choice for people with sensitive hearing. They're still not quiet, but they're just as loud as a normal conversation at home.

To find the ideal balance of power and usability take into consideration your cleaning needs and budget. Regular light-duty cleaning requires a longer runtime and lower suction, while weekly heavy-duty cleaning requires the most power. Examine your flooring, home layout, and cleaning schedules before selecting the best model. We recommend looking through 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 floor look cleaner after using a robotic vacuum.

2. Navigation

A robot vacuum cannot perform its task without knowing how to navigate your home. For this reason, the most effective robots depend on sophisticated navigation systems that consistently scans rooms and builds a map to ensure thorough cleaning without getting lost or hitting obstacles. There are three types of robot navigation: LiDAR-based camera-based and sensor-based.

LiDAR is employed by the most expensive models to create a virtual room map, offering the highest levels of accuracy and efficiency. Less expensive models depend on bump sensors which are more prone to error and can miss many debris in dark areas. The majority of robots have cliff sensors to stop them from falling down stairs or other falls.

A number of the robots I tested utilized object recognition to navigate things like cords and fake dog turds. However, the Eufy X10 was the best automatic vacuum. It was equipped with powerful mop heads that oscillate and a user-friendly app with excellent mapping capabilities.

Take into consideration features such as sensors for floors that automatically boost suction power when required. Some robots like the Roborock mop use a mopping pads lift to reach into corners and clean dry spills. Many hybrids can apply cleaning solutions to staining that is difficult to remove.

A smaller dustbin will require less frequent emptying while bigger ones will save money on replacements. The majority of low-cost robotic cleaners utilize an inexpensive disposable dust bag. However, most mid-range models come with larger 3L dustbins which last a long time. Certain high-end robots, such as the EcoVACS DEEBOT OMNI station, will automatically empty their trash bins and refill their water tanks to provide hands-free convenience.

3. App control

The best robot vacuums come with an app that allows you to monitor cleaning progress and schedule sessions and connect to smart home devices to allow hands-free control. Many also sync with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for control via voice. Certain models come with an on-screen remote that allows you to start the process, pause it, and return to dock. Look for a model with larger dustbins that self-empty, rather than one that requires manual emptying.

Certain robovacs come with mapping technology to help them avoid obstacles like furniture and stairs. Certain robovacs permit you to designate no-go zones and specific rooms to ensure that they only clean areas that require the most. They also have a cliff sensor to prevent them from falling, which is especially beneficial in multi-level homes.

If you plan to utilize your robot vacuum to clean rugs, opt for a model that can do both dry mopping as well as wet. You'll be able to get better results from an vac that is able to remove its own mop pad, too, which you can then rinse and reconnect when it's time to do another cleaning cycle. Look for robots with a rubber roller. It is less likely to become tangled from pet hair or other debris. Check the robot's side brush and brushroll for any debris that might have become stuck on. Make sure to do this at least every week. If you notice that they are beginning to get clogged up, it may be time to buy replacement parts.

4. Collection of debris

Like the name suggests robot vacuums are created to collect dust and other debris from your floors. The best robot vacuums can take small particles such as baking soda and sand, and larger ones such as metal screws orzo, pet hair. They also have better pickup results on carpets with low piles than the majority of manual vacuums.

The top-performing robots across all flooring types had a pickup score greater than 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 by themselves and features in the app that make them extremely user-friendly.

They both have self-emptying bins that automatically suck up the contents of the wastebasket and clean the washboard while mowing. They also feature 8,000Pa suction, smart mapping technology, and advanced obstacle avoidance that can help them navigate even the most difficult of areas. The ECOVACS model is also one of the few robots we tested that can take its mop pads and vacuum carpet which makes it the best robotic mop and vacuum choice for users who need to change between mopping and vacuuming frequently.

If you're looking for a cheaper alternative, take a look at the Roomba Combo J7 by iRobot Plus, our budget-friendly pick. It comes with LIDAR navigation and decent performance in the field of debris pickup for the price. It can be a bit slow at mapping out rooms and is susceptible to bumping against obstacles, but the price is less than the other choices.

5. Battery life

The most effective robot vacuum cleaner reviews vacuums let you get on with your day while they keep your floors in top condition. You'll still need to manually clean your home from time to time however, robovacs can help you maintain a basic level of cleanliness and even clean while you're away.

To maximize the amount of time you can use your robovac, make sure you choose a model with excellent battery life. A good robot vacuum guideline is to expect a model to last for about two full cleaning sessions if you run it at the maximum power setting. This is less than a large vacuum however, it should be enough to get the job done in most homes. If you don't want to wait while your robovac charges you can opt for a model that automatically returns to the base station to charge.

If you're looking for a robovac that has a little bit of everything in it, you should consider an option that also mop. Eufy's X10 is the top model in this category and includes self-emptying, self-draining and self-refilling of the dust bin as well as the mop pad. It can even be programmed to automatically refill and wash its own mops when they're empty.

The clear winner in our tests is the Dyson V810, due to its outstanding carpet and hard floor pickup, outstanding hair pickup, tangle-free performance, and a near perfect auto empty score. It's not cheap and, unless you live in a a small house with no pets, it might be too costly for some. The Dreametech D10+ is the second choice and has the same performance, but costs around 25% less.