11 Strategies To Completely Redesign Your Robot Vacuum

The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Vacuuming is the bane of many people's existence However, robot vacuums make it easier. Modern models can mop, and even climb (small) steps.

They have a small trash bin that they empty themselves and some can be 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 has suction power of 8000Pa, which is strong enough to eliminate even the most difficult hairs and dirt. Its ultra-thin square shape allows it to slide under furniture like sofas and beds. Dual-Laser LIDAR technology allows for precise obstacle avoidance as well as intelligent navigation. It is also great at cleaning baking powder, pet hair and other debris that can be found near baseboards and corners.

Other powerful robots that are listed in addition to the DEEBOT X2 OMNI include the IRobot Roomba J7+ as well as the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. The Roborock S8 Pro Ultra has docking stations that automatically handles maintenance. It also has mopping capabilities. Its powerful suction and effective mopping kept my floors free of pet hair and muddy footprints and other debris in every floor type test that we conducted.

A model that has 2500Pa suction should be sufficient for most homes in the lower price range. These units are quieter and, therefore, a better choice for those with sensitive ears. They're not silent however they are not as loud as normal conversations at home.

Take into consideration your budget and cleaning requirements to determine the best combination of power and usability. For frequent light-duty cleaning, a longer runtime with less suction is needed. Weekly heavy-duty cleaning requires maximum power. Then assess your flooring, layout of your home and cleaning schedules to select the best model for your needs. Look through our entire list of robot vacuum that mops vacuum ratings and reviews to learn more about the most current models. Many customers report having their carpets and floors looking significantly cleaner after introducing a robot vacuum in their home.

2. Navigation

A robot vacuum isn't able to do its job without knowing how to navigate around your home. This is why the best robots rely on sophisticated navigation systems that consistently scans rooms and creates an outline map to ensure thorough cleaning without being lost or hitting obstacles. There are three kinds of robot navigation: LiDAR, camera and sensor.

The most expensive models employ LiDAR to build a virtual map of the room, delivering the highest level of accuracy and efficiency. Bump sensors are employed 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, which prevent them from falling off steps or other drops.

Several robots I tested used object recognition to navigate things such as cords and fake dog turds. But the Eufy X10 was the best. It was equipped with powerful mop heads that oscillate, a user friendly app with excellent mapping capabilities.

Other features worth a look include floor type sensors that recognize carpets with soft and hard floors automatically increasing suction power when required. Some robots like the Roborock mop utilize mopping pad that lifts to reach into corners and clean dried 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 bigger ones will cost less to replace. The cheapest robotic cleaners typically use a small disposable dust bag, whereas the mid-range models typically have larger dust bins of 3L that last for ages. Certain high-end robots, such as the ECOVACS DEEBOT OMNI station, will self-empty their dustbin and refill their water tanks to provide hands-free convenience.

3. App control

The top robot vacuums have an app that lets you monitor cleaning progress and schedule sessions and connect to smart home devices for hands-free control. Many also sync with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for control via voice. Some models have a remote control that lets you start, pause, and return to dock. Select a model with a larger dustbin and can self-empty rather than one that requires manual emptying.

Some robots are equipped with mapping technology that helps them remember obstacles, such as stairs, and avoid running into furniture. Some robovacs allow you to define no-go zones and rooms to clean those areas which need the most. They also have cliff sensor to keep them from falling, which is particularly useful in multi-level homes.

If you intend to utilize your robot vacuum for cleaning carpets, select one that can be used for dry and wet mopping. You'll have better results cleaning when your vacuum can remove its mop pad. Clean it and attach it again when you are ready to run another cleaning cycle. Also look for a robot that has a rubber roll that is less prone to tangles from pet hair and other debris than a bristle roller like those found on less expensive models. Check the robot's side brushes and brushroll for any debris that might have become stuck on. Do this at least twice per week. If you notice that they're getting clogged it could be time to replace parts.

4. Debris collection

As the name implies, robot vacuums are designed to remove dust and other debris from your floors. The best ones pick up fine particles like baking soda and sand, as well in larger pieces of orzo pasta, metal screws, and pet hair. They also have better pickup results on carpets with low piles than manual vacuums.

All flooring types are covered, and the top-performing robots had pickup scores of more 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 features in the app that make them extremely user-friendly.

They both have self-emptying bins that automatically remove the contents of the wastebasket. They also have the ability to clean the washboard as they mow. They also come with an 8,000Pa vacuum, intelligent mapping technology, and advanced obstacle avoidance that helps them navigate through even the most difficult of spaces. The ECOVACS robot is one of the few that can vacuum carpet and take away mop pads. This makes it a perfect option for people who need to switch between mopping and vacuuming often.

If you want a cheaper alternative, we suggest the iRobot Roomba Combo J7+, our budget choice. It comes with LIDAR navigation for an affordable price and decent performance in the collection of debris. It's slow to map out rooms and is susceptible to bumping into obstacles, however, it's cheaper than our other top choices.

5. Battery life

The most effective robot vacuums let you get on with your day while they keep your floors in pristine condition. While you'll still have to give your home a manual hoover every now and again robot vacuums can help you keep a certain level of tidiness and even clean while you're away from home.

To maximize the amount of time you can use your robovac, choose the model that has a high battery life. A good guideline is to expect a model to last about two cleaning sessions if you use it at the highest power setting. This is not as long as a size autonomous vacuum cleaner, however it should be enough to be sufficient for most homes. If you don't like to sit around waiting for your robovac charges you, you can opt for an automatic model that makes its return to the base station to recharge.

If you're looking for a robot vacuums best that does a little bit of everything, think about an all-in-one robot that is able to mop as well. Eufy's X10, the best model in this category has self-emptying and self-refilling for the dust bin and the water tank and the mop pad. It can even be programmed to automatically re-fill and wash mops when they're running low.

Its high-quality carpet and hard floor pick up, great hair pickup and tangle prevention, and its an almost perfect auto empty score makes it the clear winner of our test scores. It's not cheap and unless you have an apartment that is small and has no pets, it might be too costly for certain. The Dreametech D10+ is the second-placed model and offers the same performance, but costs around 25 percent less.