15 Reasons To Not Overlook Robot Vacuum
The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Vacuuming is the bane of many people's existence However, robot vacuums make it easier. Today's models also mop and can even climb (small) stairs.
They have a tiny dustbin which they empty themselves and some can be operated by a smartphone app instead of an actual remote. Some have mapping capabilities that assist in navigating your home with greater efficiency.
1. Power
Our top choice for robot vacuums comes with a suction force of 8,000Pa, which is enough to eliminate even the most difficult hairs and dirt. Its super-thin square design allows it to slide beneath furniture, such as beds and sofas and its Dual-Laser LiDAR technology allows for precise navigation and accurate obstacle avoidance. It also does an excellent job of cleaning pet hair, baking soda, and other debris that can be found near the baseboards as well as in corners.
Other high-powered robots that are listed in addition to the DEEBOT X2 OMNI include the IRobot Roomba J7+ aswell as the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. The latter comes with a sturdy docking station that automatically performs maintenance and mopping functions as well. Its powerful suction, coupled with its efficient mopping, ensured my floors were free of pet hair, muddy prints, and other messes on all floors we tested.
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 who have sensitive ears. They're not silent but they're not the same volume as conversations at home.
Think about your budget and Automatic vacuum cleaner and mop cleaning needs to find the perfect combination of power and usability. For light-duty cleaning that is frequent, a longer runtime with less suction is needed. Cleaning that is heavy-duty every week requires the maximum power. Examine your flooring, home layout and cleaning schedule prior to selecting the best model. We suggest looking through our complete list of robot vacuum reviews and ratings to get more details about the latest models available. Many users report seeing their carpets and bare floors looking much cleaner after introducing a robot vacuum to their home.
2. Navigation
A robot vacuum isn't able to do its job when it doesn't know how to navigate around your home. The most advanced robots utilize sophisticated navigation technology to scan rooms and make a map, ensuring thorough cleaning without getting stuck or hitting obstacles. There are three kinds of robot navigation: LiDAR, camera and sensor.
The most expensive models utilize LiDAR to create a digital map of the room. This model offers the highest levels of precision and efficiency. Less expensive models rely on bump sensors, which are less accurate and can miss many debris in dark spaces. Most robots come with cliff sensors that prevent them from falling off stairs or other drops.
A number of the robots I tested utilized object recognition to navigate things like cords and fake dog turds. But the Eufy X10 was the best. It was a fantastic mapping device, powerful oscillating mops, a user-friendly app and the ability to clean a specific zones, rooms or even the entire home.
Other features worth looking into include floor type sensors that recognize hard floors and soft carpet, automatically boosting suction power when necessary. Some robots, such as the Roborock mop use a mopping pad lift that allows you to get into corners and clean dried spills. Some hybrids even apply cleaning solution to stubborn stains.
A smaller size of the bin will mean less frequent emptying and a larger one will save you money on replacements. The cheapest robotic cleaners usually use a small disposable dust bag, while most mid-range models have larger 3L dustbins that last for many years. Certain premium robots such as the ECOVACS DEEBOT OMNI Station are able to self-empty and refill their water tank for hands-free convenience.
3. App control
The top robot vacuums have an app that lets you monitor the progress of cleaning and schedule sessions, and most can connect to smart home devices to allow hands-free control. They also sync with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for voice-based control. Some models have a remote control that lets you start or pause and then return to dock. Select a model with a larger trash bin and can self-empty instead of one that needs manual emptying.
Some robovacs come with mapping technology that can help them recognize obstacles, such as the stairs, and also avoid getting into furniture. Certain robovacs let you designate no-go zones and specific rooms to clean the areas that require the most. They also have a cliff sensor to prevent them from falling, which is particularly beneficial in multi-level homes.
If you intend to make use of your robot vacuum for cleaning rug carpets, you should choose a model which can be used for dry and wet mopping. You'll have better results cleaning by having your robot vacuum also remove its mop pad. Clean it and attach it again when you are ready to run another cleaning cycle. Look for a robot with the rubber roller. This is less likely to tangle from pet hair or other particles. It's a good idea to inspect the robot's brushroll as well as side brushes for debris stuck on once or twice a week, too. If you notice that they're starting to clog, it might be time to buy replacement parts.
4. Collection of debris
As the name implies, robot vacuums are designed to remove dust and other debris from your floors. The best ones are able to pick up fine particles like baking soda and sand, as well as larger pieces like orzo pasta, metal screws and pet hair. They also provide better pick-up results on carpets with low pile than manual vacuums.
Across 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 on their own, and app features which make them extremely user-friendly.
They both have self-emptying bins that suck up the contents of the wastebasket, and clean the washboard while you mow. They also have an 8,000Pa vacuum cleaner, smart mapping technology, and advanced obstacle avoidance technology to help them navigate through even the most difficult areas. The ECOVACS robot is among the few that can vacuum carpet and remove mop pads. This makes it a perfect option for those who need to switch between mopping and vacuuming often.
If you're looking for a less expensive alternative, take a look at the Roomba Combo J7 by iRobot Plus, our budget choice. It comes with LIDAR navigation and decent debris pickup capabilities for the price. It's not the fastest to map out rooms and can be prone to bumping into obstacles, however it's much less expensive than our other top choices.
5. Battery life
The best robot vacuums are made to let you get on with your life while keeping your floors in tip-top span. It is still necessary to manually clean your home from time to time but robovacs can aid in maintaining a certain standard of cleanliness, and even keep your home clean when you're away.
Look for a robovac with long-lasting batteries to get the most out of it. A good rule of thumb is to expect a model to last about two cleaning sessions if you use it at the maximum power setting. This is less than a full-sized automatic vacuum and mop robot, but should be sufficient to get the job done in most homes. If you don't like to be waiting around while your robovac recharges, you can also select a model that automatically makes its way back to its base station to recharge.
If you are looking for a robovac that does a little amount of everything, you should consider an all-in-one model that can mop too. Eufy's X10, the best model in this category has self-emptying and self-refilling for the dust bin as well as the water tank and mop pad. It can be programmed to automatically refill and wash mops as soon as they run out.
Its high-quality carpet and hard floor pick-up, great hair pickup and tangle-free, and a an almost perfect auto empty score make it the clear winner of our test scores. However, it's not cheap and unless you live in an apartment without pets, it may be too expensive for some. The Dreametech D10+ is the second choice and has the same performance, but is priced around 25% less.