20 Things You Need To Know About Robot Vacuum
The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Vacuuming is a major cause of many lives however, robot vacuums make it more enjoyable. Today's models also mop and can even climb (small) stairs.
Some have a small bin that they empty on their own. Others can be controlled by an app on your smartphone instead of the physical remote. Some come with mapping features to aid in navigation.
1. Power
Our top pick for robot vacuums has suction power of 8,000Pa, which is enough to eliminate even the most stubborn dirt patches and hairs. Its slim square shape enables it to slide underneath furniture such as couches and beds. Dual-Laser LIDAR technology provides precise obstacle avoidance as well as intelligent navigation. It also does a great job at cleaning pet hair baking soda, sand, and other debris close to the baseboards as well as in corners.
Apart 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. It comes with a robust docking station that automatically performs maintenance and includes mopping capabilities as well. Its powerful suction system, along with its effective mopping feature, kept my floors clean of pet hair, muddy prints and other debris on every type of floor we test.
A model with 2,500Pa suction will suffice for homes that are in the lower price range. These units are quieter and therefore a better option for those who have sensitive ears. These units are not silent but they're not as loud as normal conversations at home.
For the best rated robot vacuum mix of performance and convenience Consider your cleaning requirements and budget. Regular light-duty cleaning requires a longer runtime and a lower suction, whereas weekly heavy-duty cleaning requires the most power. Take a look at your flooring, home layouts, and cleaning schedules to select the best model to meet your requirements. We recommend checking out our entire list of robot vacuum reviews and ratings to get more details on the most recent models available. Many customers report seeing their carpets and bare floors looking significantly cleaner after introducing a robot vacuum into their home.
2. Navigation
A robot vacuum can't do its job well without knowing how to navigate around your home. For this reason, the best robots use advanced navigation technology that effectively scans rooms and then creates maps to ensure thorough cleaning without being lost or hitting obstacles. There are three main kinds of robot navigation: LiDAR-based, sensor-based, and camera-based.
LiDAR is utilized by the most expensive models to create a virtual room map, which provides the highest levels of accuracy and efficiency. Less expensive models depend on bump sensors, which are less accurate and can miss the majority of debris in dark areas. The majority of robots have cliff sensors to keep them from falling down stairs or other drops.
Several robots in my tests utilized object recognition to efficiently navigate things like fake dog turds and cords, but the most effective was the Eufy X10. It was equipped with powerful oscillating mop heads, a user friendly app and a superb mapping capability.
Consider features such as sensors for floors, which automatically boost suction power when required. Some robots, such as the Roborock mop, utilize a mopping pad lift to get into corners and clean up dried spills. Many hybrids can apply cleaning solution on the most difficult stains.
A smaller bin will mean less frequent emptying while a bigger one can save you money on replacements. The majority of low-cost robotic hoovers cleaners utilize the smallest, disposable dust bag. However, most mid-range models come with larger 3L dustbins which last for a long time. Certain high-end robots, such as the EcoVACS DEEBOT OMNI station, will self-empty their bins and fill their water tanks to provide hands-free convenience.
3. App control
Most robot vacuums come with an app to monitor cleaning progress and schedule cleaning sessions. They also connect to smart home devices. Most also sync with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for voice-based control. Some have a dedicated remote control that lets you start the process, pause it and then return to dock. Pick a model that comes with a larger dustbin and can self-empty instead of one that needs manual emptying.
Some robots are equipped with mapping technology to help them avoid obstacles such as stairs and furniture. Others allow you to set no-go zones or targeted rooms, so that they only clean the areas that need it most. They also have cliff sensor to prevent them from falling, which is helpful in multi-leveled homes.
If you plan to utilize your robot vacuum to clean rugs, choose a model which can be used both for dry and wet mopping. You'll get better cleaning results by having your robot vacuum that mops vacuum also remove its mop pad. Rinse it, and then reconnect it when you want to conduct a clean-up cycle. Find robots that have the rubber roller. It is less likely to become tangled from pet hair or other particles. Check the robot's side brush and brushroll for any debris that may have gotten stuck on. Make sure to do this at least twice per week. If you notice that they're starting to clog, it might be time to replace parts.
4. Collection of debris
Robot vacuums are made to, as the name suggests, to remove dust and other debris on your floors. The best ones are able to pick small particles such as baking soda and sand as well larger pieces such as metal screws, orzo pasta and pet hair. They also get better pickup results on carpets with low pile than most manual vacuums.
The top-performing robots across all flooring types had pickup scores greater than 95 percent. The ECOVACS DEEBOT X2 OMNI and the Roborock Q Revo were the two top-performing robots in this category. Both are highly automated, with robust docking stations that can perform maintenance on their own. They also have features in the app that make them incredibly user-friendly.
Both have self-emptying bins that collect the waste from the wastebasket and can clean the washboard while you mow. They also come with an 8,000Pa automatic vacuum cleaner and mop cleaner, smart mapping technology, and advanced obstacle avoidance that helps them navigate through even the most difficult spaces. The ECOVACS model is also one of the only robots we tested that can take its mop pads and vacuum carpet, which makes it the ideal option for those who need to change between mopping and vacuuming regularly.
If you want a cheaper option, we suggest the Roomba Combo J7 from iRobot+, our budget choice. It comes with LIDAR navigation for an affordable price and decent performance in the collection of debris. It is slow when it comes to mapping rooms and is prone to bumping into obstacles, but it is lower than the other choices.
5. Battery life
The most effective robot vacuums are made to let you go moving with your day while they keep your floors clean and spick and span. You'll still need to manually clean your home every so often but robovacs can help you maintain a basic level of cleanliness, and will even clean while you're away.
To maximize the amount of time you can use your robovac, look for the model that has a high battery life. A good guideline is to expect a robovac to last for about two cleaning sessions when you run it at the highest power setting. This is less than a larger vacuum but should be sufficient to keep most homes clean. If you don't want to wait while your robovac recharges you can select an option that automatically returns to the base station for charging.
If you are looking for a robovac that can do a bit of everything, consider an all-in-one model that can mop too. Eufy's X10 is the top model in this category, offers self-emptying and self-refilling for the dust bin, the water tank, and the mop pad. It is also programmable to automatically refill and wash its own mops when they're low.
Its high-quality carpet and hard floor pick-up, great hair pickup and tangle prevention, and its an almost perfect auto vacuum and mop empty score make it the clear winner of our test scores. It's not cheap and, unless you live in a the space of a small home with no pets, it might be too costly for some. The runner-up, the Dreametech D10+, has very similar performance but is priced 25% less.