10 Things People Hate About Robot Vacuum
The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Robot vacuums can make the task of vacuuming a little less painful. Modern models can also mop, and climb (small) steps.
Some have a smaller bin that they empty on their own. Others can be controlled by an app on your smartphone instead of the physical remote. Some have mapping features that help them navigate more efficiently.
1. Power
Our top choice for robot vacuums has suction power of 8,000Pa, which is enough to get rid of even the most difficult hairs and dirt. The ultra-thin design of the square allows it to slide beneath furniture such as beds and sofas, and its Dual-Laser LiDAR technology allows for intelligent navigation and accurate obstacle avoidance. It also does a great job at cleaning up pet hair baking soda, sand, and other debris that can be found near the baseboards and in corners.
Other high-powered robots on this list, in addition to the DEEBOT X2 OMNI, include the IRobot Roomba J7+ aswell as the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. The latter comes bundled with a powerful docking station that is able to perform maintenance and includes mopping capabilities as well. Its powerful suction, coupled with its effective mopping feature, kept my floors clean of pet hair, muddy prints and other debris on every type of floor we test.
In the lower price range, a unit that has 2,500Pa of suction is more than adequate for most homes. These models are quieter, which makes them the ideal choice for people with hearing issues. These units are not silent but they're not about the same as normal conversations at home.
To get the most effective mix of performance and convenience, consider your cleaning needs and budget. For light-duty cleaning that is frequent, a longer runtime with less suction is recommended. Cleaning that is heavy-duty every week requires the most power. Then assess your flooring, layout of your home and cleaning schedules to choose the right model for your needs. We recommend checking out our full list of robot vacuum reviews and ratings to get more details about the latest models available. Many customers report that their carpets and bare floors appear cleaner after using a robot vacuum.
2. Navigation
A robot vacuum can't do its job well if it doesn't know how to navigate your home. The most advanced robots utilize sophisticated navigation technology to scan rooms and make an outline map, which allows for thorough cleaning without getting stuck or hitting obstacles. There are three major types of robot navigation: LiDAR-based, camera-based and sensor-based.
The most expensive models use LiDAR to build a virtual map of the room, delivering the highest level of accuracy and efficiency. Cheaper models depend on bump sensors, which are more prone to error and are more likely to miss the majority of debris 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 had powerful mop heads that oscillate as well as a user-friendly application, and superb mapping capabilities.
Other features worth looking into include floor type sensors that recognize carpets with soft and hard floors, automatically boosting suction power when needed. Some robots, such as the Roborock mop utilize mopping pad that lifts to reach into corners and clean dried spills. Many hybrids can apply cleaning solutions to stubborn stains.
A smaller size of the bin will require less frequent emptying while bigger ones will cost less to replace. The most affordable robotic hoovers cleaners generally employ a tiny disposable dust bag, but most mid-range models have larger 3L dustbins that last for ages. Some of the top models, like the ECOVACS DEEBOT OMNI station, will automatically empty their dustbin and refill their water tanks, allowing hands-free convenience.
3. App control
The best robot vacs have an application that lets you track cleaning progress and schedule sessions and connect to your smart home devices for hands-free control. A lot of robot vacuums can be controlled via voice using Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Certain models come with a remote control that lets you start, pause, and return to dock. Find a model with a bigger dustbin that can self-empty instead of one that requires manual emptying.
Certain robovacs come with technology for mapping to help them avoid obstacles such as stairs and furniture. Others allow you to set no-go zones or targeted rooms, so they only clean the areas that require the most. They also have a cliff sensor to prevent them from falling, which is particularly useful in multi-level homes.
If you plan to make use of your robot vacuum to clean your rugs pick one that is capable of dry mopping and wet. You'll get better results from a robot vac that can remove its own mop pad as well, which you can then wash and reattach when it's time for another cleaning cycle. Look for robots with the rubber roller. It 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 stuck-on debris every once or twice per week, too. If you notice that they're starting to clog, it may be time to replace parts.
4. Collection of debris
robot vacuum and mop vacuums are made according to the name to remove dust and other debris from your floors. The most effective ones can pick small particles such as baking soda and sand as well as larger pieces like orzo pasta, screws made of metal, and pet hair. They also have better pickup results on carpets with low pile than most manual vacuums.
The top-performing robots across all flooring types had a pickup score greater than 95 percent. The two top performers 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.
Both have self-emptying bins that automatically remove the contents of the wastebasket. They can also clean the washboard while they mow. They also have an 8,000Pa vacuum, 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 few robots we tested that could remove its mop pads and vacuum carpet which makes it the best automatic vacuum cleaner choice for those who have to switch between vacuuming and mopping regularly.
If you're looking for a less expensive option, look into the Roomba Combo J7 by iRobot Plus, our budget pick. It features LIDAR navigation and decent debris pickup capabilities for the price. It is slow when it comes to mapping rooms and is susceptible to hitting obstacles, but the cost is less than our other picks.
5. Battery life
The most effective robot vacuums let you move about your day while they keep your floors in pristine state. While you'll still have to give your home a manual hoover every now and then, robovacs can help you maintain a baseline level of cleanliness, and even wash even when you're away.
Choose a robovac that has a long-lasting battery to get the most of it. If you use the highest power setting, the model should last for about two cleaning sessions. This is less than a size vacuum cleaner, however it should be enough to provide for the majority of homes. If you don't want to wait while your robovac recharges, you can choose a model that will automatically return to the base station to charge.
If you're looking for a robot that does a little bit of everything, think about an all-in-one machine that can mop too. Eufy's X10 is the most effective model in this class and offers self-emptying, self-draining and self-refilling of the dust bin as well as the mop pad. It is also programmable to automatically re-fill and wash its own mop pads when they're running low.
The clear winner in our tests is the Dyson V810 thanks to its impressive carpet and hard floor pickup, excellent hair pickup, tangle-free performance, and nearly perfect auto empty score. It's expensive and unless you have an apartment that is small and has no pets, it might be too expensive for certain. The Dreametech D10+ is the second choice and has the same performance, but it costs 25% less.