What Top Robot Vacuum Experts Want You To Know

Top Robot Vacuums and Mop Combos

While robots aren't able to replace a conventional vacuum in removing dirt-in particles like metal screws and chunks of orzo pasta, they are excellent in sweeping dust, crumbs and hair from pets. The best affordable robot vacuum models have intelligent navigation and a feature to avoid objects which allow them to navigate around toys, cords and other household obstacles.

1. Roomba iRobot i3+ from iRobot EVO

The iRobot Roomba i3+ is a great robot vacuum that has several smart features that make it easier to maintain. The automatic floor cleaners bin emptying feature is one of the best features we've ever encountered in a robotic vacuum. It's great on carpets as well as hard floors. It's also easy to set up and operate with the app that guides you step-by-step through the procedure. Its ability to restart the same place it left off during our tests is a great feature. It did this for 77 minute on one cleaning, and then the battery was exhausted.

The i3+ EVO is different from the other Robot broom vacuums we tested has a self emptying bin that automatically dumps debris into an external dirt compartment located on its charging base when it is fully filled. The i3+ EVO is able to prevent overfilling thanks to a self-emptying container. However it must be manually emptied at the end of each cleaning session. The i3+ EVO dustbin can hold 2.4L that is enough to last through four to five cleaning sessions.

Like the i7, this model is equipped with state-of-the-art floor tracking sensors to create maps and navigate in neat rows. However, the i3+ EVO only stores a single map while the i7 is able to store multiple maps. The i7's map can be used to create virtual barriers and no-go zones, but not the i3+ EVO.

The i3+ EVO does a better job of removing surface debris compared to some other robovacs that we have reviewed, but it is not the best at cleaning corners and edges. It's also a bit less gentle on furniture, despite being surprisingly quiet. It pulled chairs away from walls, and made some collisions with the sides of our bed, and it was stuck to cords and toys during our testing.

2. Black & Decker Pro Q5

If you're looking to increase your robot vacuum collection or are just starting out using one, the Q5 Pro is a great choice. It packs serious power, a smart navigation system, and handy automation into a slick design at a price that is affordable. It's the best pound-for-pound model available today and even matches Roborock's higher-priced models in a variety of ways.

This robot vac is excellent at cleaning floors that are not clean, and its avoidance tech assists it in staying away from furniture legs or other obstacles. It also performs well on carpet and earns the top score in our tests of navigation. The only drawback is that it's louder than other models we test, and it doesn't fare as well in our owners satisfaction and predicted reliability tests.

The Q5 Pro has a very large 770ml dust bin that means you don't have to empty it as frequently as some other 2-in-1 robots. The Q5 Pro's 240-minute running time is also a lot when in comparison to other 2-in-1 robots we tested. If the battery is empty it goes back to its dock and recharges before resuming cleaning where it stopped. You can control the Q5 Pro using the app or voice commands via Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.

This is the first robot we've seen that has 3D mapping. This along with other advances made it perform extremely well in our tests of vacuuming and mopping tests. You can schedule cleanings and set up no-go zones. You can also see the battery status. The app is simple to use, but it isn't compatible with Apple HomeKit; that feature is scheduled to be added in 2025. Apple changed its footnote on its website in early November to reflect the fact that this feature has been delayed until 2025. A few other robots aren't compatible with HomeKit however, a lot of them are compatible with Siri Shortcuts.

3. TP-Link Tapo RV30 Plus

If you're looking for a robot vacuum cleaner that is able to mop and is very affordable, the TP-Link Tapo RV30 Plus is the ideal option. It has a wide array of features at a reasonable cost and features a stylish design. It is possible to control the device with different buttons on the device or through the app and even make use of voice commands. The device has long battery life, and the vacuum container can be auto-emptied.

The TP-Link RV30 Plus does a very good job at vacuuming standard messes and is suitable for light mopping on hard floors. It comes with mopping cloths that can be replaced and a sweeper brush, as well as an HEPA filter. It can be combined with a smart home hub, such as Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant for easy voice control. The TP-Link RV30 Plus can be easily set up and can be connected to a variety of floor surfaces by using the automatic mode. This ensures that the optimal results are achieved in every room and flooring.

Three cleaning modes are available to suit your requirements. The vacuuming mode cleanses the entire room and utilizes the smart sensor to identify edges furniture, stairs, and other obstacles. The mopping mode is utilized to clean the floor automatically or to remove staining and liquid spills. A third option allows you to combine the two features for a thorough and thorough cleaning.

With a powerful suction and 3 settings for dry mopping, the TP-Link RV30 Plus is quick to remove dust, pet hair, crumbs and other debris from all flooring types. It can clean carpets without damaging the material thanks to special mop heads.

During the first mapping session, the TP-Link RV30 Plus scans and stores the layout of your home by using its LiDAR and Gyro dual navigation system. You can modify the map within the app and combine or split rooms according to your preference. You can also set up virtual walls and no-go zones to stop the RV30 Plus from wandering into areas that you don't want to access.

4. Eufy iMop

The Eufy iMop robot vacuum and mop is among the best fully-featured machines for hard flooring. It has a high-tech navigation system that does an excellent job of mapping your home even across multiple floors. The base station is well-designed and automates cleaning to a great extent. It also offers incredible navigation and obstacle avoidance.

The model is equipped with an internal dToF LiDAR sensor to map out your home and devise efficient cleaning routes. The iMop received high marks for its accuracy and navigation. It also did a great job of avoiding obstacles such as furniture. It's also able to locate its way back to the base station which is a great benefit in the event it's running out of battery during a cleaning session.

The spot cleaning mode allows you to clean a specific area of your floor. It can also be programmed to follow a certain direction. This is a great option if you have narrow stairs or hallways. In our carpet cleaning test it did a good job cleaning carpets. However, it struggled to clean rugs and carpets with thick piles. It can also be set to automatically lift the mop pad whenever it encounters carpet, which is a fantastic option if you wish to avoid mowing your carpets.

The iMop includes an onboard dustbin and a water tank, which it is empty at the conclusion of each cleaning session. The dust bin onboard can hold up to 2.5 Liters and only has to be emptied every two cleaning cycles. The water tank is capable of handling about a dozen mopping sessions before running out. The iMop requires less maintenance and cleaning than an average robot vacuum, which could be a major selling point for busy families.

The smartphone app of iMop is easy to use and comes with a variety of options for configuration. It offers multiple suction modes, mopping settings, and also scheduling. It also lets you create virtual walls and no-go zones, to ensure that the self-cleaning robot vacuums doesn't wander into rooms that are off limits. The app also gives access to the iMop status and warnings about errors.