Why We Why We Robot Vacuum And You Should Too
The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Robot vacuums can make the task of vacuuming a bit less painful. Modern models can mop, and climb (small) steps.
Some have a small bin that they empty by themselves. Others are controlled with a smartphone app rather than a physical remote. Some models have mapping capabilities to help them navigate your home more efficiently.
1. Power
Our top choice for robot vacuums has suction power of 8,000Pa, which is powerful enough to remove even the most difficult hairs and dirt. Its ultra-thin square shape allows it to slide under furniture such as couches and beds. Dual-Laser LIDAR technology provides precise obstacle avoidance as well as intelligent navigation. It also does an excellent job of cleaning pet hair, baking soda, and other debris close to the baseboards as well as in corners.
Other high-powered robots that vacuum and mop that are listed apart from the DEEBOT X2 OMNI include the IRobot Roomba j7+ as well as the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. The latter comes with a powerful docking station that automatically performs maintenance and mopping functions as well. Its powerful suction and efficient mopping made sure my floors were free of pet hair and muddy footprints and other debris throughout every floor type test we ran.
In the lower price range, a unit that has 2,500Pa of suction is sufficient for the majority of homes. These units are quieter and are therefore a better choice for those who have sensitive ears. These units are not silent but they are only as loud as normal conversations at home.
To find the ideal balance of usability and power, consider your cleaning needs and budget. Frequent light-duty tidying requires a longer runtime and lower suction, whereas weekly heavy-duty cleaning requires the most power. Assess your flooring, layout of your home and cleaning schedules prior to selecting the best model. We suggest looking through our entire list of robot vacuum reviews and ratings to get more details on the most recent models available. Many users report having their carpets and floors looking significantly cleaner after introducing a robotic vacuum in their home.
2. Navigation
A robot vacuum cannot accomplish its task when it doesn't know how to navigate around your home. This is why the best robots use sophisticated navigation systems that consistently scans rooms and builds a map to ensure thorough cleaning without being lost or hitting obstacles. There are three types of robot navigation that include LiDAR, camera and sensor.
LiDAR is utilized by the most expensive models to create a virtual space map, which offers the highest levels of precision and efficiency. The less expensive models rely on bump sensors, which are more prone to error and can miss the majority of debris in dark areas. Most robots come with cliff sensors that keep them from falling off stairs or other drops.
Many of the robots I tried used object recognition to navigate around things such as cords and fake dog turds. However, the Eufy X10 was the best robot vacuum and mop. It was equipped with powerful mop heads that oscillate and a user-friendly app and a superb mapping capability.
Other features worth looking into include floor type sensors that can detect carpets with soft and hard floors and automatically boost suction power when necessary. 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 dustbin will mean less frequent emptying however, a larger one can save you money on replacements. Most low-cost robotic cleaners use the smallest disposable dust bag. However, most mid-range models have larger 3L dustbins which last for a long period of time. Some of the top models, like the ECOVACS DEEBOT OMNI station, will automatically empty their bins and fill 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 can connect to your smart home devices to allow hands-free control. Many also connect to Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for voice-based control. Some have a dedicated remote control that allows you to start or pause, and then return to dock. Find a model with larger dustbins that self-empty, as opposed to one that requires manual emptying.
Certain robovacs have mapping technology that allows them to recognize obstacles, such as the stairs, and also avoid running into furniture. Certain robovacs let you create no-go zones as well as specific rooms to ensure that they only clean the areas that require it the most. They also have cliff sensor to prevent them from falling, which is especially useful in multi-level homes.
If you intend to use your robot automatic vacuum cleaner and mop for cleaning rugs, choose one that can be used both for dry and wet mopping. You'll get better results with 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. Find robots that have the rubber roller. This is less likely to become tangled from pet hair or other particles. Examine the robot's side brushes and brushroll for any debris that has been stuck to them. Do this once or twice per week. If you notice that they're starting to clog up it might be time to buy replacement parts.
4. Collection of debris
As the name suggests robot vacuums are made 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 in larger pieces of orzo pasta, metal screws and pet hair. They also deliver better results on low pile carpets than manual vacuums.
Across all flooring types, the top robots had pickup scores of more 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, with robust docking stations that perform maintenance on their own and apps that make them extremely user-friendly.
Both have self-emptying bins that automatically take the contents of the wastebasket, and clean the washboard while you mow. They also have an 8,000Pa vacuum, intelligent mapping technology and advanced obstacle avoidance technology to help them navigate through the most difficult spaces. The ECOVACS model is also one of the few robots we tested that can remove its mop pads and vacuum carpet, which makes it the ideal option for those who need to switch between vacuuming and mopping regularly.
If you're looking for a cheaper option, look into the Roomba Combo J7 by iRobot Plus, our budget choice. It comes with LIDAR navigation for reasonable prices and decent debris collection performance. It is slow when it comes to mapping rooms and has a tendency of hitting obstacles, but it is less than the other choices.
5. Battery life
The best robot vacuum reviews vacuums let you go about your day while they keep your floors in top condition. You'll still have to manually clean your home from time to time but robovacs can aid in maintaining a certain level of cleanliness and even clean when you are away.
Choose a robovac that has long-lasting batteries to get the most of it. A good guideline is to expect a robovac to last for about two complete cleaning sessions if you use it on the highest power setting. This is less than a full-sized vacuum, but should be sufficient to get the job done in most homes. If you don't want to wait around while your robovac charges you, you can choose a model that automatically makes its way back to the base station to recharge.
If you're looking for a robot that has a little bit of everything in it, then think about an option that also mop. Eufy's X10 is the top model of this category has self-emptying and self-refilling for the dust bin and the water tank and the mop pad. It can be programmed to automatically refill and wash its mop pads when they run out.
Its respectable carpet and hard floor pickup as well as its excellent hair pickup and tangle prevention, and its an almost perfect auto empty score makes it the clear winner of our test scores. It's expensive and unless you have an apartment that is small and has no pets, it could be too costly for certain. The second choice, the Dreametech D10+, has the same performance, however it costs 25% less.