10 Best Mobile Apps For Robot Vacuum
The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Robot vacuums can make the chore 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 are controlled with an app on your smartphone instead of a physical remote. Some have mapping features that assist in navigation.
1. Power
With 8,000Pa of suction power Our top pick for robot vacuums is durable enough to handle the worst hairs and dirt. Its ultra-thin square design allows it to slide underneath furniture, such as beds and sofas, and its Dual-Laser LiDAR technology supports precise navigation and obstacle avoidance. It also does an excellent job at cleaning pet hair, baking soda, and other debris that can be found near baseboards and in corners.
Apart from the DEEBOT X2 OMNI, other powerful bots in this list include the iRobot Roomba J7+ as well as the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. It comes with a robust docking station that automates maintenance and has mopping functionality as well. Its powerful suction, combined with its efficient mopping, ensured my floors were free of pet hair, muddy prints, and other messes on every floor we test.
In the lower cost range, a model with a suction capacity of around 2,500Pa is sufficient for the majority of homes. These units are quieter, making them an ideal option for people with sensitive hearing. They're not silent but they're not about the same as normal conversations at home.
To find the ideal balance of performance and convenience take into consideration your cleaning needs and budget. Frequent light-duty tidying requires a longer time to run and lower suction, while weekly heavy-duty cleaning demands maximum power. Check your flooring, layout of your home and cleaning schedules prior to selecting the right model. We recommend checking out our full list of robot vacuum reviews and ratings for more information on the latest models available. Many users report that their carpets and bare floors look cleaner after using a robotic vacuum.
2. Navigation
A robot vacuum can't do its job properly without knowing how to navigate your home. This is why the most effective robots depend on sophisticated navigation technology that reliably scans rooms and creates a map to ensure thorough cleaning without getting lost or hitting obstacles. There are three main types of robot navigation: LiDAR-based sensor-based, and camera-based.
LiDAR is utilized by the most expensive models to create a virtual space map, which provides the highest levels of precision and efficiency. Cheaper models depend on bump sensors, which can be more inaccurate and can miss the majority of debris in dark spaces. The majority of robots have cliff sensors to keep them from falling down stairs or other falls.
A number of the robots I tested utilized objects recognition to navigate through things like fake dog turds. However, the Eufy X10 was the best automatic vacuum. It was equipped with powerful oscillating mop heads, a user friendly app and a superb mapping capability.
Other features worth looking into include floor type sensors that can detect hard floors and soft carpet, automatically boosting suction power when needed. Some robots, such as the Roborock mop, utilize a mopping pad lift to reach corners and eliminate dried spills. Some hybrids even apply cleaning solutions to tough stains.
A smaller dustbin will require less frequent emptying, whereas bigger ones will save money on replacements. The cheapest robotic cleaners typically employ a tiny disposable dust bag, but the mid-range models typically have larger dust bins of 3L that last for ages. Certain premium robots such as the EcoVACS DEEBOT OMNI Station can self-empty and fill up their water tank for hands-free convenience.
3. App control
The best robot vacs have an app that lets you monitor cleaning progress and schedule your sessions, and most can connect to your smart home devices for hands-free control. Many robot vacuums can also be controlled by voice using Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Some models have a separate remote control that lets you start, pause and return to dock. Choose a model that has a larger dustbin and can self-empty, rather than one that needs manual emptying.
Some robots are equipped with mapping technology that allows them to recognize obstacles, such as staircases, and prevents them from hitting furniture. Certain robovacs permit you to define no-go zones and rooms so that they only clean areas that require the most. They also have cliff sensors to prevent them from falling down the staircase, which is particularly beneficial in multi-level homes.
If you plan to use your robot vacuum cleaner uk vacuum for cleaning carpets, select a model which can be used for wet and dry mopping. You'll have better results cleaning if your robot vacuum can also remove its mop pad. Rinse it and then attach it again when you are ready to conduct a clean-up cycle. Also, look for a machine with a rubber roller, which is less prone to knots caused by pet hair and other debris than a bristle roller that is found on cheaper models. It's a good idea to examine the robot's brushroll and side brushes for debris stuck on once or twice a week as well. If you notice that they are starting to clog up it could be time to replace parts.
4. Collection of debris
Like the name suggests robot vacuums are created to remove dust and other debris from your floors. The most effective robot vacuums are able to take small particles such as baking soda and sand as well as larger ones like screws made of metal orzo, as well as pet hair. They also have better results on low pile carpets than manual vacuums.
The top-performing robots across all flooring types had scores higher 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, with docking stations that can perform maintenance on their own, and app features which make them extremely user-friendly.
Both have self-emptying bins which eliminate the contents of the wastebasket. They can also clean the washboards as 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 of spaces. The ECOVACS model is also one of the few robots we tested that can take its mop pads and vacuum carpet making it the ideal choice for users who need to change between mopping and vacuuming regularly.
If you're looking for a less expensive option, look into the Roomba Combo J7 by iRobot Plus, our budget choice. It has LIDAR navigation and decent debris pickup capabilities for the price. It's slow to map rooms and may be susceptible to bumping into obstacles, however it's much less expensive than our other top picks.
5. Battery life
The most effective robot vacuums are made to let you move to work while keeping your floors in tip-top span. You'll still have to manually clean your home every so often, but robovacs will help you maintain a basic level of cleanliness and even clean when you are away.
Look for a robovac with a long-lasting battery to get the most out of it. A good guideline is to expect a model to last about two full cleaning sessions if you run it on the highest power setting. This is smaller than a larger vacuum but should be sufficient to keep most homes clean. If you don't wish to wait while your robovac recharges you can select an option that will automatically return to the base station to charge.
If you're looking to buy a robovac that has a little bit of everything in it, you should consider a robot that can also mop. Eufy's X10 is the top model in this category and offers self-emptying, self-draining and self-refilling of the dust bin, water tank and mop pad. It can be programmed to automatically refill and wash its mop pads when they run out.
Its high-quality carpet and hard floor pick-up, great hair pickup and tangle prevention, and its an almost perfect auto empty score makes it the clear winner of our test scores. It's not cheap, however and unless you have a the smallest of homes with no pets it might be too pricey for some. The Dreametech D10+ is the runner-up and has a similar performance, but is priced around 25 percent less.