14 Misconceptions Commonly Held About Robot Vacuum

The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Robot vacuums can make the chore of vacuuming a little less painful. Modern models can mop, and climb (small) steps.

They have a tiny dustbin that they empty themselves and some are controlled by smartphone apps instead of the physical remote. Some have mapping capabilities that help them navigate your home with greater efficiency.

1. Power

Our top pick for robot vacuums has suction power of 8,000Pa, which is powerful enough to remove even the most stubborn dirt patches and hairs. Its ultra-thin square design allows it to slide underneath furniture like sofas and beds, and its Dual-Laser LiDAR technology allows for intelligent navigation and accurate obstacle avoidance. It also does an excellent job of cleaning pet hair baking soda, other debris close to the baseboards as well as in corners.

Other high-powered robots on this list, besides the DEEBOT X2 OMNI, are the IRobot Roomba j7+ as well as the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. The latter comes bundled with a powerful docking station that automatically performs maintenance and includes mopping capabilities as well. Its powerful suction and effective mopping kept my floors free of pet hair as well as muddy paw prints and other debris in every floor type test that we conducted.

In the lower price range, a model that has 2,500Pa of suction is more than enough for the majority of homes. These models are quieter, and are therefore a better choice for those with sensitive ears. They aren't silent, but they are only as loud as normal conversations at home.

Consider your budget and cleaning needs to find the perfect combination of power and efficiency. Frequent light-duty tidying requires a longer time to run and lower suction, whereas weekly heavy-duty cleaning requires the most power. Check your flooring, layout of your home, and cleaning schedules before selecting the right model. We recommend checking out our complete list of robot vacuum reviews and ratings to get more details about the latest models available. Many users have reported that their carpets and bare floors appear cleaner after using a robot autonomous vacuum.

2. Navigation

A robot vacuum can't do its job well without knowing how to navigate your home. The best robots use sophisticated navigation technology to scan rooms and create a map, ensuring thorough cleaning without getting stuck or hitting obstacles. There are three kinds of robot navigation: LiDAR-based sensor-based and camera-based.

The most expensive models utilize LiDAR to create a virtual map of the room, delivering the highest levels of accuracy and efficiency. Bump sensors are used in lower-end models, however they aren't always accurate and miss a lot debris when working in dark environments. Many robots also have cliff sensors to stop them from falling down stairs or other drops.

A variety of robots I tested used object recognition to deftly navigate things like fake cords and dog turds, but the most effective was the Eufy X10. It was a fantastic mapping device, powerful oscillating mops, an intuitive app and the ability to clean by zone, room or all of the home.

Other features worth considering include floor type sensors that recognize carpets with soft and hard floors automatically increasing suction power when necessary. Some robots like the Roborock mop make use of mopping pad lift that allows you to get into corners and clean up dried spills. Many hybrids are able to apply cleaning solution to stubborn staining.

A smaller size of the bin will require less frequent emptying, however, a larger one can save you money on replacements. The majority of low-cost robotic cleaners utilize an inexpensive, disposable dust bag. However, most middle-priced models have larger 3L dustbins that last for a long period of time. Certain high-end robots, such as the EcoVACS DEEBOT OMNI Station can self-empty and refill their water tank for hands-free convenience.

3. App control

The majority of robot vacuums come with an app to monitor cleaning progress, schedule sessions and connect to smart home devices. Many robot vacuums can also be controlled by voice using Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Some models have a remote control that allows you to begin, pause, and return to dock. Find a model with larger dustbins that self-empty instead of one that requires manual emptying.

Some robovacs have mapping technology that helps them avoid obstacles like stairs and furniture. Others allow you to designate no-go zones and targeted rooms, ensuring that they only clean areas that need it most. They also come with cliff sensors to keep them from falling down the stairs, which is especially helpful in multi-level homes.

If you want to make use of your robot vacuum to clean rug carpets, you should choose one that can be used both for dry and wet mopping. You'll get better results with the robot vacuum that can remove its own mop pad too, which you can then wash and reattach when it's time for another cleaning cycle. Find robots that have the rubber roller. It is less likely to tangle from pet hair or other particles. It's recommended to check the robot's brushroll and side brushes for stuck-on debris every week or once, too. If you notice that they're starting to get blocked, it could be time to replace parts.

4. Debris collection

Robot vacuums are created, as the name suggests to remove dust and other debris from your floors. The best ones pick up fine particles like baking soda and sand as larger pieces such as metal screws, orzo pasta and pet hair. They also have better results on carpets with low pile than manual vacuums.

Across all flooring types, the top performing robots had pick-up scores of over 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 can perform maintenance on their own, and app features that make them extremely user-friendly.

Both have self-emptying bins which automatically remove the contents of the wastebasket. They also have the ability to clean the washboard as they mow. They also come with an 8,000Pa vacuum, smart mapping technology, and advanced obstacle avoidance to help them navigate through the most difficult of spaces. The ECOVACS robot vacuum cleaner uk is one of the few that can clean carpet and remove the mop pads. This makes it a perfect option for people who need to switch between mopping and vacuuming often.

If you're looking for a cheaper option, look into the Roomba Combo J7 by iRobot Plus, our budget pick. It has LIDAR navigation and decent debris pickup performance for the price. It's slow to map rooms and may be susceptible to crashing into obstacles, however, it's cheaper than our other top choices.

5. Battery life

The most effective robot vacuums let you get on with your day while they keep your floors in perfect state. You'll still need to manually clean your home every so often but robovacs can aid in maintaining a certain standard of cleanliness, and even clean when you are away.

To maximize the time you can get out of your robovac, look for an advancé with a long battery life. If you choose to use the most powerful power setting, the model should last 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 like to sit around waiting for your robovac charges, you can also select a model that automatically makes its way back to its base station to recharge.

If you're looking for a robot that does a little bit of everything, consider an all-in-one machine that is able to mop as well. Eufy's X10 is the best model in this class and offers self-emptying, self-draining and self-refilling of the dust container, water tank and mop pad. It can be programmed to refill and wash its mop pads once they are out.

Its dependable carpet and hard floor pick up, great hair pickup and tangle prevention, and its close to perfect auto empty scores makes it the clear winner of our test scores. It's expensive, and unless you have the space of a small home with no pets, it could be too costly for certain. The Dreametech D10+ is the second choice and has the same performance, but is priced around 25 percent less.