15 Astonishing Facts About Robot Vacuum

The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Robot vacuums can make the task of vacuuming a little less painful. Modern models mop and even climb (small) stairs.

They have a small trash bin that they empty themselves, and some of them can be controlled by smartphone apps instead of an actual remote. Some come with mapping features to help them navigate more efficiently.

1. Power

Our top pick for robotic vacuums has suction power of 8,000Pa, which is powerful enough to get rid of even the most difficult dirt patches and hairs. The ultra-thin shape of the square allows it to slide under furniture, such as sofas and beds. Dual-Laser LIDAR technology offers accurate obstacle avoidance and intelligent navigation. It is also great at cleaning pet hair, baking powder, and other debris near baseboards and corners.

Apart from the DEEBOT X2 OMNI bot, other high-powered bots on this list include the IRobot Roomba J7+ as well as the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. The Roborock S8 Pro Ultra comes with docking station that automates maintenance. It also comes with mopping capabilities. Its powerful suction and effective mopping kept my floors free of pet hair as well as muddy paw prints and other debris during every flooring type test we conducted.

A model with 2,500Pa suction will suffice for most homes in the lower price range. They are also quieter, which makes them an ideal choice for people with sensitive hearing. They're not silent but they are only as loud as normal conversations at home.

Think about your budget and cleaning needs to find the perfect combination of power and efficiency. A regular light-duty cleaning schedule requires longer runtime and a lower suction, whereas weekly heavy-duty cleaning requires the most power. Examine your flooring, home layout and cleaning schedule prior to selecting the right model. We recommend looking through our complete list of robot vacuum reviews; Highly recommended Reading, and ratings for more details about the latest models available. Many customers report seeing their carpets and bare floors looking much cleaner after introducing a robot vacuum into their home.

2. Navigation

A robot vacuum can't do its job if it does not know how to navigate around your home. Because of this, the best robots rely on advanced navigation technology that effectively scans rooms and builds maps to ensure thorough cleaning without being lost or hitting obstacles. There are three types of robot navigation: LiDAR-based camera-based and sensor-based.

LiDAR is utilized by the most expensive models to create a virtual space map, which offers the highest levels of precision and efficiency. Bump sensors are utilized in cheaper models, but they can be inaccurate and miss a lot debris when working in dark environments. Most robots come with cliff sensors, which prevent them from falling off steps or other drops.

Several robots I tested used object recognition to navigate around things such as cords and fake dog turds. However, the Eufy X10 was the best. It had excellent mapping capabilities, powerful oscillating mops, a user-friendly app and the ability to clean by zones, rooms or even the all of the house.

Think about features like sensors for floors, which automatically boost suction power when required. Some robots, like the Roborock mop, make use of mopping pad lifts to get into corners and clean up dried spills. Many hybrids are able to apply cleaning solution on the most difficult stains.

A smaller dustbin will require less frequent emptying while larger ones will cost less to replace. The cheapest robotic cleaners typically utilize a small disposable dust bag, but most mid-range models have larger 3L dustbins that last for many years. Certain high-end robots, such as the ECOVACS DEEBOT OMNI station, can self-empty their bins and fill their water tanks for convenience without hands.

3. App control

Most robot vacuums come with an app to monitor cleaning progress and schedule sessions. They also connect to smart home devices. Many robot vacuums can also be controlled by voice using Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Certain models come with an on-screen remote that allows you to start or pause and then return to dock. Find a model with larger dustbins that self-empty, rather than one that requires manual emptying.

Certain robovacs have mapping technology that can help them remember obstacles, such as the stairs, and also avoid running into furniture. Some allow you to designate no-go zones and targeted rooms, so that they only clean the 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 make use of your robot vacuum to clean rug carpets, you should choose a model which can be used both for wet and dry mopping. You'll get better results with an vac that is able to 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 will be less likely to get caught from pet hair or other particles. It's recommended to check the robot's brushroll and side brushes for debris that has gotten stuck every week or once as well. If you notice that they're beginning to get blocked, it could be time to purchase replacement parts.

4. Debris collection

As the name implies, robot mop vacuums are designed to collect dust and debris from your floors. The best robot vacuums can take small particles such as sand and baking soda, and larger ones such as metal screws orzo, pet hair. They also provide better results on low pile carpets than many manual vacuums.

The top-performing robots across all flooring types had a pickup score higher than 95%. Our two best-performing robots in this category were the ECOVACS DEEBOT X2 OMNI and the Roborock Q Revo. Both are highly automated and feature robust docking stations that perform maintenance on their own, and features in the app that make them extremely user-friendly.

Both have self-emptying bins that automatically collect the waste from the wastebasket, and clean the washboard while you mow. They also come with an 8,000Pa vacuum, intelligent mapping technology and advanced obstacle avoidance technology to help them navigate through the most difficult areas. The ECOVACS model is also among the only robots we tested that can remove its mop pads and automatic vacuum and mop robot carpet which makes it the best choice for users who need to switch between mopping and vacuuming frequently.

If you're looking for a less expensive option, check out the Roomba Combo J7 from iRobot Plus, our budget pick. It has LIDAR navigation and decent debris pickup performance for the price. It can be a bit slow at mapping out rooms and is prone to bumping into obstacles, but it is lower than our other picks.

5. Battery life

The best robot vacuums let you move about your day while keeping your floors in top state. While you'll still need to give your home a manual hoover every now and again Robotic vacuums can help maintain a baseline level of cleanliness, and even wash even when you're away.

To maximize the amount of time you can get out of your robovac, look for an advancé with a long battery life. A good guideline is to expect a model to last for about two full cleaning sessions if you run it at the maximum power setting. This is not as long as a large vacuum cleaner, but it will be sufficient to provide for the majority of homes. If you don't wish to wait while your robovac recharges, you can choose a model that automatically returns to the base station for charging.

If you're looking to buy a robovac with a bit of everything in it, then consider an option that also mop. Eufy's X10 is the most effective model in this category and includes self-emptying, self-draining and self-refilling of the dust container and mop pad. It can be programmed to refill and wash its mop pads when they run out.

The clear winner of our tests is the Dyson V810 thanks to its impressive carpet and hard floor pickup, outstanding hair pickup, tangle-free performance, and nearly perfect auto empty score. However, it's not cheap and unless you have a an apartment without pets, it may be too expensive for some. The Dreametech D10+ is the second choice and has the same performance, but costs around 25% less.