So You ve Purchased Robot Vacuum ... Now What

The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Robot vacuums can make the task of vacuuming a little less painful. Today's models also mop and can even climb (small) steps.

They have a small dustbin that they empty themselves, and some can be controlled by smartphone apps instead of the physical remote. Some come with mapping features to assist in navigation.

1. Power

With an impressive 8,000Pa of suction Our top choice for robot vacuums that mop vacuums is powerful enough to handle the worst dirt patches and hairs. Its super-thin square design allows it to slide underneath furniture such as beds and sofas, and its Dual-Laser LiDAR technology allows for precise navigation and obstacle avoidance. It also does a fantastic job at cleaning up pet hair baking soda, sand, and other debris close to the baseboards and in corners.

Other high-powered robots that are listed in addition to the DEEBOT X2 OMNI, are the iRobot Roomba J7+ as well as the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. It comes with a powerful docking station that is able to perform maintenance and has mopping functionality as well. Its powerful suction and efficient mopping helped keep my floors clear of pet hair, muddy paw prints, and other debris throughout every flooring type test we conducted.

A model that has 2,500Pa suction is sufficient for the majority of homes in the lower price range. These models are quieter, and therefore a better option for those who have sensitive ears. They're still not silent, but they're only about the same as normal conversations at home.

Think about 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, while weekly heavy-duty cleaning requires the most power. Assess your flooring, home layout and cleaning schedule prior to selecting the best model. We recommend checking out our full list of robot vacuum reviews and ratings for more details about the latest models available. Many users report that their carpets and floors appear cleaner after introducing a robot vacuum with mop vacuum to their home.

2. Navigation

A robot vacuum can't do its job effectively without knowing how to navigate your home. The best robots employ sophisticated navigation technology to scan rooms and make an outline map, which allows for thorough cleaning without getting stuck or hitting obstacles. There are three kinds of robot navigation: LiDAR-based camera-based and sensor-based.

The most expensive models use LiDAR to create a digital map of the room, offering 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 places. Most robots come with cliff sensors that stop them from falling off stairs or other drops.

A number of the robots I tested utilized objects recognition to navigate through things such as cords and fake dog turds. But the Eufy X10 was the best automatic vacuum and mop. It was a fantastic mapping device, powerful oscillating mops, an intuitive app and the ability to clean by zones, rooms or even the all of the house.

Other features worth considering include floor type sensors that recognize carpets with soft and hard floors automatically increasing suction power when needed. Some robots, such as the Roborock mop use a mopping pad lift that allows you to get into corners and clean up dried spills. Many hybrids are able to apply cleaning solutions to stubborn stains.

A smaller dustbin will mean less frequent emptying however, a larger one can save you money on replacements. The cheapest robotic cleaners usually utilize a small disposable dust bag, whereas the majority of mid-range models come with larger dust bins of 3L that last for ages. Certain high-end robots, such as the EcoVACS DEEBOT OMNI Station can self-empty and refill their water tanks, allowing hands-free convenience.

3. App control

The best robot vacuums come with an app that lets you monitor cleaning progress and schedule sessions and can connect to your smart home devices for hands-free control. A lot of robot vacuums can be controlled using voice commands, such as Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Some models have a remote control that allows you to start or pause and then return to dock. Choose a model that has an extra large dustbin and is able to self-empty instead of one that requires manual emptying.

Certain robovacs come with technology for mapping to help them avoid obstacles such as furniture and stairs. Certain robovacs permit you to create no-go zones as well as specific rooms to ensure that they only clean those areas which need it the most. They also have cliff sensors to stop them from falling down the stairs, which is particularly beneficial in multi-level homes.

If you plan to use your robot vacuum to clean rugs pick a model that can do dry mopping and wet. You'll be able to get better cleaning results by having your robot vacuum also remove its mop pad. Rinse it and then reattach it when you need to run another cleaning cycle. Find robots that have the rubber roller. It is less likely to tangle from pet hair or other debris. It's recommended to examine the robot's brushroll and side brushes for debris that has gotten stuck every week or once, too. If you notice that they're beginning to clog, it might be time to replace parts.

4. Debris collection

Robot vacuums are designed according to the name to collect dust and debris from your floors. The best robot vacuums will take tiny particles, such as sand and baking soda, in addition to larger ones such as metal screws orzo, pet hair. They also have better results on low pile carpets than many manual vacuums.

In all flooring types, the top-performing robots had pickup scores of greater than 95 95%. The ECOVACS DEEBOT X2 OMNI and the Roborock Q Revo were our two top-performing robots in this category. Both are highly automated, with docking stations that do maintenance on their own and features in the app that make them extremely user-friendly.

Both have self-emptying bins which eliminate the contents of the wastebasket. They can also clean the washboard while they mow. They also come with an 8,000Pa vacuum, intelligent mapping technology and advanced obstacle avoidance to help them navigate through even the most difficult of spaces. The ECOVACS model is also one of the few robots we tested that can remove its mop pads and vacuum carpet making it the ideal choice for users who need to change between mopping and vacuuming frequently.

If you're looking for a more affordable option, we recommend the iRobot Roomba Combo J7+, our budget-friendly pick. It features LIDAR navigation and decent performance in the field of debris pickup for the price. It is slow in mapping rooms and is susceptible to bumping into obstacles, but it is lower than our other picks.

5. Battery life

The most effective robot vacuums are designed to let you go to work while they keep your floors clean and spick and span. It is still necessary to manually clean your home every so often but robovacs can aid in maintaining a certain level of cleanliness, and will even keep your home clean when you're away.

Find a robovac equipped with long-lasting batteries to get the most out of it. If you choose to use the most powerful power setting, the model should last for about two cleaning sessions. This is not as long as a full-sized vacuum cleaner, but it will be sufficient to cover most homes. If you don't want to wait while your robovac recharges you can select an option that will automatically return to the base station to charge.

If you are looking for a robovac that does a little bit of everything, consider an all-in-one robot that can mop as well. Eufy's X10 is the top model in this class and offers 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 as soon as they run out.

The clear winner in our tests is the Dyson V810, thanks to its impressive carpet and hard floor pickup, excellent hair pickup, tangle-free performance and nearly perfect auto empty score. It's expensive and, unless you live in a an apartment that is small and has no pets, it might be too expensive for certain. The Dreametech D10+ is the runner-up and has a similar performance, but costs around 25% less.