The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Robot vacuums can make the task of vacuuming a little less painful. Modern models can also mop and climb (small) steps.
Some have a small trash bin which they empty themselves. Others can be controlled by apps for smartphones instead of a physical remote. Some models have mapping features that aid in navigation.
1. Power
With an impressive 8,000Pa of suction, our top pick for robot vacuums is strong enough to take care of the most difficult dirt patches and hairs. The ultra-thin shape of the square allows it to slide underneath furniture such as sofas and beds. Dual-Laser LIDAR technology provides accurate obstacle avoidance and intelligent navigation. It also does a great job at cleaning up pet hair, baking soda, and other debris that can be found near the baseboards as well as in corners.
Other high-powered robots in this list besides the DEEBOT X2 OMNI include the iRobot Roomba j7+ as well as the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. The latter comes with a sturdy docking station that is able to perform maintenance and mopping functions as well. Its powerful suction system, along with its effective mopping, made sure my floors were free of pet hair, muddy prints, and other messes on every floor we tested.
A model with 2500Pa suction should be sufficient for homes that are in the lower price range. They are also quieter and are therefore a better choice for those who have sensitive ears. They're not quiet, but they're not the same volume as a normal conversation at home.
To get the most effective mix of usability and power Consider your cleaning requirements and budget. For regular light-duty cleaning it is recommended to have a longer runtime and less suction is needed. For heavy-duty cleaning, weekly runs require maximum power. Assess your flooring, layout of your home and cleaning schedules prior to selecting the right model. We recommend looking through our full list of robot vacuum reviews and ratings for more details about the latest models available. Many users have reported having their carpets and floors looking significantly cleaner after introducing a robot vacuum in their home.
2. Navigation
A robot vacuum isn't able to do its job if it does not know how to navigate your home. For this reason, the best robots use sophisticated navigation systems that consistently scans rooms and creates maps to ensure thorough cleaning without being lost or hitting obstacles. There are three kinds 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 offers the highest levels in precision and efficiency. Bump sensors are employed in cheaper models, but they aren't always accurate and miss a lot debris when working in dark environments. The majority of robots have cliff sensors to stop them from falling off stairs or other drops.
A variety of robots I tested used object recognition to deftly navigate objects such as fake dog turds and cords, but the best was the Eufy X10. It had excellent mapping capabilities with powerful oscillating mops, an easy-to-use app, and the ability to clean a specific zone, room or all of the house.
Other features worth a look include floor type sensors that can detect carpets with soft and hard floors and automatically boost suction power when necessary. Certain robots such as the Roborock mop use a mopping pads lift to reach into corners and clean dry spills. Many hybrids are able to apply cleaning solutions to the most difficult stains.

A smaller size of the bin means less frequent emptying, however, a larger one can save you money on replacements. The cheapest robotic cleaners usually employ a tiny disposable dust bag, whereas the majority of mid-range models come with larger 3L dustbins that can last for decades. This Web page like the EcoVACS DEEBOT OMNI Station are able to 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 the progress of cleaning and schedule sessions, and most can connect to smart home devices for hands-free control. They also sync with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant to allow voice-controlled control. Some have a dedicated remote control that allows you to start or pause, and then return to dock. Choose a model that has larger dustbins that self-empty, as opposed to one that requires manual emptying.
Some robots are equipped with mapping technology that helps them avoid obstacles such as stairs and furniture. Others allow you to create no-go zones or specific rooms, so that they only clean areas that need it most. They also have cliff sensors to stop them from falling down stairs, which is especially helpful in multi-level homes.
If you plan to make use of your robot vacuum to clean rugs choose one that is capable of dry mopping as well as wet. You'll have better results cleaning by having your robot vacuum remove its mop pad. Clean This Web page and reconnect it when you want to run another cleaning cycle. Look for robots with an elastomer roller. It will be less likely to get caught from pet hair or other debris. Check the robot's side brushes and brushroll for any debris that may have become stuck on. Do this at least twice a week. If you notice that they're beginning to clog, it may be time to buy replacement parts.
4. Collection of debris
As the name implies robot vacuums are created to collect dust and debris from your floors. The best robot vacuums can collect tiny particles like baking soda and sand as well as larger ones like metal screws orzo, as well as pet hair. They also have better results on low pile carpets than many manual vacuums.
All flooring types are covered, and the top-performing robots had pickup scores of over 95 percent. The ECOVACS DEEBOT X2 OMNI and the Roborock Q Revo were two of our best-performing bots in this category. Both are highly automated equipped with docking stations that do maintenance on their own and apps that make them extremely user-friendly.
They both come with self-emptying bins which automatically collect the waste from the wastebasket and can clean the washboard while mowing. They also have suction of 8,000Pa, smart mapping technology, and advanced obstacle avoidance that helps them find their way around even the most challenging spaces. The ECOVACS robot is one of the few that can mop carpet and remove the mop pads. This makes it a great option for people who need to switch between mopping and vacuuming regularly.
If you're looking for a less expensive option, look into the iRobot Roomba Combo J7 Plus, our budget-friendly pick. It features LIDAR navigation and decent debris pickup capabilities for the price. It is slow at mapping out rooms and has a tendency of hitting obstacles, but the cost is less than our other picks.
5. Battery life
The best robot vacuums let you go about your day while they keep your floors in top condition. You'll still have to manually vacuum your home every so often, but robovacs will help you maintain a basic level of cleanliness and even clean when you are away.
To maximize the amount of time you get from your robovac, choose a model with excellent battery life. If you use the highest power setting, the model should last two cleaning sessions. This is smaller than a full-sized vacuum, however, it should be enough to clean most homes. If you don't like to wait around while your robovac is charging you could choose one that will automatically make its way back to the base station to recharge.
If you're looking for a robot that does a little bit of everything, think about an all-in-one model that can mop as well. Eufy's X10, the best model of this category has self-emptying and self-refilling for the dust bin and the water tank and mop pad. It is also programmable to automatically refill and wash its own mops when they're low.
The clear winner in our tests is the Dyson V810 because of its impressive carpet and hard floor pickup, outstanding hair pickup, tangle-free performance and a near perfect auto empty score. It's not cheap, and unless you have the space of a small home with no pets, it may be too costly for certain. The second choice, the Dreametech D10+, has very similar performance however it costs 25% less.