10 Things Everyone Hates About Robot Vacuum
The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Robot vacuums can make the chore of vacuuming less painful. Today's models also mop and climb (small) stairs.
They have a small dustbin that they empty themselves and some can be controlled from a smartphone app instead of the physical remote. Some models have mapping features that aid in navigation.
1. Power
Our top pick for robotic cleaner and mop vacuums has suction power of 8,000Pa, which is powerful enough to remove even the most stubborn 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 intelligent navigation and accurate obstacle avoidance. It's also great at cleaning baking powder, pet hair and other messes around corners and baseboards.
Apart from the DEEBOT X2 OMNI, other top-of-the-line bots on this list include the IRobot Roomba J7+ and the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. The latter comes with a sturdy docking station that is able to perform maintenance and includes mopping capabilities as well. Its powerful suction system, along with its effective mopping feature, made sure my floors were free of pet hair, muddy prints, and other debris on all floors we test.
A model that has 2500Pa suction should be sufficient for homes that are in the lower price range. These units are quieter and therefore a better option for those with sensitive ears. They aren't silent, but they are only as loud as normal conversations at home.
To get the most effective mix of power and usability take into consideration your cleaning needs and budget. For regular light-duty cleaning it is recommended to have a longer runtime and less suction is needed. Weekly heavy-duty cleaning requires the maximum power. Then assess your flooring, layout of your home and cleaning schedules in order to select the best model for your requirements. We recommend looking through our full list of robot vacuum reviews and ratings for more information on the latest models available. Many customers report that their carpets and bare floors look cleaner after using a robot vacuum.
2. Navigation
A robot vacuum isn't able to perform its job properly without knowing how to get around your home. The best robots use sophisticated navigation technology to scan rooms and build a map, ensuring thorough cleaning without getting stuck or hitting obstacles. There are three types of robot navigation: LiDAR, camera and sensor.
The most expensive models use LiDAR to create a digital map of the room, offering the highest levels of accuracy and efficiency. The less expensive models rely on bump sensors, which can be more inaccurate and are more likely to miss many debris in dark spaces. Most robots also feature cliff sensors to stop them from falling down stairs or other drops.
Many of the robots I tried used object recognition to navigate things like cords and fake dog turds. However, the Eufy X10 was the best. It was a fantastic mapping device, powerful oscillating mops, an easy-to-use app, and the ability to clean by zone, room or whole home.
Take into consideration features such as sensors for floors that automatically increase suction power when required. Some robots, like the Roborock mop, utilize mopping pad lifts to reach corners and clean up dried spills. Many hybrids can even apply cleaning solutions to tough stains.
A smaller dustbin will require less frequent emptying, however, a larger one can save you money on replacements. The cheapest robotic hoovers cleaners usually employ a tiny disposable dust bag, but most mid-range models have 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 for hands-free convenience.
3. App control
The majority of robot vacuums have an app that can monitor cleaning progress, schedule sessions and connect to smart home devices. Many robot vacuums can also be controlled via voice using Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Some have a dedicated remote control that lets you start or pause, and then return to dock. Find a model with a bigger dustbin that can self-empty, rather than one that requires manual emptying.
Some robots are equipped with mapping technology that helps them avoid obstacles like stairs and furniture. Others let you designate no-go zones and targeted rooms, so that they only clean areas that require it the most. They also have a cliff detector to prevent them from falling, which is especially useful in multi-level homes.
If you intend to utilize your robot vacuum to clean rugs choose a model that can do both dry and wet mopping. You'll get better results with a robot vac that can remove its own mop pad, and then rinse and reattach when it comes time for another cleaning cycle. Look for a robot mop with a rubber roller. This is less likely to become tangled from pet hair or other particles. Check the robot's side brushes and brushroll for any debris that might have become stuck on. Do this once or twice a week. If you notice that they're starting to get blocked, it could be time to buy replacement parts.
4. Collection of debris
As the name suggests robot vacuums are made to collect dust and other debris from your floors. The best ones are able to pick up fine particles like baking soda and sand as well in larger pieces of orzo pasta, metal screws and pet hair. They also have better results on low pile carpets than manual vacuums.
The top-performing robots across all flooring types had pickup scores greater than 95%. Our two best robot vacuum that mops-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 by themselves and app features which make them extremely user-friendly.
They both come with self-emptying bins which automatically collect the waste from the wastebasket, and clean the washboard while you mow. They also come with an 8,000Pa vacuum cleaner, smart mapping technology and advanced obstacle avoidance that helps them navigate even the most difficult of spaces. The ECOVACS robot is among the few that can clean carpet and remove mop pads. This makes it a great option for those who need to switch between mopping and vacuuming regularly.
If you're looking for a less expensive alternative, we suggest the iRobot Roomba Kombo J7+, our budget choice. It comes with LIDAR navigation and decent debris pickup capabilities for the price. It is slow when it comes to mapping rooms and has a tendency of hitting obstacles, but it is less than the other choices.
5. Battery life
The best robot vacuums let you go about your day while they keep your floors in pristine in good condition. You'll still have to manually clean your home every so often however, robovacs can aid in maintaining a certain standard of cleanliness, and even keep your home clean when you're away.
To maximize the time you get from your robovac, make sure you choose an advancé with a long battery life. A good guideline is to expect a robovac to last about two full cleaning sessions when you run it on the highest power setting. This is less than a typical size vacuum cleaner, however it will be sufficient to be sufficient for most homes. If you don't like to be waiting around while your robovac recharges you could opt for a model that automatically makes its way back to its base station to recharge.
If you're looking to buy a robovac with a variety of features in it, you should consider one that is able to mop. Eufy's X10 is the top model of this category has self-emptying and self-refilling for the dust bin as well as the water tank and the mop pad. It is also programmable to automatically re-fill and wash mops when they're running 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 an almost perfect auto empty score. It's not cheap and, unless you live in a a small house with no pets, it might be too costly for certain. The Dreametech D10+ is the second-placed model and offers the same performance, but it costs 25% less.