The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

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

They have a small dustbin which they empty themselves and some are operated by a smartphone app instead of an actual remote. Some come with mapping features to assist in navigation.

1. Power

Our top pick for robot vacuums uk vacuums has a suction power of 8,000Pa, which is enough to remove even the most difficult hairs and dirt. Its slim square shape enables it to slide beneath furniture like sofas and beds. Dual-Laser LIDAR technology allows for precise obstacle avoidance and intelligent navigation. It's also great at cleaning pet hair, baking powder and other messes around baseboards and corners.

Other powerful robots on this list, in addition to the DEEBOT X2 OMNI, are the IRobot Roomba J7+ aswell as the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. The Roborock S8 Pro Ultra comes with docking stations that automates maintenance. It also comes with mopping capabilities. Its powerful suction, combined 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 with 2500Pa suction should be sufficient for the majority of homes in the lower price range. These models are quieter, and are therefore a better choice for those with sensitive ears. These units are not silent however they are not as loud as normal conversations at home.

For the best mix of power and usability Consider your cleaning requirements and budget. Regular light-duty cleaning requires a longer runtime and a lower suction, while weekly high-volume cleaning demands maximum power. Examine your flooring, layout of your home and cleaning schedules prior to choosing the right model. We recommend checking out our complete list of robot vacuum reviews and ratings for more details about the latest models available. Many users report having their carpets and floors looking significantly cleaner after introducing a robotic vacuum to their home.

2. Navigation

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

LiDAR is used by the most expensive models to create a virtual room map, which provides the highest levels in precision and efficiency. The less expensive models depend on bump sensors which can be more inaccurate and are more likely to miss many debris in dark areas. Many robots also have cliff sensors to stop them from falling down stairs or other falls.

Many of the robots I tried used object recognition to navigate around things such as cords and fake dog turds. But the Eufy X10 was the best robot cleaner. It was equipped with powerful oscillating mop heads, a user friendly app and a superb mapping capability.

Other features worth looking into include floor type sensors that recognize hard floors and soft carpet automatically increasing suction power when necessary. Certain robots, like the Roborock mop, make use of a mopping pad lift to reach corners and eliminate dried spills. Many hybrids are able to apply cleaning solutions to stubborn stains.

A smaller size of the bin will require less frequent emptying, whereas bigger ones will cost less to replace. The cheapest robotic cleaners usually use a small disposable dust bag, while the mid-range models typically have larger 3L dustbins that last for many years. Certain premium robots such as the ECOVACS DEEBOT OMNI Station will self-empty and refill their water tanks, allowing hands-free convenience.

3. App control

The best robot vacuum and mop robot hoover and mop vacs have an app that lets you monitor cleaning progress and schedule sessions and connect to your smart home devices for hands-free control. Many also connect to Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant to allow voice-controlled control. Certain models come with a remote control that allows you to begin or pause and then return to dock. Select a model with a larger dustbin and can self-empty, rather than one that needs manual emptying.

Certain robovacs have mapping technology that helps them remember obstacles, such as the stairs, and also avoid running into furniture. Certain robovacs permit you to designate no-go zones and specific rooms to clean the areas that require it the most. They also have cliff sensors to prevent them from falling down the stairs, which is particularly helpful in multi-level homes.

If you intend to utilize your robot vacuum for cleaning carpets, select one that can be used both for wet and dry mopping. You'll get better results from a robot vac that can remove its own mop pad as well, which you can then rinse and reconnect when it comes time for another cleaning cycle. Find robots that have a rubber roller. It is less likely to tangle from pet hair or other particles. It's a good idea to inspect the robot's brushroll as well as side brushes for debris stuck on every week or once as well. If you notice that they are starting to clog up it could be time to purchase replacement parts.

4. Debris collection

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

Across all flooring types, the top-performing robots had pickup scores of more than 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 with robust docking stations that do maintenance on their own. They also have apps that make them extremely user-friendly.

Both have self-emptying bins which automatically empty the wastebasket. They can also clean the washboards as they mowing. They also feature 8,000Pa suction and smart mapping technology and advanced obstacle avoidance that helps them navigate even the most difficult of areas. The ECOVACS model is also the few robots we tested that can take its mop pads and vacuum carpet making it the ideal choice for those who have to change between mopping and vacuuming frequently.

If you're looking for a cheaper option, check out the Roomba Combo J7 from iRobot Plus, our budget-friendly pick. It comes with LIDAR navigation at a reasonable price and a decent debris collection performance. It can be a bit slow in mapping rooms and has a tendency of bumping against obstacles, but it is less than our other picks.

5. Battery life

The top robot vacuums are made to let you move to work while they keep your floors in tip-top clean. While you'll still have to give your home a manual sweeping every now and then, robovacs can help you keep a certain level of cleanliness and even keep your home clean even when you're away.

To maximize the amount of time you can use your robovac, make sure you choose an advancé with a long battery life. If you use the highest power setting, the model should last about two cleaning sessions. This is less than a larger vacuum but it should be sufficient to get the job done in most homes. If you don't wish to wait while your robovac recharges you can opt for an option that automatically returns to the base station for charging.

If you are looking for a robovac that does a little bit of everything, consider an all-in-one machine that can mop too. Eufy's X10 is the top model in this category. It provides self-emptying, auto-draining and self-refilling of your dust bin as well as the mop pad. It is also programmable to automatically re-fill and wash its own mops when they're empty.

The clear winner of 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. However, it's not cheap and unless you live in the smallest of homes with no pets, it could be too pricey for some. The Dreametech D10+ is the runner-up and has a similar performance, but it costs 25 percent less.