Which robot vacuum is best for you? This information options Tech Advisor’s professional suggestions, so you’ll find the one which best fits your home and your funds.
In case you’ve by no means had a robot vacuum cleaner, you’ll be shocked at how a lot distinction they will make in each day home upkeep. A Roomba or different robot vac can do every little thing from taking up your each day clear to commonly concentrating on particularly dirty spots, like below a kitchen desk or round a litter tray.
And, if you happen to go for a self-emptying robot vacuum, you possibly can set a vacuuming schedule and neglect about it for just a few weeks, whereas your robot takes over and also you come home to shiny flooring. That is sometimes an costly function however we will suggest a few extra budget-friendly choices, which you’ll see in the round-up beneath.
There are different options you may need to think about, like voice command management and impediment avoidance know-how. Some robot vacuums can establish and keep away from every kind of widespread family objects, from sneakers to cables to mugs – and even pet waste. Plus, most will allow you to zone no-go areas that the robot will keep away from, if components of the home aren’t prepared for a clear.
Our full critiques accompanying each robot vac in the following chart offers you all the particulars it is advisable to discover the proper one for you. Plus, you’ll have the ability to see the professionals and cons of every mannequin at a look.
In order for you extra info on the options to look out for, skip previous the chart and begin off by studying our robot vacuum cleaner FAQs earlier than testing our best picks.
To spend rather less, take a look at our round-up of the best low cost robot vacuums we’ve examined. And if you happen to’re in the marketplace for a conventional cleaner, try our round-up of the best common vacuum cleaners.
Best robot vacuum cleaners
1. Eufy X10 Professional Omni – Excessive-end options for a mid-range value
Execs
- Cleans and dries mop pads
- Self-emptying
- AI.See object recognition
- Carpet detection
Cons
- The station’s color and dimensions make it troublesome to discover a spot for, or mix in with decor
Best Costs At present:
The X10 Professional Omni has one among the best function units round – and it prices considerably lower than equally performing robots from rival manufacturers. It vacuums and mops to a excessive commonplace: it has a robust 8000Pa of suction and its rotating mop pads present sufficient strain to correctly clear a flooring.
It’s additionally self-emptying and it’ll wash and dry its mop pads when it returns to its station. It has carpet detection as nicely, so it will probably elevate its mop pads over lower-pile carpet or keep away from carpet altogether.
The app is simple to make use of, permits for a number of maps and allows you to exactly schedule cleansing with tailor-made programmes for particular rooms.
We have been most impressed with its AI.See navigation, object detection and avoidance: if it spots a cable on the flooring, it’ll not solely keep away from it however add a cable icon to the map in the proper spot.
Learn our full
Eufy X10 Professional Omni assessment
2. Shark PowerDetect NeverTouch Professional 2-in-1 – Best worth self-emptying
Execs
- Anti-odour puck to banish dangerous smells
- Cleans and dries mopping pad
- Can raise itself onto rugs or carpets
- Received’t get caught
- Virtually maintenance-free
Cons
- Doesn’t attain corners
- ‘Spot’ cleansing perform onerous to pinpoint
Best Costs At present:
Shark’s new flagship robot vacuum is well-priced for its function set.
The purpose to purchase it’s that it’ll present a very hands-off cleansing expertise. Not solely does it vacuum and mop, empty its onboard bin, empty and refill its water tank, however it additionally cleans and dries its mop pads. Plus, the dock options an anti-odour catridge, which is able to be sure that no damp smells linger round.
In our testing, we discovered that its NeverStuck know-how lived as much as its title and the robot didn’t require rescuing. That’s an essential function in order for you set and neglect cleansing: it’s no good scheduling your robot to do its rounds when you’re out if it instantly wedges itself right into a nook and may’t do its job.
Total, we discovered the vacuuming and mopping to be very efficient, apart from just a few caveats. The robot generally scattered particles on onerous flooring, and regardless of its EdgeDetect cleansing guarantees, it sill left crumbs in corners.
Learn our full
Shark PowerDetect NeverTouch Professional 2-in-1 assessment
3. Roborock Q5 Professional – Best funds robot vacuum
Execs
- Massive onboard dustbin
- Speedy mapping
- Simple-to-use app
- Inexpensive
Cons
- Doesn’t keep away from carpet when mopping
- Low obstacles are a problem
- Mopping insufficient
Best Costs At present:
In case you’re searching for a reasonable robot vacuum to present flooring a daily going-over, this entry-level mannequin is one to contemplate. It has a big, 770ml onboard bin, which suggests fewer journeys to empty it, rubber curler brushes that resist hair tangles, and a removable 180ml water tank.
Its mapping and navigation are environment friendly, though its impediment avoidance isn’t good. The app is simple to make use of and offers you loads of cleansing choices.
We discovered its suction to be greater than sufficient for onerous flooring and ample to present carpet a fast clear. Nonetheless, its mopping is pretty primary and received’t carry up sticky spills.
Learn our full
Roborock Q5 Professional assessment
4. Dreame X50 Extremely Full – Best flagship mannequin
Execs
- Wonderful vacuuming and mopping
- Granular controls for scheduled cleansing
- ProLeap and VersaLift give it extra vary
- Real set-and-forget cleansing
Cons
- Cleansing takes time
- Battery appears to run down shortly
- In-app carpet detection is patchy
- Cables can nonetheless be a problem
Best Costs At present:
The X50 Extremely Full is legendary for its ProLeap know-how. When it reaches a step, it levers up its physique on extendable robotic legs to cross it. This doesn’t imply it will probably climb a flight of stairs, however if in case you have raised thresholds or a change of flooring degree between rooms, this mannequin can deal with a single step of 4.2cm, or mixed steps of as much as 6cm.
However that’s not all it has to supply. It has twin spinning mops, which give the flooring a correct clear, one among which extends for edge cleansing. The robot additionally options twin rubber brush rollers designed to cease hair wrap.
It navigates successfully because of a Lidar tower on prime, however in one other piece of neat design, the tower retracts into the robot’s physique to present it a low, 9cm top and guarantee it will probably clear below sofas.
The robot’s impediment avoidance is stable general. The X50 Extremely by no means as soon as spilled water from a pet bowl or ploughed right into a beloved piece of furnishings, and all the time gave the cat a respectfully large berth. Nonetheless, it was nonetheless caught out by a cellphone charging cable that had been left on the flooring.
The dock is massive, however attractively designed. It not solely empties the onboard bin however takes care of mop upkeep as nicely. Altogether, this mannequin does a lot and requires so little from its proprietor. Extremely advisable.
Learn our full
Dreame X50 Extremely Full assessment
5. SwitchBot Mini Robot Vacuum K10+ – Best small robot vacuum
Execs
- 50% smaller than common
- 2500Pa suction
- LiDAR navigation
- Quiet operation
Cons
- No water tank
- Mopping is actually only a mild wipe
- Can’t vacuum and mop concurrently
- The offered damp disposable cloths dry out
Best Costs At present:
At round half the measurement of a typical robot vacuum, the K10+ can attain spots different robots can’t – and it’ll take up much less area than bulkier rivals. That’s regardless of the indisputable fact that it comes with an auto-empty dock, which offers you as much as 70 days of hands-free cleansing. The K10+ additionally mops however it will probably’t mop and vacuum at the similar time. However there’s no water tank onboard, so mopping means attaching a moist wipe to the robot, which is able to solely give your flooring a delicate clear.
We discovered the navigation and mapping to be good, plus it has a snug 2500Pa of suction and a quiet 48dB operational noise. Altogether, it’s a stable robot whose diminutive measurement makes it stand out from the crowd. It’s good worth for its value as nicely.
Learn our full
SwitchBot Mini Robot Vacuum K10+ assessment
6. Mova E30 Extremely – Nice mid-range options
Execs
- Good cleansing outcomes, each when vacuuming and mopping
- Adequate suction energy (7,000 Pa) for many properties
Cons
- Has issues with increased thresholds
- Shortcomings in impediment identification and avoidance
Best Costs At present:
Mova is a brand new title for the UK. But when its design look acquainted, it’s as a result of it’s mainly a Dreame machine, which turns into clear on nearer inspection as the similarities are putting, proper all the way down to the part degree. That is plus, as Dreame robots are technically wonderful, and the E30 Extremely is competitively priced for its function set. Purchase it and also you’re getting a top quality machine for what it prices.
It comes with a base station that, in addition to a mud bag, comprises a 4-litre tank for soiled water and a 4.5-litre tank for clear water. It additionally mechanically cleans the mops each throughout and after cleansing periods. What it lacks, nevertheless, is a detergent container – solely water is used for mopping.
In terms of cleansing and outcomes, the Mova E30 Extremely delivers very well. With suction energy of seven,000Pa, its cleansing is stable. Nonetheless, it does have a little bit of an issue with accessibility, so if your home has excessive thresholds or different obstacles, it’s value taking into consideration.
Learn our full
Mova E30 Extremely assessment
7. iRobot Roomba 205 DustCompactor Combo – Small dock, huge dustbin
Execs
- Massive compacting bin
- All the time is aware of its place
- Compact charging base
- Good carpet cleansing
Cons
- Curler can drop bigger particles
- App too pared-back
- Fundamental mopping
- Often will get caught
Best Costs At present:
iRobot’s Roomba 205 DustCompactor Combo actually exists to resolve one huge drawback: it offers the advantages of a self-emptying robot vacuum with out the want for an enormous dock.
How does it try this? Not solely does it have an enormous onboard bin (round 1.55L) however a wiper inside compresses the mud and dust so that you’ll solely must empty it each two months. And this implies the docking station is tiny: it’s nothing greater than a charger.
However this does imply you’ll must compromise on some options. Its mopping is actually solely a delicate wipe, and at 10.1cm, it’s taller than many rivals, so it received’t have the ability to vacuum below as many items of furnishings.
And, as you may count on from its value level, though its navigation is top-notch, its impediment avoidance isn’t flawless and it tends to get caught on low or reflective obstacles.
However we discovered its vacuuming to be superb and its app is simple to make use of.
Learn our full
iRobot Roomba 205 DustCompactor Combo assessment
8. Hobot Legee D8 – Mopping as a precedence
Execs
- Versatile Wi-Fi and hotspot connectivity
- 8 cleansing modes
- Reciprocating mop
- Compacting mud bin
Cons
- App is clunky
- Can grow to be caught and misplaced
- Service station doesn’t empty robot’s bin
Best Costs At present:
Until you possibly can spend huge, mopping tends to be an afterthought the place robot vacuums are involved. And if your home has principally onerous flooring, you want mopping to be the precedence. Enter the Hobot Legee D8. If the model title is new to you, that’s as a result of it’s solely not too long ago entered the UK market, though it’s common in Australia and South America.
The D8 and its Lulu service station make mopping efficient and easy. The service station refills the robot with water, and washes and dries the mop pad for a hygienic clear each time – and it actually works. In the meantime, the robot mops with one massive pad that makes use of reciprocating, or an up and down, movement for a way more efficient clear than many equally value rivals.
Altogether, there are eight cleansing modes, together with an anti-tangle and a stain mode.
The onboard dustbin is capacious at 500ml and it has a compression perform, so that you received’t must empty it as typically. That is excellent news as one factor the Lulu base station doesn’t do is empty the onboard bin, which is a function some received’t need to do with out.
Learn our full
Hobot Legee D8 assessment
9. Eufy X8 Professional – Wonderful worth all-rounder
Execs
- Nicely priced
- Good all-rounder
- Stable function set
Cons
- Must keep away from carpet after mopping
- Mop pads must be added and eliminated by hand
- Not good at recognizing cables
Best Costs At present:
In order for you a multi-functional robot vacuum – high-quality mapping, first rate mopping, self-emptying – it may be an expensive proposition however that is one among the best you should buy for a mid-range value level. And that’s with the auto-empty station included.
It’s low profile, at 9.5cm excessive, giving it likelihood of getting below beds and sofas. It has a 270ml water tank and a 335ml dustbin – the latter is on the small facet however this received’t matter if in case you have the vacuum station, which comprises a 2.5 litre bag that you simply’ll solely want to vary each month or two.
In our check, its mapping was fast and correct and, as soon as your home is mapped, you possibly can schedule cleansing with specs for every room, or set it off to scrub a room the place’s there’s been a spill. It’s good on carpets in addition to onerous flooring and it’s particularly good on pet hair, though we did discover that some nonetheless tangled in the brush. It’s additionally appropriate with Google and Alexa home assistants, so you can begin it with a voice command.
Its navigation is reliable – however it does have a blind spot the place low objects and cables are involved. Its mopping is fairly first rate as nicely, though not as highly effective as pricier fashions that use spinning mops. Altogether, it’s an excellent purchase
Learn our full
Eufy X8 Professional assessment
10. Miele Scout RX3 Home Imaginative and prescient HD – Best long-term purchase
Execs
- Wonderful cleansing efficiency
- Low profile
- Nice design & show
Cons
- Costly
- Error message points
- Navigation oddities
Best Costs At present:
The Miele Scout RX3 has some spectacular options. Its {hardware} is superbly designed and it’s meant to final for 5 years – a very long time in robot vacuum phrases. It’s additionally a extremely efficient cleaner.
Nonetheless, we didn’t love the indisputable fact that it communicates through error message codes it is advisable to decipher, when many rivals at an analogous value level have a voice assistant that simply lets you understand what the drawback is. It additionally lacks the in-depth mapping that rivals iRobot and Ecovacs have, which lets you goal cleansing to particular items of furnishings in a room.
It has a easy app and is Alexa-compatible as nicely. We examined the flagship Home Imaginative and prescient HD mannequin, which you’ll pilot remotely to examine in on your home and your pets utilizing its onboard digital camera.
Initially, we felt that its function set was too restricted to justify its excessive value level – however it’s come down in value. And there’s a case to be made for the indisputable fact that, if you happen to’re proud of a comparatively easy robot vacuum, you possibly can make investments on this one and it’ll final you for years to come back.
Learn our full
Miele Scout RX3 Home Imaginative and prescient HD assessment
Why you must belief Tech Advisor
Tech Advisor has been testing know-how for nearly 30 years and we concentrate on offering shopping for recommendation. We’ve reviewed dozens of robot vacuums over the years from many alternative manufacturers. All our in-house crew and freelance contributors have specialist information and are educated in rigorously testing gadgets.
Robot vacuum FAQs and shopping for recommendation
Robot vacuum cleaners aren’t the most cost-effective equipment round however the tech is bettering all the time, which signifies that as newer fashions achieve recent performance, some actually nice fashions which are solely a yr outdated can have dropped considerably in value.
In case you’re planning to purchase, it’s a good suggestion to get an thought of what options are essential to you and discover the cleaner that best suits your profile. You could possibly spend lower than you think about to get every little thing you need.
How does a robot vacuum work?
Robot vacs work precisely as you’d think about. On the underside of a robot vacuum is a suction aperture – identical to the one you see on an peculiar vacuum. As the robot strikes throughout the flooring, it sucks up mud and dust, identical to an peculiar vacuum. Most have a brush bar inside to scrub carpets and plenty of function spinning sweepers on both facet, to drag particles into the robot’s path.
When begin your robot vacuum cleaner, one among two issues could occur. Fundamental fashions will start cleansing immediately, following a set path throughout the room, in an analogous sample to the approach that you simply’d mow a garden.
Extra superior robot vacuums will most likely map out the cleansing space first. That doesn’t imply solely the room they’re in – they’ll map the whole flooring earlier than beginning cleansing. You’ll then have the ability to see the map of your home it’s created in the accompanying app and, most often, edit it.
Robot vacuums are normally managed by a free to obtain and use app, presumably a distant management and plenty of additionally through your home assistant – letting you utilize easy voice instructions.
Often voice instructions can be restricted to asking it to start out, pause, cease and return to the dock.
However you must also keep in mind that the robot vac might want to talk with you, particularly if one thing goes unsuitable. Some can have a show that brings up error messages, whereas others will communicate to let you understand that they’re beginning to clear, returning to the dock, or have needed to pause as a result of they’ve ingested a sock.
Through the app, you’ll additionally get messages and alerts, so if you happen to’re away from home, you’ll know if your cleaner obtained tousled with a cable or if it made it again to the dock to cost.
In addition to supplying you with updates, letting you examine in on progress in actual time and permitting you to schedule cleansing, app offers you info on how lengthy components, together with brushes and filters, will final earlier than they must be changed.
As we mentioned above, the app can be the place you’ll discover the map of your home.
How does a robot vacuum map a room?
One in all the most essential options of a robot vacuum cleaner is the skill to map boundaries. Cheaper or older cleaners could include magnetic strips or battery-operated towers you should use to maintain your robot vac away from the prime of the stairs or block off a room you don’t need cleaned (for instance, if you happen to don’t have time to select up your garments from the bed room flooring however you’d nonetheless like to present the sitting room a once-over).
However most robots will create a really detailed and correct map of your home which you’ll entry in the app. Many can have area for a couple of map, so it can save you maps of every flooring. You’ll have the ability to go into your app and add exclusion zones which they’ll then keep away from.
Very superior cleaners with mop capabilities may also allow you to zone areas for mopping as nicely. Lastly, newer robot vacuums could permit you to add items of furnishings to maps, which you’ll then goal for cleansing. This offers you the choice to request a clear the place there’s been a spill or, for instance, schedule a daily clear round the kitchen desk after dinner.
The best robot cleaners may also use cameras to assist them establish and keep away from obstacles reminiscent of sneakers, cables and even pet waste.
Some cleaners with cameras may also allow you to use them remotely, through your app. This implies you should use your robot vac as a further home safety system. And if you happen to use it together with your app’s distant management, you possibly can drive your vac round to investigate cross-check your pets when you’re out.
Can robot vacuums clear carpet?
The reply, briefly, is sure. However it is determined by which robot vacuum you purchase. And also you’ll nonetheless must preserve an peculiar vacuum round for deep cleansing and spills.
Suction energy (measured in Pascals – Pa) is getting higher all the time. In case you have onerous flooring, a cheaper cleaner will do the job however if in case you have thicker carpets, it’s value your whereas investing in one thing with superb cleansing energy. The strongest robot vacuums right now can go as much as 5,000Pa of suction – however this can possible be in enhance or turbo mode and also you received’t want something like this a lot energy to scrub onerous flooring.
The most cost-effective robot cleaners could not have a rotating brush bar, which suggests they received’t be sensible at cleansing carpets however they’ll do an honest job on a tough flooring. A great one can have a full-length rotating brush, making it supreme for selecting up hair and fluff on carpets and from the edges of the room.
Will a robot vacuum go below the sofa?
Earlier than you put money into a robot vac, it’s a good suggestion to measure the distance from the flooring to the underside of your sofa and different key items of furnishings.
Robot vacuums can differ in top between 7cm (very low profile), 10cm (medium profile) and 12cm (excessive). If your robot vac can’t get below your sofa and mattress, it will probably make an enormous distinction to its general usefulness in your life. And it’ll be even worse if it will probably simply make it below – however then will get caught.
Can a robot vacuum exchange a traditional vacuum cleaner?
The reply to that is the similar as to a different incessantly requested query: Can robot vacuums clear stairs? Sadly, no, they will’t.
A robot vacuum can’t clear stairs – however it received’t fall down them both, as a result of it options quite a lot of sensors. On this case, a drop sensor will cease it earlier than it will get in bother and it’ll flip round.
So, you’ll must preserve a daily vacuum cleaner handy for stairs, deep cleansing and entering into corners, awkward gaps and below very low furnishings.
Nonetheless, a robot vacuum will take over most of your common vacuuming – particularly in the most well-travelled components of your home. However it will probably’t do every little thing.
Are robot vacuum mops any good?
There are separate, specialised robot mops however what we’re speaking about listed here are hybrid robot vacuums which have an inbuilt – or add-on – mop attachment. The conventional design for it is a plate that clips onto the again or underside of a robot vacuum, that includes a small water tank and mop pad. These will solely present a superficial clear. They’re good for going over a just-vacuumed flooring to present it a little bit of a polish, however they don’t normally apply sufficient strain to wash away stains.
The best varieties of robot vacuum mops are the newer design, which usually function a pair of spinning mopping heads or a pad that cleans utilizing a reciprocating (up and down) movement. These present a a lot deeper clear.
Usually, robot vacuums don’t use detergent to mop, simply cool or heat water.
How typically do you need to empty a robot vacuum’s dustbin?
Most robot vacuums have an analogous – and really small – dustbin capability, which suggests you’ll want to recollect to empty them commonly. It is determined by how typically you run them and the way a lot mud and fluff there may be to be picked up, however you must empty out the bin no less than as soon as per week and you’ll have to do it extra typically.
The costliest cleaners can have cylindrical (or cyclonic) drums that supply superb suction irrespective of how full the dustbin is, however many will grow to be much less efficient the fuller they get.
If you wish to schedule cleansing and neglect about it, while not having to recollect to empty the bin each few days, go for a self-emptying robot vacuum.
Auto-empty robot vacuums include a a lot bigger charging station. When the robot vacuum return to recharge, its onboard bin is emptied by suction. Sometimes, the bag inside the dock can be 2.5-3 litres and can must be modified each 1-2 months. These are additionally choice for folks with hay fever or allergic reactions, because it means you received’t want to come back into contact with mud and dust emptying the bin.
