The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

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

Some have a small bin which they empty themselves. Others are controlled with apps for smartphones instead of an actual remote. Some models have mapping capabilities to assist in navigating your home more effectively.

1. Power

With 8,000Pa of suction power, our top pick for robot vacuums is powerful enough to take care of the most difficult hairs and dirt. Its ultra-thin square shape allows it to slide underneath furniture such as beds and sofas. Dual-Laser LIDAR technology provides precise obstacle avoidance and intelligent navigation. It's also great for cleaning pet hair, baking powder, and other debris near corners and baseboards.

In addition to the DEEBOT X2 OMNI bot, other powerful bots in this list include the Robot Roomba j7+ and the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. It comes with a sturdy docking station that is able to perform maintenance and includes mopping capabilities as well. Its powerful suction, combined with its effective mopping, kept my floors clean of pet hair, muddy prints and other messes on all floors we test.

A model with 2500Pa suction should be sufficient for homes that are in the lower price range. These models are quieter, and are therefore a better choice for those with sensitive ears. They aren't silent, but they are only as loud as normal conversations at home.

For the best mix of usability and power, consider your cleaning needs and budget. For light-duty cleaning that is frequent it is recommended to have a longer runtime and less suction is needed. Cleaning that is heavy-duty every week requires the most power. Assess your flooring, home layout and cleaning schedule prior to choosing the right model. Check out our complete list of robot vacuum reviews and ratings to learn more about the most current models. Many customers report having their carpets and floors looking much cleaner after introducing a robot vacuum in their home.

2. Navigation

A robot vacuum cannot perform its task when it doesn't know how to navigate your home. The best robots use sophisticated navigation technology to scan rooms and make maps, ensuring thorough cleaning without getting stuck or hitting obstacles. There are three kinds of robot navigation including LiDAR, camera, and sensor.

The most expensive models employ LiDAR to create a digital map of the room. This model offers the highest level of accuracy and efficiency. Bump sensors are used in lower-end models, however they aren't always accurate and miss a lot debris when working in dark places. Most robots are equipped with cliff sensors to prevent them from falling off steps or other drops.

A number of the robots I tested utilized object recognition to navigate around things like cords and fake dog turds. However, the Eufy X10 was the best. It had superb mapping capabilities with powerful oscillating mops, a user-friendly app and the ability to clean a zones, rooms or even the whole home.

Consider features such as sensors for floors that automatically increase suction power when needed. Some robots, such as the Roborock mop, make use of a mopping pad lift to reach corners and eliminate dried spills. Many hybrids can apply cleaning solution to staining that is difficult to remove.

A smaller size of the bin will mean less frequent emptying while a bigger one can save you money on replacements. The cheapest robotic cleaners typically utilize a small disposable dust bag, whereas the majority of mid-range models come with larger 3L dustbins that last for ages. Some of the top models, like the EcoVACS DEEBOT OMNI station, can self-empty their dustbin and refill their water tanks, allowing hands-free convenience.

3. App control

The majority of robot vacuums have an app to monitor the progress of cleaning, schedule sessions and connect to smart home devices. Many also sync with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for voice-based control. Some have a remote control that allows you to start or pause, and then return to dock. Choose a model that has a larger trash bin and can self-empty instead of one that needs manual emptying.

Some robovacs have mapping technology that helps them avoid obstacles like furniture and stairs. Certain robovacs let you define no-go zones and rooms to clean areas that require it the most. They also come with cliff sensors to keep them from falling down staircase, which is particularly useful in multi-level homes.

If you want to use your robot vacuum for cleaning carpets, select a model which can be used for dry and wet mopping. You'll have better results cleaning by having your robot vacuum also take off its mop pad. Rinse it, and then reattach it when you need to run a new cleaning cycle. Look for a robot with the rubber roller. best cheap robot vacuum is less likely to tangle from pet hair or other debris. Examine the robot's side brushes and brushroll for any debris that may have gotten stuck on. Do this once or twice a week. If you notice that they're beginning to clog, it might be time to replace parts.

4. Debris collection

As the name implies robot vacuums are made to collect dust and debris from your floors. The most effective robot vacuums are able to take tiny particles like baking soda and sand in addition to larger ones like screws made of metal orzo, pet hair. They also get better pickup results on carpets with low piles than manual vacuums.


The top-performing robots across all flooring types had a pickup score over 95 percent. The ECOVACS DEEBOT X2 OMNI and the Roborock Q Revo were our two most efficient bots in this class. Both are highly automated, with docking stations that can perform maintenance on their own, and app features which make them extremely user-friendly.

They both have self-emptying bins that automatically empty the wastebasket. They also have the ability to clean the washboard as 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 among the only robots we tested that can take its mop pads and vacuum carpet, which makes it the ideal choice for users who need to change between mopping and vacuuming regularly.

If you're looking for a less expensive option, check out the iRobot Roomba Combo J7 Plus, our budget pick. It comes with LIDAR navigation and decent performance in the field of debris pickup for the price. It's slow to map out rooms and may be susceptible to hitting obstacles but it's less expensive than our other top-rated choices.

5. Battery life

The most effective robot vacuums are designed to let you move on with your life while keeping your floors clean and spick and span. While you'll still need to give your home a manual vacuum every now and then Robotic vacuums can help keep a certain level of cleanliness and even keep your home clean when you're away.

Choose a robovac that has an extended-lasting battery to get the most use of it. A good rule of thumb is to expect a model to last about two complete cleaning sessions if you use it on the highest power setting. This is smaller than a large vacuum but should be sufficient to keep most homes clean. If you don't like to be waiting around while your robovac is charging you could choose an automatic model that makes its way back to the base station to recharge.

If you want a robovac that can do a amount of everything, you should consider an all-in-one model that is able to mop as well. Eufy's X10 is the top model in this category. It provides self-emptying, auto-draining and self-refilling of the dust bin and mop pad. It can be programmed to automatically refill and wash mops once they are out.

Its dependable carpet and hard floor pick-up, great hair pickup and tangle prevention, and its close to perfect auto empty scores makes it the clear winner of our test scores. It's not cheap and unless you have the space of a small home with no pets, it might be too costly for some. The Dreametech D10+ is the second choice and has the same performance, but costs around 25% less.