The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Vacuuming is the bane of many people's existence However, robot vacuums make it a little easier. Modern models can also mop and even climb (small) steps.

They have a small dustbin that they empty themselves and some can be controlled from a smartphone app instead of an actual remote. Some of them have mapping capabilities that help them navigate your home more efficiently.

1. Power

Our top choice for robot vacuums comes with a suction force of 8000Pa, which is strong enough to remove even the most difficult dirt patches and hairs. Its slim square shape enables it to slide beneath furniture such as beds and sofas. Dual-Laser LIDAR technology offers accurate obstacle avoidance and intelligent navigation. It also does an excellent job of cleaning pet hair baking soda, sand, and other debris that can be found near the baseboards and in corners.

Other high-powered robots on this list, besides the DEEBOT X2 OMNI, include the IRobot Roomba J7+ aswell as the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. The Roborock S8 Pro Ultra has docking station that automatically handles maintenance. It also comes with mopping capabilities. Its powerful suction and effective mopping made sure my floors were free of pet hair as well as muddy paw prints and other debris during every floor type test that we conducted.

In the lower price range, a unit with around 2,500Pa of suction is more than enough for most homes. These models are quieter, which makes them a better option for those who have sensitive hearing. They're not silent, but they're only about the same as a normal conversation at home.

To find the ideal balance of performance and convenience, consider your cleaning needs and budget. A regular light-duty cleaning schedule requires longer runtime and a lower suction, whereas weekly heavy-duty cleaning demands maximum power. Take a look at your flooring, layout of your home, and cleaning schedules to select the best model to meet your needs. Check out our complete list of robot vacuum reviews and ratings for more details about the most current models. Many customers report having their carpets and floors looking much cleaner after introducing a robotic vacuum in their home.

2. Navigation

A robot vacuum can't do its job well if it doesn't know how to get around your home. This is why the most effective robots depend on sophisticated navigation technology that reliably scans rooms and builds a map to ensure thorough cleaning without being lost or hitting obstacles. There are three kinds of robot navigation that include LiDAR, camera and sensor.

The most expensive models utilize LiDAR to create a virtual map of the room. This model offers the highest level of accuracy and efficiency. Bump sensors are utilized in lower-end models, however they can be inaccurate and miss a lot of debris when working in dark areas. The majority of robots have cliff sensors to stop them from falling down stairs or other drops.

Several robots I tested used object recognition to navigate around things like fake dog turds. However, the Eufy X10 was the best. It had powerful oscillating mop heads, a user friendly app and a superb mapping capability.

Consider features such as floor type sensors that automatically increase suction power when required. Some robots, like the Roborock mop, make use of a mopping pad lift to get into corners and eliminate dried spills. Many hybrids can even apply cleaning solutions to stubborn staining.

A smaller dustbin will mean less frequent emptying however, a larger one can save you money on replacements. The cheapest robotic cleaners typically utilize a small disposable dust bag, while the mid-range models typically have larger 3L dustbins that can last for decades. Certain premium robots such as the EcoVACS DEEBOT OMNI Station will self-empty and fill up their water tank for hands-free convenience.

3. App control

The top robot vacuums have an app that lets you monitor the progress of cleaning and schedule sessions, and most can connect to your smart home devices for hands-free control. Many also connect to Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for voice-based control. Some models have a separate remote control that lets you start or pause, and then return to dock. Look for a model with larger dustbins that self-empty, as opposed to one that requires manual emptying.

Some robovacs come with mapping technology that can help them remember obstacles, like the stairs, and also avoid getting into furniture. Certain robovacs let you create no-go zones as well as specific rooms so that they only clean areas that require the most. They also have a cliff sensor to stop them from falling, which is especially helpful in multi-leveled homes.

If you intend to utilize your robot vacuum for cleaning rug carpets, you should choose a model which can be used for wet and dry mopping. You'll be able to get better cleaning results by having your robot vacuum also remove its mop pad. Rinse it, and then reconnect it when you want to run a new cleaning cycle. Look for robots with an elastomer roller. It is less likely to tangle from pet hair or other debris. Check Recommended Looking at and brushroll for any debris that might have gotten stuck on. Do this at least twice per week. If you notice that they are starting to clog up it might be time to buy replacement parts.

4. Debris collection

Robot vacuums are created to, as the name suggests, to remove dust and other debris from your floors. The most effective ones can pick up fine particles like baking soda and sand as as larger pieces like metal screws, orzo pasta, and pet hair. They also provide better results on low pile carpets than manual vacuums.

Across all flooring types, the top performing robots had pick-up scores of over 95%. The ECOVACS DEEBOT X2 OMNI and the Roborock Q Revo were two of our most efficient bots in this class. Both are highly automated, with robust docking stations that perform maintenance on their own. They also have features in the app that make them extremely user-friendly.

Both have self-emptying bins that automatically suck up the contents of the wastebasket, and clean the washboard while mowing. They also have 8,000Pa suction, smart mapping technology, and advanced obstacle avoidance that can help them find their way around even the most difficult of areas. The ECOVACS model is also one of the few robots we tested that can take its mop pads and vacuum carpet which makes it the ideal choice for those who have to change between mopping and vacuuming regularly.

If you're looking for a less expensive alternative, take a look at the iRobot Roomba Combo J7 Plus, our budget-friendly pick. It features LIDAR navigation and decent debris pickup capabilities for the price. It can be a bit slow at mapping out rooms and is susceptible to bumping against obstacles, but the price is less than our other picks.

5. Battery life


The best robot vacuums let you move about your day while keeping your floors in top state. It is still necessary to manually clean your home on a regular basis however, robovacs can aid in maintaining a certain level of cleanliness and even clean while you're away.

To maximize the time you can use your robovac, look for an advancé with a long battery life. A good rule of thumb is to anticipate a model to last about two full cleaning sessions if you use it at the maximum power setting. This is less than a typical large vacuum cleaner, but it should be enough to cover most homes. If you don't want to sit for your robovac to recharge, you can choose an option that will automatically return to the base station for charging.

If you're looking for a robot with a bit of everything in it, then consider one that is able to mop. Eufy's X10 is the best model in this category and offers self-emptying, self-draining and self-refilling of the dust bin, water tank and mop pad. It can be programmed to refill and wash its mop pads as soon as they run out.

Its high-quality carpet and hard floor pickup excellent hair pickup, 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 a small house with no pets, it might be too expensive for certain. The Dreametech D10+ is the second-placed model and offers the same performance, but costs around 25 percent less.