What Makes a Good Robot Vacuum?

A good robot vacuum will save you time and effort when it is time to clean your home on a regular basis. What makes a great one?

The more expensive features such as mopping and hazard detection in real-time systems can make your robot cleaner work longer. We'll talk about the most effective cleaning and maintenance practices, such as emptying the dustbin after each use and scraping off dirt regularly.

Object Detection

A good robot vacuum should be capable of navigating and identifying obstacles. The most effective robot vacuums utilize sensors, cameras, and lasers to navigate through your home and suck up pet fur, crumbs and dirt from surfaces like tile, wood and low-pile area rugs. Certain of the top models also come with mopping capabilities, which allows the mop pads to be swung over the floorboards to clean away dried coffee spills or pet poop. It is important to select one with Wi-Fi connectivity to organize cleaning schedules and control the machine via your smartphone. If you have allergies look for an option that emptys its onboard dustbin into a larger bin at the base, and then washes and dries its own filter after every cleaning.

If you're willing to pay more than $500, the most expensive robots have advanced features such as home mapping and improved obstacle detection. The most expensive iRobot J7 utilizes sensors to map your home while it cleans, and you can assign certain rooms or areas to cleaning. It also has a fall detection sensor to keep the robot from falling down the stairs. Other features that are high-end include self-emptying recharging docks and the ability to wash your robot's mop pads.

Other models, like the Eufy X10 have smart mapping that can recognize your furniture and walls. Its sensor system can detect distinctions between soft and hard surfaces, which allows it to prevent damage or scratching to your flooring. It can also detect changes in the height (like stairs or a sofa) and the edges of carpets. It can also use lidar to make a map of its environment in real-time, even during night.

The size of the dustbin, the battery life, and the time for charging are all features to consider when choosing a robot mop or vacuum. A larger bin will need fewer trips to empty, while a longer battery life and faster charging times will allow for more cleaning sessions. The suction power is measured in Pascals (Pa) and higher numbers indicate more powerful machines. Select a model with a high Pa rating and is compatible with the flooring you have.

Bases that Self-Empty

Self-emptying bases add a lot of value and convenience to the robot vacuum that is compatible with it. It takes away the need to empty the dust bin on board with every run, and the dust is transferred to a larger bin in the base instead. This prevents reintroduction into the home of dust and allergens. It is especially useful for those who have sensitive family members.

This feature lets you make use of the robot cleaner more frequently because you won't be afraid to use it again, knowing that you don't have to empty it multiple times during each cleaning session. If you're interested in a robot cleaner with this feature, make sure you choose one with a large-sized dustbin at least 400ml.

Robot vacuums are a game changer for those who live in large homes and want to streamline their cleaning routine. They are great for daily vacuuming and, increasingly mopping too. You'll have more time doing other things when you have a robotic vacuum at home. Many homeowners are amazed at how clean the floors look after a few times of using it.


A robot vacuum isn't expensive, but it's definitely worth it if you can afford the initial expense. The top robot vacuums are easy to use and can be set up to clean while you're away or at work. Some even have the ability to be scheduled to run so they can do their job in a way that is automatic.

Robot vacuums are great additions to any home however, they're not perfect. They require manual maintenance. If you don't take care to maintain them properly, they may get blocked by hair or other debris that could hinder the machine's performance.

Keeping up with maintenance isn't hard however it requires some time and effort. You must follow the instructions given by the majority of manufacturers on how to maintain their products. Outside of scheduled maintenance, it is recommended to regularly check your robot vacuum's brushroll to be sure it's not blocked by pet hair or other debris.

Lidar Navigation

Lidar utilizes lasers to map and navigation, in contrast to optical sensor-based systems that depend on light from the surrounding. This is why robots that have this technology are better in avoiding obstacles and cleaning tight spaces than those that do not have it.

The app can be used to view the maps or you can make use of the built-in feature which allows you to create specific room selections or no-go zones, for example "clean the living room and the kitchen". Larger or more complex houses may take longer. You should ensure that your robot does not detect any floor-to-ceiling mirrors. They reflect the laser, causing it to think that it's seeing the space as if it were there or even bump into its own self. Before you begin mapping your home, it's recommended to cover them with paper or drapes.

best budget robot vacuum is also intelligent enough to avoid tangled objects or trapped objects, even if they are covered by furniture. If the vacuum senses any loose cables in its route, it will change direction and attempt a different route. If it senses an hazard to your safety, the vacuum will stop and notify you either via an app or a device alarm.

While not all robots can do this, the top models are able to do it almost all the time. The iRobot Roomba 694, for example was among the most reliable robots during our tests, picking up every speck of hair and coffee grounds it could reach on hardwood flooring. best budget robot vacuum did a great job on carpet, cleaning all but some flour grains from corners it could reach.

It may not be as powerful as our top pick Roborock Q5 Max+ but it is nevertheless a great value. Similar to the more expensive model, it's quick to map out rooms and is easy to navigate with simple-to-use options to create rooms that are not allowed and a specific selection. The bin is also big which means it doesn't have to return to its self-emptying base too frequently and can cover a lot of ground before needing a refill.

Mopping

The best robot vacuums are ones that have high-performance at a reasonable cost. They do a great job in cleaning floors that are not clean and removing the majority of dirt and debris pushed down into carpets by furniture or toys, and other obstacles. However they're not able to remove dirt that has been buried in carpeting and rugs and tend to leave dust close to baseboards and other edges. For this reason, most people choose to supplement their main robot vacuum with a separate robot mop for more thorough midweek cleaning.

There are a variety of robot mops on the market, from dedicated mops that just mop to hybrid models with a dust bin and a water tank. When looking for a robotic mop, look for one that comes with an auto-emptying system. This means that it will dispose of the dirty water in its clean bin at the conclusion of each cleaning cycle. This makes them easier to maintain than robo-vacs, which require you to empty the small dustbins yourself into a larger container after each use.

A mop that will detect carpeting and raise its pads enough to prevent soaking the floor. Choose a mop which can be programmed to ensure that it can create an outline map and pinpoint areas that require attention, like the stairs or kitchen. Many mop-and-vac robots have side brushes that can be used for the more thorough cleaning of corners and edges.

Another feature to look for is the amount of suction power that a robot mop has. Many manufacturers offer Pascal (Pa) levels, with the higher the Pa rating, the more powerful the suction. Some manufacturers even have an Max mode for when you're dealing with particularly stubborn dirt.

In terms of its ease of use, the iRobot Braava Jet X8 Hybrid is our top choice for a robot vacuum and mop combination. It quickly determines the homes we've tested and creates no-go areas for hardwood floors and carpets. It also automatically empties the bins with dirty and clean contents in its self-emptying Dock following each mopping session. Its only flaw is that it can't reach under our kitchen baseboards. This is a issue that a lot of robotic vacuums and mop share.