How to Find the Best Budget Robot Vacuum

A bargain robot vacuum is a bargain. Beware of the maintenance costs that could be more than anticipated: tangles inside brushes, clogged air inlets and empty dust bins can quickly turn your automated cleaning dream into a burden.

The iRobot j7 Combo is the most affordable robot for a variety of users. It provides the exact hands-off experience for a fraction of the price.

Suction Power

Certain models in this range are able to handle basic vacuuming. Others may require a handheld nozzle for deep cleaning. A budget-friendly vacuum is likely to complete the job if you have a home that has primarily hard floors. If you have a mix of floors, have rugs or pets that shed, you will have the best results using an advanced robot vacuum.

Some models with a budget price include mopping capabilities and a water tank, which increases their versatility. The Dyson R7050C comes with a large 770ml bin and excellent navigation scores, however it is louder and doesn't have mopping capabilities. The smaller Eufy Roborock Q5 Pro, by contrast, is relatively quiet and has an auto-empty dock. It comes with a water reservoir, a powerful suction power of 5,500-pascals and an enormous bin that you can fill with cleaning products to boost its effectiveness. The Q5 Pro can be controlled via the smart app, which allows you to mop or vacuum a room, sequence of rooms, or a whole area. You can also create no-go zones and customise suction settings for each room.

The budget Shark ION is a great pick for those looking for something simple, affordable and reliable. It's not as advanced as some of the other models we've tested and comes with a basic app and basic mapping capabilities, but it offers good navigation and cleaning capabilities. It's also one of only a few robots that can distinguish between carpets and hard flooring. The 300ml dustbin only emptying once every 30 days.

If you're looking for a more sophisticated model that can vacuum, mop and even create a map of your house for smarter obstacle avoidance, consider some of the most expensive options within this price range. The iRobot Roomba 650 and 750 have very strong suction power as well as a comb that is cleverly designed for pet hair and other fine dirt, and in-app scheduling and voice control with your smart home assistant. Samsung Cleanbot SV8000 offers a great cleaning performance at a reasonable cost.

Navigation Efficiency

A robot vacuum cleaner that is budget-friendly can be just as effective as expensive models, so long as it can navigate through your home and avoid obstacles. To determine navigation efficiency our lab technicians set up a tracker to observe a robot's move through a multiroom test house and assess its ability to identify the areas it has to clean in a given time, while avoiding obstacles such as rug cords, power cables, and furniture. We also look at the speed at which a robot is able to navigate through different terrains within a home, such as stairs and floor transitions.


The best budget robot vacuums have efficient navigation systems that aid in helping to clean up a room without spending time, crashing into obstacles or getting stuck. The majority of robot vacuums have the ability to map which is essential for a full-house clean. However, even models that do not have mapping can efficiently cover a room, so it's important to balance cost with the features you require for your home.

We also consider how easy it is for robots to cross over thresholds in the home, such as the heights of a door's sill or a sofa. A good budget-friendly robot will be able to negotiate these obstacles and some even have settings that can adjust the suction power according to the type of floor. We also consider whether the robot is compatible with smart home technology and can be controlled remotely through an app or voice command.

One example of a top budget robot is the iLife V3s Pro, which comes with basic mapping capabilities and other advanced features in an affordable price. It is controlled via the iRobot App and has an automatic return feature that will return the robot to its home base when the battery is exhausted and continues where it started.

The iLife V3s Pro doesn't have the advanced object avoidance found on many premium robots, but it has a live camera that transmits an unreliable video feed to your smartphone so that you can keep an eye on the robot as it performs. The cameras can also spot obstacles like stairs and other steps and elicit an alert if the robot encounters them. The iLife is a different model, however, it uses random navigation instead of a method designed to prevent objects from being that are stuck against furniture legs. It might not be able to maneuver through a tight space or a chair leg as a robot system that has mapping capabilities.

Cleaning Performance

If you're looking for a robot vacuum it's important to balance cost with performance. Budget models may lack advanced features such as mapping, but they can still be effective of cleaning your home. It is important to be aware of the size of the dustbin and how much dirt it can hold prior to needing to empty. It is essential to have enough space to hold all the debris that a robot accumulates, including pet dander, dirt, and hair.

You'll want a vacuum capable of removing dirt and stains from carpets too. vacuum deals test each model in the ZDNET chart to determine if it can remove dirt and hair from carpet. The top models come with a special brush that digs into fibers to remove dirt.

The majority of budget models are successful in cleaning up spills on bare floors and carpets with low piles however, they struggle to remove larger pieces of pet hair and debris from higher-pile carpets. These models usually have a less powerful suction however they can be effective at cleaning up particles from tight spaces like corners and under furniture.

The iLife V3s Pro is the best budget model for vacuuming with high marks in our testing because of its ability to remove dirt and hair from carpets. It is also one of our quieter models and easy to use. It features a suction opening that is able to collect debris instead of pushing it through the brush bar. It also has the ability to adjust the power to match any surface. It comes with a sidebrush that has three bristles that push hair and debris into the path of the robot. However, it is not as effective in sweeping fine dust.

Find a model that has mop and vacuum functions, like the Combo j9 Plus. The robot can vacuum and mop simultaneously and you can alter the settings for each room. It's more expensive than other budget robot vacs in our chart however, it has the advantages of a forward-facing camera, which allows for more precise mapping and better protection against obstacles such as power cords and cat piss.

Maintenance

Robot vacuums are useful however, they come at costs. Regular maintenance is essential, from emptying the dustbin to changing filters and cleaning their brush bar. They can also get caught in cords or drop off the stairs, so they must be watched with care.

The best budget robot vacuums reduce these issues through requiring minimal oversight from the user. The best models come with navigation systems that allow them to avoid obstacles and avoid hazards such as electrical cords and food items that have been dropped. They also make use of a mix of sensors to map rooms, and then create maps that let them know where they've already cleaned to ensure they don't re-clean the same areas over and over again.

Don't let the price of the higher-end models deter you. They are still able to do a fantastic job if given a chance. A majority of our top budget choices are from top OEMs, like iRobot, Roborock and Dreame and you can be sure that they've been developed with attention to detail and built to last.

You might consider a mopping robot If you're willing to pay more. These machines can scrub floors using an aqueous cloth and get rid of staining that is difficult to remove. They can also be used combination with a mop pad to tackle difficult jobs, such as dried coffee.

There are several mopping robots featured in our roundup however the most affordable model is the TP-Link Tapo RV30 Plus. It has a clean minimalist design, and it also has all the features and capabilities of a top-rated robovac. In our tests, the RV30 was able to navigate without crashing into furniture, and also create precise floorplan maps that it can use for future runs. It's the only budget robot we've tested to include this feature, however the iRobot Roomba also has similar capabilities in mapping and has an in-app setting that guides you through the process step-by step.

Remember to maintain your robot regardless of whether you pick the most expensive or one that is more affordable. It is a good idea to empty its dustbin after every cleaning task, and also to clean the filter if you have one (check the manual of your owner or the website of the manufacturer for more details). Replace the battery as necessary and verify its Wi-Fi connectivity.