What to Look For in a Robot Vacuum

Based on your budget, you can select a robot vacuum with all the bells, whistles and features. Look for a model that can clean a variety of floors. Also, think about purchasing one that has a self-empty dock.

The lower-cost models typically have basic bump systems which are slow and inefficient. Higher-end models can use sensors to map your home and navigate around furniture and other obstacles.

Features

Robot vacuums are a great method of reducing the amount of time you're spending cleaning your home. They're especially useful for people with hectic schedules or those who have children or pets and struggle to manage the mess. They are also a great option for those living in a tiny apartment or condo with a limited storage space. Although they're fantastic in automatizing the process of general cleaning, they aren't as good as full-size vacuum cleaners in cleaning corners and nooks. They can clean up cords, toys, and socks, but not all the dust from under your baseboards or cabinets.

The top robot vacuums are equipped with powerful suction that can remove dirt from a variety of flooring types. This information is available in the manufacturer's specifications, which are usually expressed in Pascals (Pa). Higher Pa values indicate more power. It is recommended for you to choose the robot that has at least 2000 Pa. This is enough for the majority of homes.

One of the greatest characteristics of a high-quality robot vacuum is its dual-use as mop. Some models have an option to concentrate on a particular area of the room. This is a great feature in the event of a huge spill or sticky mess to clean up.

A good robot vacuum should include a navigation system. The more efficient the navigation system is, the more efficiently it will be able to identify your home's location and return to it without getting lost. This is especially important for older homes which often have a confusing design. It is also important to determine if the device has sensors that can detect obstacles and be aware of them and avoid them.

Suction

If you have carpeting in your home, search for a robotic vacuum that has strong suction capabilities. The robot's capability to clean up dust and other light debris will improve with a higher suction. It must also be able move easily between floors and from one type to another. A good robot should be able to pick up pet hair, cereal crumbs, and dust from carpet fibers and hardwood floors.

In tests, certain models performed better than others on different types of flooring. Some models were better in removing the remnants of cereal from hard floors while others struggled with carpet fibers. It is important to consider how often you'll have to maintain your robot vacuum. It needs to be cleaned often to prevent overflow and the brushes must be cleaned frequently as well.

robot vacuum sale come with a self-emptying base that automatically disposes of collected debris and dirt once it's full. This feature can save time and money on new bags and decrease the frequency at the need to clean the robot itself. Some companies provide models with a bin that is removable that can be emptied by tapping your finger.

When you purchase a robot vacuum, be sure to cover any mirrors you have before the device maps out your home for the first time. This is because the LIDAR sensors that the majority of robo-vacs use to navigate can bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the machine to "perceive" the mirror as an obstacle. A few robots are also in danger of being slowed by dark colored objects such as chairs and toys for children. This is because the cliff sensors of robots are sensitive infrared light, which is absorbed by darker surfaces.

App control

A few of the top robot cleaners have applications that let you plan cleaning sessions and track them, and also creating no-go zones. They could also be compatible with Amazon Alexa and other digital voice assistants for a hands-free experience. If you're looking for a more comfortable experience, choose a model that has object-avoidance and stair recognition. These features can stop the robot from tripping and running into things such as socks, pet toys and power cables.

Most robot vacuums come in square and round designs with round models that can maneuver around furniture legs better but being a bit more difficult to reach corners. The square models are more angular and are able to reach corners more easily. However, they require a larger area to navigate and may get into objects more easily than their round counterparts. To avoid this, make sure to measure your home and choose a model that suits it.

Look for a model that has large dustbins and an automatic docking station that emptys. These features can help reduce the frequency of emptying and decrease the amount of maintenance required by the device. A robot with a docking station that can pause, recharge and then clean where it left will give you the freedom to work hands-free.

Robot vacuums are perfect for routine midweek cleaning and regular touch-ups, but they can't substitute for an upright or canister on carpets that are thick or hard floors. best affordable robot vacuum may still get caught in rugs, be unable to pick certain debris up and may leave dirt spots on hard flooring. It is essential to vacuum your entire home prior to using a robotic vacuum. Also, ensure that all cords and clothing including rug fringes and window blind cords are kept away from the robot's sensors and charging contact points.

Battery life

A quality robot vacuum will have a long-lasting battery and keep its charge through the cleaning process. If robot vacuum sale have a big home or are planning to make use of the robot vacuum for several rooms, you'll prefer a model with a longer battery lifespan and possibly a larger dust bin as well. If you do not plan to sweep your floors as often then a model with a shorter battery life should be sufficient.

During our tests, the X10 was capable of mapping the entire room with just one or two runs, and clean a full floor in just two hours. It also has the best mopping technology we've seen in a robot vacuum. It mops with a scrubby, scrubbing action that helps get rid of dried coffee stains and other marks that remain on floorboards. It also has Eufy's top of the line object avoidance that is trained as cars to avoid objects such as socks and slippers.

One of the most important features for a robot vacuum is its ability to navigate stairs and corners. This capability lets the robot not hit objects and avoid falling down the stairs. A robot with vSLAM navigation (found on the top models of iRobot) utilizes cameras to create a 3D map of the surroundings while it moves.

Aside from stair and corner navigation, other features that make a good robot vacuum are a low profile and the ability to get into difficult areas. Our top picks such as the Shark iRobot vac with self-emptying station can be tucked away under the majority of furniture. These vacuums also have large chambers which can store weeks or months worth of debris until it needs to be cleaned.

App navigation

When choosing a robot vacuum, think about the amount of space you will need to clean and what floor types are in your home. You also need to think about the navigation system the robot comes with. Some come with built-in sensors that identify obstacles, while others utilize sensors in combination to create and update maps. The amount of sensors and how they interact will determine how big of an area a robot is able to cover with one charge, and the speed at which it can move between rooms.

The most effective robot vacuums for cleaning large areas come with a variety of navigation and mapping capabilities. They use sensors to identify furniture and walls, then navigate around them without damaging or spreading dirt. They also utilize cliff sensors to detect steep thresholds and stop falls. Bump sensors, which could be in the form of physical bumpers and touch-sensitive pads are another characteristic of robot vacuums.

You can alter the robot's map of your home and designate zones of no-go areas using a smartphone application. You can also schedule cleaning appointments and monitor the progress of the robot from your smartphone. Most robots can clean up to 2,000 square feet of space on the full charge, although certain models have shorter battery lives.


Most robots can't access tight spaces like the nook between a toilet and bathtub, or the gap under chair legs, but the SwitchBot K10 Plus has a slim design that can get into corners better than most. Its SLAM technology is among the most effective available and its MyDyson app lets you view the areas that have been cleaned.

This is the cheapest option in this price range. Its lidar mapping was quick and precise. It was able to divide my room into zones on the very first attempt. Its obstacle-avoiding abilities were impressive, with it navigating through cables and shoes as well as the fake dog poop I threw in my test.