11 Strategies To Completely Redesign Your Robot Vacuum

The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Robot vacuums can make the task of vacuuming a little less painful. Modern models can mop, and climb (small) steps.

They have a tiny dustbin that they empty themselves, and some can be controlled from a smartphone app instead of an actual remote. Some models have mapping features that aid in navigation.

1. Power

With the suction power of 8,000Pa, our top pick for robot vacuums is powerful enough to take care of the most difficult dirt patches and hairs. The ultra-thin shape of the square allows it to slide beneath furniture, such as couches and beds. Dual-Laser LIDAR technology provides accurate obstacle avoidance and intelligent navigation. It also does a great job at cleaning up pet hair baking soda, other debris that can be found near the baseboards as well as in corners.

Aside from the DEEBOT X2 OMNI, the other top-of-the-line bots on this list include the iRobot Roomba J7+ and the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. The Roborock S8 Pro Ultra includes docking station that automatically handles maintenance. It also has mopping capabilities. Its powerful suction and efficient mopping made sure my floors were free of pet hair, muddy paw prints, and other debris during every floor type test we ran.

In the lower cost range, a model that has 2,500Pa of suction is more than enough for most homes. These units are quieter and are therefore a better choice for those with sensitive ears. They're still not silent, but they're only as loud as normal conversations at home.

Think about your budget and cleaning requirements to determine the best combination of power and convenience. For frequent light-duty cleaning you will require a longer time-to-run and less suction is recommended. Cleaning that is heavy-duty every week requires the maximum power. Examine your flooring, layout of your home and cleaning schedules prior to selecting the right model. We suggest looking through our entire list of robot vacuum reviews and ratings to get more details on the most recent models available. Many customers report that their carpets and bare floor look cleaner after using a robot vacuum.

2. Navigation

A robot vacuum can't do its job properly when it doesn't know how to navigate around your home. This is why the best robots use sophisticated navigation systems that consistently scans rooms and then creates an outline map to ensure thorough cleaning without getting lost or hitting obstacles. There are three types of robot navigation that include LiDAR, camera and sensor.

The most expensive models employ LiDAR to create a virtual map of the room, delivering the highest level of accuracy and efficiency. Cheaper models depend on bump sensors which can be more inaccurate and tend to miss many debris in dark spaces. The majority of robots have cliff sensors that prevent them from falling down stairs or other drops.

A number of the robots I tested utilized objects recognition to navigate through things such as cords and fake dog turds. But the Eufy X10 was the best. It had excellent mapping capabilities, powerful oscillating mops, an intuitive app and the ability to clean by zone, room or entire home.

Other features worth a look include sensors for floors that can recognize hard floors and soft carpet and automatically boost suction power when necessary. Some robots, like the Roborock mop, utilize a mopping pad lift to reach corners and clean up dried spills. Many hybrids can apply cleaning solution to staining that is difficult to remove.

A smaller bin will mean less frequent emptying and a larger one will save you money on replacements. Most low-cost robotic hoovers cleaners use a small, disposable dust bag. However, most middle-priced models have larger 3L dustbins which last for a long period of time. Certain high-end robots, such as the EcoVACS DEEBOT OMNI Station can self-empty and refill their water tank for hands-free convenience.

3. App control

The majority of robot vacuums have an app that can monitor cleaning progress, schedule sessions and connect to smart home devices. A lot of robot vacuums can be controlled using voice commands, such as Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Some have a dedicated remote control that lets you start the process, pause it and then return to dock. Select a model with a larger trash bin and can self-empty rather than one that requires manual emptying.

Some robots are equipped with mapping technology to help them avoid obstacles like furniture and stairs. Others let you create no-go zones or specific rooms, ensuring that they only clean the areas that require the most. They also have cliff sensors to stop them from falling down staircase, which is particularly helpful in multi-level homes.

If you plan to use your robot vacuum for cleaning rugs, choose one that can be used both for dry and wet mopping. You'll get better results with an vac that is able to remove its own mop pad, too, which you can then rinse and reconnect when it's time for another cleaning cycle. Find robots that have the rubber roller. It will be less likely to get caught from pet hair or other debris. It's a good idea to check the robot's brushroll and side brushes for debris stuck on every week or once Also. If you notice they are getting clogged it might be time to replace parts.

4. Debris collection

Like the name suggests robot vacuums are created to remove dust and other debris from your floors. The best ones pick up fine particles like baking soda and sand as as larger pieces like orzo pasta, screws made of metal and pet hair. They also deliver better results on carpets with low pile than manual vacuums.

All flooring types are covered, and the top-performing robots had pickup scores of over 95%. The ECOVACS DEEBOT X2 OMNI and the Roborock Q Revo were the two most efficient bots in this class. Both are highly automated, equipped with docking stations that perform maintenance on their own, and apps that 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 mowing. They also feature 8,000Pa suction, smart mapping technology, and advanced obstacle avoidance that helps them find their way around even the most difficult of areas. The ECOVACS model is also one of the only robots we tested that could remove its mop pads and vacuum carpet making it the ideal choice for users who need to switch between mopping and vacuuming regularly.

If you're looking for a less expensive alternative, we suggest the iRobot Roomba Combo J7+, our budget-friendly pick. It comes with LIDAR navigation and decent performance in the field of debris pickup for the price. It can be a bit slow at mapping out rooms and has a tendency of bumping into obstacles, but the cost is less than our other picks.

5. Battery life

The best robot vacuums let you go about your day while keeping your floors in top in good condition. It is still necessary to manually vacuum your home from time to time, but robovacs will assist you in maintaining a minimum level of cleanliness and even keep your home clean when you're away.

Look for a robovac with long-lasting batteries to get the most out of it. If you select the highest power setting, a model should last for about two cleaning sessions. This is not as long as a large vacuum cleaner, but it is enough to be sufficient for most homes. If you don't wish to wait while your robovac charges you can select a model that will automatically return to the base station to charge.

If you're looking for a robovac with a bit of everything in it, you should consider a robot that can also mop. Eufy's X10 is the top model in this class has self-emptying and self-refilling for the dust bin and the water tank and mop pad. It can even be programmed to automatically re-fill and wash mops when they're low.

The clear winner in our tests is the Dyson V810, due to its outstanding carpet and hard floor pickup, superb hair pickup, tangle-free performance, and an almost perfect auto vacuum and mop empty score. It's not cheap, and unless you have the space of a small home with no pets, it could be too expensive for certain. The Dreametech D10+ is the second choice and has the same performance, but it costs 25 percent less.