11 Ways To Fully Redesign Your Robot Vacuum
The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Vacuuming is the bane of a lot of people's lives, but robot vacuums make it less tedious. Modern models mop and even climb (small) stairs.
Some have a small trash bin that they empty on their own. Others are controlled with a smartphone app rather than a physical remote. Some of them have mapping capabilities that aid in navigating your home with greater efficiency.
1. Power
Our top pick for robot vacuums comes with a suction force of 8,000Pa, which is powerful enough to eliminate even the most stubborn dirt patches and hairs. Its ultra-thin square design allows it to slide underneath furniture, such as beds and sofas and its Dual-Laser LiDAR technology provides precise navigation and obstacle avoidance. It also does a great job at cleaning pet hair, baking soda, and other debris that can be found near the baseboards and in corners.
In addition to the DEEBOT X2 OMNI bot, other powerful bots in this list include the IRobot Roomba j7+ and the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. The latter comes with a sturdy docking station that automates maintenance and includes mopping capabilities as well. Its powerful suction, coupled with its effective mopping, kept my floors clean of pet hair, muddy prints, and other debris on every floor we test.
A model that has 2,500Pa suction will suffice for homes that are in the lower price range. These units are quieter and therefore a better option for those who have sensitive ears. These units are not silent but they're not about the same as normal conversations at home.
For the best mix of usability and power, consider your cleaning needs and budget. A regular light-duty cleaning schedule requires longer runtime and lower suction, whereas weekly heavy-duty cleaning requires the most power. Consider your flooring, layout of your home and cleaning schedules in order to determine the best model for your needs. We recommend checking out our full list of robot vacuum reviews and ratings for more details on the most recent models available. Many users have reported that their carpets and floors appear cleaner after introducing a robot vacuum in their home.
2. Navigation
A robot vacuum uk vacuum can't do its job well if it doesn't know how to navigate around your home. The most advanced robots utilize sophisticated navigation technologies to scan rooms and build an outline map, which allows for thorough cleaning without getting stuck or hitting obstacles. There are three major kinds of robot vacuum that mops navigation: LiDAR-based sensor-based, and camera-based.
LiDAR is used by the most expensive models to create a virtual space map, which offers the highest levels of precision and efficiency. Cheaper models depend on bump sensors, which are more prone to error and can miss a lot of debris in dark areas. Most robots also feature cliff sensors to stop them from falling down stairs or other falls.
Many of the robots I tested used object recognition to deftly navigate objects such as fake dog turds and cords, but the most effective was the Eufy X10. It had superb mapping capabilities, powerful oscillating mops, an intuitive app and the ability to clean a zones, rooms or even the whole house.
Other features worth considering include floor type sensors that recognize hard floors and soft carpet automatically increasing suction power when necessary. Some robots, like the Roborock mop, utilize mopping pad lifts to reach corners and clean up dried spills. Many hybrids can even apply cleaning solutions to tough stains.
A smaller bin means less frequent emptying, and a larger one will save you money on replacements. The most affordable robotic cleaners generally utilize a small disposable dust bag, whereas the majority of mid-range models come with larger 3L dustbins that last for decades. Some premium robots, like the ECOVACS DEEBOT OMNI station, will self-empty their trash bins and refill their water tanks to provide hands-free convenience.
3. App control
The best robot vacs have an application that lets you track the progress of cleaning and schedule sessions and connect to smart home devices for hands-free control. Many robot vacuum with mop vacuums can also be controlled by voice using Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Certain models come with a remote control that lets you start, pause, and return to dock. Find a model with larger dustbins that self-empty, as opposed to one that requires manual emptying.
Some robovacs come with mapping technology that allows them to remember obstacles, like the stairs, and also avoid hitting furniture. Some allow you to set no-go zones or targeted rooms, so that they only clean the areas that need it most. They also have cliff sensor to keep them from falling, which is particularly useful in multi-level homes.
If you intend to make use of your robot vacuum for cleaning rug carpets, you should choose one that can be used for wet and dry mopping. You'll get better cleaning results when your vacuum can remove its mop pad. Rinse it, and then attach it again when you are ready to conduct a clean-up cycle. Also, look for a model that has a rubber roller, which is less prone to tangles due to pet hair and other debris than a bristle roller that is found on less expensive models. It's a good idea to examine the robot's brushroll and side brushes for stuck-on debris every week or once Also. If you notice that they're starting to get blocked, it could be time to purchase replacement parts.
4. Collection of debris
As 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 larger pieces such as metal screws, orzo pasta and pet hair. They also get better pickup results on carpets with low pile than manual vacuums.
The top-performing robots across all flooring types had a pickup score higher than 95%. The ECOVACS DEEBOT X2 OMNI and the Roborock Q Revo were our two top-performing robots in this category. Both are highly automated equipped with docking stations that perform maintenance by themselves and features in the app that make them extremely user-friendly.
Both have self-emptying bins which automatically empty the wastebasket. They can also clean the washboard as they mow. They also feature 8,000Pa suction and smart mapping technology and advanced obstacle avoidance that can help them find their way around even the most challenging areas. The ECOVACS model is also the only robots we tested that could remove its mop pads and vacuum carpet which makes it the best choice for users who need to switch between mopping and vacuuming regularly.
If you're looking for a cheaper option, look into the Roomba Combo J7 by iRobot Plus, our budget-friendly pick. It has LIDAR navigation and decent performance in the field of debris pickup for the price. It is slow when it comes to mapping rooms and has a tendency of hitting obstacles, but the price is lower than the other choices.
5. Battery life
The best robot vacuums let you move about your day while they keep your floors in pristine state. Although you'll need to give your home a manual sweeping every now and again, robovacs can help you maintain a baseline level of cleanliness, and even wash when you're away.
To maximize the amount of time you can get out of your robovac, make sure you choose an advancé with a long battery life. If you use the highest power setting, the model should last about two cleaning sessions. This is not as long as a full-sized vacuum cleaner, but it will be sufficient to provide for the majority of homes. If you don't want to wait for your robovac to recharge, you can choose a model that automatically returns to the base station to charge.
If you're looking for a robot that does a little amount of everything, you should consider an all-in-one model that can mop as well. Eufy's X10 is the top model in this class and offers self-emptying, self-draining and self-refilling of the dust bin as well as the mop pad. It can be programmed to refill and wash mops once they are out.
The clear winner in our tests is the Dyson V810 due to its outstanding carpet and hard floor pickup, outstanding hair pickup, tangle-free performance and a near perfect auto empty score. However, it's not cheap and unless you live in the smallest of homes with no pets it might be too expensive for some. The second-placed model, the Dreametech D10+, has the same performance, but is priced 25% less.
