10 Things We All Hate About Robot Vacuum Deals
Top Black Friday and Cyber Monday Robot Vacuum Deals
This is your chance to own a robotic vacuum. CNET's top-rated models will be available during Black Friday and Cyber Monday with discounts of up to 57%.
The Roborock Q7 Max offers strong pressure and smart mapping, with app-based no-go zones, and its 180-minute runtime is impressive. It also self-empties and refills its water tank.
1. iRobot Roomba j7+
The Roomba j7+ is iRobot's most advanced robot vacuum to date. Its biggest advancement is an obstacle detection system that makes use of built-in AI to detect objects such as charging cords, shoes and the pet waste that many other robots are unable to avoid (and often go through). It's also the first to automatically send you a picture of the object it comes across to let you know to avoid it in the future.
The Combo J7+ is the best robot mop we've ever tested. It removes dirt and spills easily leaving no trace it was there. The iRobot app makes it easy to control. You can schedule cleanings, and also create Keep Out Zones to ensure that it doesn't clean in areas you don’t would like. It's also compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant, so you can turn it on and off by speaking to it.
Its design is an improvement over the rest and features a sleek, top piece that appears more like a toy robotic rather than a loud, loud one. And the Clean Base automatic vacuum cleaners Dirt Disposal System self-empties which is great to reduce the time spent cleaning.
In our tests the j7+ performed quick to pick up and remove dust dirt, pet hair and other particles. The counter-rotating rubber brushes held the debris in its place instead of scattering it on the floor vacuum robot. It even managed to capture sand and small gravel which other robots can't. And all this without getting tangled up in our pet's hair shed.
The j7+, although not as intelligent as the Roomba S9 for $1,217+ Self-Emptying Vacuum Robot from iRobot, and cannot clean the stairs, is a good option for those who require both mopping and vacuum robot vacuum. It's not expensive and the iRobot app makes it very user-friendly.
The iRobot Home App is easy to use, however we found it less reliable than other robotic cleaner apps. It can take a while to download updates, and it is sometimes difficult to know whether they're working until you actually see them in action.
2. Roborock Q5+
When you're looking for a robot cleaner vacuum that does more than just clean floors, the best option is probably one that is a hybrid. This kind of robot usually has a built-in water tank that allows them to mop and vacuum your home simultaneously. They also have a range of additional features, including smart mapping, small obstacles avoidance, and the ability to wash and dry mopping pads. They are expensive at retail, but they often are reduced on Black Friday or Cyber Monday.
Roborock produces some of our favorite robotic vacuums, and the Q5+ is no exception. disappoint. This is their least expensive auto-empty model, and although it lacks some of the premium features that are found on more expensive models (like no-go zones and multi-story memory) it's still an excellent option if you're willing to sacrifice a bit to save some hundred dollars.
The Q5+ is notably gentle around obstacles like tables and walls, which makes it a great choice for homes with lots of furniture. It's also extremely thorough in cleaning up dust bunnies. This is a place where most robot vacuums of lower quality aren't able to meet. The technology for navigation in the Q5+ is superb too, with very little missing in corners and on walls.
The Q5+, as with other Roborock products can be controlled via only a few buttons on your device or through the Roborock App. The app allows you to start and stop cleanings. You can also set up schedules, create virtual barriers and no-go zones or adjust your home map, or change the room's label.
If you decide to go with the Q5+ model, it comes with a new auto-empty dock designed specifically to make this robot easy to maintain. Installing it requires a screwdriver but once in place it can be accomplished easily. It also has an impressive LCD display which is great to have when you're creating schedules or changing settings. This isn't a necessary feature for everyone, but it's one that will aid in keeping track of the intervals between maintenance for your robot with ease.
3. Narwal Freo X Ultra
The Freo X Ultra is a well-rounded robot mop and vacuum that's astonishingly smart in both its mopping and vacuuming capabilities. Its design and features are some of the most advanced available - but it's also pricey.
Its base station looks good and is easily hidden when not in use, and the size is relatively compact. The primary selling point of the station is that it can automate many tasks, functions and chores that other robots would leave to you. It can store clean and dirty water, it electrolyzes and heats the water (which most other robovacs require you to do) and empty the dust bin after vacuuming, vacuum robot and ensures that your robot charged and clean.
Its vacuuming performance is quite impressive and efficient, too. It's one of the only robovacs that I've tested that does very well at collecting debris from plain floors, and is not as loud as the more expensive Roomba 980 or iRobot 900 series.
The Freo X Ultra is not without faults, particularly in the area of navigation. Its LiDAR sensors and laser sensors aren't as reliable as other robovacs. This means it could get stuck or confused in certain corners or rooms in the house. It's not able navigate stairs as well as some competitors, for instance and it doesn't have a dock that lets you to create an area for cleaning that is specifically designed for carpets that are soft.
The Freo X Ultra robot vacuum and mop is an excellent choice for those who want a vacuum robot (you could try here) that can do it all.
But if you want to save some money, or just don't care about the limitations of this robotic there are many other great choices available with a wide range of eufy models that cost significantly less. The eufy Qrevo curv, for example, is cheaper and has more features, including stairs and a fully-function Dock, that provides the ability to provide a more thorough vacuuming experience on floors that are unfinished, low-pile carpets and even high-pile carpets.
4. Eufy RoboVac G30
eufy is an Anker company with a long history of creating robot vacuums that offer the perfect combination of performance, features, and price. The G30 Hybrid is no different and offers a powerful cleaning of hard floors and mopping functions as well as carpets at a reasonable price. It's easy to set it up, just connect one of the side brush and turn it on, then plug in your charging dock. The app guides you through a few steps to connect to your Wi-Fi. After that, the G30 is ready to go. The dock will need to be placed close to an outlet that has plenty of space to move.
The G30 is small, 2.85 inches tall to be exact and can be placed under sofas and other furniture with low clearance. Its design is a little more modest than other models, with sleek black finishes and three buttons that are physical that control Auto Cleaning, which can be paused or started. Recharge and Spot Cleaning (which scrubs an area in spiral patterns for 2 minutes). You can also connect the G30 to Amazon Alexa or Google Home for voice commands to perform unscheduled cleaning.
The most important characteristic that sets the G30 apart from most competitors is the way it cleans. It makes use of an integrated map to make an image of the unmovable items in its path. It can remember the items it has cleaned and what it is unable to access. It automatically returns to the base to recharge, and then begins cleaning where it left off.
The sleek G30 has a few issues. The iRobot Roomba is built better and has lower cost of operation. It is faster to charge, has the same battery life and performs better on bare flooring or carpet with a low pile. It has a larger dust bin, which does not require as much emptying. It also comes with border strips that block it from certain areas. The G30, on the other hand is less expensive and is much simpler to maintain. Its smaller canister means it doesn't need to be empty as often and has less difficulty handling bulky products like cereal.