20 Fun Infographics About Robot Vacuum
The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Robot vacuums can make the chore of vacuuming a bit less painful. Modern models can mop, and climb (small) steps.
They have a tiny dustbin which they empty themselves and some can be controlled from a smartphone app instead of the physical remote. Some come with mapping features to help them navigate more efficiently.
1. Power
Our top pick for robot vacuums has suction power of 8,000Pa, which is enough to remove even the most difficult hairs and dirt. Its ultra-thin square design allows it to slide beneath furniture, such as beds and sofas and its Dual-Laser LIDAR technology supports precise navigation and accurate obstacle avoidance. It is also great at cleaning baking powder, pet hair and other debris that can be found near corners and baseboards.
Other high-powered robots that vacuum and mop on this list, apart from the DEEBOT X2 OMNI, are the IRobot Roomba J7+ as well as the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. The Roborock S8 Pro Ultra comes with a docking station which automates maintenance. It also has mopping capabilities. Its powerful suction, coupled with its efficient mopping, ensured my floors were free of pet hair, muddy prints and other messes on every floor we tested.
A model that has 2,500Pa suction is sufficient for the majority of homes in the lower price range. These units are quieter, making them an ideal choice for people with hearing issues. They aren't silent, but they're not about the same as normal conversations at home.
Think about your budget and cleaning requirements to find the right combination of power and efficiency. For regular light-duty cleaning, a longer runtime with less suction is recommended. Weekly heavy-duty cleaning requires the most power. Consider your flooring, layout of your home, and cleaning schedules to choose the right model to meet your requirements. We suggest looking through our full list of robot vacuum reviews and ratings for more information on the latest models available. Many users have reported that their carpets and floors look cleaner after using a robotic vacuum.
2. Navigation
A robot vacuum isn't able to perform its job effectively if it doesn't know how to navigate around your home. The best robots employ sophisticated navigation technologies to scan rooms and create a map, ensuring thorough cleaning without getting stuck or hitting obstacles. There are three main types of robot navigation: LiDAR-based, camera-based and sensor-based.
The most expensive models use LiDAR to create a virtual map of the room. This model offers the highest level of accuracy and efficiency. Less expensive models depend on bump sensors which are less accurate and are more likely to miss the majority of debris in dark areas. The majority of robots have cliff sensors that prevent them from falling off steps or other drops.
A number of the robots I tested utilized object recognition to navigate things such as cords and fake dog turds. However, the Eufy X10 was the best. It had superb mapping capabilities with powerful oscillating mops, an easy-to-use app, and the ability to clean a zone, room or entire home.
Other features worth a look include floor type sensors that recognize carpets that are hard and soft and automatically boost suction power when necessary. Some robots like the Roborock mop use a mopping pads lift to reach into corners and clean dry spills. Many hybrids are able to apply cleaning solution to stubborn stains.
A smaller dustbin will require less frequent emptying while bigger ones will cost less to replace. The most affordable robotic cleaners generally use a small disposable dust bag, whereas the mid-range models typically have larger 3L dustbins that last for ages. Certain premium robots such as the ECOVACS DEEBOT OMNI Station are able to self-empty and fill up their water tank for 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 can connect to your smart home devices to allow hands-free control. Many robot vacuums can also be controlled via voice using Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Certain models come with an on-screen remote that allows you to begin the process, pause it, and return to dock. Choose a model that has a larger trash bin and can self-empty instead of one that needs manual emptying.
Some robots are equipped with mapping technology that allows them to remember obstacles, such as the stairs, and also avoid hitting furniture. Some allow you to create no-go zones or specific rooms, so that they only clean areas that require it the most. They also have cliff sensors to stop them from falling down the staircase, which is particularly beneficial in multi-level homes.
If you want to make use of your robot vacuum to clean rugs, choose one that can be used for wet and dry mopping. You'll get better cleaning results when your vacuum can also take off its mop pad. Rinse it, and then reconnect it when you want to run another cleaning cycle. Also look for a robot that has a rubber roll, which is less prone to knots caused by pet hair and other debris than a bristle roller that is found on less expensive models. Examine the robot vacuum best's side brushes and brushroll for any debris that may have become stuck on. Make sure to do this at least twice per week. If you notice that they're starting to clog, it might be time to replace parts.
4. Collection of debris
As the name implies robot vacuums are created to remove dust and other debris from your floors. The best robot vacuums can collect tiny particles, such as sand and baking soda, and larger ones like screws made of metal orzo, as well as pet hair. They also provide better pick-up results on low-pile carpets than manual vacuums.
All flooring types are covered, and the top robots had pickup scores of more than 95 95%. The ECOVACS DEEBOT X2 OMNI and the Roborock Q Revo were two of our best-performing bots in this category. Both are highly automated, equipped with docking stations that perform maintenance by themselves and app features which make them extremely user-friendly.
Both have self-emptying bins that automatically remove the contents of the wastebasket. They can also clean the washboards as they mow. They also have 8,000Pa suction and smart mapping technology and advanced obstacle avoidance that can help them find their way around even the most difficult of areas. The ECOVACS robot is one of the few that can clean carpet and remove the mop pads. This makes it a perfect option for people who need to switch between mopping and vacuuming regularly.
If you're looking for a more affordable option, we recommend the Roomba Combo J7 from iRobot+, our budget-friendly pick. It has LIDAR navigation and decent debris pickup capabilities for the price. It is slow at mapping out rooms and is prone to bumping against obstacles, but the price is lower than the other choices.
5. Battery life
The best robot vacuums let you go about your day while they keep your floors in perfect state. While you'll still have to give your home a manual vacuum every now and then Robotic vacuums can help maintain a standard of tidiness and even clean when you're away.
Find a robovac equipped with an extended-lasting battery to get the most out of it. A good rule of thumb is to expect a robovac to last for around two cleaning sessions if you use it on the highest power setting. This is less than a typical large vacuum cleaner, but it will be sufficient to be sufficient for most homes. If you don't like to wait around while your robovac charges you could select one that will automatically make its way back to its base station to recharge.
If you're looking for a robot that can do a amount of everything, you should consider an all-in-one model that can mop as well. Eufy's X10 is the most effective model of this category has self-emptying and self-refilling for the dust bin, the water tank, and mop pad. It can even be programmed to automatically refill and wash its own mops when they're running low.
The clear winner in our tests is the Dyson V810, due to its outstanding carpet and hard floor pickup, excellent hair pickup, tangle-free performance, and an almost perfect auto vacuum and mop empty score. However, it's not cheap and unless you have a the smallest of homes with no pets it might be too pricey for some. The runner-up is the Dreametech D10+, has very similar performance but costs about 25% less.