10 + 8 Best Robot Vacuum Reviews with Buyers Guide | Updated

Don’t deny it, sometimes you wish you could mellow out on a couch and forget about household chores. That might have sounded far-fetched in the past, but not today. In this post, we will share some of the best robot vacuums in our top 10 robot vacuum reviews with a complete buyer’s guide, stuffed with helpful information to assist you in making the right choice based on your budget and needs.

Robot vacuums are one of the most popular smart home devices. They will take care of the dirt and dust that gathers in your home with little manual operation required.

A lot has changed in just the last year, with modern systems that include self-emptying and complete floor mapping, and onboard cameras, the cleaning power is greater than ever. In fact, out of last year’s top 10, only 2 survive to make it onto the list of the best robotic vacuums in 2021.

However, that doesn’t mean they are suddenly bad robots. so, at the end of the article, I have decided to keep the other 8 recommendations as you will find some great deals there. Be sure to check them out as well.

But first, let’s just have a real quick look at some key features to be on the lookout for.

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*The product links in this post are affiliate links, which means that if you purchase after following one, I make a small commission from the sale at no additional cost to you. Please see our disclosure page for more information.

Best Robot Vacuums

Our Top Pick
Roborock S6 MaxV
Premium Choice
iRobot Roomba S9
Best Value
Proscenic 850T
roborock S6 MaxV Robot Vacuum and Mop with Dual Cameras, Recognize and Avoids Obstacles, 2500Pa...
iRobot Roomba S9 (9150) Robot Vacuum- Wi-Fi Connected, Smart Mapping, Powerful Suction, Works with...
Proscenic 850T Robot Vacuum Cleaner, Wi-Fi Connected Robot Vacuum and Mop, Works with Alexa & Google...
Max suction
2500Pa
2500Pa
3000Pa
Runtime
180 mins
90 - 120 mins
120 mins
Navigation
LiDar & twin cameras
vSLAM navigation
IPANS 2.0 intelligent cleaning system
Mopping
App & Voice Control
Self Empty Compatible
Smart Mapping
-
-
-
Our Top Pick
Roborock S6 MaxV
roborock S6 MaxV Robot Vacuum and Mop with Dual Cameras, Recognize and Avoids Obstacles, 2500Pa...
Max suction
2500Pa
Runtime
180 mins
Navigation
LiDar & twin cameras
Mopping
App & Voice Control
Self Empty Compatible
Smart Mapping
-
Premium Choice
iRobot Roomba S9
iRobot Roomba S9 (9150) Robot Vacuum- Wi-Fi Connected, Smart Mapping, Powerful Suction, Works with...
Max suction
2500Pa
Runtime
90 - 120 mins
Navigation
vSLAM navigation
Mopping
App & Voice Control
Self Empty Compatible
Smart Mapping
-
Best Value
Proscenic 850T
Proscenic 850T Robot Vacuum Cleaner, Wi-Fi Connected Robot Vacuum and Mop, Works with Alexa & Google...
Max suction
3000Pa
Runtime
120 mins
Navigation
IPANS 2.0 intelligent cleaning system
Mopping
App & Voice Control
Self Empty Compatible
Smart Mapping
-

Last update on 2023-06-15 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

You may also like our specific recommendations:

Best robot vacuum reviews

  1. Roborock S6 MaxV
  2. iRobot Roomba S9
  3. Proscenic 850t
  4. Roborock S7
  5. iRobot Roomba i7+
  6. FURNITURE Q6
  7. Corey L900
  8. Eufy 11s Slim
  9. GOOVI d380 Robotic Vacuum Cleaner
  10. Coredy R750 Robot Vacuum Cleaner

1. Roborock S6 MaxV

Our top pick as the best robot vacuum of 2021

roborock S6 MaxV Robot Vacuum and Mop with Dual Cameras, Recognize and Avoids Obstacles, 2500Pa...

The Roborock S6 MaxV is an advanced robotic vacuum, powered by a motor that delivers up to 2500 Pa of maximum suction.

The cleaner has been designed with ReactiveAI obstacle avoidance technology, which uses onboard twin cameras to detect and avoid obstacles. I also love that you can connect via WiFi to see a live stream of the cleaning and control your vac. This is a nice security feature too as you can check in on your home from anywhere in the world.

As you’d expect, the Roborock S6 MaxV has a full suite of sensors, including cliff detection, distance sensing (so you don’t need to worry about picking up the robot by its air inlet), drop sensor, precision LiDAR navigation, and smart mapping that saves up to 4 different floor plans, this is a perfect robot vacuum for any home.

It includes support for Google Assistant, Alexa, or Siri the cleaner can be controlled via voice commands or through the app where schedules can be set up as well as rooms cleaned precisely.

The robot also mops, however, this is not the strong point. If you are looking for a robot that excels at mopping, I’d recommend taking a look at the Roborock S7 (coming up soon).

While we’re talking about the downsides, it is expensive and a small number of users report that it sometimes struggles to find its way back to the charging base, however, if you follow the manufacturer’s guide on placement, this should not be a concern.

The other feature that is missing is the self-emptying option. More and more vacuums are including self-clean bases, and it is something I love (yep, super lazy). However, the quality and performance shine bright enough without it.

Want to know more? Check out our comparison Roborock S6 MaxV vs S6 vs S6 Pure

TICK-1
  • Onboard cameras
  • Super smart navigation with obstacle detection
  • Strong suction power
  • Multiple floor plan memory
  • You can view a live stream of your home from anywhere in the world
CROSS
  • Expensive
  • No self-clean dusting
  •  Don’t buy it for the mopping feature
Roborock S6 MaxV Robot Vacuum
Roborock S6 MaxV can see obstacles such as pet waste, cables, chair legs in its path, instead of getting caught on an obstacle or causing a mess, it will avoid the obstruction and clean without interruption.

Last update on 2023-06-15 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

2. iRobot Roomba S9

Best self-emptying robot vacuum

iRobot Roomba s9+ Self Emptying Robot Vacuum - Empties Itself for 60 Days, Detects & Cleans Around...

The iRobot Roomba s9+ is the most convenient way to make your home even cleaner. With a 3-Stage Cleaning System that leaves no mess untouched, the iRobot Roomba’s brand new CLEAN BASE Automatic Dirt Disposal can store up to 60 days’ worth of dirt and debris before needing to be emptied!

Amongst the exceptional features of the Roomba s9 is vSLAM Navigation which allows it to map out an area for one continuous cleaning process. This can then be used for complete control allowing you to create your own personalized cleaning routine and keep out zones via the iRobot home app.

In fact, the smart iRobot Roomba s9 app learns from your cleaning habits to offer up customized schedules. It suggests extra cleanings when the pollen count is high or during pet shedding season.

The suction power on this device is 40X stronger than other models (estimated to be around 2500Ps) while PerfectEdge technology with advanced sensors & a specially designed corner brush optimizes cleaning deep into corners and along edges.

The HEPA filter ensures that all air is clean and fresh (even after pets) while the battery lasts up to 120 minutes on a single charge. Of course, when the battery is low, it will head back to the clean base to recharge.

Finally, I want to mention a super cool feature, Imprint Link Technology. The Roomba s9 does not have a mopping feature, but you can team it up with the Braava jet m6 robot mop to make your household chores more efficient.

Sounds great right? So what about the downside? Well, it is expensive. Sitting at close to $1000 for the unit alone and $1200 if you want the self-emptying base as well, it is far from cheap. There are regular offers, so be sure to check the latest price, especially around Prime Day or Black Friday.

Also, it’s pretty new tech, a number of users have grumbled that it seems a bit glitchy at times, although a software update could fix a lot of the issues.

Finally, the mapping does take some time, up to 6 runs, so it will take a bit of bedding it.

But, if money is no issue and you want one of the best self-emptying robot vacuums on the market, the iRobot Roomba S9+ certainly deserves to be high up on your list.

TICK-1
  • Self-emptying dustbin
  • Multi-story mapping capabilities
  • Supercharged suction
  • Power Boost Technology instantly increases suction for deeper, more thorough cleaning of your carpets

 

CROSS
  • Expensive
  • Not very quiet
Sale
iRobot Roomba s9+ (9550) Robot Vacuum
With groundbreaking technology and a sophisticated design, the s9 is our smartest, most powerful robot vacuum that allows the s9 to empty itself for up to 60 days.

Last update on 2024-03-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

4. Proscenic 850t

Best overall value

Proscenic 850T Robot Vacuum Cleaner, Wi-Fi Connected Robot Vacuum and Mop, Works with Alexa & Google...

The Proscenic 850T is a follow-up to their popular 820s model (reviewed here) which offered great cleaning is unspectacular features.

The 850T is a smart cleaner with WiFi and Amazon Alexa compatibility. The device comes standard equipped with two side brushes, an up-right brush and the main spinning head that spins in both directions to clean all surfaces.

The Proscenic app can be used to set schedules as well as change suction power levels for different floor types and with 3000Pa suction, it is suitable for all floor types.

I like the fact you have two choices for a dustbin container, you can either use the generous 500ml dust-only container or if you want to vacuum and mop at the same time, there is a second option that holds 300ml water split with 280ml for dirt and dust.

Now for the negatives. While it does offer an app and Alexa/Google Home integrations, it is very simplified. You can set a cleaning schedule, but as there is no smart mapping, you can’t specify rooms and it won’t remember where it was and start from the same spot are recharging.

It does have “IPANS 2.0 intelligent cleaning system”, but this just really means it has a logical cleaning pattern. This is better than the random approach that many other vacuums have, but don’t be fooled into thinking it is smarter than it is.

If you want to mark no-go zones or rooms, you’ll need to use some magnetic tape to create boundary lines.

But, for the price, this is a great cleaning machine and if you want something simple and efficient, for this price, you won’t get may better.

Read our full review of the Proscenic 850T for more information on this model.

TICK-1
  • Strong suction
  • V-boost carpet detection
  • Large dustbin
  • Can mop simultaneously
  • Fantastic value
CROSS
  • Not very clever
  •  Limited voice commands
Proscenic 850T Robot Vacuum Cleaner, Wi-Fi Connected Robot Vacuum and Mop, Works with Alexa & Google...
  • 【Easy control】With Alexa and Google Home (Skill Name: Smart Life) you can control the robot vacuum by voice command. With the Proscenic app you can make cleaning plans, change cleaning modes,...

Last update on 2024-03-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

4. Roborock S7

Best robot vacuum and mop combo

roborock S7 Robot Vacuum and Mop, 2500PA Suction & Sonic Mopping, Robotic Vacuum Cleaner with...

The Roborock S7 hit the market in Spring 2021 fresh on the back of winning 17 Best of CES 2021 Awards, including from Business Insider, Digital Trends, Newsweek, and Digital Trends.

I’m a huge fan of Roborock and over the last few years they have consistently produced fantastic robotic vacuums to rival Roomba.

As a top-of-the-line robot, it packs all of the cool stuff you would expect. Awesome 2500Pa suction, LiDAR navigation, for multi-floor smart mapping and room cleaning. You can easily set no-go and no-mop zones via the Roborock app.

It also has some neat innovation on the rubber roller brush that can move slightly to stay better connected with the floor.

But, what sets the Roborock S7 apart is the mopping. Now I’ve never been a fan of mopping vacuum combos as, well, they’ve never been any good. Just loosely wiping a damp cloth over a floor from your backside isn’t the best way to mop.

However, this model boasts Sonic Vibration Technology.

Its sonic technology scrubs floors up to 3000 times per minute to remove dried-on dirt surface dirt, even coffee stains or muddy footprints. This is also backed by intelligent mop lifting that will automatically raise the mop 5mm when it detects carpeting or area rugs.

One thing missing, however, is the self-emptying feature. But, the good news is it is on the horizon. At the time of writing, Roborock is still developing the self-empty charging station and it is expected to be available in Summer of 2021 with the Roborock S7 being fully compatible with it.

Overall, this is a fantastic new addition to the Roborock S range of vacuums and a sure-fire hit if you want a mopping vacuum combo.

TICK-1
  • Amazing mopping skills
  • Accurate mapping capabilities and app control
  • Strong suction
  • Sleek and sexy
CROSS
  • A bit expensive.
  • Still very new so still unsure on longevity
  • The self-empty base will be an additional cost 
roborock S7 Robot Vacuum and Mop, 2500PA Suction & Sonic Mopping, Robotic Vacuum Cleaner with...
  • Sonic Mopping Technology. Roborock S7 robot vacuum mops with the power of sound, scrubbing up to 3,000 times per minute. Fed by a 300 ml electronic water tank, stains from coffee to mud and more can...

Last update on 2024-03-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

5. iRobot Roomba i7+

Perfect for carpets

iRobot Roomba i7+ (7550) Robot Vacuum with Automatic Dirt Disposal - Empties Itself for up to 60...

The Roomba i7+ is suitable for bigger homes with both carpets and bare floors, thanks to its carpet boost, good climbing ability, and strong suction force. It’s also great at picking up pet hairs thanks to its brushless rollers.

The Roomba i7+ comes with one side sweeper, advanced silicone rollers, strong suction and a 500 ml dustbin. Together these features work to loosen and suck off debris, dust, and dirt from hard floors and medium pile carpet

With smart carpet identification, it recognizes carpeted flooring and boosts air power to its max level for perfect cleaning. It also has dirt detect feature, this automatically provides deeper cleaning for high-traffic dirt spots. It is a great option if you are looking for the best robot vacuum for pet hair pick up.

There is a built-in camera sensor inside the Roomba i7+, this allows the robot to scan the surroundings and create a map of the room, so the vacuum knows where exactly to clean. Once it creates a map, the i7+ moves back and forth in straight lines methodically cleaning one room after another. And once the dustbin is full, the robot empties it and continues working. This botvac requires very little input from you. 

The Roomba i7 has an impressive feature called zone cleaning. Once it creates a map, you can divide it into areas, name each and schedule the vacuum to work on a specific zone. The robot can also store up to 10 different floor plans which makes it suitable for houses with multiple stories plus it comes with a dual virtual wall barrier.

Find out more details on this model by reading our full Roomba i7 review

TICK-1
  • Self-emptying dustbin. 
  • Multi-story mapping. 
  • Excellent cleaning capabilities. 
  • Automatic room recognition. 
  • Alexa and Google Assistant compatibility.
CROSS
  • A bit expensive. 
  • Can be noisy. 
Sale
iRobot Roomba i7+ (7550) Robot Vacuum with Automatic Dirt Disposal - Empties Itself for up to 60...
  • ALWAYS GETTING SMARTER - Quality that lasts; Intelligence that grows; equipped with advanced hardware capable of providing the intelligent features you love today, and access to our latest...

Last update on 2024-03-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

6. HONITURE Q6

Best value self-emptying robot vacuum

HONITURE Q6 Robot Vacuum Cleaner, 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum and Mop, Robotic Vacuum Self Emptying,...

I settled on the Honiture Q6 as the best value self-emptying robot vacuum due to the sub-$500 RRP. However, there are a number of robot vacuums that could easily fit into this spot depending on the offers available at the time.

The iRobot Roomba i3 (reviewed here) is a fantastic robot, as is the Neabot, click for review, and the Kyvol Cybovac S31, so be sure to do a little shopping around, as all of the mentioned above are excellent offerings.

But, this is about the HONITURE Q6. Lauded for its ability to completely clean an entire home, this robot vacuum cleaner will have your floors vacuumed in no time.

Strategically designed with intelligent laser mapping and routing capabilities, this vacuum “knows” where it has already cleaned and knows precisely where it needs to go next. This function is perfect for homes with pets as well! It navigates multiple rooms at once while remaining quiet (perfect for sleeping hours!), repetitively cleaning each area ensuring that not a spec of dust remains.

Equipped with a supersized 5200mAh LiPo battery capable of running for up to 280 minutes*, it’s perfect for big homes or multi-room spaces like offices. Once you set this little guy in motion, he won’t stop until every inch is cleaned!

But, if you decide to buy this vacuum, know you may be on your own. The after sales support is pretty non-existant. A few people report trouble connecting it to the wifi and haven’t been able to find help.

One of the benefits you get by buying from a more reputable company, such as Roomba or Coredy, is the product support should it throw up an error.

Another concern is the struggle with pet hair. There are quite a few complaints of long hair clogging up the brush and stopping it from working.

Overall this is a good vacuum. In the next few years, I’d expect to see self-emptying technology to get cheaper as there is more competition, so if you can’t afford it right now and are not in a rush, maybe hang on for a Black Friday or Prime Day deal.

TICK-1
  • Self-emptying dustbin
  • Great value
  • Smart mapping
  • Powerful suction
CROSS
  • Lack of post-sales support
  • hair gets tangled

Last update on 2023-05-12 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

7. Coredy L900

Smart and sexy

Coredy L900 Robot Vacuum Cleaner, Smart Laser Navigation, Precision AI Mapping Technology,...

The Coredy L900 is the robotic cleaner that’s smarter (and more awesome looking) than ever.

With LDS navigation, a water-level mopping option, and precise cleaning zone designation with targeted cleanings, you can remotely control your floor from anywhere on your phone.

It automatically recharges when its battery’s running low and offers voice prompts to remind you if any accidents occur (like having spilled juice or dropping crumbs). 

It also boasts a dirt-detection sensor that makes sure you don’t miss the tiniest speck of dust, and its dual side brushes automatically adjust to keep your floors extra clean.

I feel I should also mention the supersized 5200mAh lithium-ion battery. Thanks to this powerful battery, the vacuum cleaner can provide up to 3 hours of constant cleaning in an area 2000sqft or larger. Certainly up there with some of the best on the market.

For the price, this machine can easily compete with models that are $200 or $300 more. While Coredy may not be as much of a household name as Roomba, if they keep producing vacuums of this quality, it won’t be long until they are.

Find out more details on this model by reading our full Coredy L900 review.

TICK-1
  • Smart LIDAR navigation  
  • Interchangeable Vacuum & Mop
  • Super Quiet
  • Helpful voice-prompts
  • Looks great
CROSS
  • No self-emptying feature 
  • Can be tricky to get set up 
Coredy L900 Robot Vacuum Cleaner, Smart Laser Navigation, Precision AI Mapping Technology,...
  • Smart LIDAR Navigation: Thanks to laser radar (LIDAR) navigation technology, Coredy L900 robot vacuum cleaner smart map your home and create a systematic cleaning path route, prevent missed spot or...

Last update on 2024-03-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

8. Eufy 11s Slim

Simple and effective

eufy by Anker, BoostIQ RoboVac 11S (Slim), Robot Vacuum Cleaner, Super-Thin, Powerful Suction,...

I was a little hesitant to include the Eufy 11s Slim as it is knocking on a bit in years now but while the eufy Robovac has no special bells or whistles, it is simply a really good robot vacuum.

The Super-slim and robot vacuum cleaner has multiple cleaning modes with auto-clean scheduling for each of your flooring surfaces.

The unique design features a quieter motor to make vacuuming sound like operating a microwave oven but still offers powerful suction that can easily pick up pet hair across all types of floors in your home.

The larger 0.6L dustbin allows RoboVac to pick up more dirt and dust without the need for emptying in between vacuuming sessions.

So with everything else on this list, who is the Eufy 11s for? Well I think it would make a perfect robot vacuum for my grandparents or the slightly older generation who don’t want to faff around with wifi connectivity or smart mapping.

It is a solid choice for those who like a simple life but a bit of tech along the way to make it as relaxing a possible.

Find out more details on this model by in our post Eufy 11s vs 11s MAX.

TICK-1
  • Simple
  • Quiet
  • Slim
CROSS
  • Not very clever
  • uses bump and run navigation
Sale
eufy by Anker, BoostIQ RoboVac 11S (Slim), Robot Vacuum Cleaner, Super-Thin, Powerful Suction,...
  • What You Get: RoboVac 11S, remote control (2 AAA batteries included), charging base, AC power adapter, cleaning tool, 1 side brush, user manual, and our worry-free 12-month warranty.

Last update on 2023-09-05 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

9. GOOVI d380 Robotic Vacuum Cleaner

Best budget robot vacuum

No products found.

The Goovi Robotic vacuum cleaner is one of the cheapest you can get that still does a really good job. With a maximum suction power of 1600Pa, it sucks up dust, crumbs, and dirt. It works well on hardwood and low pile carpet. 

This robot has large wheels that enable it to easily roll over carpets and climb over door ledges to get to dirt spots and get the job done. It’s low profile design, only 2.83” high, allows it to comfortably slide under beds and sofas, and thoroughly cleans those hard-to-reach areas. 

The Goovi Robotic vacuum cleaner does not have a mobile app, neither is it compatible with Amazon Alexa but it comes with a remote control that allows to conveniently control it from a distance. 

It also features multiple cleaning modes and you can schedule a cleaning time so the robot will do an unsupervised cleaning while you do other things or nothing at all. And you don’t have to worry about a dead battery because this slim robot vacuum automatically returns to its charging base to recharge when the battery drops to a certain level, this ensures it’s always charged and ready to clean.

With this budget robot vacuum comes; four side brushes, one extra high-efficiency filter, one main brush, one remote control (2AAA batteries included), one cleaning brush, one charging dock, and one adapter.

You may also enjoy: Goovi d380 Review

TICK-1
  • Powerful suction force
  • Long-lasting battery
  • Low profile robot, less than 3”
CROSS
  • No app control
  • Can get trapped in loose cables

No products found.

10. Coredy R750 Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Our best value robot vacuum cleaner of 2019/2020

Coredy R750 Robot Vacuum Cleaner, Compatible with Alexa, Mopping System, Boost Intellect, Virtual...

The Coredy R750 is a robot vacuum that offers a simple design with strong cleaning performance. The design of this robot vacuum allows it to slide under furniture and with highly sensitive collision sensors, it can find its way around any obstacles in its part. It measures only 7.2cm, which allows it to maneuver into hard-to-reach areas to clean. 

You can easily control and set cleaning schedules for this robot vacuum using a remote, a mobile app, Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant voice commands. With any of these controls, you can make the robot start or stop cleaning, customize cleaning modes, and control cleaning direction. 

This little cleaning gadget features a boost-intellect technology which enables it to effortlessly move from hard-surface floor to low pile carpet, once on the carpet it automatically increases suction power within seconds.

The suction returns to normal once it’s off the carpeting. It also comes with a magnetic boundary strip, so if you want to clean only a specific area you can set up boundary markers.

With this robot comes; two 6.6ft magnetic boundary strips, four side brushes, one extra HEPA filter, one remote control (2 AAA batteries included), one charging dock, one AC power adapter, one cleaning tool, and 1-Year Warranty.

TICK-1
  • Effortlessly cleans all floor types. hardwood floors and moves from hardwood to my oriental rugs easily.
  • Easy to install and use
  • Is compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant
CROSS
  • The dust bin is a bit small and needs to be cleaned after every use.
  • The Coredy Robot App ONLY works with wifi 2.4 GHz wifi. 
Sale
Coredy R750 Robot Vacuum Cleaner, Compatible with Alexa, Mopping System, Boost Intellect, Virtual...
  • Voice & App Controls: Coredy R750 works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, conveniently start and stop cleaning with voice commands. Use the smart App to control your R750 robot vacuum cleaner,...

Last update on 2024-03-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Robot vacuum cleaners buying guide and advice

A robot vacuum cleaner is an intelligent machine that uses a vacuum cleaning system to automatically clean — and mop — the floors of houses. They are programmed to clean without the help or supervision of humans; with a push button or remote control from a smartphone app/Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, these gadgets will go on to do a very efficient cleaning job.

How do robot vacuum cleaners work?

All robot vacuum cleaners operate virtually the same way, and this involves three basic, except for some robot vacuum cleaners with mop function. To clean your house, a robot vacuum cleaner will go through the following stages and in the same order.

First, the sweeping or spinning brushes will capture dirt and all types of debris, hair, food particles, fur, etc. These brushes (usually two) work to bring both large and small debris from different corners and edges to the rolling brush in the center.

Next, the rolling brush (either one or two, depending on the design) will remove the debris and bristles from the floor. 

And finally, its powerful motor will suck very tiny dirt particles into the filtered dustbin through the air inlet while the High-Efficiency Particulate Air Filter (HEPA filter) will remove dust and dirt particles from the air.

You can read more in our post about how robot vacuums work.

But that’s not all because a robot vacuum cleaner with a mopping function will go one step further. It will gradually dispense liquid from its water tank to a microfiber cloth and scrub the floor with this damp cloth to remove any smudges.

A robot vacuum with wifi control being connected

Key features an ideal robot vacuum cleaner should have

Wi-Fi App Control

This feature gives you the convenience of controlling the robot from an app on your smartphone. You can also monitor the robot through the app and receive notifications from the it when you’re away from home.

Obstacles Avoidance

If your home is furnished there will be obstacles in the robot’s cleaning path. The ‘obstacle avoidance’ feature enables the robot to identify items such as sofas, tables, wall edges, stairs, etc. and, with the help of sensors, move away from them.

Intelligent Navigation

Robot vacuum cleaners with this feature use artificial intelligence to make a map of a room and divide it into cleaning zones for more efficient cleaning. With this, the robot can navigate smoothly while a GPS memory enables it to remember where it has cleaned and where to go to next. This means the robot gets the job done without your supervision.

Scheduling Cleaning

This feature lets you schedule specific cleaning times. With a pre-set cleaning time, the robot will automatically get to work once it’s time to clean, even in your absence.

Recharging Dock

Robot vacuum cleaners work with batteries and so need to be charged regularly. A recharging dock in a robot cleaner is an incredible feature because this means that the robot can automatically go and recharge itself before it runs out of power. All you have to do is select a space that the robot can easily access and it will always go there for a recharge.

HEPA filter

High Efficiency Particulate Air Filters remove very tiny dust, dirt particles and allergens from the air. If you have pets, then this is a good feature to look for in a robot cleaner.

Virtual Walls

The ‘virtual walls’ feature in a robot allows you to determine the exact place(s) you want the robot to clean. It literally lets you build virtual walls around the areas you want cleaned as the robot can’t go past your invisible walls.

Bin Size

The bin size of robot vacuum cleaners vary. A larger bin will mean a bigger robot but it’s more convenient and will save you needing to empty the bin too frequently. 

Vacuum Cleaner Table

How To Choose The Best Robot For Your Home?

When shopping for a robot cleaner, answering the following questions will help you narrow down your search and make the right choice.

  • Do you have a big house with many rooms?
    Robot vacuum cleaners are built with certain capabilities; some are built to clean very large areas while others work better in small environments. If you have a very spacious house with many rooms, look for a robot that’s specifically designed to clean large spaces and multiple rooms and floors.
  • Do you have carpets, tiles or hardwoods in the house?
    Some robots clean only specific surface types. Though most robots can clean tiles and wood floor without hassle, carpets pose more of a challenge. If this is what you have then make sure the robot you get is specially designed to clean carpets.
  • Do you spend much time at work and very little time at home? 
    If yes, you may prefer a robot cleaner with a scheduling cleaning function.
  • Do you have pets? 
    If yes, then consider a robot vacuum cleaner with HEPA filters.
  • Do you want a cleaner able to scrub floors? 
    Look for a robot cleaner with a mop function.
  • Do you want to have separate areas for cleaning? 
    You will need a cleaner that allows you to set virtual walls around your chosen areas.

How Much Do Robot Vacuum Cleaners Cost?

Prices of robot vacuum cleaners vary greatly depending on its smart features. If you want a more in depth analysis, you can read our post about how much a robot vacuum costs, but here is a quick overview of what you can expect for your money.

Robot Cleaners under $200 — Budget Model

Robot vacuum cleaners in this group do a pretty good job of cleaning the floors of your home but don’t expect smart features like intelligent navigation, Wi-Fi connectivity, scheduled cleaning, virtual walls or recharging dock. These are mostly simple robots that you’ll have to push a button and monitor them while they clean.

Robot Cleaners between $200 to $400 — Mid-range Model

Mid-range robots will offer long cleaning times and large bins but you still can’t expect to get any sophisticated functions. 

Robot Cleaners above $500 — Premium Model

Some premium robots cost well above $800 but you definitely get what you pay for. Robot cleaners with sophisticated and AI functions fall into this category.

How To Maintain Robot Vacuum Cleaners

How To Maintain Robot Vacuum Cleaners?

Properly maintaining your robot vacuum cleaner will help it last longer; below are some maintenance tips for you.

  1. Some of the common filters are washable; save money by not buying replacements so frequently. 
  2. Empty and clean the removable bin by taking it out and rinsing underwater.
  3. These robots need to be used in temperatures between 14°F (-10°C) and 122°F (50°C); this is because the electronic components do not work beyond this range. 
  4. You need to clean the robot vacuum cleaner every once in a while to prevent dust interfering with the robot’s sensor (make sure you turn off the power first). 
  5. Using the robot vacuum cleaner outdoors is not recommended because exposure to sun and rain may damage the robot and reduce its lifespan.
  6. Make sure you always recharge your robot and use only the recommended charging device. Do not use other devices to charge it so you don’t shorten its battery life.

And finally on maintenance, you may have to replace these things at times. This will help you get the most life out of your robot vacuum cleaner.

Know before you buy: limitations of robot vacuum cleaners

  1. These robots come with parts that can be replaced after a while but replacements can be expensive.
  2. Some cleaning robots cannot comfortably access under furniture (they can get stuck) and therefore can’t effectively clean these areas.
  3. Robot vacuum cleaners need regular maintenance (such as emptying the bin). Those with small bins will need to be emptied after every cleaning session.
  4. You have to remember to recharge your robot, especially if it doesn’t have the automatic recharging feature.
  5. Robot vacuum cleaners won’t replace your manual vacuuming completely. They are still just robots so don’t have the same vision. While they are great for day to day cleaning, you will probably still find yourself having to vacuum manually every now and again. Just nowhere near as often as you used to.
Vacuum Cleaner

FAQs

What is the life expectancy of robot vacuum cleaners?

With proper maintenance, you can expect your robot vacuum cleaner to last for around 4 to 6 years. Another factor that greatly contributes to the robot’s lifespan is sturdy build quality (don’t expect a cheaply-built robot to last as long).

Are robot vacuums worth it?

Robot vacuums are a great addition to any home and provide you with more time for the things that matter most. While some people enjoy cleaning, others would rather spend their free-time doing something else. This is where robot vacuum cleaners come in handy! They’re compact machines which will not take up too much space at all; moreover, these gadgets can do your chores while you sit back on the sofa or prepare dinner – it’s like having an extra pair of hands around every day!

Can a robot replace a normal vacuum?

They work really well in open spaces like bedrooms or living rooms, however, in tight spaces they may struggle. I see robot vacuums as a more efficient way of vacuuming on a day to day basis, but you may want to keep a traditional vacuum around for spot cleaning from time to time.

Do you need WiFi for robot vacuum?

Most robot vacuums will work without WiFi, however, many features such as smart mapping and scheduling may need it to be able to connect to the app.

Do robot vacuums learn your house?

Robot vacuums that offer smart mapping use many different sensors that work together in order to learn your house and navigate around homes. Some also use onboard cameras for object recognition. Older models may have an element of smart route planning, but this is different to smart mapping as it relates the the path the vacuum takes as opposed to where it is cleaning.

How often do you empty a robot vacuum?

This depends on the size of the dustbin, but usually every 3 -4 charges it will require emptying. If you forget it’s not the end of the world, your vacuum will just be a little less efficient until you remember to empty it.

The best older robot vacuums on the market

As mentioned way back in the intro, as I updated this post I didn’t want to remove these robot vacuums as they are still very good. As they are a bit older, you can also find some amazing deals on them.

11. Roborock S5 MAX Robot Vacuum – best robot vacuum that also mops

Roborock S5 MAX Robot Vacuum and Mop

The Roborock S5 MAX is another amazing robot vacuum cleaner, especially for large multiple-story houses with pets. It is suitable for cleaning all types of floor; hardwood, tiles, bare floor as well as carpeted floors.

The robot has a rubber side brush that catches even the smallest dirt particles on any floor type. There is also a cleaning brush and two big wheels underneath the robot. 

Equipped with multiple sensors, this machine’s navigation system can avoid obstacles or furniture without getting stuck. It also has sensors that recognize carpet flooring and once it finds itself on a carpet, it boosts up suction to provide deep cleaning and returns to normal when it is off the carpet. 

Inside the dustbin is a washable HEPA filter that’s built to last. With features like strong suction, carpet boost, and big wheels, this robot can pick up even the smallest particles and has no issues with dog hair and long human hair. 

It also has an integrated mop feature, with a large reservoir, which is as simple as dampening the cloth, sliding it onto the filled water tank, and snapping it straight onto the underside of the robot. Its water tank has a switch that adjusts the amount of water you need depending on your cleaning needs making it up there with the best robot vacuum for hardwood floors

👍 Pros

  • Impressive battery life 
  • Very powerful suction force
  • Washable HEPA 
  • Has a water tank and two different mops for excellent mopping
  • Automatic recharge & Resume
  • Multiple suction levels

👎 Cons

  • It’s a bit expensive
  • Compatible with only 2.4Hz WiFi frequency band
  • The dustbin has to be cleaned after every use

12. iRobot Roomba 614

iRobot Roomba 614 Robot Vacuum- Good for Pet Hair, Carpets, Hard Floors, Self-Charging

iRobot Roomba 614 is a robot with very basic and simple designs but it still does a good job of sweeping and cleaning your floors. It has a three-stage cleaning system for loosening, lifting, and sucking dirt, dust, and hair from hard floors as well as medium and low pile carpets. 

The Roomba 614 also features the Patented Dirt Detect sensors alert, this feature helps it find concentrated areas of dirt, such as high traffic zones of your home, so it can work harder on these areas and leave them spotless. 

With an integrated edge sweeping brush which is specially designed at a 27o angle to sweep debris away from edges and corners, this robot thoroughly cleans wall edges. Roomba 614 also comes equipped with a full suite of sensors which enables it to intelligently navigate the floors of your home, the robot can move around objects and slide under furniture to help thoroughly clean your floors. 

Though it has only basic features, this robovac still does a superb cleaning job and after a runtime of about 90 minutes, it automatically crawls back to its docking station for a recharge.

👍 Pros

  • It does a decent job vacuuming your carpets and floors.
  • Dirt detect sensors for identifying high dirt zones
  • Edge sweeping brush for thoroughly cleaning edges
  • Auto recharge feature

👎 Cons

  • The collection bin have to be emptied after every use 
  • It doesn’t have WiFi or scheduled cleaning feature 

13. Ecovacs Deebot Ozmo 920

Ecovacs DEEBOT OZMO 920 2-in-1 Vacuuming & Mopping Robot with Smart Navi 3.0 Systematic Cleaning, Multi-Floor Mapping, Works with Alexa, Large, Black

Another great robot vac that will leave the floors of your home clean and spotless is the Ecovacs Deebot Ozmo 920. The Deebot Ozmo 920 can easily cross obstacles like door sills up to 20mm, and a height of  93 mm it can clean under hard to reach places.

It also has a very quiet motor and cleans at a low sound level, allowing you to engage in daily activities such as conversation and watching television without interruption. With computerized fluid dynamics, the suction channel and assembly of Deebot OZMO 920 is optimized to ensure maximum suction power with minimum sound level. 

It’s also compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant voice control, which makes it easy to use. This robot has a runtime of approximately 110 minutes and will return to its charging dock when the battery drop significantly, it also resumes work after recharging. With an innovative electronic water pump and reservoir, this gadget can mop and vacuum at the same time and it automatically avoids carpets while mopping. 

Through the companion app you can adjust the water level for the mopping. For intelligent navigation, the Deebot Ozmo 920 is equipped with Smart Navi 3. 0 to efficiently map your floorplan to your smartphone using laser technology. And the interactive map gives you the ability to choose how and where you want to clean. You can also use unlimited virtual boundaries to specify areas to be cleaned. 

👍 Pros

  • Multi-floor mapping and laser tracking
  • Virtual fencing/walling
  • Great vacuuming performance on low pile carpets and hard floors
  • Customize areas and spot clean all from your phone
  • Mop function works well for maintaining floors

👎 Cons

  • Small dust collection bin

14. Samsung POWERbot R7040 Robot Vacuum

Samsung POWERbot R7040 Robot Vacuum Wi-Fi Connectivity

The POWERbot R7040 has an excellent Visionary Mapping which enables it to see all obstacles in its way, it also features a FullView Sensor 2.0 for smart navigation. It will scour your home and create an ideal cleaning path, avoiding any and all obstacles that pop up. 

It comes with EasyPass wheels to help it smoothly move from one surface to another and recharge and resume features to enable it to return to its docking station when it runs out of juice. With a strong suction power, it delivers powerful cleaning on all floor types, and with less clogging. Strong centrifugal forces separate dirt and debris into an outer chamber to maintain long-lasting suction power. 

You can easily control this bot using the remote control, smartphone app, or voice-enabled devices like Bixby, Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. With an innovative rubber blade that extends, it can clean hard-to-reach areas like corners and along the edges of the wall.

It uses bump sensors to avoid obstacles within its path and can easily get under the furniture to clean. It also works great on bare floors and has the spot clean feature which is great for cleaning spills and particularly dirty spots. 

👍 Pros

  • 120o side angle camera for good navigation
  • Compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant
  • Edge cleaning feature
  • Automatic recharge and resume feature
  • Multiple suction levels

👎 Cons

  • The collection bin gets full pretty quickly
  • The runtime is not very impressive 

15. Ecovacs Deebot N78 Robotic Vacuum Cleaner

ECOVACS DEEBOT N78 Robotic Vacuum Cleaner for Pet Hair, Hard Floor - Cleaning Robot

The Ecovacs Deebot N78 is an excellent machine for cleaning hardwood, tiles and concrete floors, it efficiently removes human, dog hair and other dirt particles without getting any tangles on the brush. With the Ecovacs Smart Motion technology, will intelligently navigate your home while giving your floor multiple cleaning passes rather than just randomly moving around. 

When this robot is in action, you can comfortably have normal conversations and hear yourselves perfectly because it has a powerful but quiet motor, (noise level is only 56 decibels). 

The Ecovacs Deebot N78 features three cleaning modes, the auto cleaning mode for cleaning every part of the floor, the spot cleaning mode for cleaning a specific spot (perfect for spills) and the edge cleaning mode for thoroughly cleaning the edges of your walls. And you select a cleaning mode, change the robot’s direction, schedule cleaning times and generally control the robot using its remote control. 

Another important feature is the HEPA filter, it uses a highly efficient filter to trap pollen, dirt, dust, and dust mites in the air and then send them into the dustbin.  This means that you can breathe fresher air after each cleaning cycle. This robot vacuum uses anti-drop sensors to avoid falling down the stairs. It changes direction and adjusts its cleaning path once it detects a drop-off point. The Deebot N78 will find its way back to its charging dock once the battery runs low for an automatic recharge. 

👍 Pros

  • Thoroughly cleans hardwood, tiles and concrete flooring
  • Very quiet cleaning
  • Self-adjusting wheels for easily navigating floors with uneven surfaces

👎 Cons

  • It does not have any dust sensors. 
  • Doesn’t work so well on carpets (Carpets reduce maximum battery life to 50 minutes.)
  • It can automatically recharge itself, but it doesn’t automatically resume cleaning after charging.
  • Battery charge time is about 4 to 5 hours

16. Roborock E20 Robot Vacuum Cleaner, Vacuum and Mop

Roborock E20 Robot Vacuum Cleaner

With the Roborock E20, you can choose to just vacuum or vacuum and mop your home at the same time. An intense suction force sucks up all dirt particles into a super-sized dustbin while the mop fibers go to work for thorough cleaning. 

It’s equipped with a water tank and mopping cloth and to get it to mop, simply insert the water container and fill it with water, fix the mop cloth and let the vacuum go. The cleaner mops for about 40-50 minutes before the tank gets dry after which you can refill the water tank to continue. Water is naturally absorbed into the mop as it cleans, eliminating puddling. 

The E20 robotic vacuum cleaner is designed to automatically recognize carpets, and once it’s on a carpet, it increases the suction intensity so as to completely suck off every dirt and dust particle. This robot also has the recharge and resume feature, it comes equipped dual-gyro system, 13 motion tracking sensors which provide drop avoidance, anti-collision, trap prevention, they also create a high-efficiency cleaning path for every room. 

For easy and convenient control, this robot vacuum has a mobile app from which you can start, stop, schedule, customize, charge, spot clean, check accessory status, and control movement direction of the robot. 

👍 Pros

  • Has recharge and resume feature
  • Suitable for both carpet and hard floor
  • Can mop and sweep at the same time
  • Impressive suction power

👎 Cons

  • Can get stuck under a cushion
  • It’s a bit noisy

17. DEENKEE DK700 Robot Vacuum

DeenKee DK700 Robot Vacuum

The Denkee DK700 is a robot vac with more than average features. It comes with a gyroscope system, a companion app, WiFi connection, a remote control, and it works with voice control via Alexa and Google Assistant, so you can activate and control the robot by your voice.

The robot first creates a clean map of the room to be cleaned and you can see this map on the app, this map will show how the robot will move while cleaning and you can monitor the cleaning on your app, you will see where has been cleaned and which areas are yet to be cleaned, this cleaning technique prevents repeated cleaning. 

The DK700 has the 4 common clean modes, plus two new cleaning modes – max power vacuum mode and timed cleaning mode. It has a built-in multi-function omnidirectional infrared sensor for anti-collision and anti-drop cliff sensor functions, this protects the robot at any time during the cleaning process. After about 100 mins of cleaning the battery will need a recharge, and to do this, the robot automatically returns to its docking station for a recharge. 

👍 Pros

  • The suction is strong and sucks everything out of its way
  • It has 6 cleaning modes
  • Has infrared sensors for anti-collision

👎 Cons

  • The robot doesn’t save the map feature

Conclusion … Should You Buy a Robot Vacuum Cleaner?

If you want to save labor and time on house chores (they never seem to finish), you definitely should consider getting a robot vacuum cleaner to help you sweep and scrub the floor. These days, a robot cleaner isn’t just a luxury – for increasing numbers of people these gadgets are very necessary in a home. 

They won’t magically make your house chores go away but they will tremendously help you maintain a neat and healthy home. Of course, the robot cleaner you eventually buy will depend on your budget but even those below $200 will help to get your home cleaner. 

About the author

Matt is the founder of the Little Robot Shop, who has spent much of the last decade hacking home cleaning with various robots and devices to make keeping his home clean as easy as possible. Not an easy task with two young children.

When not working on the Little Robot Shop website or YouTube channel, he works as technical support and product specialist for a fast-growing digital company. He does his best to get his younglings to code, which will be an essential skill in the future.

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