Robot vacuums are game changer, offering hands free cleaning, saving time effort. Finding the right robot vacuum cleaner can be overwhelming as there are so many makes and models available to choose from. But do not worry! we will help you find the best one for your needs. We have tried and tested dozens of models to see weather they are fit for the purpose.
Best Robot Vacuums – QUICK LIST
Eufy X10 Pro OMNI Robot Vacuum
Xiaomi Robot Vacuum X20+
TAPO RV30 Max Plus
Dreame L40 Ultra
Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra
Eufy RoboVac G50
Robot Vacuum – FulL LIST
What to look for in a Robot vacuum cleaner?
When looking for a robot vacuum cleaner you should check a few things in the vacuum cleaner. These will help you decide if a certain robot vacuum cleaner may be suitable for your needs. Sometimes it can be a bit tempting to buy the one which is available at lowest cost or the one with most amount of money knocked off but that doesn’t mean it will provide best value for money. Read below to see what should you look for in a robot vacuum cleaner:
Suction Power of affordable vacuum cleaner
The first thing you should look for in a robot vacuum is its suction power. This is perhaps the most important things to look for in a robot vacuum. This is like the horsepower in cars – but in vacuums it measured in ‘Pa’. Higher suction power or higher Pa value means better performance.
Some of the basic models have suction power between 2000 to 3000 Pa. These vacuum cleaners are only suitable for hard or wood floors and can pick up small to medium size particles including some pet hair.
For a low cost vacuum cleaner a good suction power is between 4000 to 6000 Pa, as it is better for mixed floors including carpets. It will pick up dust, food particles and hair. Suction power of 7000+ Pa is ideal for homes which mostly have carpets. These robot vacuum cleaners typically cost more but are a good investment.
Roller Brush or Suction Only
The next thing you should look for in an a robot vacuum is weather it has a roller brush or is suction only. It is better to have a vacuum cleaner with a roller brush as it generally performs better compared to suction only by lifting up the particles and providing more thorough clean. Generally, the suction only robot vacuums are cheaper compared to the ones with a roller brush.
Obstacle Avoidance
You should also check how the robot navigates the floor area and what type of sensors or cameras it uses to avoid collusions with the objects. Some vacuums can prevent collisions but require you to remove the obstacle, while others can detect and navigate around obstacles without needing any intervention.
Navigation and Mapping
Mapping is very important feature in a robot vacuum, it controls how the vacuums moves around your home. This is crucial for effective cleaning process.
- Basic Navigation Some models only have basic navigation. The way these work is that they move randomly and when they hit an obstacle such as sofa or a chair they bounce back and start moving in a different direction. The problem with this approach is that these vacuum cleaners can easily miss spots.
- Gyroscope Navigation As the name suggests, these robot vacuums rely on a gyroscope to follow structured pattern. This provided better navigation and improved coverage.
- Lidar Laser Mapping Ideally, you should buy a robot vacuums cleaner which offers lidar laser mapping. This is a premium features, robots vacuums with this features generally cost more than the basic models. These vacuums use laser sensors to create a map of your home which is highly accurate. Using this, the robot cleaner creates efficient cleaning routes and avoids obstacles on the way.
- Camera based mapping This is similar to lidar based mapping, these robots use camera to map the house and avoid obstacles.
We recommend buying a vacuum cleaner that allows you to create no go zones. For example, if you have lose wires somewhere in the house – you can create a no go zone, so the vacuums cleaner won’t go there. This avoids it getting stuck in the wires.
Robot vacuum station AND SELF EMPTYING DOCK
Most of the robots vacuums can self empty their dustbin in a larger bin or bag in the docking station. This used to be a premium features, but now you will find this features in most of the robots vacuum cleaners.
Mopping feature
If your home mostly have wood or laminate flooring then you may need to consider a robot vacuum with mopping feature. Mopping feature in a robot vacuum can basic or more advanced.
Charging and battery life
When buying a robot vacuum, also consider how long the battery lasts and how long it takes to fully recharge. We recommend buying a robot vacuum which can return to its charging station when battery is low.
How to Choose Your Best Fit (Quick Guide):
- Best All-Rounder (Premium): Eufy X10 Pro Omni, Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra, Dreame L40 Ultra / X50 Ultra, Ecovacs T30S COMBO. These offer the most features and hands-free convenience.
- Best for Wooden/Hard Floors: Any model with strong mopping (Eufy X10 Pro Omni, Dreame L40 Ultra/X50 Ultra, Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra, Xiaomi X20+, Ecovacs T30S COMBO). Models with auto-lifting mops are great for mixed hard floors and carpets.
- Best for Pet Hair: Dreame L40 Ultra/X50 Ultra (for advanced features & high suction), Shark PowerDetect (bagless convenience & anti-tangle), Roborock Q5 Pro+ (vacuum-focused, excellent value), Eufy X10 Pro Omni (all-rounder for pets). Look for high suction and tangle-resistant brushrolls.
- Best for Carpets: Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra, Roborock Q5 Pro+, Shark PowerDetect, Eufy X10 Pro Omni, Dreame L40 Ultra/X50 Ultra. Look for high suction (5000 Pa+), strong brushrolls, and carpet boost features.
- Best Budget All-Rounder (Value for Money): Xiaomi Robot Vacuum X20+, TP-Link Tapo RV30 Max Plus, Proscenic Floobot X1. These offer excellent feature sets (including self-emptying and mapping) at a more accessible price point.
Best Robot Vacuum CleanerS – FAQ
How often should I run my robot vacuum?
Generally, this depend on how often you normally have to clean your house. For routine cleaning to pick dust and debris, running your robot vacuum every other day or every few day is ideal. You can consider more frequent runs if you have pets.
Can robot vacuums replace a traditional vacuum cleaner?
Yes, for most households it can replace a normal vacuum cleaner. However, it largely depends on how good is the robot vacuum cleaner. A robot vacuum cleaner with good suction power, a roller brush and good mapping will replace normal vacuum cleaning to a large extent but you may still need occasional deep cleans using a traditional vacuum cleaner. Similarly, you will still need vacuum cleaner for stairs, car etc.
Do robot vacuums get stuck often?
If depends on the vacuum cleaner itself and the features it offers. Most of the newer models use advanced navigation and obstacle avoidance. These vacuum cleaner can easily navigate around sofas, cables, and even small objects. However, very cluttered environments or areas with loose cables can still pose a challenge for any robot. To avoid this, you can set up ‘no go zones’ using the app. This feature is available in some of the models.
Are robot vacuums noisy?
The noise level varies, most of the newer models are designed to move around the house quietly, often around 55-65 dB, which is comparable to a normal conversation. However, high suction robot vacuums, especially those with high suction power can be nosier, similar to traditional vacuums cleaners.
How do I maintain my robot vacuum?
To maintain a robot vacuum make sure to:
clean its sensors if needed
empty its dustbin or if its self-emptying then empty the main dustbin in the docking station
replace the filters as per manufacturers recommendations
Can robot vacuums clean stairs?
No, robot vacuum cleaner are unable to clean stairs. However, most of the robot vacuums do have sensors which prevent them form falling down the stairs.
Is a robot vacuum with a mopping function worth it?
Yes, if you have wooden or laminate flooring then mopping feature can be great addition. Some of the robot vacuum cleaners are good for occasional spills and light cleaning while others offer scrubbing for fresher look.
