Robot vacuum cleaners have seen a rise in popularity recently due to increasing technological and mapping capabilities and, finally, ever so slightly more affordable prices. So, wouldn’t your life be that little bit easier if you had someone – or something – to share the load?
Granted, it can be daunting stepping into the digital world but don’t worry, we’re here to lead you through the process of finding the ideal cyborg companion to rid your carpet and floors of pet hair, dust and dirt. Once you’ve got an understanding of what will work best for you, head onto our reviews of the best robot hoovers and mop combos available on Amazon, Argos and more from brands like Dyson, iRobot and Xiaomi.
Quick List - Top Robot Vacuums
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Before we even get to the devices themselves, your number one port of call is to consider how big your home is. While the manufacturers don’t stipulate whether their robot vacuum works for, say, homes of up to 2000m2, they do provide some useful information you can work with, such as whether it has multiple floor mapping abilities.
You see, the way the vacuum works is by using its sensors to create a map. They’ll store this map – and the best will also update it – to ensure that they don’t get stuck or run into any furniture. However, many can only create one map, which leaves a problem if you have a two-storey home. If you do, a device that is able to store multiple maps would make things much easier.
In the tables beneath each product, we have advised whether a vacuum will function in a large or small house. We’ve concluded this by assessing both the floor mapping features as well as other specs such as run time and capacity. Whether they're intended to or not, some devices are just better suited to different sized homes.
Next, you’ll want to consider the dimensions of the appliance. One of the coolest aspects of having a robot vacuum is that those hard-to-reach corners or spots in the home, such as under the bed and sofa, are now fair game. The only issue is that the vac won’t go there if it can’t fit.
Therefore, you should check the height against the furniture in your home. Most robot vacuums sit at about 7 to 10 cm, which should see them fit under most people's fittings. However, now and then, you’ll come across some truly thick options – think 14 to 18 cm tall – which could be unsuitable for lower-set sofas, cabinets and beds.
The internet keeps us connected to people at all times, but nowadays, we can remain linked to our appliances too. Being future-forward, most robot vacuums now come with an app that will enable you to control them from your smartphone or device wherever you are.
The control features will vary from brand to brand, but if you use Alexa, Google Assistant or similar, check whether the robot is capable of syncing up with virtual assistants. This means your device will start cleaning by you simply asking it to, which is probably much better than the other humans in the house.
There are a few entry-level devices that come with remotes instead of connecting to an app, so if you’re looking to keep the cost down, consider whether this will work for you. It has to be said, though, these aren’t anywhere near as convenient, and we feel like you’d be missing the true pleasure of owning one of these models.
Firstly, we have programmable timers, which allow you to arrange for your device to start cleaning at any given time, whether that's while you're asleep (most are pretty quiet) or at work. This is usually cordinated through the app and often works like setting an alarm on your phone – meaning it’s super straightforward.
Secondly, automatic docking. One of the downfalls of the previous generations is that they would often run out of battery and end up stranded on your floor with the job half done. Nowadays, many models will recognise when their battery is low and return to the charging port. Not only that, but once they have enough juice, they’ll get back to what they started and finish cleaning.
Finally, for the protection of your investment, look for stair detection. This is pretty common, as customers wouldn’t be happy returning broken models that kept falling down the stairs. However, it’s always worth double-checking that it has this. Sometimes, you’ll need to set up a barrier – either in the app or with magnetic tape – to prevent the vacuum from wandering over the edge.
When compared to more traditional vacuum cleaners, we can deduce that robot versions don’t have anywhere near as large a capacity – but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth considering. After all, you’re going to have to empty it, and the chances are you’d prefer to do that as little as possible.
You can expect a robot vacuum's capacity to range from 0.2 to 0.7 litres, and finding what will be best for you depends on your home situation. For instance, are you planning on using it to clean the rug that the dog sleeps and sheds on? Or is it simply for a whip-round in a quiet, child- and pet-free home while a busy businessperson is out?
Recognising how much dust and debris the vacuum needs to pick up will determine what the right capacity is for you. For convenience, you can even find machines that empty themselves into a larger charging station, which increases its capacity by a fair amount.
Finally, you’ll want to consider the runtime. Truthfully, unless you have an especially big home, most devices will have more than enough juice to clean the average space as they usually run for between 100 and 180 minutes. This should easily tackle the laminate and carpet of a double-storey with some battery to spare – although remember, you’ll still have to do the stairs.
With that in mind, it’s again a case of taking your living situation into account. Our advice would be to consider how long it would take you to hoover and work from there. Plus, it’s worth remembering that, if their battery is low, many devices will navigate back to their charging stations and then return to work, so it’s not as decisive a factor as it once was.
Why not research some other types of vacuum cleaners by reading our guides on the best bagless vacuum cleaners, pet vacuum cleaners and cordless vacuum cleaners.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | iRobot® Roomba® i7+|i755640 | ![]() | Go For Months Without Emptying the Waste | |
2 | Roborock S6 MaxV | ![]() | Plenty of Bells and Whistles While Cleaning Very Well | |
3 | eufy by Anker BoostIQ RoboVac 15C|T2120 | ![]() | Packing a Punch Way Above Its Price Range | |
4 | Proscenic 850T Robot Vacuum Cleaner | ![]() | Control via App, Smart Assistant or Even Remote | |
5 | Ecovacs Deebot T8 Pure Robot Vacuum and Mop | ![]() | Clever Detection Technology Will Avoid Carpets if Necessary | |
6 | eufy by Anker RoboVac G30 Verge|T2252 | ![]() | Super Quiet to Disturb Dust, Not People | |
7 | Neato Robotics D701 Intelligent Robot Vacuum | ![]() | A Bot That Can Get Right Into the Corners | |
8 | Coredy R750 Robot Vacuum Cleaner | ![]() | A Vacuum and Mop Combo for a Snip | |
9 | Xiaomi Roborock S6|S6P02-00 | ![]() | Known for Its Powerful Pet Hair Suction | |
10 | Dyson 360 Heurist™ |DYS-5042335 | ![]() | Highly Accurate Mapping From Dyson |
This one might take up a little more room than your average robot vacuum, but trust us, it's worth it. You see, its charging station is also a large depository, so theoretically, you won't need to change the bin for months at a time. This feature is usually saved for the most expensive models, and while this is not a budget buy, it's not at the very top end.
That's not all, as you can expect a range of programmable features that will see the device work where, when and however you would like it to. Further, we also like the contemporary design and how quiet it is. With the i7+, you're getting a lot of tech for a mid-range price, and for that reason, this is our top recommendation.
Roborock are one of the market leaders in the robot vacuum sphere, and for good reason. The S6 MaxV, in particular, is a fantastic hoover and mop combo that uses two cameras and LiDAR to quickly map your home and is able to store multiple different floor plans.
Some of the AI is really something else too – the camera can take pictures of obstacles, upload them to the app and even identify them for you. So, if you've still not managed to find that long-lost slipper, it might be worth sending this under the couch. Most importantly, though, it also cleans very well.
Here we have our most economical option, so if you're looking for a product that won't require a dip into the rainy day funds or too long of a saving-up process, this might be perfect for you. The device can be powered from either a smartphone or virtual assistant and works quietly for up to 100 minutes.
Moreover, it uses BoostIQ technology to interpret the terrain it's cleaning, switching quickly (around 1.5 seconds) depending on whether it's on a carpet or hard floor. It has a slightly lower suction power than higher-end models, but for a budget option, you really do get a lot.
One of the biggest drawers of the Proscenic 850T is the ease of use and uncomplicated set-up: simply download the app, select your model and you're off. There are other control options too, such as Alexa or Google Assistant, but if you're not interested in all things smart, then there's also a remote.
The device works quickly and methodically and, depending on what mode you have it on (silent, standard or powerful) it can clean for up to 150 minutes at a time. One of the clever aspects is that the device will automatically adjust the power depending on what surface it's cleaning, so you won't have to always keep an eye on it.
Okay, we know we said earlier that the runtime isn't overly critical unless you have a large house, but when a product can take things to new levels, we should celebrate it. So, well done Ecovacs! In the Deebot T8, they've created the longest-lasting robot vacuum we've come across at 200 minutes.
It has numerous other appealing features for houses of all sizes too, namely, that it can mop your floor as well as vacuum, and very well at that. Now, you might be worried about this if you have carpets and hard flooring, but fear not, thanks to the detection technology, it will avoid this.
This nifty appliance's claim is that it disturbs dust, not people. Using its smart dynamic navigation system and strong suction, the vacuum will methodically – yet quietly – make its way around your home, picking up across all surfaces and giving you noticeably cleaner floors. It manages different terrains well thanks to the large wheels.
Furthermore, it also comes with both smart assistant capability and our three favourite features: programmable times, auto docking when the battery level is low and drop-sensing technology. Unfortunately, the WiFi connection is known to drop out now and then, so you might want to keep an eye out for that.
It has to be said, the Neato Robotics D701 Intelligent Robot Vacuum has some really cool features. One that we especially like is the intuitive app, which allows you to draw no-go lines to ensure that your robot will avoid certain areas while cleaning.
In addition to that, this appliance also has an innovative shape with a flat side that allows the vacuum to get right into corners and edges, leaving no part of the floor untouched. One thing to look out for is that the sensor is rather, well, sensitive. Apparently, if you have it on in bright sunlight, it can become discombobulated and end up a little lost.
Vacuuming the floor is handy and all, but what if you had a machine that could take care of it all? Enter the Coredy R750+, which sweeps, hovers and mops for complete floor maintenance. Plus, it's also one of the slimmest and quietest appliances around.
You can control this smart machine by using both the app and your voice through Alexa. Unlike with some of the older models, this the R750+ does include a water tank and cleaning mop cloth.
The S6 from forward-thinking company Xiaomi (who have now teamed up with Roborock) is feature for feature, a great value option for a mop and hoover combo. A particular highlight is the precision laser navigation system, which means effective mapping and maximum area coverage.
It also offers powerful suction, which many users report is great for pet hair, and the ability to be controlled manually, via the app or with your smart assistant. Surprisingly for a tech brand, the app is known for not being the easiest to use nor the most intuitive, but hopefully, this will change with updates.
Commencing the ranking today, we have this robot cleaner from a very trusted name in the hoover game, Dyson. It has the powerful suction you'd expect, up-to-date features and builds a tremendously accurate map of your home whilst having a memory that is 32 times higher than its predecessor.
However, there are a couple of setbacks. Firstly, this is a rather chunky unit that measures a whopping 18 cm in height, so it's not exactly nimble at getting around. Secondly, it'll cost you the best part of a bag of sand, which is usually enough to put most people off.
Depending on the model, Robot Vacuums do have the ability to go between hardwood and carpet without an issue. They can also detect different pieces of furniture and can go under them. This is why it is best to research the different features of your Robot Vacuum to see if it suits your cleaning needs and home.
Yes, Robot Vacuums can detect stairs. You don't need to worry about them falling down the stairs as they are designed to detect any steep drops and change directions. It is important to note that Robot Vacuums don't have the ability to climb stairs and some models have better sensors than others.
Written and researched by Lewis Clark
No. 1: iRobot® |Roomba® i7+|i755640
No. 2: Roborock|S6 MaxV
No. 3: eufy by Anker|BoostIQ RoboVac 15C|T2120
No. 4: Proscenic|850T Robot Vacuum Cleaner
No. 5: Ecovacs|Deebot T8 Pure Robot Vacuum and Mop
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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