The best robot vacuum cleaner and mop Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Robot vacuums can make the task of vacuuming a little less painful. Modern models can also mop and even climb (small) steps.

Some have a smaller bin that they empty by themselves. Others are controlled with apps for smartphones instead of a physical remote. Some models have mapping capabilities to help them navigate your home more effectively.

1. Power

With 8,000Pa of suction power Our top choice for robot vacuums is powerful enough to handle the worst dirt patches and hairs. Its slim square shape enables it to slide underneath furniture, such as couches and beds. Dual-Laser LIDAR technology offers precise obstacle avoidance as well as intelligent navigation. It's also great for cleaning pet hair, baking powder and other debris that can be found near baseboards and corners.

In addition to the DEEBOT X2 OMNI, the other powerful bots in this list include the IRobot Roomba J7+ as well as the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. The latter comes bundled with a powerful docking station that automatically performs maintenance and has mopping functionality as well. Its powerful suction system, along with its efficient mopping, made sure my floors were free of pet hair, muddy prints and other debris on every type of floor we test.

In the lower cost range, a model that has 2,500Pa of suction is more than adequate for the majority of homes. They are also quieter, which makes them the ideal option for those with sensitive hearing. They're still not silent, but they're only about the same as a normal conversation at home.

Take into consideration your budget and cleaning needs to find the perfect combination of power and convenience. For frequent light-duty cleaning you will require a longer time-to-run and less suction is needed. Weekly heavy-duty cleaning requires the most power. Then assess your flooring, layout of your home and cleaning schedules in order to select the best robot hoover model for your requirements. We recommend checking out our entire list of Robot vacuum cleaners best vacuum reviews and ratings to get more information on the latest models available. Many users have reported that their carpets and floors looking significantly cleaner after introducing a robot autonomous vacuum into their home.

2. Navigation

A robot vacuum cannot do its job without knowing how to navigate around your home. For this reason, the most effective robots depend on advanced navigation technology that effectively scans rooms and creates an outline map to ensure thorough cleaning without getting lost or hitting obstacles. There are three types of robot navigation that include LiDAR, camera and sensor.

The most expensive models utilize LiDAR to create a digital map of the room, offering the highest levels of precision and efficiency. Cheaper models rely on bump sensors, which can be more inaccurate and can miss a lot of debris in dark areas. Most robots are equipped with cliff sensors, which stop them from falling off stairs or other drops.

A number of the robots I tested utilized object recognition to navigate things like fake dog turds. But the Eufy X10 was the Best robot vacuum cleaner UK. It had excellent mapping capabilities and powerful oscillating mops that could be used as an easy-to-use app, and the ability to clean a specific zone, room or all of the home.

Consider features such as sensors for floors that automatically increase suction power when required. Certain robots, like the Roborock mops, use mopping pad lifts to get into corners and tackle dried spills. Many hybrids can even apply cleaning solutions to tough staining.

A smaller bin will require less frequent emptying, and a larger one will save you money on replacements. The cheapest robotic cleaners typically utilize a small disposable dust bag, whereas the mid-range models typically have larger dust bins of 3L that last for many years. Certain premium robots such as the EcoVACS DEEBOT OMNI Station can self-empty and refill their water tanks for hands-free convenience.

3. App control

The majority of robot vacuums come with an app to monitor the progress of cleaning, schedule sessions and connect to smart home devices. Many also can sync with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for voice-based control. Some have a dedicated remote control that allows you to start the process, pause it and then return to dock. Find a model with a bigger dustbin that can self-empty, rather than one that requires manual emptying.

Some robovacs have mapping technology to help them avoid obstacles like stairs and furniture. Others allow you to set no-go zones or targeted rooms, so that they only clean the areas that require it the most. They also have cliff sensors to stop them from falling down the stairs, which is particularly beneficial in multi-level homes.

If you plan to make use of your robot vacuum for cleaning rugs, choose one that can be used both for dry and wet mopping. You'll have better results cleaning by having your robot vacuum also take off its mop pad. Rinse it, and then reattach it when you need to conduct a clean-up cycle. Find robots that have a rubber roller. It is less likely to tangle from pet hair or other debris. Examine the robot's side brushes and brushroll for any debris that might have become stuck on. Do this at least every week. If you notice that they're getting clogged it could be time to buy replacement parts.

4. Debris collection

As the name implies robot vacuums are created to collect dust and other debris from your floors. The best robot vacuums will pick up tiny particles, such as baking soda and sand, and larger ones like screws made of metal, orzo, and pet hair. They also get better pickup results on low-pile carpets than the majority of manual vacuums.

The top-performing robots across all flooring types had a pickup score higher than 95 percent. The two top-performing robots in this category were the ECOVACS DEEBOT X2 OMNI, and Robot Vacuum Cleaners Best the Roborock Q Revo. Both are highly automated, equipped with docking stations that do maintenance on their own and apps that make them extremely user-friendly.

They both come with self-emptying bins which automatically take the contents of the wastebasket and clean the washboard while you mow. They also have suction of 8,000Pa and smart mapping technology and advanced obstacle avoidance technology that helps them find their way around even the most challenging areas. The ECOVACS robot is among the few that can mop carpet and remove the mop pads. This makes it an ideal choice for users who have to switch between mopping and vacuuming frequently.

If you're looking for a cheaper alternative, take a look at the Roomba Combo J7 by iRobot Plus, our budget-friendly pick. It features LIDAR navigation for reasonable prices and decent performance in the collection of debris. It can be a bit slow at mapping out rooms and has a tendency of hitting obstacles, but it is lower than our other picks.

5. Battery life

The top robot vacuums are made to let you get moving with your day while they keep your floors in tip-top clean. It is still necessary to manually clean your home every so often but robovacs can aid in maintaining a certain level of cleanliness and even clean when you are away.

To maximize the time you can get out of your robovac, choose the model that has a high battery life. If you select the highest power setting, the model should last for about two cleaning sessions. This is smaller than a large vacuum but should be sufficient to clean most homes. If you don't like to sit around waiting for your robovac recharges, you can also opt for an automatic vacuum and mop robot model that makes its way back to the base station to recharge.

If you want a robovac that does a little bit of everything, think about an all-in-one machine that is able to mop as well. Eufy's X10 is the best model in this class and includes self-emptying, self-draining and self-refilling of your dust bin as well as the mop pad. It can be programmed to automatically refill and wash mops as soon as they run out.

The clear winner of 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 empty score. It's not cheap, however and unless you live in the smallest of homes with no pets, it could be too expensive for some. The Dreametech D10+ is the runner-up and has a similar performance, but is priced around 25 percent less.