Robot Vacuums: Buying Advice, Tips, and News
We're here to help you find the right smart cleaner for your home, whether you need powerful suction for pet hair, advanced obstacle avoidance, or mopping capabilities. From affordable everyday robovacs to premium hands-free, self-emptying models, our experts show you how to automate one of the most time-consuming chores in your home.
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The Best Robot Vacuums We've TestedWant to keep your floors clean without lifting a finger? The top robot vacuums we've tested are more capable and affordable than ever.
By Andrew Gebhart
Our Current Top Tested Picks
Ecovacs Deebot X8 Pro Omni
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
The Ecovacs Deebot X8 Pro Omni impresses on all fronts with an effective roller mop, top-notch vacuum performance, and hands-off self-maintenance features, making it the top 2-in-1 robot floor cleaner.
Full Ecovacs Deebot X8 Pro Omni ReviewPros
- Vacuums and mops effectively
- Roller mop limits cross-contamination
- Side brush and mop extend into corners
- Dispenses detergent automatically
- Lifts itself over hurdles
- Battery lasts longer than two hours
Cons
- Expensive
- Occasionally gets lost
- Auto-generated maps may require manual edits
Pros
- Vacuums and mops effectively
- Roller mop limits cross-contamination
- Side brush and mop extend into corners
- Dispenses detergent automatically
- Lifts itself over hurdles
- Battery lasts longer than two hours
Cons
- Expensive
- Occasionally gets lost
- Auto-generated maps may require manual edits
iRobot Roomba j9+
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
The iRobot Roomba j9+ is a user-friendly robot vacuum that justifies its high price with strong suction power, reliable obstacle avoidance, self-emptying functionality, and ample app features.
Full iRobot Roomba j9+ ReviewPros
- Expertly avoids obstacles big and small
- More suction power and battery life than predecessor
- Learns your home for automated cleaning customization
- Feature-rich app
Cons
- Expensive
Pros
- Expertly avoids obstacles big and small
- More suction power and battery life than predecessor
- Learns your home for automated cleaning customization
- Feature-rich app
Cons
- Expensive
TP-Link Tapo RV30 Max Plus
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
The TP-Link Tapo RV30 Max Plus is the best 2-in-1 robot mop and vacuum we've tested for under $300, and it can even empty its own dustbin.
Full TP-Link Tapo RV30 Max Plus ReviewPros
- Vacuums and mops effectively
- Systematic and thorough navigation
- Empties its own dustbin
- Supports virtual walls, scheduling, and voice control
- Excellent large-particle pickup performance
Cons
- Struggles with stubborn debris
- Unintuitive Alexa controls
Pros
- Vacuums and mops effectively
- Systematic and thorough navigation
- Empties its own dustbin
- Supports virtual walls, scheduling, and voice control
- Excellent large-particle pickup performance
Cons
- Struggles with stubborn debris
- Unintuitive Alexa controls
Ecovacs Deebot Ozmo N8 Pro+
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
The Deebot Ozmo N8 Pro+ from Ecovacs is a pricey high-end hybrid robot that can mop and vacuum your floors and empty its own dustbin when it's done.
Full Ecovacs Deebot Ozmo N8 Pro+ ReviewPros
- Vacuums and mops
- Includes self-emptying dustbin
- Strong suction power
- Automatically detects carpet
- Supports virtual boundaries, schedules, and zone cleaning
- Works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant
Cons
- Expensive
- Minor mapping issues in testing
- Average battery life
Pros
- Vacuums and mops
- Includes self-emptying dustbin
- Strong suction power
- Automatically detects carpet
- Supports virtual boundaries, schedules, and zone cleaning
- Works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant
Cons
- Expensive
- Minor mapping issues in testing
- Average battery life
Ecovacs Deebot X11 OmniCyclone
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
The Ecovacs Deebot X11 OmniCyclone robot floor cleaner mostly impresses with a convenient bagless design, super-fast charging, and excellent mopping performance.
Full Ecovacs Deebot X11 OmniCyclone ReviewPros
- Cleaned for three consecutive hours in testing
- Standout mopping performance
- Excellent large particle pickup
- Never got stuck in testing
- No disposable dust bags
Cons
- Fine particle pickup could be better
- Emptying dust from the base is tedious
- One unit malfunctioned in testing
Pros
- Cleaned for three consecutive hours in testing
- Standout mopping performance
- Excellent large particle pickup
- Never got stuck in testing
- No disposable dust bags
Cons
- Fine particle pickup could be better
- Emptying dust from the base is tedious
- One unit malfunctioned in testing
Roborock Qrevo Curv
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
The Roborock Qrevo Curv is a high-end hybrid robot vacuum and mop with an innovative self-lifting chassis, extendable brushes, and capable cleaning performance across a variety of floor surfaces.
Full Roborock Qrevo Curv ReviewPros
- Excellent cleaning performance
- Side brush and mop pads extend into corners
- Lifts itself over hurdles
- Detachable mop pads
- Built-in voice assistant and security camera functionality
Cons
- Ran over obstacles in testing
- Lacks a detergent dispenser
- May drag mops over carpet
Pros
- Excellent cleaning performance
- Side brush and mop pads extend into corners
- Lifts itself over hurdles
- Detachable mop pads
- Built-in voice assistant and security camera functionality
Cons
- Ran over obstacles in testing
- Lacks a detergent dispenser
- May drag mops over carpet
SwitchBot Mini Robot Vacuum K10+
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
The diminutive SwitchBot Mini Robot Vacuum K10+ stands tall as a self-emptying robot vacuum with surprisingly powerful cleaning performance for an attractive price.
Full SwitchBot Mini Robot Vacuum K10+ ReviewPros
- Excellent particle pickup
- Compact design
- Systematic, thorough navigation
- Self-emptying dustbin
- Lots of features for the price
Cons
- Poor mopping performance
- Occasionally gets stuck
- Brush roll gets tangled
Pros
- Excellent particle pickup
- Compact design
- Systematic, thorough navigation
- Self-emptying dustbin
- Lots of features for the price
Cons
- Poor mopping performance
- Occasionally gets stuck
- Brush roll gets tangled
TP-Link Tapo RV20 Max
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
The Tapo RV20 Max is an excellent budget-friendly 2-in-1 robot vacuum and mop if you don’t mind emptying the dustbin yourself.
Full TP-Link Tapo RV20 Max ReviewPros
- Thorough large particle pickup
- Good mopping performance
- Efficient navigation
- Short stature to fit under furniture
- Supports scheduling, virtual walls, and voice control
Cons
- Struggles with stubborn debris
- No self-emptying base station
- Occasionally gets stuck
Pros
- Thorough large particle pickup
- Good mopping performance
- Efficient navigation
- Short stature to fit under furniture
- Supports scheduling, virtual walls, and voice control
Cons
- Struggles with stubborn debris
- No self-emptying base station
- Occasionally gets stuck
Dyson Spot+Scrub Ai
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
The Dyson Spot+Scrub Ai is a sleek, well-designed hybrid robot vacuum and mop that excels at hardwood cleaning and obstacle avoidance, but it doesn't outperform similarly priced competitors.
Full Dyson Spot+Scrub Ai ReviewPros
- Excellent obstacle avoidance
- Strong pickup performance on hardwood
- No dust bags
Cons
- Missed some spots in testing
- Dropped dirt on bumps
- Unimpressive battery life
Pros
- Excellent obstacle avoidance
- Strong pickup performance on hardwood
- No dust bags
Cons
- Missed some spots in testing
- Dropped dirt on bumps
- Unimpressive battery life
iRobot Roomba 205 DustCompactor Combo Robot
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
The iRobot Roomba 205 Combo vacuums well on multiple surfaces and minimizes maintenance by compacting dirt in its dustbin, but its battery life and mopping capabilities fall short of the competition.
Full iRobot Roomba 205 DustCompactor Combo Robot ReviewPros
- DustCompactor minimizes the need to empty the dustbin
- Small base station
- Capable particle pickup
- Navigates efficiently
Cons
- Short battery life
- Got stuck in testing
- Poor mopping performance
Pros
- DustCompactor minimizes the need to empty the dustbin
- Small base station
- Capable particle pickup
- Navigates efficiently
Cons
- Short battery life
- Got stuck in testing
- Poor mopping performance
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