Since robot vacuums are designed to help keep your home clean, you should prioritize how well they clean first and foremost. A good robot vacuum needs to navigate your home while cleaning up dirt and debris easily. It shouldn’t constantly get stuck against an object that prevents it from cleaning. Robot vacuums do get stuck at times, but it shouldn’t happen often and a good one will learn where corners and objects are.
Your robot vacuum should be able to move from room to room, even if the flooring isn’t completely level around the home. You’ll also want a vacuum that won’t break itself, as in it won’t fall down a flight of stairs. These aren’t cheap, so you don’t want a vacuum that will break itself within a few months.
What prevents a robot vac from taking a damaging tumble requires smart sensors, which will help it to navigate around objects and furniture. All of our recommendations will have these smart sensors built-in, so no matter what you pick, you can take comfort in the fact that it won’t get stuck or fall onto a step and break itself.
With all this in mind, let’s take a closer look at some of the best robot vacuums around. Keep in mind that all our picks do an exceptionally great job of cleaning!
Best Robot Vacuum Overall: Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra
Roborock has built the S7 MaxV Ultra as a jack of all trades. Unlike most robot vacuums, the S7 MaxV Ultra functions as both a mop and vacuum, giving it the versatility to clean just about every type of flooring in your home.
✓ Operates as both a mop and vacuum✓ Versatile docking system✓ Advanced obstacle detection system
✗ Expensive
Using an ultra-accurate sensor, the automated vacuum can detect more than just obstacles—it’ll also recognize the type of flooring it’s currently on and clean it accordingly. Once your floors are sparkling clean, the robot will quickly make its way back to its dock, which can hold up to seven weeks’ worth of solids.
The state-of-the-art dock and multi-surface cleaning abilities are the main attractions of the S7 MaxV Ultra. But aside from those revolutionary functions, it also gets the basics right. With suction power clocking in at 5,100 Pa, a unique self-washing system, three hours of battery life, and a short recharging time, Roborock left no stone unturned with its ultra-premium vacuum.
These features look great on paper, of course, but you can be assured that the S7 MaxV Ultra will work great in your home. We’ve reviewed the robot vacuum and have come away impressed with its cleaning power and how the robot vacuum could be left to clean with minimal fuss and maintenance.
There’s even a robust smartphone app on Android and iPhone to help keep track of your cleanings, use the S7 MaxV Ultra’s onboard mic, or tailor a specific cleaning routine to each room in your home.
Of course, innovation like this doesn’t come cheap. If you’re looking to get the best robot vacuum on the market, your wallet is going to take a hit. The Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra costs hundreds more than every other product on this list, but there’s no doubt it’s worth every penny.
Best Budget Robot Vacuum: eufy RoboVac 11S
Do you want an affordable robot vacuum that gets the job done? Then check out the eufy RoboVac 11S, which goes for $220. This robot isn’t necessarily cheap, but it’s a great budget option for those who want a quality robot vacuum that won’t break down quickly.
✓ Operates quietly✓ Very affordable but still offers great value✓ Offers powerful and strong cleaning✓ Long battery life of 100 minutes
✗ No app control✗ Has limited scheduling options
The RoboVac 11S uses a powerful vacuum that cleans well on both flooring and carpet. It detects when extra vacuuming strength is needed and increases its suction power to clean your floors more effectively as well. Although the vacuum has strong suction, it’s very quiet, so the 11S is ideal for nighttime use.
This vacuum uses smart sensors to navigate around objects to prevent it from falling down the stairs. So, even though it’s a budget option, you don’t have to keep an eye on it as it’s cleaning near staircases and other perilous drops for the vacuum. There’s even a remote control that allows you to control the robot directly.
The RoboVac 11S comes with some great features, including automatically recharging when it’s low on power. The bottom wheels are large enough to allow the robot to climb over small ledges and carpets as well.
Overall, you won’t have to pay any attention to the 11S as it’s cleaning. Just remember to empty the dust box when it gets full, and be prepared to work with the limited scheduling options when setting it up.
Best Robot Vacuum and Mop: iRobot Roomba Combo j7+
The big selling point of the iRobot Roomba Combo j7+ is its ability to go from mopping floors to vacuuming carpets without any manual input. This lets you automate your entire cleaning schedule, although it’ll cost you a pretty penny—the j7+ clocks in at $1,100.
✓ Can go from mopping to vacuuming without manual input✓ Charging station holds two months of debris✓ Powerful smartphone app lets you personalize your cleaning
✗ Expensive
The only product on this list that’s more expensive is the Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra, but no doubt you’re getting a lot of great features for your investment. Aside from its ability to stow away its mop when moving onto carpet, the Combo j7+ offers a high-end avoidance and mapping system, the ability to empty its dustbin when done cleaning, and software that adapts to your home.
Of course, all those cool features mean nothing if the Roomba Combo j7+ can’t effectively clean your carpet. But, thanks to an edge sweeping brush, multi-surface rubber brush, and enough suction to remove just about anything tangled in your carpet, you can rest easy knowing your floors are nice and tidy after this Roomba runs.
For homes that have both hardwood and carpet, the versatility offered by the Roomba Combo j7+ is unparalleled. As long as you don’t mind the hefty price tag, this robot vacuum is the best way to automate all your floor-related chores.
Best Robot Vacuum for Pet Hair: ILIFE V3s Pro
Looking for a robot vacuum that will effectively clean up pet hair? The ILIFE V3s Pro is an inexpensive option that is priced at $160, and it’s a great pick for those with pets around the home. Of course, the V3s Pro doesn’t just clean up pet hair. It still cleans up dirt and other debris with a runtime of 90 minutes.
✓ Inexpensive✓ Designed to pick up pet hair using tangle-free technology✓ Automatically charges✓ Cleans on carpets and very well on hard floors
✗ A little noisy✗ No app control
This robot is our pick for cleaning up pet hair because it’s designed with tangle-free technology, which is very important when dealing with fur. The V3s Pro doesn’t opt for a roller brush like most vacuums (robots or not), where hair can get caught in the rollers and gunk up the system. Instead, ILIFE’s vacuum uses powerful suction to get the job done instead.
The V3s Pro has a slim design that makes it easy to clean under furniture, beds, and other places your pets may wander. It cleans well on carpets and bare floors and uses smart sensors to navigate around your home. The robot’s sensors also prevent it from dropping down tall ledges or falling down your stairs, so you don’t have to watch over the vacuum while it goes about its business.
The best part of the V3s Pro is that it has automatic charging, which is typically a premium feature. There’s even a remote control to control the robot, where you can create schedules and switch between four cleaning modes. You’ll want to be careful about overnight cleaning, though, as the powerful suction also makes this robot vacuum on the louder side.
But with ILIFE’s V3s Pro, you’ll never have to worry about cleaning up pet hair again.
Best Self Emptying Robot Vacuum: Shark AV1010AE IQ Robot
Having a self-emptying robot vacuum is one of the most convenient ways to keep your carpets and floors clean. That’s why we recommend the Shark AV1010AE IQ Robot, a $600 robot vacuuming that will take care of vacuuming your home without fuss for well over a month.
✓ Hands-free vacuuming up to 45 days✓ Uses a multi-surface brushroll that’s great for pet hair✓ Automatically recharges and resumes✓ Works with Alexa and Google Assistant✓ Convenient app control
✗ Expensive✗ Loud vacuum
The AV1010AE uses powerful suction to vacuum and then automatically empties its dustbin into a bagless base. The base is large enough to hold up to 45 days of vacuumed debris. So, if you’re out on vacation or don’t want to worry as often about emptying the vacuum’s dustpan, the AV1010AE IQ Robot is an excellent option.
Shark’s vacuum works with Alexa and Google Assistant, so you can control it by voice or with the respective voice assistant’s app. You can also control the robot with the SharkClean app on Android or iOS if you don’t have a smart home setup.
The AV1010AE IQ uses smart sensors and maps your home for selective and effective cleaning and to prevent it from falling down the stairs. Through mapping, this robot vac’s cleaning cycle goes row by row and room to room instead of randomly bouncing around, so it efficiently cleans in a way many of its competitors don’t.
It’ll automatically recharge and resume cleaning, so all you need to do is set a schedule and you won’t have to worry about vacuuming for 45 days. Finally, the Shark AV1010AE IQ Robot uses a multi-surface brush roll, which is great for vacuuming pet hair (although maybe not as great as the pure suction on the best pick for pet hair).
If you want your robot vacuum to be as fuss-free as possible, the AV1010AE IQ Robot is worth the premium price tag.
