The best robot vacuum cleaner for every budget

Buying a vacuum cleaner with automation functions should be well thought out. The reason for this is that you can end up bringing home a device that may demand much more attention than desired. Worse than that, you may find yourself with a device that does not connect to Wi-Fi or does not effectively clean carpets, for example. That is why I have separated here the main features to look for in a robot vacuum cleaner when buying one.

Most smart vacuum cleaners today offer support for both Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android operating systems through a dedicated app. In addition, they work via voice commands in conjunction with smart assistants like Google Assistant and Alexa on Google Nest Home and Amazon Echo devices respectively.

Manufacturers like Roborock and Ecovacs also offer support for Siri Shortcuts, allowing you to connect the robot vacuum cleaner with the Siri voice assistant on Apple’s HomePod speakers.

Depending on the model of the robot vacuum cleaner, its internet connection may contain prerequisites that, at the end of the day, will be important for the best experience with the product. Support for 2.4 or 5 GHz Wi-Fi networks is the most well-known, however, certain brands may also require a maximum number of characters in the network login data to perform Wi-Fi pairing.

The system of mapping the area of the house is often one of the most relevant functions of this type of device, as it is through navigation that a robot vacuum cleaner automates the cleaning of each room. Some models use LiDAR sensors built into the device to perform Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (or SLAM).

Also identified as synchronized localization and mapping, SLAM is a mapping technology that also keeps track of the device’s location within the mapped area. With this, the robot knows where it has to go. If you purchase extra charging bases, some models thus allow you to map multiple floors.

Robot vacuum cleaners often have up to three suction levels: light, medium, and maximum. However, premium models tend to offer up to four suction levels. The difference here is of course, in the dust suction power, but it can also be in the automatic change of suction level when encountering carpets, for example.

So, when it comes to suction power, some brands present it as Watts and others in Pascal (Pa). The two units are not directly comparable but if you look for suction power, most units today can be found between 2,000 and 2,500 Pa.

In addition, the suction power is directly linked to the price of a robot vacuum cleaner. Another point to consider is that the higher the suction level, the louder the noise of the robot vacuum cleaner.

Through the use of sensors, vacuums understand what objects appear in front of them. Depending on the settings, you will have devices that avoid tables, chair feet, and toys, up to the most advanced ones that understand what socks, cables, bugs, and other objects are in front of them. The more advanced devices understand socks, cables, pets, and even recognize possible feces from pets that have forgotten their area box.

Leaving aside the basic obstacles, given the nature of these automated appliances no robot vacuum cleaner was built to go up and down stairs. However, it must be said that some models do get around obstacles up to 1 cm high. However, over time this going up and down can cause damage to the sensors and decrease the robot vacuum cleaner’s usability.

If you don’t have the patience to empty the dust bag from time to time, it might be worth it to pay extra for a model with a self-cleaning station. The base basically includes a bigger dust bag, which receives the robot vacuum’s dirt from time to time, reducing the frequency required to empty its contents.

Admittedly, the feature is only found in upper mid-range models and higher, but can already be found in many devices under $1,000, making them increasingly popular. The more expensive models with a mopping function include water tanks for dirty and clean water—and cleaning products—with future models promising to include a permanent water connection (like a dishwasher) to make refills and cleanups a thing of the past. 

After putting a dozen of models through their paces, we have compiled a list of the best robovacs available in the market. We have selected models in different categories, covering the most important price ranges. Depending on your budget, you can go straight to a specific model by selecting the category on the list above.

Although we haven’t published its English review, my colleague Stefan Moellenhoff declared the Dreame L10s Ultra—or its twin model, the Xiaomi Robot Vacuum X10+— “the best vacuum robot with a mopping function”. With powerful suction and two rotating mopping pads, floors not only get clean but also sparkle.

The device offered solid battery life during NextPit’s test and includes both mapping and live camera functions, integrating with either the Dreamehome or Xiaomi apps. And as expected in the premium category, the Dreame L10s Ultra includes a cleaning station that also serves as clean and dirty water reservoirs for the mopping function.

Roborock turned heads when they entered the robovac market with good reason. Their devices usually offer a good balance between price and features, and the Q7 Max+ is no different. This vacuum cleaner not only offers a self-cleaning base, it includes a mopping function, just like our top pick above.

Besides the excellent quality-to-price ratio highlighted in NextPit’s review, the Roborock Q7 Max+ offers easy installation and setup using the Roborock app. The robovac uses LiDAR to map environments, which can be divided into zones using the app. And most importantly, the suction modes and power are excellent.

From one of the market pioneers, the iRobot Roomba 694 is one of the best options under $500. The entry-level Roomba actually has an MSRP of $249 and despite the lower price, it still offers enough features to make it competitive in this price range.

The Roomba 694 can be voice-controlled using Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant, and integrates with the iRobot app for features like scheduling cleaning. And to protect your investment, the robovac includes sensors not only to avoid furniture and walls, but also to avoid falling down the stairs.

Robot vacuums are a fairly simple option for automating house cleaning. Extremely modular, it is possible to maintain these devices for a long time depending on the care and maintenance devoted to such devices. However, not all models offer the same level of cleanliness and efficiency.

Considering that the price of these robotic vacuum cleaners ranges from $200 to over $1000, one must be aware that the quality of the service is directly linked to the amount invested. In addition, specific models may be necessary if your home has a lot of carpets or you have pets.

Finally, a robot vacuum cleaner today can hardly suffice for the complete cleaning of the floor. Therefore, I recommend the purchase of a smaller model or canister to remove dust from the corners of the house, the baseboards, the ceiling, and, of course, the places where the vacuum cleaner cannot reach, such as behind large pieces of furniture.

Finally, with the busy day-to-day routine, many people will benefit from automating household chores. And one way to gain more time for other activities is to purchase products such as robot vacuum cleaners. But remember: these products do not replace 100% of the human touch in cleaning… yet!

So, do you already have a robot vacuum cleaner? Would you recommend buying the model with the mopping function? Which is your favorite brand? Share your opinion on the topic in the comments below.

Article updated in October/2022 with recommendations in three categories. Comments posted prior to the update were kept and may refer to previous versions of this list.