Investing in one of the best robot vacuum cleaners can save you a huge amount of time and effort. These clever bots make their way around your home, using sensors for navigation and obstacle-avoidance. You can set them to run when you're out of the house, for minimal disruption, and a lot of them can mop as well as vacuuming, too.
For all the benefits in convenience, robovacs still won't do quite as good a job as today's best cordless vacuum cleaners. They're generally less powerful, can struggle with corners and edges, and they still can't navigate stairs. What they are perfect for is staying on top of regular, low-level cleaning, with next-to-no effort required from you.
TechRadar's testers have been reviewing robot vacuums since 2015. We've tested over 75 robot vacuums in total, with 16 new robot vacuums reviewed in 2024 so far. Our experienced reviewers run set cleaning tests as well as assessing general performance and usability.
Right now, I think the best robot vacuum on the market is the Eufy X10 Pro Omni. On test, this combination robot vacuum and mop was almost perfect, acing our cleaning tests and delivering accurate navigation too. However, it might not be the right choice for everyone, so read on for my curated list of the best robovacs around.
Ruth is a Homes Editor at TechRadar, and has been reviewing consumer tech for over three years. She's spent the past 7 months focusing on home appliances, and floor cleaners in particular.
Best robot vacuum cleaners: quick List
Best overall
This self-empty robot vacuum and mop delivers powerful yet quiet suction and impressive mopping. The app is well designed, and the navigation excellent.
Best for pet hair
This robot vac has rubber rollers that grip hair and direct it straight into the bin. There's also excellent obstacle avoidance – including dodging pet messes.
Best budget
It has a bit of a mind of its own, but this basic robovac delivers very good vacuuming and acceptable mopping for an affordable price, plus the dock is nice and compact.
Best premium
If you have a big budget and want to invest in cutting-edge tech, this Roborock comes packed with intelligent features for an efficient, minimum-effort clean.
Best for hard floors
Lots of robovacs have a mop function, but it can be an afterthought. This Ecovacs model comes with impressive hot water cleaning capabilities.
Best for carpet
This robovac is outstanding on carpet. As well as picking up finer dirt with ease, it will suck up large debris and get right up to the edges of rooms – both tasks that robot vacs tend to struggle with.
Best complete option
If you have the budget for it, this is a complete cleaning solution, with outstanding vacuuming and mopping, lots of useful features, and a hand vac thrown in for good measure.
Recent updates
The Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra has been added as our top premium pick, and the Narwal Freo X Plus as our favorite budget robot vacuum.
Today's best robot vacuums – as tested by experts
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The best robot vacuum overall
✅ You have carpet in your home: We were very impressed with this model's suction powers, which is great news if you need something that can pull dust from carpet.
✅ You want something that mops well: The X10 Pro Omni's mops had no problem with tricky cleaning tasks like sticky sauces and dried-on sugary drinks.
❌ You don't need a mop: There's no vacuum-only version of this particular model, so if you don't need the mopping capabilities, look elsewhere in the list.
❌ You're short on space: The X10 Pro Omni has a large base station that you'll need to make room for.
Eufy X10 Pro Omni is the best robot vacuum for most people. This self-empty robot vacuum and mop checks pretty much all our boxes. The suction power is excellent, pulling all kinds of debris, fluff and hair and fluff out of our tester's carpet (although it did flick larger debris about rather than sucking it up – a problem with almost all robovacs). It's relatively quiet in all but it's very highest vacuum setting, too.
With some 2-in-1 robovacs, the mopping is a bit of an afterthought, but the Eufy X10 Pro Omni has rotating pads that press down for a more thorough clean on hard floors. On test, it had no trouble at all cleaning a dried-on sugary drink and sticky sauce, automatically choosing the right amount of water for the job. (If you want even more impressive mopping, check out the Ecovacs T20 at #5, which has hot water mopping capabilities.)
The app is easy to use and functions well. Our reviewer was also very impressed with the mapping – the X10 accurately mapped their apartment on its first exploratory outing – as well as the navigation and obstacle avoidance. However, they did note that the Eufy X10 Pro Omni could occasionally get stuck trying to get over high room thresholds.
The dock station is a little on the larger side, but looks pretty stylish, and houses the water tanks and extra dustbin that allow this robovac to self-empty and (in the case of water) refill, minimizing the need for hands-on time. Overall, an excellent all-rounder that'll suit most people's needs.
Alternatives
There are no other X10 models in the Eufy range, so you can't choose, for example, a version without mopping or with a more basic dock. There is a more advanced option: the Eufy Omni S1 Pro which adds improved obstacle avoidance, automatic detergent dispensing, and swaps the spinning mop pads for a roller that's fed by a constant supply of fresh water. It's significantly more expensive, though.
Read our full Eufy X10 Pro Omni review
| Attribute | Notes | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Design | Well made and nicely designed. Robot is on the taller side. | 4/5 |
| Performance | On test, demonstrated impressive vacuuming and mopping capabilities, as well as strong navigation skills. | 4/5 |
| App | Companion app is straightforward and intuitive, with plenty of configuration options. | 4.5/5 |
| Value | Premium, but far from the most expensive option here, and well priced for what you're getting. | 4/5 |
The best robot vacuum for pet hair
✅ You have pets: With its grippy rubber brush bars and powerful suction, this robovac is great at getting hair out of carpets.
✅ You want maximum value for money: While its still not cheap, the fact it's an older Roomba means it regularly attracts discounts, meaning you'll generally get a lot for your money.
❌ You want the latest and greatest Roomba: The Combo j7 Plus is far from the newest Roomba on the block – for the most cutting-edge features, check out the Roomba Combo 10 Max (review coming soon).
The Roomba Combo j7+ is the best robovac for pet hair, thanks to its powerful suction and dual rubber rollers that effectively grip and pull hair from carpets, without letting it tangle and clog up the mechanism (this dual-roller design is exclusive to iRobot). Even though it's far from the newest Roomba now, the j7 still an excellent all-rounder and for a long time held the top spot in this best robot vacuum ranking. As well as that great suction, it delivers genuinely useful smart features, decent mopping and quiet operation (apart from the noisy self-empty).
The obstacle detection and avoidance is strong, and pet owners should also be reassured that the j7 comes with Roomba's P.O.O.P Pet Owner Official Promise, which essentially means the company guarantees it'll avoid pet waste. (The J7 Plus sits at the top of our best robot vacuums for pet hair guide, where you'll find other options if it turns out not to be quite right for you.)
This Roomba works with all the key smart speakers and its app is both intelligent and easy to use. It maps your floorplan and enables you to create specific cleaning zones, and it's constantly checking and learning: it'll send you a notification if it thinks a particular space needs more attention. Overall, a strong all-rounder and an especially good recommendation for pet owners.
Alternatives
The j7 is available in a few different iterations, to suit different needs and budgets. Essentially, if it has a 'Combo' in the name then it has mopping capabilities as well as vacuuming. And if it has a Plus/+ in the name, there's a self-empty dock. To see how it compares with sister models, head to my Roomba range guide.
Read our full iRobot Roomba Combo j7 Plus review
| Attribute | Notes | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Design | One of the shallower options here, and the retractable mop pad is impressive. Different configuration options for different needs. | 4/5 |
| Performance | Great at low-level cleaning but doesn't cope as well with large messes. Mop pads take a while to soak through, but after that the mopping is excellent. | 4/5 |
| App | Very intuitive and straightforward, with plenty of customization options. | 5/5 |
| Value | Premium at full price, but often discounted into mid-range. It lacks some features included in other premium robovacs, but can be great value with a deal. | 4/5 |
The best robot vacuum cleaner on a budget
✅ You're on a budget: The Narwal Freo X Plus delivers a lot for a very reasonable price.
✅ You just want to do whole-home cleans: It can struggle with more specific instructions, but it has no problem with regular whole-home cleans.
❌ You're dealing with lots of dust: There's no self-empty on the dock, and the small onboard bin will fill up quickly if you're dealing with lots of dirt or hair.
❌ You want high levels of control: This robovac doesn't always do exactly as its told when it comes to more complex instructions.
Many of today's best robot vacuums are pretty pricey, but if you're on a tighter budget, check out the Narwal Freo X Plus. Where it really shines is its vacuuming performance. It packs 7,800Pa of suction, which is more in line with what I'd expect in a much pricier model than one on the cusp between budget and mid-range. Our tester ran it in a house with two French Bulldogs and four adult humans, and found it got the floors impressively clean, picking up everything from fine dust to larger debris, and tackling hair very well too. Two side brushes mean it's able to pick up debris on either side of it, too.
The mopping less impressive, but still good enough to be a useful addition (for really good mopping you'll need to stump up a bit more). Other benefits include voice assistant support, and a very neat and compact base station.
It's not perfect. Our tester found it struggled to follow more specific commands. However, it works fine if you just set it to clean your whole space in the most thorough way possible, so if that's your main plan for it, then it's still a solid recommendation.
The pay-off of the small base station is that it can't self empty, so you'll need to take a trip to the trash every time the small onboard bin gets full. It'll be fine for smaller homes or light cleaning, but might be annoying if you're regularly dealing with lots of dirt or pet hair.
Alternatives
If you're in the UK, our favorite budget model is the Proscenic Floobot X1. Or if you're hunting for something even cheaper (in the US or UK), check out our Eufy RoboVac 11S review for another straightforward robovac that punches above its price tag.
Read our full Proscenic Floobot X1 review
| Attribute | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Price | On the boundary between budget and mid-range, and great value for a combo vac-mop. | 4/5 |
| Design | Compact base station with no self-empty. Two side brushes but a rudimentary mop pad. | 4/5 |
| Performance | Very good at vacuuming and fine at mopping. Doesn't always follow specific commands. | 3.5/5 |
| App | Easy to use, though the mapping can struggle with open plan spaces. | 4/5 |
The best premium robot vacuum
✅ You want the smartest robovac around: This premium robot vacuum is packed with advanced features, for the most intelligent, efficient, hands-off clean around.
✅ You have pets: This robovac can seek out your pet while you're out, and you can even have a video call with it thanks to the onboard camera and two-way mic. Strong suction will take care of the hair, too.
❌ You're on a budget: This is one pricey robot vacuum, and for most people, it'll be overkill.
❌ You want great mopping: The vibrating semicircular mop pad does a decent job, but I still think rotating discs offer better scrubbing.
The Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra is the best premium robot vacuum on the market right now. This high-spec robovac and mop is packed with advanced features, for a truly hands-off solution. I tested this one out myself, and was impressed with the vacuuming power (it has almost the highest suction here, beaten only by the Deebot at #7). The app is intuitive and offers as much or as little control as you want: there are plenty of manual adjustment options, or you can leave the robot to figure it all out itself if you'd rather.
Dual rubbery rollers proved very efficient at gripping hair and propelling it straight into the bin. This, coupled with the powerful suction and strong object avoidance means it'd be a good choice for pet owners. You can instruct the S8 MaxV Ultra to go and find your pet, photograph it, or even conduct a video call with it while you're out, thanks to two-way mics and an onboard camera. (If you don't have a pet, this could have use for security purposes.)
A few of the more advanced features were a little buggy at the time I tested this model out. The built-in voice assistant failed to understand even basic commands, spoken ultra-clearly, and the extended side brush didn't always emerge when it was required, but I'm hopeful that software updates will fix these issues in time.
In terms of mopping, this robovac has one semicircular mop pad that vibrates to dislodge dirt on hard floors. On test I found it offered good but not great mopping – I still think dual spinning discs tend to deliver the best scrubbing. An extra side mop did a good job of getting up close to the edges of rooms, though.
The base station is as fully-featured as they come, offering dust emptying, water tank draining and refilling, automatic detergent dispensing, and mop pad cleaning too. This robot vacuum comes with a premium price tag, but if you have cash to splash and are looking for some cutting-edge tech, this powerful robovac is worth the investment.
Alternatives
If you're looking for something a touch cheaper, also in this range is the Roborock S8 Max Ultra (no 'V'). This one has slightly lower suction (8,000Pa compared to the MaxV's 10,000Pa – both well above average) and there's no intelligent voice assistant (although there's still the option of third-party voice control). It also loses the camera.
Read our full Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra review
| Attribute | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Value | Premium price; somewhat justified by high spec and impressive featureset. | 3.5/5 |
| Design | High-end design, and does-it-all dock. Plenty of features geared towards precise, hands-off cleaning. | 4.5/5 |
| Performance | Powerful suction, lots of advanced features, mopping is good but not great. | 4/5 |
The best robot vacuum for hard floors
✅ You regularly need to clean greasy spillages: The USP here is that the T20 offers hot water mopping, which is especially good at dealing with greasy cleanup tasks.
✅ You value an advanced app: The T20's app is one of the smartest we've come across. It can intelligently label and segment rooms, and you can view maps in 2D or 3D.
❌ You don't need the very best mopping: The hot water mopping does bump up the price here, and other robovacs do a good enough job for most people (the Eufy X10 at #1 has a great mop, for example).
❌ Speed is of the essence: Because of the hot mopping, this robovac needs to return to the dock multiple times per cleaning session to wash its own mop pads, so don't expect it to complete the job particularly quickly.
The Ecovacs Deebot T20 is the best robot vacuum for those with a lot of hard floors. Our reviewer tested it on a couple of different types of hard flooring in their home, and was very impressed with the performance. Firstly, the vacuuming is thorough, removing loose dust and debris effectively. Perhaps more impressive is the mopping function – like the Eufy X10 at #1, the Deebot T20 has rotating mop pads that scrub the floors rather than just wiping them, but where this model goes a step further is that it uses hot water to dislodge sticky stains.
On test, our reviewer found this addition genuinely useful, rather than just a gimmick. However, they did note that it created a lot of dirty water, so while this is a self-empty model, you will still have to empty the dock tank fairly often.
We found it fairly quiet to run, were impressed with the mapping and found the obstacle avoidance to be fine but not amazing. Like most robot vacuums, our tester found the edge cleaning could be improved.
The self-empty charging base includes two 4-liter tanks for clean and dirty water, which are used not only for mopping but also for cleaning the mop pads. As a result, it's pretty bulky, at 22.5 inches tall (57cm) and 17 inches wide (43cm), so not one for small homes.
Alternatives
If mopping is your priority, we also found the Eufy Omni S1 Pro absolutely excellent in this area, as is the Eureka J20, which has a roller mop with a continuous supply of water to it. Both are a fair bit pricier than this Ecovacs robot vacuum though.
If you like the look of the Ecovacs brand but not this model specifically, the bad news is that its website makes it near-impossible to figure out the range and compare different models. We do rate the Deebot T30S Combo #7 though – this model has higher levels of suction, more smart features, and comes with a handheld vacuum that can be stored in the dock.
Read our full Ecovacs DEEBOT T20 Omni review
| Attribute | Notes | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Design | Large base station (required for hot mop pad cleaning), two side brushes for double the edge cleaning power. | 4.5/5 |
| Performance | Great vacuuming and mopping, but some issues with edge cleaning and object avoidance. Dirty water tank needs emptying regularly. | 4/5 |
| App | Intuitive, with great mapping capabilities. | 4.5/5 |
| Value | Premium at full price, but regularly heavily discounted. Depending on the deal, can be great value for money. | 4/5 |
The best robot vacuum for carpet
✅ You want great vacuuming and mopping: This combination robovac's cleaning powers are excellent – it even managed to vacuum into the corners of rooms, which is generally an issue for robovacs.
✅ You want a stylish dock: The Freo X has a space-age, curvy dock that I wouldn't mind having on display.
❌ You're dealing with high levels of dirt: This robovac doesn't self-empty dust, and while the onboard bin will compress dust so it can hold a surprisingly large amount, you'll still have to empty it more than you would a traditional self-empty model.
❌ You have an open plan home: The Narwal app won't let you demarcate open plan spaces into 'rooms'.
The Narwal Freo X Ultra is the best robot vacuum for carpet. It's a premium product, (and it's not available in the UK), but delivers the best carpet cleaning performance of any robovac we've tested. On test we found that not only did it suck up finer dust and dirt efficiently, it also scooped up larger debris – namely bits of cereal – just as well. Most robovacs fling large debris about the room rather than vacuuming it up, so this is very impressive. Another area where many robovacs fail is on cleaning around the edges and into the corners of rooms. Again, the Freo X Ultra shines here: the side brushes get right up to the edges of rooms.
It's good at avoiding objects, reliably dodging pets and other discarded objects, and only really struggling with cables (which no robovac we've tested has been able to reliably avoid).
One thing to be aware of is that this robovac doesn't actually self-empty dust; there's no dock dustbin. Instead, the onboard dustin compresses its contents so it can hold more – Narwal claims up to seven week's worth of debris. However, I think it's fair to assume you'll need to manually empty it more than you would a traditional, self-empty robovac, given dock dustbins tend to hold 2.5L or 3L of dirt.
The Freo X Ultra's mopping capabilities are not quite as impressive as its vacuuming, but still good. On test, it cleared up spillages well, but the mop pads couldn't get close to the edges of rooms. We also found this robot vacuum would dock regularly for mop cleaning, which isn't necessarily an issue, but does extend overall cleaning times. It will automatically empty and refill its onboard water tank, and it can clean its own mop pads too.
While the app is intuitive, and the mapping good, there is a major issue for anyone with an open plan living space. Namely, you can't separate it into different zones. It won't be a problem for everyone, but if you live in an open plan home, you'll probably want to opt for a different brand.
Alternatives
Narwal makes four robot vacuums: the most advanced is the Freo Z Ultra (review in progress), followed by the Freo X Ultra listed here. Next is the original Narwal Freo, which is more affordable and comes with a dock that will empty and refill water tanks but doesn't auto-empty dust. Finally, there's the Freo X Plus, which is significantly cheaper and more basic than the others in the range. It has mopping capabilities but the dock is just a simple charge dock.
Read our full Narwal Freo X Ultra review
| Attribute | Notes | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Design | Cool, curvy dock with LED panel. Two side brushes instead of one. | 4.5/5 |
| Performance | Excellent vacuuming, and especially good at edges. Mopping is fine, although regular mop pad washing extends cleaning times. | 4.5/5 |
| App | Intuitive app, but robot doesn't always do as its told, and there's an issue with separating open plan spaces. | 3/5 |
| Value | Premium, and one of the priciest models here. Will be a reach for most people. | 3.5/5 |
The best all-in-one robot vacuum
✅ You also need a manual vacuum: Most people with robovacs also have a manual vacuum. The Ecovacs takes the fuss of that out by providing you with one in the first place.
✅ You love a high-tech gadget: With its own voice assistant, fantastic mapping and (albeit unreliable) foot control, this is one clever robot vacuum.
❌ Your priority is mopping: The mopping here is very good, but probably not as good as the Eufy at #1 or Ecovacs at #5.
❌ You're on a budget: The Deebot T30S Combo is one of the more expensive robot vacuums in my guide, and if you're willing to make a few compromises on performance or features then there are plenty more affordable alternatives.
The Ecovacs Deebot T30S Combo is the best all-in-one robot vacuum solution. It has the highest maximum suction of any robot vacuum in this ranking (11,000Pa – matching the maximum we see on any robot vacuum). The specs stood up on testing too; this robovac's vacuuming powers are some of the very best we've come across. Our tester also found it could tackle the edges of rooms remarkably well, and its mopping is excellent too.
Most people with robot vacuums need to supplement them with a manual vacuum – even if your robovac is great at corners and edges, it still won't be able to tackle stairs or upholstery. Ecovacs has taken the effort out of that by bundling a mini handheld vacuum in with the T30S Combo (and if you get the Complete version, there's a full stick vacuum thrown in!) for supplementary cleaning. At 3L, the onboard dustbin capacity is larger than usual, meaning it you'll need to replace the bags less often.
As you'd expect at this price, this robot vacuum not short on features, including its own voice assistant. It can launched via the tap of a foot (although on test this didn't always work reliably), the base station will wash and dry the mop pads, the dust cups of the robovac and the handheld vac will auto-empty when docked, and the mapping is outstanding. The companion app works extremely well – our tester was especially impressed that it automatically partitioned the rooms into their own spaces. In terms of performance, we had almost no issues with this robot vacuum at all – if it's in your budget, it's worth the investment.
Read our full Ecovacs Deebot T30S Combo review
| Attribute | Notes | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Design | Comes with a supplementary handheld vacuum. Base is a bit wide, but houses both parts, plus accessories. | 5/5 |
| Performance | Great at vacuuming, and good at mopping although can sometimes spread wet spillages. Long battery life and fast charging. | 4.5/5 |
| App | Easy to use with plenty of fine-tuning options. Solid mapping and partitioning, too. | 5/5 |
| Value | Very premium pricing. Party justified by quality, but will be too much for many. | 4/5 |
Specs comparison
| Model | Max suction | Robot height | Dock size | Mop function | Self-empty | Dock dustbin | Price bracket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eufy X10 Pro Omni | 8,000Pa | 4.5" / 11.4cm | 18.9 x 14.4 x 18.1" / 46 x 36.6 x 48cm | Yes | Yes | 2.5L | Premium |
| iRobot Roomba Combo J7 Plus | Requested | 3.4" / 8.6cm | 13.3 x 15.7 x 11.9" / 33.8 x 39.9 x 30.2cm | Yes | Yes | Requested | Premium (often discounted to Mid) |
| Narwal Freo X Plus | 7,800Pa | 4.2" / 10.7cm | 10.8 x 4.65 x 5.39" / 27.5 x 11.8 x 13.7cm | Yes | No | None | Budget / Mid |
| Ecovacs Deebot T20 Omni | 6,000Pa | 4.1" / 10.4cm | 22.8 x 17.6 x 16.9" / 57.8 x 44.8 x 43cm | Yes | Yes | 3L | Premium (often discounted to Mid) |
| Narwal Freo X Ultra | 8,200Pa | 4.2" / 10.7cm | 17.1 x 16 x 14.6" / 43.4 x 41.5 x 37cm | Yes | Yes | 1L | Premium |
| Ecovacs Deebot T30S Combo | 11,000Pa | Requested | Requested | Yes | Yes | 3L | Premium |
Tested by
All the robot vacuums in this ranking have been rigorously tested, either by one of the TechRadar Homes team or an experienced reviewer. Meet some of the expert reviewers who tested the robovacs that feature in this guide.
James has tested robot vacuums of all sorts from the most basic models to the ones so feature-packed that they can be used as a security camera. He appreciates models that can suck up all sorts of debris, clean the edges of rooms, and allow easy room partitioning in-app. So far he has reviewed 9 robot vacuums for TechRadar, including models by Narwal, Ecovacs, Yeedi, Bissell and Shark.
Alistair is a London-based journalist who has been writing about tech for over a decade. He has tested numerous robovacs over the years for TechRadar, from brands like iRobot, Eufy and Roborock. His favourites match intelligent navigation with smart design.
Alternatives to consider
If none of the robot vacuums above take your fancy, here are some other models worth considering. These robovacs all scored highly on test, but just didn't quite make our main guide.
Frequently asked questions
Are robot vacuums worth it?
For certain people and households, very much so. I only used manual vacuums before I started testing robot vacuums for TechRadar, and now I wouldn't be without one. They have revolutionized my cleaning – I live alone, so I'm not dealing with loads of dirt and dust buildup, but I send the robot out once or twice a week and it just takes care of the vacuuming for me. It's realistically far more often than I would drag a manual vac out of the cupboard, so my apartment is cleaner than usual, and my dust allergy symptoms have calmed down too.
A 2024 study from Roskilde University in Denmark explored how householders’ experiences with robot vacuum cleaners compared to their experience with manual vacuum, and found that "robotic vacuum cleaners are inferior in use, yet transform vacuuming". That's exactly in line with my personal experience – while I can see that my robot vacuum's cleaning power is not as strong as a manual vac, the fact that it allows for regular, basically effort-free vacuuming means it has still had a massive positive impact on my cleaning routine.
Robot vacuums can be expensive, but you don't have to shell out for a top-of-the-range model – for many people, even a basic, affordable option will make a big difference.
There are caveats, though. Robovacs can't deal with stairs, so their usefulness in multi-floor homes is far more limited. They're also not capable of proper deep cleans, so if you're dealing with lots of hair or dirt, they might not cut it.
How much does a robot vacuum cost?
Pricing for robot vacuums can vary enormously. At TechRadar, these are the price bands we use:
Budget: less than $500 / £400
Mid-range: $400-$800 / £400-£650
Premium: $800+ / £650+
Broadly speaking, the more functions are included, the higher the price tag. Adding things like mopping, self-emptying, and self-cleaning will all result in a much higher price tag. So if you just want a capable robot vacuum and are happy to empty it yourself, you'll be able to shop mostly in the budget and lower mid-range brackets.
It's not rare these days to see range-topping models run to four figures, but the rate of meaningful improvement has started to slow, and for many people, the features included in those models are far from essential. Big-brand robovacs that are a couple of years old can often deliver the best value for money, with very few sacrifices in performance. And sales events like the Black Friday deals generally come through with strong discounts in this category too.
Do robot vacuums work on pet hair?
Yes, but with caveats. Generally, robot vacuums can't match manual models for outright suction power, so they won't clean built-up pet hair and dander as thoroughly as, say, a corded upright. That's especially true if you're dealing with carpet. Robot vacs are best suited to convenient, little-and-often cleans, so if you send yours out daily, it'll help you stay on top of your pet's hair and stop it from building up in the first place. You'll likely still want to supplement this with the occasional deep clean with a manual vacuum, though.
If you have shedding pets and carpet, look for models with higher suction power (5,000Pa or ideally more), and a boost/extra suction mode option. Models with rubbery brushrolls are also typically good at gripping hair.
Can a robot vacuum replace a normal vacuum?
Realistically, probably not. For one, you can't use them anywhere but on the floor, so you'll need something to clean your stairs, furniture, mattress and so on. They also can't really match manual vacuums for suction power, so while they can help you stay on top of dust build-up, most people will want to supplement their work with the occasional deep clean with a manual vacuum.
Read more on this subject in our article exploring can a robot vacuum replace your existing vacuum cleaner?
How do robot vacuums work?
Robot vacuums have a series of brushes on the underside of the machine that work together to collect dirt and dust that they come in contact with. The dirt is then sucked into the dust cup, which is fitted into the vacuum's body. Most are equipped with smaller brushes that extend past the circumference of the vacuum, and the purpose of these is to reach dirt that's settled against baseboards or in awkward places.
More advanced robot vacuums have lasers on the front of the machine and some on the underside of the device too. These lasers detect where furniture, objects, and edges are in your home, helping avoid bumps, and cliff detection prevents the machine from falling down the stairs. Read our article on how do robot vacuums work to find out more.
What is the best robot vacuum?
After reviewing 16 new robot vacuums (and counting) in 2024, the best robot vacuum on the market right now is the Eufy X10 Pro Onmi. This combo vac-and-mop performs very well on both hard floor and carpet, and it's nice and easy to use thanks to a very well-designed app. It also takes care of emptying itself, meaning less intervention is required from you.
That model sits in the premium price bracket, though, so if you're on a tighter budget our top recommendation is the Proscenic Floobot X1, which punches well above its relatively wallet-friendly price tag.
How to choose the best robot vacuum for you
New robot vacuums are being released at an alarming rate, and it can be difficult to tell one from another. Below is my quick guide to how to choose the right model for you – if you want more information, you'll find it in my in-depth robot vacuum buying advice article.
Suction power
Today's top-specced robovacs can generate upwards of 10,000Pa of suction. That's rare though, and you're generally looking at machines that sit in the four-figure price bracket to get that kind of power. In the mid-range, expect 5,000-7,000Pa of suction. Lower than 5,000Pa is what I'd expect in a budget-friendly model.
Respected robovac brand Eufy says on its blog that 2,000-6,000Pa is "adequate for routine maintenance cleaning". I'd roughly agree with that. 2,000Pa is on the low side, but might be fine for hard floors and light cleaning; if you're dealing with things like pet hair and have carpets, I'd definitely be looking at the upper end of that bracket.
Remember that in general robot vacuums are designed for regular, light cleaning rather than deep cleans.
Vac or mop-vac?
Many of today's best robot vacuums are also able to mop floors. This can be useful if you have a mix of hard floors and carpet, but be aware that robovac mopping tends not to clean as well as good old manual mopping. Dual, rotating circular disc mop pads tend to deliver a more effective clean than semicircular mop pads, in my experience.
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Dock type
The cheapest robovacs will only have a dock for charging. Pricier models incorporate self-emptying of the onboard dustbin, and draining/refilling of the onboard water tanks. The very fanciest models offer automatic mop pad cleaning, and detergent dispensing for the mopping fluid. Onboard dustbins tend to be small, so if you're dealing with lots of dust or hair then I'd recommend prioritizing a self-empty dock. However, be aware that the more functions you add, the bigger the dock will be – the ones with water tanks can be pretty massive.
Cleaning features
Beyond suction power, there are lots of design aspects that will affect how well your robovac cleans, including edge cleaning features, pet-friendly features, and features geared towards tackling hair.
Historically, robovacs aren't great at cleaning up to the edges of rooms, but today's best robot vacuums add spinning side brushes designed to flick debris into the robot's suction path. Combo models might also have mops that can kick out from the side of the vacuum to get closer to the sides of rooms.
Pet owners might want to look for a model that is able to recognize their pet and either avoid it (if it's spooked by the addition of a sentient appliance to the household) or seek it out to check up on it while you're out of the house. If your pet occasionally makes a mess on the carpet, look for models that are designed to recognize and avoid poop.
If you have long hair, or live with someone who does, you might want to consider a robot vacuum with features geared towards ensuring it doesn't end up tangled all around the brushrolls. Some brands will address this by tapering their brushrolls or breaking them in the middle, with the aim of quickly directing hair towards the bin inlet. Dreame even has an alternative brushroll attachment that has little blades to chop up hair so it can be more easily managed.
How we tested these robot vacuums
✅ More than 180 vacuums and robot vacuums reviewed
✅ 16 new robot vacuums tested in 2024 so far
✅ 9 years of vacuum testing; 8 years of robovac testing
A new robot vacuum can be a significant investment, so to ensure you end up with the right one for you, each model here has been tested either on-team, or by one of our regular, experienced freelance reviewers.
We test out models from a wide range of brands, including the likes of iRobot Roomba, Shark and Roborock, as well as Eufy, Ecovacs, Narwal and Proscenic. We cover options for different budgets, rather than only testing the latest-and-greatest models (which, after all, will be overkill for many shoppers).
Our reviews are underpinned by specific, standardized tests. Here's a rundown of our review process.
Suction tests
We test fine dirt pickup by sprinkling a mix of flour and cookie crumbs on the floor, and large debris pickup using oats. We look at whether there's any remnants left after a single pass from the robot vacuum, and if it catches them on a second run. We repeat these tests for both hard floor and carpet.
Mopping tests
If the robot vacuum has a mop function, we see how it copes with fresh liquid spillages as well as dried-on, sticky messes. We'll also look at how the robot tackles the issue of switching between vacuuming and mopping – will it reliably detect floor type, and pick up its mop pad when moving from hard floor onto carpet, for example?
Mapping tests
When we first get the robot set up, we'll see how long it takes to create a map of the home, and how accurate that map is. For subsequent runs, we'll keep an eye on how the robot navigates the space; if takes a logical route through the house, if it repeats already-clean areas, and so on.
Navigation tests
To assess object avoidance, we lay out a charge cable, a sock that's a similar color to the floor, and some fake pet poop, to see if it can reliably spot and avoid them. On the navigation front, we'll also test the robot vacuum's edge cleaning abilities – does it get right up to the edges of rooms, or leave a margin that needs manual cleaning.
General use tests
As well as these standardized tests, my reviewers integrate these robovacs into their daily cleaning setup, to get a feel for how effective and user-friendly they are in general. This includes assessing noise levels (when cleaning and also when self-emptying), how long they last on a single charge, and how regularly they have to return to the dock to self-empty or charge.
We'll dig into the app and gauge how well-designed, usable and intuitive it is, and how much control it offers. We'll also test any specific performance claims made by the manufacturer, as well as checking out any special features like built-in voice assistants and camera surveillance.
After at least two weeks of testing, we consolidate our findings and use them to judge who (if anyone) we'd recommend the robot vacuum to. We also compare the features and build quality to the price, to assess if the robot vacuum is good value for money.
