Top 5 Best Robot Vacuums For All Budgets

Best Robot Vacuums

According to our tests, the best robot vacuum on the market is the Neato Botvac D7. It is incredibly powerful and versatile. It has a long enough battery life to be able to clean up to 4 bedrooms on a single charge and maps your floors and intelligently navigates. 

We didn't just test one vacuum though, we tested a handful.

Here's a quick preview of the models that made our list and a quick description. Further along in the article, we will go into the details of each.

VAcuum

Summary

Editor's Choice

Neato Robotics D7

Neato Botvac D7 Connected

This excellent all around robot vacuum has superior navigation ability coupled with strong, smart suction. It is the best overall choice with all factors considered. 


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Eufy RoboVac 11s

Eufy RoboVac 11s Review

This budget friendly robovac is a perfect combination of quality and affordability. It is missing some premium features, but comes in at a much lower price than the alternatives.


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Xiaomi RoboRock S50

Xiami RoboRock 2

This versatile robot vacuum has dry vacuuming and wet mopping ability. It has a plethora of cleaning modes, including a "quiet" mode and strong suction mode.


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Samsung Powerbot R7065

Samsung Powerbot R7070

This quirky-looking robot vacuum has great edge cleaning ability and is arguably the best option for homes with pets. Its strong suction and anti-tangle brushes make cleaning pet hair a breeze.


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Ecovacs Deebot N79S

ECOVACS DEEBOT N79S

Another budget-friendly option, this robot vacuum prioritizes cleaning power over fancy features. It will work well for small homes and for those who don't want to pay extra for premium features.


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What To Look For In A Robot Vacuum

The robot vacuum market has become saturated in the past few years. Sifting through all of the features that the various models have is exhausting.

If you are seriously in the market for a robot vacuum and are ready to buy, here are the key features you should be considering when making your decision.

After exhaustive testing over the past year of the most popular robot vacuums currently on the market, we have compiled a comprehensive list of the best of the best.

Not everyone wants a top dollar vacuum, so we will not only show you the premium robot vacuums available, but we will also dive into some other categories that may be important to you such as the best robot vacuum for the money, and the quietest models.

  • Navigation - This is the most important feature to look for, and is generally what sets the expensive models apart from cheaper ones. It isn't an easy task to create a robot that can navigate through your home and clean thoroughly without getting lost or stuck.
    The technology that goes into the navigational systems of a robot vacuum can easily be compared to those that go into a self-driving car. However, if your vacuum bumps into the wall, you have a much smaller problem than if your car does the same.
    That being said, your robot vacuum needs to be able to navigate a changing environment effectively, efficiently, and avoid obstacles. It doesn't matter how many fancy add-ons you have or how strong the suction is if the machine misses areas or continually gets stuck.
  • Not Getting Stuck- To piggyback off of the navigation, not getting stuck is also a huge factor to consider when shopping for a robot vacuum. The robots that keep moving are the ones that keep your home the cleanest.
    It is a significant challenge to overcome, but if you opt for a robot vacuum that has a good history of obstacle avoidance, it'll make your life so much easier.
    Some common things lower end robot vacuums have trouble with are getting tangled in power cables, rug edges and under appliances. Specific models have rollers that prevent tangles, and others avoid these obstacles altogether.
  • Cleaning Power- Another apparent thing to look for when shopping for a robot vacuum is how well it cleans. If you are on a tighter budget, you shouldn't worry too much about this, because most robot vacuums do a pretty good job of picking up the obvious junk.
    Where premium vacuums excel is deep cleaning carpets and getting the smaller particles that lower-grade vacuums might miss.
  • No Tangles- If you have a home with pets or someone with long hair, you know the struggles of hair getting tangled in the vacuum. Most of the time, these types of tangles won't prevent your robot from cleaning, but it adds to the maintenance.
    Newer models of robot vacuum use tangle-free brushes to prevent this before it even starts. Opting for a model with this feature means your robot vacuum is more autonomous and requires far less upkeep. You should only have to empty the bin when its full and that's it.
  • Noise Level- Ideally, a robot vacuum works without you having to think about it. So, the quieter the vacuum, the better. If you are planning on running the vacuum while you are home, this may be a feature to consider strongly. Some models can run as loud as 65db, which can be quite annoying.
  • Bulk- Bots that are shorter and more lightweight generally have an advantage over taller, heavier models. The more streamline the vacuum, the more places it can get to without getting stuck.
  • Wifi Connectivity- This is personal preference, but if you're into smart devices, you'll probably want a robot vacuum with wifi capabilities. This generally allows you to control your vacuum from your phone and schedule cleanings remotely.

Now that you know what to look for let's dig into the details!


Our Top Picks For The Best Robot Vacuums

Pros:

  • Easy, self-explanatory setup
  • Offers quick and thorough deep clean
  • Quieter than Roomba 900 series robots
  • Laser guided smart navigation

Cons:

  • Tends to pick up large items
  • Struggles with fine dirt on tile

More About The Neato Robotics D7 Wifi-Enabled Vacuum

If you are looking for a great overall robot vacuum cleaner, the Neato Robotics D7 is a clear winner. It has superior laser navigation ability that crushes even more expensive models like the Roomba 980.

It is wifi-enabled and can run entirely autonomously. You can set a schedule, and it will clean without you have to start and stop it, and it is also Alexa and google home compatible.

When it comes to actually cleaning, the Neato D7 gets around obstacles and provides the best overall cleaning job. It very rarely misses areas of your room and is powerful enough to clean up most messes. It does struggle with fine dirt on tile, but that is really its only suction issue we found. It does a great job.

Neato Robot vacuum cleaning

Another feature that helped the Neato D7 get our pick for best of the best are the new and improved No-Go lines. When you first let the Neato D7 clean your home, it maps your floor plan which you can then view in the app.

Within the app, you can draw lines on the screen which translates into areas the robot vacuum will avoid. These lines can be added and removed as much as you like. This feature is groundbreaking in the industry. Up until now, to achieve this you had to place virtual walls in your home or magnetic strips. The No-Go lines avoid having to have actual hardware in your doorway and accomplish the same goal.

While this is not the least expensive robot vacuum available, it is a hands-down winner. There isn't much competition when it comes to intelligence and cleaning effectiveness. 

Features:

  • Edge cleaning
  • Laser navigation
  • No-Go room area avoidance lines
  • Wifi-enabled
  • Large dustbin
  • Low maintenance
  • Connects to smart devices

Pros:

  • Under $300
  • Extremely low profile - fits under almost all furniture
  • Boost IQ variable suction power for different surfaces
  • Strong suction
  • Large dustbin

Cons:

  • Not wifi enabled
  • Sub-par navigation that may miss some areas
  • Gets stuck on high-pile carpet/rugs

More About The Eufy RoboVac 11s

This incredibly affordable robot vacuum covers all of your basics and does an excellent job for the money.

The Eufy Robovac 11s is an entry-level robot vacuum that offers good cleaning on most surfaces. It will work great for small apartments or homes without too many obstacles. If you need something to take the edge off and quick-clean your floors on a schedule, so you have to clean less often, this is the best choice.

It is missing some of the features you find in higher priced vacuums such as smart navigation, wifi, and app capabilities, and won't map your home. The robot cleans randomly, but will eventually do a pretty thorough job for small homes.

It is very low profile which means you won't have any issues with it not being able to go under furniture.

It is a very simple robot vacuum, and there isn't much to it. It cleans and self-docks, and that's about it. The main selling point is that because all of the features are stripped, it comes in at a very low price point and is still a handy option for most consumers.

Features:

  • Self-docking
  • 1-hour cleaning
  • Remote controlled + Scheduling

Pros:

  • 53 db running noise (60db is industry average)
  • Wet/dry cleaning
  • HEPA filter
  • Compact docking station
  • Laser navigation
  • Automatic suction adjustments
  • Floor mapping

Cons:

  • Taller than other models, so it could have trouble with low furniture
  • Only quietest in quiet, low power mode

More About The Xiaomi RoboRock S5

The Xiaomi RoboRock S5 is an excellent option if you have a bigger budget and care about the extra features it comes with. While it does not have the strongest suction of the vacuums listed here, it is easily the most versatile.

It is a premium vacuum, so it includes the premium features you expect at its price point. It has 360-degree laser navigation and floor mapping. Its navigation is spot on, and you can isolate certain areas within the app once it has mapped your home.

The S5 comes with a wet and dry cleaning functionality, so this vacuum will also function as a mop. This is useful if you have primarily hard floors and could benefit from occasional mopping.

One of the best features about the RoboRock is the sheer amount of customization options you have at your fingertips. It has more cleaning modes than most other competitors, and you can tell the designers put a lot of thought into this product. If you care a lot about how low your robot vacuum is, this is one of the only vacuums available that allows you to choose a quieter running mode that still effectively cleans your home.

Features:

  • Laser navigation
  • Wifi + app enabled
  • Wet/Dry cleaning
  • Various cleaning modes

Honorable Mentions

Everyone loves to have options. If the other robot vacuums we listed above aren't perfect for you, we want you to have more to choose from.

The following robot vacuums may not have garnered our "best of the best" award, but they still deserve a spot on this list. 

Pros:

  • Squared off design gets into tight spaces
  • Anti-tangle technology
  • Compatible with Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and SmartThings
  • Multiple cleaning modes, including power saving and turbo modes

Cons:

  • Bulky design means it has trouble going under low furniture
  • Confusing setup process

More About The Samsung Powerbot R7065

Often referred to as the best robot vacuum for pets, this powerful machine does a lot of things right. First, its design breaks away from the traditional robot vacuum mold. It's squared off front section means it cleans corner areas much better than other rounded-off options.

It has multiple cleaning modes and anti-tangle brushes which makes it an excellent option for homes with carpets and pets. It is powerful enough to get a deep down clean in thick carpets, but the brushes manage to remain tangle free.

It is bigger than a lot of other models which means it will struggle getting underneath low furniture. However, what you sacrifice in bulk you make up for with power. If you want a robot vacuum that does an excellent job cleaning all surfaces, this is a great option.

Like other premium robot vacuums, the Samsung Powerbot R7065 has laser guided navigation. It will map your home and cleans intelligently, rather than randomly as you see in other lower priced models.

Overall, it is a great option to consider if you have a large home, and especially one with pets. If you already have Amazon Alexa or Google Home, this is also a great option because it seamlessly integrates into your existing smart devices.

Features:

  • Wifi-enabled
  • Laser navigation
  • Squared-off design for superior corner cleaning
  • Turbo cleaning mode

Pros:

  • Wifi-App enabled
  • Under $300
  • Good suction on all floor types
  • Long battery

Cons:

  • Tricky to clean brushes
  • Random navigation

More About The Ecovacs Deebot N79s

This budget-friendly robot vacuum gives some of the premium models a run for their money. While it doesn't have all of the features of more expensive options, for the price, it has more than you would expect.

First off, this vacuum can generally be found for under $300 and is wifi/app enabled. In this price range, this is pretty hard to find. While it doesn't map your house, within the app, you can see stats for your machine, set a schedule, control the robot and other basic features. For a vacuum at this price point, having these extra features is a huge plus.

The Deebot N79 isn't all that impressive when it comes to obstacle avoidable and navigation. Since it is a budget vacuum, it uses random navigation to clean your room. It goes in a straight line until it senses an obstacle or a wall, and then changes direction and repeats this. When it finds a wall, it will run along the edge and does a pretty decent job.

Maintenance on this vacuum is pretty easy. The dustbin is large enough that you should only have to clean it every couple of runs, but the main brush does require you to remove screws to completely clean.

Overall, for the price, this vacuum is great for small apartments that need a quick clean to take the edge off.

Notice we didn't mention Roomba?

Well, Roombas are great, but generally speaking, they are not the best value. They can clean better than some of the less expensive models on this list, but you almost always pay a premium price. If you wanna check out some popular Roomba models for yourself, you may be interested in our write up comparing some of the most popular Roomba vacuums.

That's It! Now It's Your Turn.

Have you ever owned a robot vacuum? If so, which features were the most important to you? Let us know in the comments section below. As always, let us know if you think we missed something or if you enjoyed our review.

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