How to Find the Best Budget Robot Vacuum
A bargain-priced robot vacuum is a great value. Beware of maintenance costs that could be more than you anticipated: tangles in brushes, clogged air inlets and emptying dust bins will quickly turn your automated cleaning dream into a burden.
The iRobot j7 Combo is the most affordable robot for many people. It provides the exact hands-off experience for a fraction of the price.
Suction Power
Some models in this price range have sufficient suction for basic vacuuming, but others may need a little assistance from a handheld nozzle to get deep into cracks and crevices. If you live in a house with primarily hard flooring and a low-cost robot vacuum will likely do the trick. But if your floors have a mix of surfaces and there are carpets, or have pets who shed, a higher-end model will provide the best results for the cost.
A few models that are budget-friendly include mopping and a water tank capabilities, which adds to their versatility. The Dyson R7050C features an enormous 770ml bin as well as excellent navigation scores, but is louder and does not have mopping capabilities. The smaller Eufy Roborock Q5 Pro, in contrast, is quite quiet and has an auto-empty dock. It also has a water tank, a powerful suction capacity of 5,500pascal and a large bin can be filled with cleaning solution to make it an efficient mopping device. The Q5 Pro can be controlled through the app's smart function, which lets you vacuum or mop a room or a sequence of rooms or an entire space. You can also create no-go zones and customize suction settings for each room.
The budget Shark ION is a great option for those who want something simple, affordable and reliable. It's not as advanced as other models, and comes with a basic app and minimal mapping capabilities, but has superior cleaning and navigation capabilities. It's also one of a few robots that can discern between carpets and hard flooring. The 300ml dustbin is only emptied once every 30 days.
Look into some of the best models that are priced at this level If you're looking for something more sophisticated, able to vacuum mop, sweep, and create a map for more effective obstacle-avoiding. The iRobot Roomba 650 and 750 have very strong suction power as well as a comb that is cleverly designed for pet hair and other dirt, as well as in-app scheduling and voice control with your smart home assistant. Samsung Cleanbot SV8000 offers a excellent cleaning performance at a reasonable price.
Navigation Efficiency
A low-cost robot vacuum can be just as effective as the more expensive models as long as it is able to navigate your home and avoid obstacles. To assess the effectiveness of navigation our lab technicians set up a tracker to watch a robot's movement through a multiroom test house and test its ability to find the rooms it needs to clean in a certain amount of time, avoiding pitfalls like power cords, rugs and furniture. We also evaluate the speed at which a robot is able to navigate through different terrains within a house, including the floor and stairways.
The most affordable robot vacuums are equipped with navigation systems that allow them to clean a room efficiently without getting lost or running into obstacles. The majority of robot vacuums have the ability to map which is essential for a full-house clean. However, even budget models with no mapping can be used to effectively cover a space and it's crucial to consider the cost and features you want for your home.
We also look at how easily a robot can overcome thresholds in the home, like the heights of a door's sill and sofas. A good budget robot should be able to move over these obstacles, and a few provide settings to adjust suction power for different kinds of floors. We also consider whether the robot is compatible with smart home technology and is able to be controlled remotely via an app or voice command.
The iLife V3s Pro is a great example of a budget robot that comes with basic mapping capabilities as well as clever features. It's also incredibly affordable. It can be controlled by the iRobot App and has an automatic return feature that will return the robot to its base when the battery is low and continues where it left off.
The iLife V3s Pro does not have the advanced object-avoidance technology you find on many top robots. However it does have a live camera which transmits a grainy feed to your phone so you can observe it working. The cameras can also detect stairs and other obstacles and alert you if the robot encounters them. The iLife is a different model, however, it uses random navigation instead of a method that is designed to avoid objects stuck to furniture legs. It may not be able to navigate through a tight space or chair leg as well as a robotic system with the ability to map.
Cleaning Performance
If you're looking for a robot vacuum, it is important to balance price with performance. There are models that aren't as expensive and don't have advanced features like mapping but there are many that perform very well in cleaning your home. It is important to be aware of the size of a robot's dustbin and how much dirt it can hold prior to needing to empty. It should be able to accommodate all the trash that a robot collects such as hair dirt, pet dander.
You'll want a vacuum capable of removing stains and dirt from carpets too. We test every model in the ZDNET chart to determine if it can remove hair and dirt from carpet. The best models have a brush that digs into fibers to remove dirt.
Budget models are good at cleaning up small messes from plain floors or low-pile floor carpets but they struggle to get rid of bigger pet hairs and debris from carpets with higher pile. These models usually have a less powerful suction, but they can still be effective in removing particles from tight spaces like corners and underneath furniture.
The iLife V3s Pro vacuum cleaner is the top vacuum in its price range. It has a good score in our tests, and it can take hairs and dirt off carpets. It is also one of our quieter models and easy to use. It has tiny suction openings that scoops debris rather than pushing it through the bar, and it can adjust the power to be in line with the surface. It also comes with a side-brush that has three bristles that push hair and debris into the robot's path, but it's not as effective at a job of picking up fine dust.
Look for a model with mop and vacuum functions, such as the Combo j9 Plus. This robot can simultaneously vac and mop, and make specific vac/mop settings to each room. It's pricier than other robot vacuums in our chart but has an in-front camera that allows for more precise mapping and better obstacle avoidance for things like power cords and cat urine.
Maintenance
The ease of use robot vacuums provide is fantastic, but the technology comes with a price. Regular maintenance is required to empty the dustbin to changing filters and cleaning their brush bar. They can also become tangled in cords or fall off the stairs.
The most affordable robot vacuums minimize these hassles by requiring only minimal supervision from the user. best robot vacuums come with navigation systems that enable them to avoid obstacles and stay clear of hazards such as electrical cords, food debris and even dropped food. They also make use of a mix of sensors to map rooms, and then create maps that indicate where they've already cleaned to ensure they don't re-clean the same areas again.
Don't let the price of the higher-end models deter you. They can still do an excellent job if given a chance. Many of our top picks for budget are made by top OEMs like iRobot, Roborock and Dreame and you can be sure that they've been designed with care and are built to last.
You might consider a mopping robot if you are willing to pay more. These machines can clean floors using an aqueous cloth and get rid of the most stubborn stains. They can also be used combination with mop pads to tackle tough jobs like dried coffee.
The TP-Link Tapo RV30 Plus is the most affordable mopping robot that we have reviewed in our roundup. It has the clean, fussless appearance of a home hub, but the features and performance of a top-rated robovac with LiDAR navigation. During our tests, the RV30 was able to navigate without hitting furniture and create detailed maps of its floorplan that it could use on future runs. It's the only budget robot we've tested that have this feature, though iRobot's Roomba has similar mapping capabilities with an in-app setting that guides you through the process step-by-step.
Make sure to keep your robot in good condition regardless of whether you pick a costly robovac or one that is less expensive. It is a good idea to empty its dustbin after every cleaning task and to clean the filter if you have one (check the owner's manual or the manufacturer's website for details). You should also replace the battery as needed, and check in on its Wi-Fi connectivity and app updates.