How to Find the Best Budget Robot Vacuum
A bargain-priced robot vacuum is a great value. Beware of maintenance costs that might be higher than expected: tangles in brushes, blocked air inlets and emptying dust bins will quickly transform your dream of automated cleaning into a burden.
For many the most affordable robot is the iRobot Combo. It offers the same hands-free experience for only a fraction of the cost.
Suction Power
Some models in this category offer enough suction for basic vacuuming. Others may require an nozzle that can be held in a handheld for more thorough cleaning. A budget-friendly vacuum is likely to do the job well if you live in an apartment with primarily hard floors. However, if your floors are an assortment of surfaces and you also have rugs, or if you have pets that shed, a higher-end model will provide the most effective results for your money.
Some budget models come with mopping and a water tank capability, adding to their flexibility. The Dyson R7050C features a large 770ml bin and excellent navigation scores, but is more loud and does not include mopping capabilities. Eufy Roborock Q5 Pro is a smaller robot that is quieter and has an automated dock. It also has a water tank, a powerful suction capacity of 5,500pascal and a large bin that you can fill with cleaning solution to make it an effective mopping machine. You can operate the Q5 Pro via the smart app to mop or vacuum in rooms, a sequence of rooms or an entire area and set no-go zones and customise suction and mopping settings for different rooms.
The Shark ION is a good choice for those seeking something affordable, simple and reliable. It's not as advanced as other models, having an uncomplicated app and basic maps, but it has superior cleaning and navigation capabilities. It's also among the few robots we've tested which can distinguish between hard flooring and carpets, and it has a 300ml dustbin that has to be empty every 30 days.
If you're looking for an upgraded model that can mop, vacuum and even create an outline of your home to help you avoid obstacles look at some of the most expensive options in this price range. The iRobot Roomba 650 and 750 offer a powerful suction force, clever combs for pet hair and other dirt, as well as in-app scheduling and voice control using your smart home assistant. Samsung Cleanbot SV8000 offers a outstanding cleaning capabilities at a reasonable price.
Navigation Efficiency
A robot vacuum cleaner that is budget-friendly can be as effective as more expensive models, so long as it is able to maneuver through your home and avoid obstacles. To measure the effectiveness of navigation our lab technicians set up a tracking device to monitor a robot's movements through a multiroom test home and evaluate its ability to locate the rooms it needs to clean in a specific amount of time, while avoiding obstacles such as rug cords, power cables and furniture. We also evaluate the speed at which robots can navigate through different terrains within the home, like stairs and floor transitions.
The most affordable robot vacuums are equipped with navigation systems that let them clean a room efficiently without wasting time or running into obstacles. Most robot vacuums have the ability to map which is essential to complete a thorough house clean. Even low-cost models with no mapping can effectively cover a room. It is crucial to balance the cost of your machine against the features you require.
We also look at how easy it is for robots to traverse thresholds within the home, like the thresholds of a door sill and a sofa. A good budget-friendly robot must be able to pass over these obstacles, and a few offer settings that alter suction power according to kinds of floors. We also look at whether a budget-friendly robot is compatible with your home's smart-home configuration and can be controlled remotely through an app or via voice control.
One example of a top budget robot is the iLife V3s Pro, which comes with basic mapping capabilities and other smart features in a very affordable price. It can be controlled using the iRobot App and comes with an auto return feature that allows you to return the robot back to its base once the battery runs low, then continues where it began.
The iLife V3s Pro doesn't have the advanced object avoidance that you find on many premium robots, but it does have a live camera that transmits a grainy video feed to your phone so you can monitor the robot as it performs. The cameras can spot obstacles and stairs and alert the robot if it encounters them. However, the iLife uses random navigation rather than an approach designed to avoid objects stuck against furniture legs, therefore it might not be able around a leg on a chair or other tight spot as well as a robot equipped with mapping capabilities.
Cleaning Performance
When shopping for a robotic vacuum, you must consider the cost and performance. The cheapest models might not feature advanced features such as mapping however, you can find some that excel in cleaning your home. It is important to be aware of the size of the dustbin and how much dirt it can hold before having to empty it. You'll need enough space to fit all the debris that robots collect such as hair, dirt, and pet dander.
You'll also want a robot vacuum that removes the stains that carpets have. We test every model on the ZDNET chart to see whether it can remove hair and dirt from carpet. The most effective models have a brush that digs into the fibers to pull out debris.
Most budget models do well in cleaning up spills on carpets that are not paved or in low-pile carpet However, they struggle to get rid of larger chunks of debris and pet hair from carpets with higher pile. They typically have less suction power than more expensive models however, they still do a an excellent job of clearing out debris from tight spaces like corners and underneath furniture.
The iLife V3s Pro vacuum cleaner is the best vacuum for its price. It has a high score in our tests and it can take hairs and dirt off carpets. It's also one of our quieter models and easy to use. It has a small suction opening that scoops debris rather than pushing it through the bar, and it can adjust the power to be in line with the surface. It has a sidebrush that comes with three bristles that push hair and other debris into the path of the robot. However, it is not as effective in sweeping fine dust.
If you require mop and vacuum you should look for a product that can do both such as the Combo j9 Plus. This robot can vacuum and mop simultaneously and you can alter the settings for each room. It's more expensive compared to other low-cost robots in our list, but it has the advantages of having a forward-facing camera, which allows for more precise mapping and better obstacle avoidance for things like power cords and cat piss.
Maintenance
Robot vacuums are handy however, they come at a cost. They require regular maintenance that ranges from emptying their dust bin to replacing filters and cleaning the brush bar. They can also get tangled in cords and fall off the stairs, so they should be monitored carefully.
The most affordable robot vacuums reduce these issues by requiring only minimal supervision from the user. The best models have navigation systems that stay clear of objects and keep themselves clear of hazards, such as strangling electrical cords and dropping food items. Sensors are used to map rooms, and create maps that inform them where they have already cleaned.
Don't let the price of the higher-end models deter you. robotic vacuums can still do a great job if given a chance. Many of our top budget picks are from top OEMs, like iRobot, Roborock and Dreame and you can be sure that they've been created with the utmost care and are built to last.
If you're willing to spend more, think about investing in a mopping robot. These machines can scrub floors with a wet cloth and remove stubborn stains. They can also be used combination with mop pads to tackle tough jobs, such as dried coffee.
The TP-Link Tapo RV30 plus is the best value mopping robot in our roundup. It has a neat, uncluttered appearance, but it also has all the features and capabilities of a top-rated robovac. During our tests the RV30 was capable of navigating without hitting furniture, and constructing detailed maps of its flooring that it can refer to in future runs. This is the only robot in the budget that we have tested with this feature. iRobot Roomba also has mapping capabilities, however the app setup guides you through the entire procedure.
Whether you choose an expensive robovac or a more affordable option, make sure you maintain your robovac regularly. It's a good idea to empty the dust bin after each cleaning job and to clean the filter if you have one (check your owner's manual or the manufacturer's website for more information). Replace the battery if needed and check the Wi-Fi connectivity.