Best Robot Vacuum Cleaners – Guide to Choosing the Perfect Robotic Vac

If you’re following me on a regular basis, I guess you’ve seen that I lately “play” with lots of robotic vacuum cleaners. That’s not because I got bored with all the uprights, sticks and canisters out there. One of the main reasons I’ve focused more on these products in the last 3-4 months was to write this article, which should provide an up to date overview of everything that is happening right now in the robot vacuum industry. I’ll also be including comparison charts with a subjective selection of the best robot vacuums available at them moment, so if you’re in the market for a top appliance such as this, read on my friend.

Robotic vacuums have arguably revolutionized the way we clean our homes. The advanced technology and sleek designs have seen people flocking the stores to get their own robot vacuum. However, there are some who still don’t know what a robovac is, and when it comes to buying one, many are still hesitant. So let’s start with the beginning.

What is a Robotic Vacuum Cleaner?

Just like your regular upright, the robot vacuum cleaner does what it’s supposed to do – it vacuums. However, unlike regular appliances, it is meant to be a smart piece of equipment. A robot vacuum cleaner should work without needing a human being’s input or control. It should adapt to its surroundings autonomously (we’ll see right away which products really have this capability). Robot vacuums usually come in round or D shapes and ideally, they should be able to clean carpets and hard floors, and store the dirt into an on-board bin, to be emptied later. Since they work autonomously, robot vacuums are powered by batteries. These can be manually recharged; the most sophisticated will however find and settle on their docking station for recharging. I think most of you agree with me when I say that robot vacuums are not meant to replace the standard vacuum cleaners. They are mostly used for maintaining a dust free home. You can for example schedule a robot vacuum to clean every day when you’re at work, and then vacuum with your upright or canister once per week or so.

Read Related Topic: Coredy Robot Vacuum Cleaner Review

How does it Work

Most robovacs have two drive wheels and one or more non-drive wheels. They come with sensors which detect cues in the working environment such as obstacles, cliffs, stairs, or the traveled distance. All bots have a motor to generate suction, and brushes (a wide brushroll or/and separate side brushes) to sweep the dirt towards the air inlet.

Navigation Algorithms

What makes the robotic vacuum cleaner so useful is that you do not have to sit and wait upon the machine as it cleans your house. It usually navigates and cleans the rooms following a special set of cleaning modes. For instance, you can set some robovacs to clean in spiral or in circular patterns. You could also set them to crisscross in diagonals, zigzag or other available configuration. The navigation algorithms are directly dependent on the quality of the sensor system. Better sensors means more efficient navigation and higher surface coverage. The laser and 360 video cameras that you can find in premium models from Neato, iRobot, Dyson or LG allow their products to map the environment, which eliminates the uncertainty caused by the semi-random navigation we see in cheaper models. Let me rephrase that: only units with indoor GPS, 3D cameras or laser sensors can map their environment. Thus, robots equipped with just some IR sensors will move randomly, because they have no idea of what is going on with themselves or with their work place. As for the autonomous recharging, only units which can use maps are dependable. All the others will reach the infrared signal of the docking station by pure chance.

Limitations of Robotic Vacuum Cleaners

• Many of them cannot operate on floors with a slope beyond 15 degrees.
• They will not climb or descend stairs. You will have to carry them up and down if you have a multi-level house.
• Many do not work on dark (black) surfaces.
• If they can not map the environment, they may miss spots, or lose the position of the charging base.
• They have a small bin which need to be emptied often.
• Many “eat” wires, so you need to do a minimal declutter before using them (I like to compare them to washing machines – you still have to dispose the big chunks before cleaning the dishes).
• Shag carpets are almost impossible to be cleaned by the current available bots.

The Usefulness

There has been a lot of talk about the utility of such appliances. Some even question their inclusion in the home appliance category (thinking they are mostly toys). The reality is that, in most of the cases, we DO need them. And I’m not just saying that without real data to back me. A while ago, I’ve hosted a giveaway and asked the participants to express their opinion on this matter. 109 people provided an answer to the following 2 questions: “Do you consider robot vacuums useful? Why?”. Since then, I’ve extended my study in the offline area. I have personally interviewed another 56 people, asking them the same couple of questions. Here’s what I’ve found:

As you see, over 80% of us think that robot vacuum cleaners are useful. The reasons are various. Many invoke health issues, such as arthritis, back pain or invalidity. Others prefer the convenience of using a product without the need of supervising it. To many, cleaning is boring and hard, and finding help nowadays is expensive. And others are, as they said, “lazy”. Most don’t expect a complete clean, and understand the limitations of this technology. A few don’t, and consider that if they need to redo the chore, the product is useless. There’s also a small group of people who would like to purchase a robot vacuum just for fun or fashion. These are usually the young tech addicts who like to keep up with the latest trends.

An interesting fact is that about 10% of the population has no idea if the robotic vacuum cleaners are useful. They have never tested nor have seen one in action. I believe there is a lot of potential in this segment.

The price people are willing to pay for a robot vacuum cleaner

Based on another giveaway of mine and on my offline questionnaire work, I am now able to provide you with one of the most interesting facts people can read on a blog about vacuum cleaners: just how much money people are willing to spend on a robot vacuum cleaner these days. In my opinion, market analysts from premium producers such as Dyson or iRobot should carefully read this and learn something. Here’s the data I’ve compiled from a study carried with 193 participants (137 online and 56 offline):

As you can see, not many people are willing to cross the $500 frontier. In fact, almost 98% of the interviewees prefer to spend less than $400 for such an appliance. That means that products such as iRobot Roomba 980 (and even the cheaper Roomba 960), Neato Botvac Connected, Dyson 360 Eye or the latest LG Hom-Bot are out of the question. Almost 75% (3 people out of 4) would pay $250 or less. At this price, most premium brands are excluded. Only a small percent of those eccentric guys I was talking about a few lines above seem to be willing to spend more than $500. That is why companies such as iLife have managed to grasp a big slice of the market – they are addressing one of the most ardent needs of consumers – their budget (or better said, the lack of it). And iLife is not the only one – Haier, Donkey or SeeBest are also selling competitive products. In some of the cases, these cheaper models are not only equality efficient (compared to their more expensive counterparts), they are also better looking. Here’s a pic with some of the “cheaper” robovacs I’ve already reviewed or will be reviewing in the following days:

Some common sense facts

The size

As you see in the picture above, not all bots are the same, yet most are flat disk-shaped devices. When it comes to diameter, one of the smallest bots on the market is the Dyson 360 Eye with a 9.5″. The red Donkey E1 from the right is about 11.8″. Most other units are wider, with a diameter ranging from 12″ to 14″. The diameter is not everything. Ideally, you shouldn’t have to move low furniture out of the robot’s cleaning path, so their height is also important. The shorter the product, the more places it can crawl under. For example, Dyson 360 Eye is almost 5″ high, which means it definitely can’t clean under my kitchen cabinets. In comparison, the Jisiwei S+ has a height of only 3.5″ – this vac can even go under my bed. As a rule of thumb, smaller products are more capable of reaching tight spots. The reverse is that they also lose the space necessary to hold a decent size dust bin.

The dust bin

Speaking of the dust bin, it is safe to say all robot vacuums has a small dirt storing capacity. It is not comparable to volume offered by regular uprights or canisters. Generally speaking, a size of 12-14 oz is ok. Anything over 14 oz is above average. All bins are bagless, to conserve the power needed to push the dirt inside them.

Filtration

Filtration has almost always been a low-priority feature of robot vacuum cleaners, and I don’t really understand why. It’s most likely a financial matter. Given the great deal of money people are willing to spend on these things, I bet most would also like their machine to be a HEPA grade system (if you don’t know what HEPA means, you can check out my article about vacuum cleaner filters). As you see, vacuum robots don’t come with bags. That’s because there is not enough space to allow these to expand. That means that filters must single-handed take care of the output air. Most of the bots come with only one layer of filtration. However, I’ve seen some recent offers which include even an additional HEPA filter in their package.

The battery

One of the most important features of a robot vacuum is the quality of its battery. In my opinion, the best batteries you can have at the moment are made from Li-Ion. Products using this kind of batteries may clean for 120-150 minutes continuously, depending on the suction motor and on the sensors installed (i.e. the Dyson 360 Eye, although it uses a Li-Ion battery, can work continuously for only 40 minutes.). Ni-Mh based batteries last a bit less, but are also less expensive. Charging time is also important. Most robot vacuums fully recharge in 5h. Quality products are at 100% in 3-4h.

The suction power

Rating the suction power of their units has always been a soft spot for almost all vacuum cleaner producers. Sometimes the specs show a number in AW, other times they use Pa or CFM. If you want to find out more about transforming these into comparable values, you should check out my article about suction power and its meaning. When it comes to robot vacuums, I’d say that for a bot equipped with a brushroll, 400-500 Pa is enough, as the brushroll does half of the job, by agitating the dirt and sending it directly towards the air inlet. If the units doesn’t have a brushroll, the pump needs to be a bit more powerful, at about 600-700 Pa.

The noise

The bigger the motor, the more noise it makes. In my opinion, products which are passing 60 db are too noisy. There are plenty of robovacs which go even under 50 db and deliver excellent results. The trick is to isolate well the motor chamber, and to build ergonomic suction and filter holes. Having a quiet robot vacuum is important, because it allows you to focus on other things (this was the main idea from the start). Owning a good bot allows you to vacuum and in the same time read, watch TV, speak on the phone or do math problems.

Accessories

The best robot vacuum should come with a complete set of accessories. Virtual walls are a must if you have a home full of corners and crevices. These are also useful to limit the access to sensitive areas, such as kids dorms, pet rooms and so on. Additional filters are always welcomed. So are extra side brushes, remote controls, batteries for remote controls, cleaning brushes, product storage bags and so on. UV lighting has gained popularity with some mid-level producers, but you won’t find this functionality in top brands. Remote controls are useful IMO, and some even come with their own liquid crystal display.

Repairable? Upgradable?

When it comes to new technologies, it is fine to be cautious. Things may get broken soon, become obsolete or cost a lot of money to fix. We have all seen that lonely vacuum cleaner that nobody cares to look at, at the garage-sell organized by your next-door neighbors. However, with robotic cleaners, things aren’t always like that. Most of the reputable vendors offer lengthy 2-year warranties. Moreover, unlike standard vacuum cleaners, several robot vacuums can upgrade their firmware, with the purpose of getting more efficient. And there are also the smartphone apps developed for more expensive products such as Neato Botvac Connected, Dyson 360 Eye, iRobot Roomba 980 or Jisiwei S+. For example, you can use the last one as your very own mobile home surveillance system and command it over either iOS and Android environments.

Top 5 premium robot vacuums

If price is not an issue, check out this list with the best robot vacuum cleaners available at the moment:

	iRobot Roomba 980	Neato Botvac Connected	Dyson 360 Eye	iLife A4	LG Hom-Bot Square
Suction power	1600-1700 Pa	1400-1500 Pa	1800-2000 Pa	700-1000 Pa	700-1000 Pa
Dirt capacity	14 oz	24 oz	11 oz	15 oz	20 oz
Autonomy	90 – 120 min	90 – 120 min	40 min	90 – 120 min	100 min
Filters	HEPA	Ultra Performance Filter (HEPA equivalent)	Pre and post motor filters	HEPA	HEPA
Height	3.6 inches	3.9 inches	4.72 inches	2.99 inches	3.51 inches
Noise (at max. suction)	66 – 70 db	66 db	70 db	70 db	60 – 68db
Warranty	12 months for the robot 6 months for the battery	12 months for the robot 6 months for the battery	24 months	12 months	12 months
VGMrv (0-100)	94	95	94	92	90
Best price / discounts / deals	Check price on Amazon.com	Check price on Amazon.com	Check price on Amazon.com	Check price on GearBest.com Check price on Amazon.com	Check price on Amazon.com

Among these, my favorite is Roomba 980. The iLife A4 offers however the best price/quality ratio.

Top 5 budget robot vacuums

If you have a tighter budget, I recommend the deals offered by GearBest.com. This wholesaler has discounts, crazy coupons and programs almost every week, so make sure you pay them a visit:

Here are my favorite 5 cheap robot vacuums:

	iLife A4	iLife V7S	MinSu 2015A	Seebest C561	Haier SWR Pathfinder
Suction power	700-1000 Pa	600 Pa	800-1000pa	400-600 Pa	600-800 Pa
Dirt capacity	15 oz	17 oz	17 oz	12 oz	20 oz / 6 oz (water tank)
Autonomy	90 – 120 min	110 – 140 min	120 – 150 min	90 – 120 min	120 min
Filters	HEPA	Dual-layer filter	HEPA + Roughing filter	standard	HEPA + Roughing filter
Height	2.99 inches	3.15 inches	3.07 inches	3.43 inches	3.54 inches
Noise (at max. suction)	70 db	57 db	55 db	66 db	61 db
Warranty	12 months	12 months	12 months	12 months	12 months
VGMrv (0-100)	92	91	91	89	90
Best price / discounts / deals	Check price on GearBest.com Check price on Amazon.com	Check price on GearBest.com	Check price on GearBest.com	Check price on GearBest.com	Check price on GearBest.com

The MinSu 2015A is the newest and the most exotic entry from this list.

Robot vacuums and Pet hair

Pet hair and dander is hard to clean, because it tends to stick into carpet fibers, on furniture and on clothes. And to make things difficult, pet hair is different from one pet to another. You could be forced to deal with long Samoyed strands, or with little cat fur. Usual brushrolls tangle quickly, so you need units which can either be opened and cleaned quickly, or units which do not tangle at all. And to tackle the smell, you need a good filtration system. Here are the best 5 products which fit the profile:

	bObsweep Bobi Pet	iLife V7S	Neato Botvac D80	iRobot Roomba 960	iRobot Roomba 880
Suction power	600-800 Pa	600 Pa	1400-1500 Pa	1600-1700 Pa	1200-1400 Pa
Dirt capacity	18 oz	17 oz	24 oz	14 oz	14 oz
Autonomy	90 – 120 min	110 – 140 min	90 – 120 min	75 min	50 min
Filters	HEPA	Dual-layer filter	Ultra Performance Filter (HEPA equivalent)	HEPA	HEPA
Height	3.4 inches	3.15 inches	3.9 inches	3.6 inches	3.6 inches
Noise (at max. suction)	60 db	57 db	66 db	66 – 70 db	70 db
Warranty	24 months	12 months	12 months for the robot 6 months for the battery	12 months for the robot 6 months for the battery	12 months for the robot 6 months for the battery
VGMrv (0-100)	91	91	95	93	92
Best price / discounts / deals	Check price on Amazon.com	Check price on GearBest.com	Check price on Amazon.com	Check price on Amazon.com	Check price on Amazon.com

Bobi is not a big producer, but their Pet edition is well built and reliable. My favorite is, however, the Roomba 880, which was greatly reduced after the release of the 980.

Top 5 robot mops

Unlike robot vacuums which may include the mopping functionality, robot mops do not vacuum. In the list below, I’ve included 5 of the best mopping robots, regardless of whether they can vacuum or not. These are perfect for hard floors (sealed hardwood, tiles, linoleum). So if you’re looking to get rid of your regular mops, these are your options:

	iLife X5	iLife V5 PRO	Donkey M1	iRobot Braava 380t	iRobot Braava jet 240
Cleaning radius (Dry/Wet)	2000 sq ft / + 1000 sq ft	2000 sq ft / + 1000 sq ft	1100 / 1100 sq ft	1000 / 350 sq ft	250 / 200 sq ft
Tank capacity	10 oz	10 oz	3 oz	3 oz	10 oz
Autonomy	90 – 120 min	120 – 150 min	120 – 240 min	120 – 240 min	60 – 90 min
Dimensions	11.8 x 11.8 x 3.5 inches	11.79 x 11.79 x 3.5 inches	8.5 x 8.5 x 3.11 inches	9.6 x 8.5 x 3.1 inches	6.7 x 7 x 3.3 inches
Warranty	12 months	12 months	12 months	12 months	12 months
VGMrm (0-100)	82	82	83	83	85
Best price / discounts / deals	Check price on GearBest.com	Check price on GearBest.com	Check price on GearBest.com	Check price on Amazon.com	Check price on Amazon.com

If you need a robot mop only for a small area (i.e. a kitchen), the Braava 240 Jet would be a great choice. Otherwise, you could try the Donkey M1 which is practically one and the same with the Braava 380t. As a side note, remember you should always vacuum before mopping, no matter if you do it manually or automatically.

Conclusions

What’s you’re take on this? Are robotic vacuum cleaners useful? Are they worthy? Are you seriously consider getting one? How about a robot mop? How much would you be willing to spend on one? Or do you have one already (and in this case, please share with us how it changed your life)? Please excuse the question abundance, I’m excited to get your feedback.