How to Find the Best Budget Robot Vacuum
A bargain robot vacuum is a great value. Beware of maintenance costs that could be more than you anticipated: tangles in brushes, blocked air inlets and emptied dust bins will quickly make your automatic cleaning dream into a burden.
For many people, the best budget robot is the iRobot j7 Combo. It provides the same hands-free experience at less than half the price.
Suction Power
Some models in this range have enough suction to do basic vacuuming. Others might require an nozzle that can be held in a handheld for more thorough cleaning. If you live in a house with mostly hard floors or carpet, a budget-friendly robot vacuum is likely to suffice. If you have a variety of floors, have rugs or pets that shed, you will get the best results with an advanced robot vacuum.
Some budget models come with a water tank and mopping capabilities, which adds to their flexibility. The newer Dyson R7050C for instance, has excellent navigation scores in CR's tests and a huge bin capacity of 770ml, however it's louder than most of the other robots we've tested, and does not have mopping capabilities. Eufy Roborock Q5 Pro is smaller, but it is quieter and has an automated dock. It also comes with water tank, powerful suction power of 5,500pascals and a large bin can be filled with cleaning solution to make it a more effective mopping machine. The Q5 Pro can be controlled by the smart app which allows you to mop or vacuum a room or sequence of rooms or a whole area. You can also set up no-go zones, and customize suction settings for each room.
The Shark ION is a good choice for those seeking something affordable easy to use and reliable. It is not as sophisticated as other models, and comes with a basic app and no-frills maps, but it has outstanding cleaning and navigation capabilities as well as cleaning. It's also one of a few robots that can distinguish between hard flooring and carpets. The 300ml dustbin is only emptying once every 30 days.
Consider some of the premium models that are priced at this level If you're looking for something more sophisticated that can vacuum, mop, and create a map for smarter obstacle-avoidance. The iRobot Roomba 650/750 has a powerful suction and combs to remove pet hair and fine dirt and voice control through your smart home assistant. The Samsung Cleanbot SV8000 is another option that provides superior cleaning capabilities for the price.
Navigation Efficiency
A low-cost robot vacuum can be just as effective the more expensive models as long as it is able to navigate your home and avoid obstacles. Our lab technicians employed the tracking device in a multi-room test residence to test the robot's ability to navigate and find the rooms it required to clean within a specified time frame, while avoiding obstacles like furniture, power cords and carpets. We also look at the speed at which a robot is able to traverse different terrains in a house, including the floor and stairways.
The most affordable robot vacuums have efficient navigation systems that aid in helping them to tidy up a space without having to waste time, crashing through obstacles, or getting stuck. Many robot vacuums come with the ability to map which is essential for a full-house clean. Even low-cost models with no mapping can cover a room efficiently. It's important to balance the cost of your machine with the features that you need.
We also consider the ease with which robots can pass over common household thresholds such as the threshold of a door's sill or the width of a sofa. A budget-friendly robot should be able to pass through these obstacles, and some come with settings that alter the suction power based on the type of floor. We also check if the robot is compatible with smart home technology and can be controlled remotely using an app or voice commands.
One example of an excellent budget robot is the iLife V3s Pro, which has basic mapping capability and other smart features in a very affordable package. It is controlled via the iRobot App, and it has an auto return feature that allows you to return the robot back to its base when the battery is low, then continues where it began.
The iLife V3s Pro does not come with the advanced object-avoidance technology found on a variety of premium robots. However, it does have live cameras that transmit a grainy stream to your smartphone so you can watch it work. The cameras can detect obstacles and stairs and alert the robot if it comes across them. The iLife is a different model, however, it uses random navigation instead of a method specifically designed to avoid objects that are stuck to furniture legs. It might not be able to maneuver through a tight space or a chair leg as a robotic system with mapping capabilities.
Cleaning Performance
When you are looking for a robot vacuum, it is important to consider the cost and performance. Budget models may lack advanced features such as mapping, but they can still do a great job of cleaning your home. It is important to pay attention to the size of the dustbin and how much dirt it can hold prior to needing to empty it. You'll need enough space to accommodate all the debris a robot collects including pet dander, dirt, and hair.
You'll also require a robotic vacuum that removes stains from carpets. We test each model in the ZDNET chart to see if it can remove hair and dirt from carpet. The best models have a special brush that digs through the fibers to pull out debris.
The budget models are great at getting rid of small messes on flooring that is not covered with carpets but they struggle to remove larger pet hairs and debris from higher-pile carpets. They tend to have less powerful suction than higher-end models however they can do a an excellent job of cleaning up debris from tight spaces like corners and beneath furniture.
top robot vacuum is the best budget model for vacuuming with top marks in our tests due to its ability to remove hair and dirt from carpets. It's also among the quieter models we test and easy to use. It comes with a suction hole that scoops up debris instead of pushing it through the brush bar. It also has the ability to adjust the power to match any surface. It comes with a sidebrush that has three bristles to push hair and other debris into the path of the robot. However, it is not as effective in picking fine dust.
Find a model that has both vacuum and mop functions, such as the Combo j9 Plus. It can simultaneously mop and vacuum, and you can customize the settings for each room. It's more expensive than other robot vacuums we have in our chart, but it does have a camera in the front that allows for more precise mapping and a better way to avoid obstacles things like power cords or cat urine.
Maintenance
Robot vacuums are convenient however, they come at price. Regular maintenance is required for everything from emptying the dust bin to changing filters and cleaning the brush bar. They can also get tangled in cords and fall off the stairs, which is why they must be watched carefully.
The most affordable robot vacuums reduce these hassles since they require only minimal administration by the user. Top picks are equipped with navigation systems that allow them to avoid obstacles and stay clear of hazards like electrical cords and dropped foods. They also make use of a mix of sensors to map rooms and create maps that show which areas they've cleaned previously to ensure they don't re-clean the same areas again.
Even the most basic robotic vacuums will provide a clean and efficient service if you try them, so don't be discouraged by the cost of more expensive models. Many of our top picks for budget come from leading OEMs, such as iRobot, Roborock and Dreame and you can be sure that they've been developed with the utmost attention to detail and built to last.
You might consider a mopping robot if you are willing to spend more. These machines can scrub floors using a wet cloth and remove staining that is difficult to remove. They can also be used conjunction with a mop pad to tackle tough jobs such as dried coffee.
There are several mopping robots included in our list, but the best budget model is the TP-Link Tapo RV30 Plus. It has the clean and uncluttered appearance of a home hub but the performance and features of a top-rated robovac with LiDAR navigation. During our tests the RV30 was capable of navigating without hitting furniture, and constructing detailed maps of its flooring, which it could use on future runs. It's the only budget robot we've tested to have this feature, though the iRobot Roomba offers similar capabilities in mapping and has an in-app setting that guides you through the process step-by step.
Make sure to keep your robot in good condition, whether you choose the most expensive or one that is more affordable. You should empty the trash bin and clean the filter after each cleaning session (refer to the owner's manual or the manufacturer's site for more information). You should also replace the battery as needed and keep track of its Wi-Fi connectivity as well as app updates.