How to Find the Best Budget Robot Vacuum
A bargain robot vacuum is a steal. Beware of the maintenance costs that might be higher than you anticipated: tangles in brushes, blocked air inlets and empty dust bins can quickly make your automatic cleaning dream into a chore.
For a lot of people the most affordable robot is the iRobot Combo. It offers a similar hands-free experience for less than half the price.
Suction Power
Certain models within this price range offer sufficient suction for basic vacuuming, but others might require help by a handheld nozzle to get deep into crevices and cracks. If you live in a house with primarily hard flooring and a low-cost robot vacuum is likely to suffice. If you have a mixture of floors, have rugs or pets that shed, you will be able to get the best results with the most powerful robot vacuum.
Certain models that are priced lower come with mopping features and a water tank, which increases their versatility. The latest Dyson R7050C model, for example, has very good navigation scores in CR's tests and a huge bin of 770ml, but it's louder than most of the other robots we've tried and doesn't offer mopping features. Eufy Roborock Q5 Pro is smaller, but it is quieter and comes with an automatic dock. It also comes with water tank, powerful 5,500-pascal suction power and a large container that you can fill with cleaning solution to make it a more efficient mopping device. You can operate the Q5 Pro via the smart app to mop or vac in rooms, a sequence of rooms or an area, and you can set no-go zones and customise suction and mopping settings for different rooms.
The budget Shark ION is a great pick for those looking for something simple, affordable and reliable. It's not as sophisticated as other models, with an uncomplicated app and basic maps, but it has outstanding cleaning and navigation capabilities as well as cleaning. It is also one of the few robots we've tested that can tell the difference between carpets and hard flooring, and it has a 300ml dustbin that has to be cleaned every 30 days.
Take a look at some of the top models within this price range if you want something more advanced that can vacuum mop, vacuum, and even create a map to help you avoid obstacles. The iRobot Roomba 650/750 has a powerful suction and combs to remove pet hair and dust, and it can be controlled through your smart home assistant. Samsung Cleanbot SV8000 offers a excellent cleaning performance for a reasonable price.
Navigation Efficiency
A budget robot vacuum can be just as effective an expensive model, provided that it can navigate your home and avoid obstacles. To measure the effectiveness of navigation our lab technicians set up a tracking device to watch a robot's movement through a multi-room test house and test its ability to locate the rooms it needs to clean in a specific amount of time, while avoiding obstacles like rug power cords, power cords, and furniture. We also examine the speed at which a robot is able to traverse different terrains in the home, like the floor and stairways.
The most affordable robot vacuums feature efficient navigation systems that aid in helping to clean up a room without spending time, running through obstacles, or getting stuck. Most robot vacuums have the ability to map which is essential for a complete house cleaning. Even models that aren't mapping can effectively cover a room. It is important to weigh the cost of your machine with the features you require.
We also consider how easily a robot can cross over thresholds in the home, like the heights of a door's sill and the heights of a sofa. A good budget robot will be able to navigate these obstacles, and some have settings that adjust the suction power according to the type of floor. Finally, we take a look at whether a budget robot is compatible with your smart home setup and is able to be controlled remotely using an app or voice command.
One example of an excellent budget robot is the iLife V3s Pro, which includes basic mapping capabilities and other advanced features in an affordable price. It is controlled by the iRobot app, and comes with an auto-return feature that will return it to its base when the battery runs out and resumes where it began.
The iLife V3s Pro doesn't have the advanced object avoidance features found on many premium robots, but it does have a live camera that transmits an unreliable video feed to your smartphone so that you can watch it while it is working. The cameras are also able to detect obstacles like stairs and other steps and trigger an alert when the robot comes across them. However the iLife utilizes random navigation instead of an approach designed to keep objects from getting stuck to furniture legs, so it might not be able around a leg of a chair or other tight spot as well as a robot equipped with mapping capabilities.
Cleaning Performance
If you're looking for a robot vacuum it's important to balance cost with performance. Budget models may not have advanced features like mapping but there are some that excel in cleaning your home. Also, pay attention to the size of the dustbin and the amount of dirt it can hold prior to needing to empty it. It is essential to have enough space to hold all the garbage that a robot accumulates, including dirt, pet dander and hair.
You'll also require a robotic vacuum that is able to remove stains from carpets. We test all models on the ZDNET robot vacuum chart for their ability to remove hair and dirt from carpet, and the best models come with a brush designed to dig into the carpet fibers and remove debris.
The majority of budget models are successful in cleaning up spills on carpets that are not paved or in low-pile carpet, but struggle to clear larger pieces of pet hair and debris from higher-pile carpets. These models typically have less suction power, but they can still be effective in removing debris from tight areas like corners and underneath furniture.
The iLife V3s Pro vacuum cleaner is the best vacuum for its price range. It has a high score in our tests, and it can remove hairs and dirt from carpets. It's also one of the quieter models we test and user-friendly. It has an opening for suction that scoops debris rather than pushing it through the brush bar, and it can adjust the power to match the surface. It also comes with a side brush that has three bristles that push hair and debris in the robot's path, but it's not as effective at in removing fine dust.
If you require mopping and vacuum you should look for a product that can do both, such as the Combo j9 Plus. It is able to simultaneously vacuum and mop, and it is possible to set specific vac/mop settings for each room. It's more expensive than other budget robot vacuums on our list however, it has the advantages of a forward-facing camera which enables more precise mapping and better obstacles to avoid for things like power cords and cat poop.
Maintenance
The convenience robot vacuums offer is fantastic, but the technology comes at a price. They require regular maintenance including emptying their bins to replacing filters and cleaning the brush bar. They may also get caught in cords, or fall off the staircase.
The most affordable robot vacuums reduce these issues by requiring minimal management from the user. The top models come with navigation systems that avoid objects and keep themselves clear of dangers, like tangled electrical cords and dropped food items. Sensors are used to map rooms and create maps that tell them where they have already cleaned.
Don't let the cost of the higher-end models deter you. They can still do an excellent job if given the chance. Our top budget choices are from leading OEMs like iRobot Roborock Dreame. You can be sure that they have been designed with care and are built to last.
If you're willing to invest more, think about investing in mopping with a robot. These machines can scrub floors using an aqueous cloth and get rid of the most stubborn stains. They can also be used combination with a mop pad 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 clean minimalist design, and it also has all the features and capabilities of a top rated robot vacuum. During our tests it was able to navigate without a hitch. RV30 was able to navigate without hitting furniture, and also create detailed maps of its floorplan that it can use for future runs. This is the only robot in the budget that we tested with this feature. iRobot Roomba also has mapping capabilities, however the app setup guide you through the entire process.
If you decide to go with the top-rated robot vacuum or a cheaper alternative, you should always maintain your robovac regularly. It is important to empty the dustbin and clean the filter after every cleaning session (refer to your owner's guide or the site of the manufacturer for more details). Replace the battery as necessary and verify the Wi-Fi connectivity.