How to Find the Best Budget Robot Vacuum
A bargain robot vacuum is a steal. However, it can cost more than you expected in the maintenance department: untangling fur from brushes, clogged inlets and emptying tiny dust bins could quickly turn your automated cleaning dream a chore.
The iRobot j7 Combo is the most affordable robot for many people. It provides the same hands-free experience, but at less than half the price.
Suction Power
Some models within this price range offer sufficient suction to perform basic vacuuming, but others might require help from a handheld nozzle to reach into the smallest cracks and crevices. A budget-friendly vacuum is likely to do the job if you have a home that has primarily hard floors. However, if the floors are an assortment of surfaces and you also have rug, or have pets that shed, a better model will give you the most effective results for your cost.
A few models that are budget-friendly include mopping and water tank capabilities, which adds to their versatility. The latest Dyson R7050C model, for example, has excellent scores in CR's tests of navigation and a large 770ml bin, but it's louder than most of the other robots we've tested and does not have mopping capabilities. The more compact Eufy Roborock Q5 Pro, however, is surprisingly quiet and features an auto-empty dock. It has a water reservoir with a suction capacity of 5,500-pascals as well as an enormous bin that you can fill with cleaning products to make it more effective. You can manage the Q5 Pro via the smart app to mop or vacuum in the room, or a series of rooms or an area and define no-go zones as well as customize mopping and suction settings to suit different rooms.
The budget Shark ION is a great option for those who want something simple, affordable and reliable. It's not as sophisticated as some of the other models we've tested, with a no-frills application and basic mapping capabilities, but it offers solid navigation and cleaning abilities. It's also among the few robots we've tested which can distinguish between carpets and hard flooring and also has a 300ml dustbin that only needs to be emptied every 30 days.
If you're looking for a more advanced model that can mop, vacuum and create a map of your house for smarter obstacle avoidance, consider some of the most expensive options in this price range. The iRobot Roomba 650/750 has a powerful suction, a clever comb to remove pet hair as well as fine dirt, and can be controlled through your smart home assistant. Samsung Cleanbot SV8000 offers a outstanding cleaning capabilities at a reasonable price.
Navigation Efficiency
A budget 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 utilized an instrument for tracking in a multi-room test residence to test the robot's ability to navigate and locate the rooms that it needed to clean within a specific timeframe, while also avoiding obstacles like power cords, furniture, and rug. We also look at the speed at which a robot is able to traverse different terrains in a home, such as the floor and stairways.
The most affordable robot vacuums come with navigation systems that enable them to effectively clean a room without having to waste time or crashing into obstacles. The majority of robot vacuums have mapping capabilities that are necessary for a full-house clean. But even budget models without mapping have ways to effectively cover a space and it's crucial to consider the cost and features you need for your home.
We also examine how easily a robot can pass over common household thresholds such as the height of a door sill or the height of a sofa. A good budget robot will be able to negotiate these obstacles and some even have settings that adjust the suction power depending on the type of floor. We also check if the robot is compatible with smart home technology and is able to be controlled remotely through an app or voice command.
One excellent budget robot is the iLife V3s Pro, which has basic mapping capability and other advanced features in an extremely affordable price. robot vacuum cleaner sale can be controlled using the iRobot App and has an auto return feature that allows you to return the robot to its home base once the battery runs low and continues where it started.
The iLife V3s Pro doesn't have the advanced object avoidance features found on many of the top robots, but it has live cameras that stream a grainy video feed to your phone so you can keep an eye on it while it is working. The cameras can spot obstacles like stairs and other steps and alert the robot when it encounters them. The iLife however, employs random navigation instead of a method designed to avoid objects that are stuck against furniture legs. It might not be able get around a tight spot or a chair leg as a robot system that has mapping capabilities.
Cleaning Performance
When you're shopping for a robot vacuum, it's crucial to balance cost with performance. Budget models may not include advanced features such as mapping, but you can find many that perform very well at cleaning your home. It is important to pay attention to the dimensions of the dustbins on robots and how much dirt it can hold prior to needing to empty. It should be able to accommodate all the waste that robots collect including hair dirt, pet dander.
You'll need a machine that can get rid of dirt and stains from carpets too. We test every model in the ZDNET robot vacuum chart for their ability to remove dirt and hair from carpet, and the best ones have a special brush designed to dig into the fibers and pull out debris.
The majority of budget models are effective in removing messes from bare floors and carpets with low piles however, they struggle to remove larger pieces of debris and pet hair from higher-pile carpets. These models usually have less suction, but they can still be effective in removing debris from tight areas like corners and under furniture.
The iLife V3s Pro is the most affordable vacuuming model with high marks in our testing because of its ability to lift dirt and hair off carpets. It's also one of the quieter models we test and is simple to use. It has an opening for suction which collects debris instead of pushing it through the bar, and it has the ability to adjust 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 direction of the robot, however it's not as effective at in removing fine dust.
Look for a model with both vacuum and mop functions, like the Combo j9 Plus. This robot can simultaneously mop and vacuum, and you can customize the settings for each room. It's more expensive than other budget robot vacs in our chart however it comes with the advantages of a forward-facing camera, which allows for more precise mapping and better protection against obstacles such as power cords and cat poop.
Maintenance
Robot vacuums are convenient however, they come at a cost. Regular maintenance is required, from emptying the dustbin to changing filters and cleaning the brush bar. They can also get caught up in cords or fall off the stairs.
The best budget robot vacuums can ease these problems since they require only minimal user management. The top models come with navigation systems that avoid objects and keep themselves clear of dangers, including strangling electrical cords and dropping food items. They also make use of a mix of sensors to map rooms and build maps that let them know where they've already cleaned so that they don't have to go over the same areas repeatedly.
Don't let the cost of the higher-end models deter you. They can still do a great job if given the chance. Many of our top budget choices are from top OEMs, such as iRobot, Roborock and Dreame and you can be sure that they've been developed with care and built to last.
If you're willing more, think about mopping machines. These can swish a wet cloth over floors to scrub them clean and remove stubborn stains and can be used with a specially designed mop pad for difficult jobs such as dried coffee.
There are many mopping robots included in our list however the most affordable model is the TP-Link Tapo RV30 Plus. It has the clean elegant, minimalist design of a home hub, but the performance and features of a top-rated robovac that includes LiDAR navigation. During our tests, the RV30 was able to navigate without crashing into furniture and build precise floorplan maps that it can reference on future runs. It's the only budget robot we've tested to include this feature, although the iRobot Roomba offers similar capabilities in mapping and has an in-app setup that walks you through the process step by step.
Be sure to maintain your robot regardless of whether you pick the most expensive or one that is less expensive. It's a good idea to empty its dustbin after every cleaning job and to clean the filter, if it has one (check the owner's manual or the manufacturer's website for more information). You should also replace the battery as needed, and check in on its Wi-Fi connectivity and app updates.