How to Find the Best Budget Robot Vacuum
A bargain-priced robot vacuum is a great value. But beware that it may cost more than you anticipated in maintenance: detangling hair from brushes, clogging inlets, and emptying small dust bins could quickly turn your automated cleaning dream to be a chore.
For many people the most affordable robot is the iRobot j7 Combo. It provides the exact hands-off experience for less than half the cost.
Suction Power
Some models in this category are able to handle basic vacuuming. Others may require a handheld nozzle for deep cleaning. If you live in a home with mostly hard floors and a low-cost robot vacuum should suffice. If you have a mixture of floors, carpets or pets that shed, you will have the best results using an advanced robot vacuum.
Some budget models come with mopping capabilities and a water tank, increasing their versatility. The more recent Dyson R7050C is a good example. It has very good navigation scores in CR's tests and a huge bin capacity of 770ml, however it is louder than many of the other robots we've tried and doesn't offer mopping features. The more compact Eufy Roborock Q5 Pro, by contrast, is relatively quiet and has an auto-empty dock. It also comes with an water tank, powerful suction power of 5,500pascals and a large bin you can fill with cleaning solution to make it a more effective mopping machine. The Q5 Pro can be controlled through the app's smart function, which allows you to mop or vacuum a space, sequence of rooms, or an entire area. You can also create no-go zones and set suction settings to your preferences for each room.
The Shark ION is a good option for those looking for something affordable easy to use and reliable. It is not as sophisticated as other models, having an uncomplicated app and basic mapping capabilities, but has superior cleaning and navigation capabilities. It's also among one or two robots that can discern between hard flooring and carpets. The 300ml dustbin only empty once every 30 days.
Consider some of the premium models in this price range if you want something more sophisticated, able to vacuum mop, sweep, and create a map for smarter obstacle-avoidance. The iRobot Roomba 650 and 750 offer a powerful suction force and combs that are clever for pet hair and other fine dirt, and in-app scheduling and voice control using your smart home assistant. The Samsung Cleanbot SV8000 is another option that offers superior cleaning capabilities for the price.
Navigation Efficiency
A budget robot vacuum cleaner can be just as effective as expensive models, so long as it is able to maneuver through your home and avoid obstacles. To determine navigation efficiency our lab technicians set up a tracker to observe a robot's move through a multiroom test home and robotvacuummops evaluate its ability to find the rooms it needs to clean in a specific amount of time, while avoiding obstacles like power cords, rugs and furniture. Additionally, we look at how quickly robots can move over different types of terrain for homes including stairways as well as transitions between different types of floors.
The best budget robot vacuums come with effective navigation systems that can help them to tidy up a space without wasting time, running into obstacles or getting stuck. Many robot vacuums come with the ability to map which is essential to complete a thorough house clean. Even low-cost models with no mapping can cover a room efficiently. It is important to consider balancing the price of your device with the features that you need.
We also consider how easy it is for robots to traverse thresholds within the home, for example the heights of a door's sill and sofas. A budget-friendly robot should be able to navigate these obstacles and some even have settings that can adjust the suction power based on the floor type. In the end, we must take a look at whether a budget robot is compatible with your smart home setup and is able to be controlled remotely via an app or via voice control.
The iLife V3s Pro is a great example of a budget robot that provides basic mapping capabilities, as well as other intelligent features. It's also incredibly affordable. It can be controlled by the iRobot App and has an auto return feature that allows you to return the robot to its base once the battery runs low, then continues where it left off.
The iLife V3s Pro doesn't have the advanced object avoidance that you find on many premium robots, but it has a live camera that transmits an unreliable video feed to your phone so 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 uses random navigation instead of a method that is designed to avoid objects stuck to furniture legs, so it may not be able to maneuver around a leg of a chair or other tight spot as well as a robot equipped with mapping capabilities.
Cleaning Performance
When choosing a robotic vacuum, you should balance the price and performance. The cheapest models might not have advanced features like mapping but there are 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 needing to empty it. It should be able to fit all the debris that robots accumulate including hair, dirt, and pet dander.
You'll want a robot that can remove dirt and stains from carpets, too. We test each model in the ZDNET chart to see whether it can remove dirt and hair from carpet. The top models come with an exclusive brush that digs into fibers to pull out dirt.
The majority of budget models are successful at picking up messes on carpets that are not paved or carpets with low pile However, they struggle to get rid of larger chunks of pet hair and debris from carpets with higher pile. These models typically have a less powerful suction, but they can still be effective in removing debris from tight areas such as corners and under furniture.
The iLife V3s Pro is the best budget model for vacuuming with top marks in our tests because of its ability to lift hair and dirt from carpets. It's also among the quieter models we tested and is easy to use. It features a suction opening that collects debris instead of pushing it through the bar. It also has the ability to adjust the power to match the surface. It has a sidebrush that comes with three bristles to push hair and other debris into the path of the robot. However, it's not as effective at picking up fine dust.
If you're looking for mop and vacuum, look for a model that can do both, such as the Combo j9 Plus. This robot can simultaneously vac and mop, and it is possible to set specific vac/mop settings for each room. It's pricier than other robot vacuums in our chart, but it does have a camera on the front that allows for a more precise mapping and a better way to avoid obstacles things like power cords and cat Poop.
Maintenance
The convenience robot vacuums offer is wonderful, however the technology comes with the cost of. Regular maintenance is essential 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 need to be monitored with care.
The best budget robot vacuums ease these problems through requiring minimal oversight from the user. The top picks have navigation systems that steer clear of objects and are free of dangers, like strangling electrical cords and dropping food. They use sensors to map rooms, and create maps that tell them where they've cleaned.
Even the most basic robotic vacuums will give a decent clean when you try them Don't be deterred by the cost of better models. Our top picks for budget-friendly models are from the top OEMs like iRobot Roborock Dreame. You can be assured that they've been created with attention to detail and are built to last.
If you're willing to spend more, think about investing in mopping with a robot. These machines can scrub floors using a damp cloth and eliminate staining that is difficult to remove. They can also be used combination with a mop pad to tackle tough jobs such as dried coffee.
There are several mopping robots featured in our roundup but the most affordable model is the TP Link Tapo RV30 Plus. It has a sleek minimalist design, and it also comes with all the features and performance of a top rated robovac. In our tests the RV30 was able to navigate without crashing into furniture and build detailed floor plans that it can reference on future runs. This is the only budget robot that we have tested with this feature. iRobot Roomba also has mapping capabilities, however the app's setup guides you through the entire process.
Be sure to maintain your robot, whether you choose the most expensive or one that is less expensive. You should empty the trash bin and clean the filter after each cleaning session (refer to your owner's guide or the manufacturer's site for more details). Replace the battery if required and test the Wi-Fi connection.