How to Find the Best Budget Robot Vacuum
A bargain-priced robot vacuum is a steal. Beware of maintenance costs that could be more than expected: tangles in brushes, blocked air inlets and emptying dust bins will quickly turn your automated cleaning dream into a chore.
The iRobot J7 Combo is the best value robot for a variety of users. It provides the same hands-free experience for a fraction of its price.
Suction Power
Certain models that are priced at this level have sufficient suction to perform basic vacuuming, however others may need a little help by a handheld nozzle to reach into the smallest crevices and cracks. If you live in a home that has mostly hard flooring and a low-cost robot vacuum is likely to work. But if your floors have an assortment of surfaces and you also have rugs, or if you have pets that shed, a higher-end model will give you the best results for your price.
A few models that are budget-friendly include a water tank and mopping capability, further increasing their flexibility. The more recent Dyson R7050C for instance, has excellent scores in CR's tests of navigation and a generous bin capacity of 770ml, however it's louder than a lot of the other robots we've tested, and doesn't offer mopping features. The more compact Eufy Roborock Q5 Pro, in contrast, is quite quiet and features an auto-empty dock. It also has a water tank, a 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 lets you vacuum or mop a room or a sequence of rooms or a whole area. You can also create no-go zones and customise suction settings for each room.
The Shark ION is a good choice for those who are looking for something that is affordable easy to use and reliable. It's not as well-equipped as some of the other models we've tested and comes with a basic application and basic mapping capabilities, but it does have excellent navigation and cleaning capabilities. It's also one of the few robots we've tested which can distinguish between hard flooring and carpets and has a 300ml dustbin that only needs to be emptied every 30 days.
If you want an upgraded model that can vacuum, mop and even create a map of your house to avoid obstacles more effectively take a look at the more premium options within this price range. The iRobot Roomba 650 and 750 offer a powerful suction force as well as a comb that is cleverly designed for pet hair and other dirt, and in-app scheduling and voice control with your smart home assistant. The Samsung Cleanbot SV8000 is another option that offers excellent cleaning capabilities for the price.
Navigation Efficiency
A low-cost robot vacuum can be as effective as an expensive model, provided that it can navigate your home and avoid obstacles. To measure the effectiveness of navigation our lab technicians installed a tracking device to watch a robot's movement through a multiroom test house and evaluate its ability to identify the rooms it needs to clean in a certain amount of time, while avoiding obstacles like power cords, rugs, and furniture. We also look at how quickly the robot can move across different types of terrain for homes including stairways as well as transitions between different floor types.
The best budget robot vacuums come with efficient navigation systems that help them clean a room without having to waste time, crashing into obstacles, or getting stuck. The majority of robot vacuums have maps that are essential for a complete house cleaning. But even budget models without mapping have ways to efficiently cover a room and it's crucial to consider the cost and features you need for your home.
We also consider how easily a robot can cross over thresholds in the home, for example the heights of a door sill or a sofa. A budget-friendly robot should be able to pass over these obstacles, and some provide settings to alter suction power to suit different floor types. We also 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 control.
One excellent budget robot is the iLife V3s Pro, which has basic mapping capability and other advanced features in an affordable package. It can be controlled using 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 exhausted, then continues where it started.
The iLife V3s Pro does not come with the advanced object-avoidance technology found on many high-end robots. However, it does have live cameras that send a grainy stream to your phone so you can observe it working. The cameras can also spot obstacles like stairs and other steps and trigger an alert when the robot comes across them. However the iLife employs random navigation instead of an approach designed to keep objects from getting stuck to furniture legs, therefore it might not be able around a leg on a chair or any other tight spot as a robot equipped with mapping capabilities.
Cleaning Performance
If you're looking for a robot vacuum, it's crucial to balance cost with performance. The cheapest models might not have advanced features like mapping, but they can still do an excellent job of cleaning your home. You should also pay attention to the dimensions of the dustbins on robots and how much dirt it can hold before having to empty it. You'll need enough space to hold all the trash a robot collects including dirt, pet dander and hair.
You'll also require a robotic vacuum that can remove staining from carpets. We test each model in the ZDNET chart to determine whether it can remove dirt and hair from carpet. The most effective models have an exclusive brush that digs through the fibers to remove dirt.
The majority of budget models are effective at picking up messes on carpets that are not paved or in low-pile carpet However, they struggle to get rid of larger chunks of debris and pet hair from carpets with higher pile. These models usually have less suction power however, they can be effective in removing debris from tight places like corners and underneath furniture.
The iLife V3s Pro is the most affordable vacuuming model with top marks in our tests because of its ability to remove dirt and hair from carpets. It's also one of the quieter models we test and simple 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 the surface. It also has a side brush with three bristles that push hair and debris in the robot's path, but it doesn't do as good in removing fine dust.
If you need both a vacuum and a mop choose a model that offers both functions, such as the Combo j9 Plus. This robot can mop and vacuum simultaneously and you can alter the settings for each room. It's pricier than other robot vacuums in our chart, but it does have a camera in the front that allows for a more precise mapping and better obstacle avoidance of things like power cords and cat poop.
Maintenance
Robot vacuums are convenient however, they come at a cost. They require regular maintenance, from emptying their dustbin to changing filters and cleaning the brush bar. They can also become tangled up in cords or fall off the stairs.
The most affordable robot vacuums ease the burden as they require little administration by the user. The best models have navigation systems that avoid objects and stay clear of dangers, like strangling electrical cords and dropping food. They also use a combination 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 deliver a good clean if you try them Don't be deterred by the cost of more expensive models. Our top picks for budget-friendly models are from leading OEMs like iRobot Roborock Dreame. You can be certain that they've been designed with attention to detail and are built to last.
You might consider a mopping robot in the event that you're willing to spend more. These machines can scrub floors using a damp cloth and eliminate stubborn stains. They can also be used conjunction with a mop pad to tackle tough jobs, such as dried coffee.
There are many mopping robots featured in our roundup but the most affordable model is the TP-Link Tapo RV30 Plus. It has a sleek and uncluttered design, but it also comes with all the features and capabilities of a top-rated robot vacuum. During our tests it was able to navigate without a hitch. RV30 was auto vacuum to navigate without bumping mindlessly into furniture, and also create detailed floor plans that it can use for future runs. This is the only budget robot that we tested with this feature. iRobot Roomba also has mapping capabilities, however the app setup guide you through the entire procedure.
No matter if you opt for a top-rated robovac or a more affordable alternative, you should always maintain your robot regularly. It's a good idea empty its dustbin after every cleaning task, and also to clean the filter if you have one (check the owner's manual or the website of the manufacturer for more information). You should also replace the battery as needed, and check in on its Wi-Fi connectivity as well as app updates.