How to Find the Best Budget Robot Vacuum
A bargain robot vacuum is a bargain. However, it can cost more than you expected in maintenance: detangling the fur from brushes, blocking inlets and emptying small dust bins could quickly turn your dream of automating cleaning an exercise.
The iRobot j7 Combo is the best budget robot for many people. It provides the exact hands-off performance for a fraction of the price.
Suction Power
Certain models within this price range offer strong enough suction for basic vacuuming, while others might require a bit of help by a handheld nozzle to reach the deepest crevices and cracks. A budget-friendly robot vacuum will likely do the job well if you live in an apartment with primarily hard floors. But if your floors have different surfaces and you also have carpets, or have pets that shed, a more capable model will give you the best results for your price.
Some budget models come with a mopping feature and a water tank, increasing their capabilities. The newer Dyson R7050C, for example, has excellent scores in CR's tests of navigation and a large 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 smaller Eufy Roborock Q5 Pro, by contrast, is relatively quiet and features an auto-empty dock. It also has 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 machine. The Q5 Pro can be controlled via the smart app, which allows you to mop or vacuum a room or a sequence of rooms or an entire space. You can also establish no-go zones and set suction settings to your preferences for each room.
The budget Shark ION is a great choice for those seeking something simple, affordable and reliable. It's not as sophisticated as some of the other models we've tested that have a simple app and basic mapping capabilities, but it has solid navigation and cleaning abilities. It's also one of the few robots we've tested which can tell the difference between carpets and hard flooring and has a 300ml trash bin that only needs to be cleaned every 30 days.
If you want a more advanced model that can vacuum, mop and even create a map of your house for smarter obstacle avoidance look at some of the most expensive options in this price range. The iRobot Roomba 650 and 750 offer a powerful suction force, clever combs for pet hair and other fine dirt, as well as in-app scheduling and voice control with your smart home assistant. The Samsung Cleanbot SV8000 is another option that provides excellent cleaning performance for the price.
Navigation Efficiency
A low-cost robot vacuum cleaner can be as effective as expensive models, so long as it is able to maneuver through your home and avoid obstacles. To assess the effectiveness of navigation, our lab technicians set up a tracker to watch a robot's movement through a multiroom test home and evaluate its ability to locate the areas it has to clean in a specific amount of time, avoiding pitfalls like power cords, rugs, and furniture. We also examine the speed at which robots can navigate through different terrains within a house, including the floor and stairways.
The best budget robot vacuums feature efficient navigation systems that aid in helping to clean up a room without having to waste time, crashing into obstacles, or getting stuck. Many models have mapping capabilities, which are essential to complete house cleaning. But even budget models without mapping have ways to effectively clean a room and it's crucial to balance cost with the features you want for your home.
We also look at how easy it is for a robot to overcome common thresholds for homes, such as the height of a door sill or the height of the sofa. A good budget-friendly robot must be able to move over these obstacles, and some offer settings that alter suction power to suit different flooring types. We also consider whether the robot is compatible with smart home technology and is able to be controlled remotely via an app or voice commands.
One example of a top budget robot is the iLife V3s Pro, which has basic mapping capability and other smart features in an affordable package. It is controlled by the iRobot app, and also has an auto-return feature that returns it to its original location when the battery is exhausted and then picks up where it left off.
The iLife V3s Pro does not include the advanced object-avoidance technology found on a variety of high-end robots. However it does have live cameras that transmit an unreliable feed to your smartphone so that you can watch it work. The cameras are able to detect obstacles like stairs and other steps and alert the robot if it comes across them. The iLife however, employs random navigation instead of a method that is designed to avoid objects stuck to furniture legs. It might not be able get through a tight space or a chair leg as a robot system that has the ability to map.
Cleaning Performance
When shopping for a robotic vacuum, it is important to consider the cost and performance. Budget models may not have advanced features like mapping but there are many that perform very well at 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 trash that robots accumulate such as hair, dirt, and pet dander.
best robot vacuum 'll want a robot that can remove stains and dirt from carpets too. We test every model in the ZDNET robot vacuum chart to determine their ability to remove hair and dirt from carpet. The best models have a specific brush that is designed to penetrate the carpet's fibers and pull out dirt.
Budget models are effective in cleaning up small messes from bare floors or low-pile floor coverings, but they struggle to get rid of bigger debris and pet hairs from carpets with higher pile. They typically have less suction power than models that are more expensive, but can still do a good job of clearing out debris from tight spaces like corners and under furniture.
The iLife V3s Pro vacuum cleaner is the top vacuum in its price range. It has a high score in our tests, and it can take hairs and dirt off carpets. It is also one of our quieter models and is easy to use. It has an opening for suction which collects debris instead of 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 debris and hair into the direction of the robot, however it's not as effective at in removing fine dust.
If you're looking for mopping and vacuum you should look for a product that can do both like the Combo j9 Plus. It is able to simultaneously vacuum and mop, and you can set specific vac/mop settings for each room. It's more expensive compared to other low-cost robots in our chart however it comes with the advantages of having a forward-facing camera that allows more precise mapping and better protection against obstacles such as power cords and cat piss.
Maintenance
The convenience robot vacuums offer is wonderful, however the technology comes with a price. Regular maintenance is essential to empty the dustbin to changing filters and cleaning their brush bar. They may also get caught in cords and drop off the stairs, which is why they need to be monitored attentively.
The best budget robot vacuums ease these problems by requiring minimal management from the user. The top models come with navigation systems that steer clear of objects and stay clear of dangers, like the tangled electrical cords or dropped food items. They also use a combination of sensors to map rooms and create maps that let them know the areas they've cleaned before to ensure they don't re-clean the same areas again.
Don't let the cost of the more expensive models deter you from buying. They can still do a great job if given a chance. Many of our top budget choices are from top OEMs, such as iRobot, Roborock and Dreame, so you'll be assured that they've been designed with attention to detail and built to last.
Consider a mopping robotic in the event that you're willing to spend more. These machines can be used to swish a damp cloth over floors to scrub them and help eliminate stubborn stains, and they can be used with a specially designed mop pad for tough jobs like dried coffee.
There are many mopping robots featured in our list but the most affordable 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, including LiDAR navigation. In our tests, the RV30 was capable of navigating without crashing into furniture, and also create precise floorplan maps 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, but the app setup guide you through the entire process.
Whether you choose a top-rated robot vacuum or a cheaper option, make sure you keep your robovac in good condition. It is a good idea to empty its dustbin after every cleaning task, and also to clean the filter, if it has one (check the manual of your owner or the manufacturer's website for details). Replace the battery as necessary and verify its Wi-Fi connectivity.