How to Find the Best Budget Robot Vacuum
A bargain robot vacuum can provide a fantastic value. Beware of the maintenance costs that may be higher than you anticipated: tangles in brushes, blocked air inlets and emptying dust bins will quickly make your automatic cleaning dream into a burden.
For many people the most affordable robot is the iRobot Combo. It provides the exact hands-off experience for less than half the cost.
Suction Power
Certain models that are priced at this level have sufficient suction to perform basic vacuuming, while others might require assistance from a handheld nozzle to reach into the smallest crevices and cracks. If you live in a house with mostly hard floors, a budget robot vacuum will likely do the trick. But if your floors have a mix of surfaces and you also have carpets, or have pets that shed, a better model will provide the best results for your money.
Some budget models come with mopping and water tank capability, further increasing their flexibility. The newer Dyson R7050C is a good example. It 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 have mopping features. Eufy Roborock Q5 Pro is a smaller robot that is quieter and comes with an automatic dock. It also comes with a water tank, a powerful suction power of 5,500pascals and a large bin that you can fill with cleaning solution to make it a more efficient mopping machine. You can manage the Q5 Pro via the smart app to mop or vac in a room, a sequence of rooms, or an area and define no-go zones as well as customize mopping and suction settings for different rooms.
The Shark ION is a good option for those looking for something affordable easy to use and reliable. It's not as well-equipped as some of the other models we've tested, with a no-frills app and basic mapping capabilities, but it has good navigation and cleaning capabilities. It's also among a few robots that can distinguish between hard flooring and carpets. The 300ml dustbin is only emptied once every 30 days.
If you want a more advanced model that can vacuum, mop and draw a map of your house to avoid obstacles more effectively look at some of the most expensive options in this price range. The iRobot Roomba 650/750 has a powerful suction, clever combs to remove pet hair and fine dirt and voice control through your smart home assistant. The Samsung Cleanbot SV8000 is another option that offers excellent cleaning capabilities for the price.
Navigation Efficiency
A budget-friendly robot vacuum could be just as effective a higher-priced model, provided that it can navigate your home and avoid obstacles. Our lab technicians employed a tracking device in a multi-room test home to test the robot's ability to navigate and find the rooms it needed to clean within a specific timeframe, while also keeping away from obstacles like power cords, furniture, and rugs. We also look at how quickly a robot can travel over various terrains used in the home such as stairways and transitions between different types of floors.
The best budget robot vacuums feature efficient navigation systems that help them clean a room without spending time, running into obstacles, or getting stuck. Most robot vacuums have mapping capabilities that are necessary for a complete house cleaning. But even budget models without mapping can be used to efficiently cover a room therefore it's essential to balance cost with the features you require for your home.
We also look at how easily a robot can traverse thresholds within the home, such as the heights of a door sill and sofas. A good budget-friendly robot must be able to transition over these obstacles, and a few provide settings to alter suction power according to kinds of floors. In the end, we must consider whether a budget robot is compatible with your home's smart-home setup and is able to be controlled remotely through an app or voice command.
The iLife V3s Pro is a excellent example of a budget robot that provides basic mapping capabilities, as well as other intelligent features. It's also quite affordable. It can be controlled via the iRobot app, and comes with an auto-return feature that returns it back to its base once the battery runs out, then resumes where it left off.
The iLife V3s Pro doesn't have the advanced object avoidance found on many premium robots, but it does have live cameras that stream a grainy video feed to your phone so you can monitor it as it works. The cameras are also able to detect stairs and other obstacles and trigger an alert when the robot comes across them. However the iLife employs random navigation rather than a method that is designed to keep objects from getting stuck against furniture legs, which means it may not be able to maneuver around a chair leg or other tight spot as well as a robot that has mapping capabilities.
Cleaning Performance
When you're searching for a robot vacuum, it's crucial to balance cost with performance. Budget models may lack advanced features, such as mapping, but they can still be effective of cleaning your home. Pay attention to the size and capacity of the robot's dust bin. You'll need enough space to accommodate all the waste that robots accumulate including hair, dirt, and pet dander.
You'll want a vacuum that can get rid of stains and dirt from carpets, too. We test all models on the ZDNET robot vacuum chart for their ability to lift dirt and hair from carpet, and the best models come with a brush that can dig into the carpet's fibers and pull out dirt.
The majority of budget models are effective in removing messes from bare floors and in low-pile carpet However, they struggle to get rid of larger chunks of debris and pet hair from carpets with higher pile. They usually have less powerful suction than models that are more expensive, but can still do a good job of clearing out debris from tight spaces like corners and beneath 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 off carpets. It's also among the quieter models we test and simple to use. It has a small suction opening which collects debris instead of pushing it through the brush bar, and it has the ability to adjust the power to be in line with the surface. It has a sidebrush with three bristles to push hair and debris into the robot's path. However, it's not as effective at picking up fine dust.
Choose a model that includes both vacuum and mop functions, like the Combo j9 Plus. This robot can simultaneously mop and vacuum and you can alter the settings for each room. It's pricier than other robot vacuum s we have in our chart but has an in-front camera that allows for more precise mapping and a better way to avoid obstacles things like power cords or cat Poop.
Maintenance
Robot vacuums are convenient, but they come at price. They require regular maintenance, from emptying their dustbin to changing filters and cleaning the brush bar. They can also become tangled in cords, or fall off the staircase.
The best budget robot vacuums ease the burden because they require minimal administration by the user. The best models have navigation systems that steer clear of objects and stay clear of dangers, including the tangled electrical cords or dropped food. Sensors are used to map rooms and create maps that inform them where they've cleaned.
Even the cheapest robotic vacuums can give a decent clean if you give them a chance, so don't be discouraged by the high cost of higher-end models. Our top budget choices are from top OEMs such as iRobot Roborock Dreame. You can be assured that they've been designed with care and are built to last.
You might consider a mopping robot if you are willing to spend more. They can use a moist cloth across floors to scrub them clean and remove stubborn stains, and can be used with a specialized mop pad to tackle tough jobs such as dried coffee.
The TP-Link Tapo RV30 plus is the most affordable mopping robot in our roundup. It has the clean elegant, minimalist design of a home hub but the performance and features of a top-rated robot, including LiDAR navigation. During our tests the RV30 was capable of moving without hitting furniture and build detailed maps of its floorplan that it can reference on future runs. It's the only budget robot we've tested to have this feature, though the iRobot Roomba offers similar capabilities in mapping and has an in-app setting that guides you through the process step by step.
Remember to maintain your robot, whether you choose an expensive robovac or one that is more affordable. It's a good idea empty the dust bin after each cleaning task, and also to clean the filter if one is present (check your owner's manual or the website of the manufacturer for details). You should also replace the battery when needed, and check in on its Wi-Fi connectivity as well as app updates.