How to Find the Best Budget Robot Vacuum
A bargain robot vacuum is a steal. Beware of the maintenance costs that might be higher than expected: tangles in brushes, air inlets that are blocked and empty dust bins can quickly make your automatic cleaning dream into a burden.
The iRobot J7 Combo is the best budget robot for many people. It provides the exact hands-off experience for less than half the cost.
Suction Power
Some models in this range have enough suction to do basic vacuuming. Others may need the use of a handheld nozzle for deeper cleaning. If you live in a house with primarily hard flooring, a budget robot vacuum will likely suffice. If you have a mix of floors, carpets or pets who shed, you'll get the best results with a more capable robot vacuum.
A few models that are budget-friendly include mopping and a water tank capability, further increasing their versatility. The latest Dyson R7050C model, for example, has very good navigation scores in CR's tests and a huge bin of 770ml, but it's louder than a lot of the other robots we've tested, and doesn't have mopping features. Eufy Roborock Q5 Pro is smaller and quieter and has an automatic dock. It has a water reservoir, a powerful suction power of 5,500-pascals and a large bin you can fill with cleaning products to make it more efficient. You can operate the Q5 Pro via the smart app to vac or mop in rooms, a sequence of rooms or an area, and you can set no-go zones and customise suction and mopping settings for different rooms.
The Shark ION is a good option for those looking for something that is affordable, simple and reliable. It's not as sophisticated as some of the other models we test, with a no-frills app and basic mapping capabilities, but it has good navigation and cleaning capabilities. It's also among the few robots we've tested that can tell the difference between carpets and hard flooring and also comes with a 300ml dust bin that has to be emptied every 30 days.
Take a look at some of the top models that are priced at this level if you want something more sophisticated that can vacuum mop, sweep, and create a map to help you avoid obstacles. The iRobot Roomba 650 and 750 offer a powerful suction force, clever combs for pet hair and other fine dirt, and in-app scheduling and voice control using your smart home assistant. Samsung Cleanbot SV8000 offers a excellent cleaning performance for a reasonable price.
Navigation Efficiency
A budget robot vacuum cleaner can be as effective as expensive models, so long as it is able to navigate through your home and avoid obstacles. To measure the effectiveness of navigation our lab technicians set up a tracker to watch a robot's movement through a multiroom test home and assess its ability to find the rooms it must clean in a certain amount of time frame, while avoiding hazards like rug power cords, power cords and furniture. Additionally, we look at how quickly the robot can move across various terrains used in the home, including stairways and transitions between different floor types.
The most affordable robot vacuums are equipped with navigation systems that let them efficiently clean a space without having to waste time or crashing into obstacles. Most robot vacuums have maps that are essential for a full-house clean. Even budget models without mapping can effectively cover a room. It is crucial to consider balancing the price of your machine with the features that you need.
We also look at how easy it is for robots to cross over thresholds in the home, for example the heights of a door's sill and the heights of a sofa. A good budget-friendly robot will be able to navigate these obstacles, and some have settings that adjust the suction power based on the floor type. We also check if the robot is compatible with smart home technology and can be controlled remotely through an app or voice command.
One example of a top budget robot is the iLife V3s Pro, which comes with basic mapping capabilities and other smart features in an affordable package. It is controlled by the iRobot app, and also has an auto-return feature which returns it to its base when the battery is exhausted and resumes where it was when it left.
The iLife V3s Pro doesn't have the advanced object avoidance that you find on many premium robots, but it does have live cameras that stream a grainy video feed to your smartphone so that you can keep an eye on it as it works. The cameras are also able to detect obstacles like stairs and other steps and elicit an alert if the robot comes across them. However, the iLife utilizes random navigation instead of a method that is designed to avoid objects that are stuck against furniture legs, therefore it may not be able to get around a chair leg or another tight spot as easily as a robot with mapping capabilities.
Cleaning Performance
When you're searching for a robot vacuum, it's crucial to balance cost with performance. There are models that aren't as expensive and don't have advanced features like mapping but there are some that excel in cleaning your home. Pay attention to the dimensions and capacity of the dustbin. It is essential to have enough space to accommodate all the debris that a robot accumulates, including pet dander, dirt, and hair.
You'll also want a robot vacuum that removes staining from carpets. We test all models on the ZDNET robot vacuum chart to determine their ability to remove dirt and hair from carpet. The best models have a specific brush that can dig into the fibers and pull out dirt.
The majority of budget models are effective in removing messes from 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 typically have a less powerful suction, but they can still be effective at cleaning up debris from tight places like corners and under furniture.
The iLife V3s Pro is the most affordable vacuuming model with top marks in our tests due to its ability to remove dirt and hair from carpets. It's also one of the quieter models we test and easy to use. It has an opening for suction that collects debris instead of pushing it through the brush bar, and it can adjust the power to be in line with the surface. It comes with a sidebrush that has three bristles that push hair and debris into the robot's path. However, it is not as effective in picking dust particles.
Find a model that has mop and vacuum functions, such as the Combo j9 Plus. It is able to simultaneously vacuum and mop, and it is possible to define specific vac/mop setting for each room. It's more expensive compared to other budget robot vacuums on our chart however it comes with the advantages of having a forward-facing camera which enables more precise mapping and better obstacle avoidance for things like power cords and cat Poop.
Maintenance
Robot vacuums are handy however, they come at costs. They require regular maintenance, from emptying their dustbin to replacing 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 these problems through requiring minimal oversight from the user. The top picks have navigation systems that stay clear of objects and keep themselves clear of dangers, including strangling electrical cords and dropping food. Sensors are used to map rooms and create maps that inform them where they have already cleaned.
Even the cheapest robotic vacuums can deliver a good clean If you give them a shot, so don't be discouraged by the price of better models. Our top budget choices are from top OEMs such as iRobot Roborock Dreame. You can be certain that they have been designed with attention to detail and are built to last.
If you're willing to spend more, think about investing in mopping with a robot. They can use a moist cloth over floors to scrub them clean and remove stubborn stains, and they can be utilized with a specially designed mop pad for difficult jobs such as dried coffee.
There are many mopping robots included in our roundup however 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 robot vacuum. In our tests, the RV30 was able to navigate 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 that include this feature, however the iRobot Roomba also has similar capabilities in mapping and has an in-app setup that walks you through the process step-by step.
Whether you choose an expensive robot vacuum or a cheaper alternative, you should always keep your robovac in good condition. It's a good idea empty the dust bin after each cleaning job and to clean the filter if you have one (check your owner's manual or the manufacturer's website for more information). Replace Robot Vacuum Mops as needed and check its Wi-Fi connectivity.