How to Find the Best Budget Robot Vacuum
A bargain-priced robot vacuum is a steal. However, it can cost more than you expect in maintenance: detangling fur from brushes, clogged inlets, and emptying the tiny dust bins could quickly turn your dream of automating cleaning an exercise.
The iRobot j7 Combo is the best value robot for a variety of users. It offers the same hands-free experience at less than half the price.
Suction Power
Certain models within this price range offer strong enough suction for basic vacuuming, however others might require assistance with a handheld nozzle in order to reach into the smallest cracks and crevices. A budget robot vacuum is likely to do the job if you live in a house with mostly hard floors. If you have a mix of floors, have rugs or pets that shed, you will get the best results with the most powerful robot vacuum.
Some budget models come with mopping features and water tanks, which increase their capabilities. The Dyson R7050C features an oversized 770ml bin and excellent navigation scores, but it is louder and doesn't have mopping capabilities. Eufy Roborock Q5 Pro is smaller and quieter and comes with an automatic dock. It also has an water tank, powerful 5,500-pascal suction power and a large container that you can fill with cleaning solution to make it a more effective mopping machine. You can operate the Q5 Pro via the smart app to mop or vacuum in rooms, a sequence of rooms or an entire area and set no-go zones and customise suction and mopping settings for different rooms.
The budget Shark ION is a great option for those who want an affordable, basic device that is reliable. It's not as advanced as some of the other models we've tested that have a simple application and basic mapping capabilities, but it has good navigation and cleaning capabilities. It's also one of a few robots that can distinguish between hard flooring and carpets. The 300ml dustbin is only empty once every 30 days.
If you're looking for an upgraded model that can vacuum, mop and even create a map of your home to avoid obstacles more effectively, consider some of the more premium options within this price range. The iRobot Roomba 650/750 has a powerful suction, clever combs to remove pet hair and dust, and it can be controlled via your smart home assistant. The Samsung Cleanbot SV8000 is another option that offers outstanding cleaning performance for the money.
Navigation Efficiency
A low-cost robot vacuum can be just as effective a higher-priced model as long as it is able to navigate your home and avoid obstacles. To assess the effectiveness of navigation our lab technicians set up a tracker to monitor a robot's movements through a multi-room test house and assess its ability to identify the rooms it needs to clean in a certain amount of time frame, while avoiding hazards like power cords, rugs and furniture. In addition, we look at how quickly robots can move over different types of terrain for homes such as stairways and transitions between different types of floors.
The most affordable robot vacuums come with efficient navigation systems that aid in helping them clean a room without spending time, crashing into obstacles, or getting stuck. They're all equipped with mapping capabilities, which are vital for a complete house cleaning. But even budget models without mapping can efficiently cover a room therefore it's essential to consider the cost and features you require for your home.
We also look at the ease with which robots can get over common thresholds in the home such as the height of a door sill or the width of a sofa. A budget-friendly robot should 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 can be controlled remotely via an app or voice commands.
The iLife V3s Pro is a fantastic example of a robot that is budget-friendly that offers basic mapping capabilities as well as intelligent features. It's also quite affordable. It can be controlled by the iRobot App, and it has an automatic return feature that will return the robot back to its base once the battery runs low and then picks up where it left off.
The iLife V3s Pro does not have the advanced object-avoidance technology you find on many high-end robots. However, it does have live cameras that send an unreliable feed to your phone so you can observe it working. you could try this out can spot obstacles and stairs and alert the robot if it encounters them. The iLife is a different model, however, it uses random navigation instead of a method that is designed to avoid objects stuck to furniture legs. It may not be able to navigate around a tight spot or chair leg as well as a robot system that has mapping capabilities.
Cleaning Performance
When you're shopping for a robot vacuum, it's important to balance cost with performance. There are models that aren't as expensive and don't include advanced features such as mapping, but you can find models that are very effective at cleaning your home. You should also be aware of the dimensions of the dustbins on robots and the amount of dirt it can hold before needing to empty. You'll need enough space to hold all the debris a robot collects including pet dander, dirt, and hair.
You'll also want a robot vacuum that can remove staining from carpets. We test all models in the ZDNET robot vacuum chart for their ability to lift dirt and hair from carpet, and the best models have a specific brush designed to dig into the carpet's fibers and pull out dirt.
The budget models are great at cleaning up small messes from plain floors or low-pile floor carpets but they aren't able to get rid of larger debris and pet hairs from higher-pile carpets. They typically have less suction power than more expensive models however they can do a well at clearing out debris from tight spaces such as corners and underneath furniture.
The iLife V3s Pro vacuum cleaner is the best vacuum for its price range. It has a high rating in our tests, and it's able to remove hairs and dirt from carpets. It's also one of the quieter models we tested and is user-friendly. It features a suction opening that is able to collect debris instead of pushing it through the brush bar. It can also adjust the power to match the surface. It also has a side brush with three bristles that push hair and debris into the robot's path, but it's not doing as good in removing fine dust.
Find a model that has mop and vacuum functions, like the Combo j9 Plus. The robot can simultaneously mop and vacuum and you can alter the settings for each room. It's pricier than other robot vacuums in our chart but has a camera on the front that allows for more precise mapping and a better way to avoid obstacles things like power cords or cat poop.
Maintenance
The convenience that robot vacuums offer is fantastic, but the technology comes at a price. They require regular maintenance, from emptying their dustbin to changing filters and cleaning the brush bar. They can also get caught in cords or fall off the stairs.
The best budget robot vacuums ease these problems by requiring minimal management from the user. The best models have navigation systems that avoid objects and stay clear of dangers, like strangling electrical cords and dropping food. Sensors are used to map rooms and create maps that tell them where they have already cleaned.
Don't let the price of the more expensive models deter you from buying. They can still do a great job if given the chance. 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 care and are built to last.
You might consider a mopping robot if you are willing to pay more. These machines can clean floors using a damp cloth and eliminate the most stubborn stains. They can also be used combination with a mop pad to tackle difficult jobs, like dried coffee.
There are a number of mopping robots featured in our list but the most affordable model is the TP Link Tapo RV30 Plus. It has the clean, fussless appearance of a home hub, but the performance and features of a top-rated robovac, including LiDAR navigation. During our tests, the RV30 was able of navigating without bumping into furniture and constructing detailed maps of its flooring that can be used to reference on future runs. It's the only budget robot we've tested to have this feature, though iRobot's Roomba offers similar capabilities for mapping, and an in-app setup that walks you through the process step-by step.
No matter if you opt for an expensive robot or a less expensive alternative, you should always keep your robovac in good condition. You should empty the trash bin and clean the filter after each cleaning session (refer to your owner's guide or the website of the manufacturer for more information). You should also replace the battery as needed and keep track of its Wi-Fi connectivity and app updates.