How to Find the Best Budget Robot Vacuum
A bargain-priced robot vacuum is a great value. Beware of the maintenance costs that could be more than anticipated: tangles inside brushes, blocked air inlets and emptied dust bins will quickly transform your dream of automated cleaning into a chore.
The iRobot j7 Combo is the best budget robot for a lot of people. It offers a similar hands-free experience at only a fraction of the cost.
Suction Power
Some models within this price range offer sufficient suction for basic vacuuming, while others might require assistance with a handheld nozzle in order to reach the deepest cracks and crevices. A budget-friendly robot vacuum will likely do the job if you live in an apartment with primarily hard floors. If automatic vacuum have a mix of floors, carpets or pets that shed, you will be able to get the best results with a more capable robot vacuum.
Some budget models come with mopping and water tank capability, adding to their flexibility. The latest Dyson R7050C model, for example, has very good scores in CR's tests of navigation and a large bin of 770ml, but it is louder than many of the other robots we've tested and doesn't have mopping features. The smaller Eufy Roborock Q5 Pro, in contrast, is quite quiet and has an auto-empty dock. It also has an water tank, powerful suction capacity of 5,500pascal and a large bin that you can fill with cleaning solution to make it an efficient mopping machine. You can control the Q5 Pro via the smart app to mop or vac in a room, a sequence of rooms or an entire area and define no-go zones as well as customize suction and mopping settings for different rooms.
The Shark ION is a good choice for those looking for something affordable, simple and reliable. It's not as well-equipped as the other models we test, with a no-frills app and basic mapping capabilities, but it offers 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 also has a 300ml dustbin that has to be cleaned every 30 days.
Take a look at some of the top models in this price range If you're looking for something more sophisticated that can vacuum, mop, and create a map for more effective obstacle-avoiding. The iRobot Roomba 650 and 750 are extremely powerful suction power and combs that are clever for pet hair and other dirt, as well as in-app scheduling and voice control using your smart home assistant. The Samsung Cleanbot SV8000 is another option that has superior cleaning performance for the money.
Navigation Efficiency
A budget-friendly robot vacuum could be as effective as the more expensive models as long as it is able to navigate your home and avoid obstacles. To assess the effectiveness of navigation, our lab technicians installed a tracking device to watch a robot's movement through a multiroom test house and assess its ability to locate the rooms it must clean in a specific amount of time frame, while avoiding hazards like rug power cords, power cords and furniture. We also examine the speed at which robots can navigate through different terrains within a house, including stairways and floor transitions.
The best budget robot vacuums are equipped with navigation systems that let them effectively clean a room without wasting time or running into obstacles. Many models have mapping capabilities, which are vital for a complete house cleaning. Even models that aren't mapping can effectively cover a room. It is important to weigh the cost of your machine against the features you require.
We also examine how easily a robot can pass over common household thresholds such as the size of a door's sill or the width of a sofa. A budget-friendly robot should be able to pass through these obstacles and some even have settings that adjust the suction power based on the type of floor. We also take a look at whether a budget robot is compatible with your home's smart-home setup and can be controlled remotely via an app or voice command.
One excellent budget robot is the iLife V3s Pro, which comes with basic mapping capabilities and other smart features in an extremely affordable package. It is controlled by the iRobot app, and has an auto-return feature that will return it back to its base once the battery has run out, then resumes where it began.
The iLife V3s Pro doesn't have the advanced object avoidance that you find on numerous premium robots, however it has a live camera that transmits an unreliable video feed to your phone so you can keep an eye on it as it works. The cameras can spot obstacles and stairs and alert the robot when it comes across them. The iLife is a different model, however, it uses random navigation instead of a method designed to avoid objects stuck against furniture legs. It might not be able to navigate around a tight spot or a leg of a chair as a robot system that has mapping capabilities.
Cleaning Performance
When you're searching 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 there are many that perform very well 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 prior to needing to empty it. It is essential to have enough space to accommodate all the trash a robot collects including dirt, pet dander and hair.
You'll need a machine capable of removing stains and dirt from carpets too. We test every model on the ZDNET chart to see whether it is able to remove hair and dirt from carpet. The most effective models have a special brush that digs into fibers to pull out dirt.
The majority of budget models are effective in cleaning up spills on carpets that are not paved or in low-pile carpet however, they struggle to remove larger chunks of debris and pet hair from carpets with higher pile. These models usually have less suction, but they can still be effective in removing particles from tight spaces like corners and under furniture.
The iLife V3s Pro vacuum cleaner is the top vacuum in its price. It has a high score in our tests, and it can remove dirt and hair from carpets. It's also among the quieter models we test and is easy to use. It comes with a suction hole that is able to collect debris instead of pushing it through the 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 debris and hair into the path of the robot, but it's not as effective at as it does in picking up fine dust.
Look for a model with both vacuum and mop functions, such as the Combo j9 Plus. This robot can vacuum and mop simultaneously and you can also customize the settings for each room. It's more expensive than the other budget robot vacs in our chart however it comes with the advantages of having a forward-facing camera, which allows for more precise mapping and better obstacle avoidance for things like power cords and cat poop.
Maintenance
The convenience that robot vacuums offer is great, but the technology comes with cost. Regular maintenance is essential, from emptying the dustbin to changing filters and cleaning the brush bar. They may also get caught up in cords or fall off the steps.
The most affordable robot vacuums can ease these problems as they require little management by the user. The best models come with navigation systems that enable them to avoid obstacles and stay clear of hazards like electrical cords and dropped foods. Sensors are used to map rooms, and create maps that tell them where they've cleaned.
Don't let the price of the more expensive models deter you from buying. They can still do an excellent job if given a chance. A majority of our top budget choices are from top OEMs, like iRobot, Roborock and Dreame, so you'll be assured that they've been developed with the utmost attention to detail and built to last.
Consider a mopping robotic in the event that you're willing to pay more. They can use a moist cloth across floors to scrub them and remove stubborn stains and they can be used with a specially designed mop pad to tackle tough jobs such as dried coffee.
The TP Link Tapo RV30 plus is the best budget mopping robot we've reviewed in our roundup. It has a clean, uncluttered appearance, but it also has all the features and capabilities of a top-rated robovac. During our tests the RV30 was capable of moving without bumping mindlessly into furniture and build detailed maps of its floorplan that it can use for future runs. It's the only budget robot we've tested to include this feature, although the iRobot Roomba offers similar capabilities in mapping and has an in-app setting that guides you through the process step-by step.
Be sure to maintain your robot regardless of whether you opt for a costly robovac or one that is more affordable. You should empty the dustbin and clean the filter after each cleaning session (refer to your owner's guide or the manufacturer's site for more details). It is also recommended to replace its battery as needed and monitor its Wi-Fi connectivity as well as app updates.