How to Find the Best Budget Robot Vacuum
A bargain-priced robot vacuum can be a great value. However, be aware that it could cost more than you anticipated in the maintenance department: untangling fur from brushes, clogged inlets and emptying tiny dust bins can quickly make your automated cleaning dream to be a chore.
For many people, the best budget robot is the iRobot j7 Combo. It offers the same hands-off experience for only a fraction of the cost.
Suction Power
Certain models in this range have enough suction to do basic vacuuming. Others might require the use of a handheld nozzle for deeper cleaning. A budget-friendly vacuum will likely do the job well if you live in an apartment with primarily hard floors. If you have a variety of floors, have rugs or pets that shed, you will be able to get the best results with the most powerful robot vacuum.
A few budget models include a water tank and mopping capabilities, which adds to their flexibility. The newer Dyson R7050C for instance, has excellent navigation scores in CR's tests and a large 770ml bin, 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 a smaller robot that is quieter and has an automatic dock. It also has water tank, powerful suction power of 5,500pascals and a large bin you can fill with cleaning solution to make it an effective mopping machine. You can control the Q5 Pro via the smart app to vac or mop in a room, a sequence of rooms, or an area and define no-go zones as well as customize mopping and suction settings to suit different rooms.
The Shark ION is a good choice for those who are looking for something affordable and simple to use. 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 that can distinguish between carpets and hard flooring, and it has a 300ml dustbin that only needs to be empty 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, and create maps to help you avoid obstacles. The iRobot Roomba 650/750 has a powerful suction, a clever comb to remove pet hair and dust, and it can be controlled through your smart home assistant. Samsung Cleanbot SV8000 offers a great cleaning performance at a reasonable price.
Navigation Efficiency
A budget robot vacuum cleaner can be as effective as more expensive models, so long as it is able to maneuver through your home and avoid obstacles. Our lab technicians utilized 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 time frame, while staying clear of obstacles such as furniture, power cords and rug. We also analyze how fast the robot can move across different types of terrain for homes including stairways as well as transitions between different types of floors.
The most affordable robot vacuums come with efficient navigation systems that aid in helping to clean up a room without spending time, crashing through obstacles, or getting stuck. Most robot vacuums have maps that are essential for a full-house clean. However, even models that do not have mapping can be used to effectively cover a space, so it's important to consider the cost and features you require for your home.
We also look at how easy it is for a robot to overcome common thresholds for homes, such as the threshold of a door's sill or the width of a sofa. A good budget robot should be able to move over these obstacles, and a few have settings that can 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 through an app or voice commands.
One excellent budget robot is the iLife V3s Pro, which includes basic mapping capabilities and other smart features in a very affordable package. It can be controlled using the iRobot app, and also has an auto-return feature that will return it to its base when the battery has run out, then resumes where it began.
automatic vacuum does not have the advanced object-avoidance technology you find on many high-end robots. However it does come with a live camera which transmits a grainy stream to your smartphone so that you can observe it working. The cameras can spot stairs and other obstructions and alert the robot when it encounters them. However, the iLife utilizes random navigation rather than a method designed to keep objects from getting stuck to furniture legs, which means it might not be able to get around a chair leg or another tight spot as easily as a robot that has mapping capabilities.
Cleaning Performance
When you're searching for a robot vacuum, it's important to balance cost with performance. The cheapest models might not include advanced features such as mapping however, you can find many that perform very well at cleaning your home. It is important to be aware of the dimensions of the dustbins on robots and how much dirt it can hold before needing to empty. It should be able to fit all the debris that robots accumulate including hair dirt, pet dander.
You'll also require a robotic vacuum that removes staining from carpets. We test every model in the ZDNET robot vacuum chart for their ability to remove hair and dirt from carpet. The best models have a specific brush designed to dig into the carpet's fibers and pull out debris.
Most budget models do well in cleaning up spills on plain floors and carpets with low piles However, they struggle to get rid of larger pieces of debris and pet hair from higher-pile carpets. These models usually have a less powerful suction however, they can be effective in cleaning particles from tight spaces like corners and underneath furniture.
The iLife V3s Pro is the best budget model for vacuuming and has scored high marks in our tests due to its ability to remove dirt and hair off carpets. It's also one of the quieter models we tested and is easy to use. It comes with a suction hole that collects debris instead of pushing it through the brush bar. It also has the ability to adjust the power to match any surface. It has a sidebrush that comes with three bristles that push hair and debris into the robot's path. However, it is not as effective in sweeping fine dust.
Look for a model with 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 more expensive than the other robot vacuums on our chart but has an in-front camera that allows for more precise mapping, and better obstacle avoidance for things like power cords and cat Poop.
Maintenance
The ease of use robot vacuums provide is great, but the technology comes at cost. Regular maintenance is essential to empty the dustbin to changing filters and cleaning the brush bar. They can also get tangled in cords and fall off the stairs, so they must be watched with care.
The most affordable robot vacuums ease the burden since they require only minimal user management. The top models are equipped with navigation systems that allow them to avoid obstacles and avoid dangers like electrical cords, food debris and even dropped food. They also make use of a mix of sensors to map rooms and build maps that indicate where they've already cleaned to ensure they don't re-clean the same spots again.
Even the tiniest robotic vacuums can provide a clean and efficient service if you try them, so don't be discouraged by the price of better models. Our top budget choices are from the top OEMs like iRobot Roborock Dreame. You can be assured that they've been created with attention to detail and are built to last.
If you're willing more, think about a mopping robot. These machines can scrub floors using an aqueous cloth and get rid of the most stubborn stains. They can also be used in conjunction with a mop pad to tackle difficult 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 the clean elegant, minimalist design of a home hub but the features and performance of a top-rated robovac with LiDAR navigation. In our tests the RV30 was able to navigate without bumping mindlessly into furniture and create detailed floor plans that it can reference on future runs. It's the only budget robot we've tested to have this feature, though iRobot's Roomba also has 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 the most expensive or one that is less expensive. You should empty the trash bin and clean the filter after every cleaning session (refer to your owner's guide or the manufacturer's site for more details). Replace the battery if needed and check the Wi-Fi connection.