5 Best Robot Vacuums – 2022 Buying Guide

By Maria Hernandez / February 24, 2022 / 0 Comments

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Robot vacuums are slowly becoming an essential item in every household. Imagine getting back from work to find clean floors and carpets, thanks to your favorite machine! If you’ve been trying to find the best robot vacuums, but you’re overwhelmed by the available choices, this is the guide you need to read.

Since all these features can be confusing, you should also go over the buyer’s guide. It goes into detail about individual characteristics and explains what they mean. Now let’s dive into the robot vacuum reviews.

Our Top Picks

  1. Best Overall: iRobot Roomba i3+ 
  2. Best Budget: Eufy BoostIQ RoboVac 30C Vacuum
  3. Best With Mop: Roborock S6 Robot Vacuum and Mop
  4. Best Self-Emptying Dustbin: Kyvol Cybovac S31 Robot Vacuum
  5. Best for Large Spaces: Roborock E4 Robot Vacuum

Robot Vacuum Buying Advice

Best Overall: iRobot Roomba i3+

Floor Critics Rating (4.7):

Key Features:

  • 90-minute battery life
  • Premium three-stage cleaning system for a neat home
  • Reactive sensor technology that prevents the robot from getting stuck

Pros:

  • Comes with an automatic dirt disposal feature
  • It’s great for families with pets thanks to its high-efficiency filtering system
  • It picks up where it left off before the battery died

Cons:

  • Barriers are not included in the packaging
  • It’s not as quiet as other robots on the list

iRobot is one of the most popular robot vacuum cleaner manufacturers in the world. The brand’s Roomba i3+ is one of their best-selling products located somewhere in the middle of the brand’s price range. If you don’t want to spend $1,500 on a robot but want a high-quality product, you should opt for this one.

This vacuum cleaner has an automatic dirt disposal feature that is perfect for everyone, especially for people prone to allergies and respiratory diseases.

It comes together with a Clean Base Automatic Disposal bin where the robot can dispose of dirt for as long as two months. Thanks to this method, you’ll avoid getting in touch with dirt, dust, allergens, and more.

The iRobot Roomba i3+ is the best robot vacuum cleaner, without a doubt. The fact that it disposes of its own dirt, plus doesn’t get stuck under furniture, and perfectly cleans tile floors, hardwood floors, linoleum, rugs, and carpets says that you’ll be investing your money in the most helpful household machine.

Best Budget: Eufy BoostIQ RoboVac 30C Vacuum

Floor Critics Rating (4.5):

Key Features:

  • 1500 Pa suction power
  • 100-minute running time
  • Slim 2.85” inch body that helps it reach everywhere

Pros:

  • The packaging includes an extra set of filters and four side brushes
  • The vacuum comes with a 12-month warranty
  • Very quiet, you can barely notice it’s working
  • Most affordable purchase with a great quality

Cons:

  • The dirt compartment needs cleaning often
  • The running time could be improved
Eufy BoostIQ RoboVac 30C Vacuum
Eufy BoostIQ RoboVac 30C Vacuum

The Eufy BoostIQ RoboVac 30C vacuum will clean your floors and your carpets with ease, without falling down the stairs or going over the area borders. It features multiple cleaning modes that you can operate from your phone.

The Eufy RoboVac vacuum has a three-point cleaning system with three brushes to reach even to the hardest-reaching spots and corners to provide the best possible cleaning experience.

With the vacuum, you’ll receive boundary strips that you should use to mark the areas you want to be cleaned. The robot also has a drop-sensing technology included that will prevent it from falling off the stairs.

It’s compatible with the Amazon Alexa, EufyHome, and Google Assistant apps, so you can control it via your phone or with a voice command.

One of my top most recommended robot vacuum cleaners is the Eufy RoboVac 30 C! If you’re looking for a quiet robot that won’t fall down the stairs but will completely clean your home, this one is it! The price point is excellent for all the fantastic features that are packed in this stylish-looking vacuum.

Best With Mop: Roborock S6 Robot Vacuum

Floor Critics Rating (4.6):

Key Features:

  • Powerful 2000 Pa suction
  • 180-minute battery life
  • 14 types of sensors for a safe movement

Pros:

  • It has a mopping feature that gives great results
  • Has a selective room cleaning option for you to choose which rooms to clean
  • Compatible with Alexa, Siri, and Google Home

Cons:

  • It’s on the higher end of the price scale
  • It can get loud when it’s on the highest setting
Roborock S6 Robot Vacuum
Roborock S6 Robot Vacuum

The Roborock S6 robot is the best product if you’ve established a higher budget for your next robot vacuum. All the numerous features that it has will justify the purchase!

The control of the robot lets you choose which rooms you want to be cleaned and which not. It can also find the fastest routes to each room after the mapping. This robot is surprisingly great at cleaning carpets; it picks up even the most stubborn pet hair.

This robot is fantastic for cleaning hardwood floors and carpets while also attacking even the most hidden parts of your room. I’m impressed with its power to reach dust and dirt accumulated in the corners. If your planned budget is high, this is the robot for you.

Best Self-Emptying Dustbin: Kyvol Cybovac S31 Robot Vacuum

Floor Critics Rating (4.5):

Key Features:

  • 3000 Pa suction power and four power settings
  • 240 minutes running time
  • 1.2-gallon bin located in the charging base

Pros:

  • The real-time mapping function helps the robot scan your house without missing spots
  • Comes with a built-in auto-disposal bin with a self-emptying feature
  • Four cleaning modes that include vacuuming and mopping

Cons:

  • The extra bags for the bin are hard to find
Kyvol Cybovac S31 Robot Vacuum
Kyvol Cybovac S31 Robot Vacuum

If you love the Roomba i3+, but you want to find a similar vacuum at a lower price point, Kyvol Cybovac S31 should be your next purchase. It has incredible suction power, plus it can run for 240 minutes, cleaning and mopping your home.

If you buy the Kyvol Cybovac robot, it will come together with an Auto Dust Disposal bin with a built-in bag. The bin is located in the charging base and has a sensor that lights when you need to replace the bag.

With its real-time mapping function, the robot will scan the rooms, then continue to perform zig-zag movements to vacuum and mop. It has an impressive battery life of 240 minutes, meaning it’s perfect for large homes.

The Kyvol Cybovac S31 vacuum and mop features a range of impressive features, including self-emptying, a long battery life, an intense suction power that works on both floors and carpets. What I loved the most about the vacuum is the four cleaning methods: spot cleaning, automatic cleaning, edge cleaning, and selective cleaning.

Best for Large Spaces: Roborock E4 Robot Vacuum

Floor Critics Rating (4.6):

Key Features:

  • Powerful 2000 Pa suction
  • 200 minutes running time
  • Four suction modes

Pros:

  • It has excellent navigation thanks to advanced mapping, Invisible Wall, and No-Go-Zones technologies
  • Climbs up on carpets with ease
  • Very affordable price

Cons:

  • Doesn’t come with a mopping feature
  • You can’t connect it to smart devices in your home
Roborock E4 Robot Vacuum
Roborock E4 Robot Vacuum

The Roborock E4 vacuum is another affordable purchase that lives up to the hype! This robot cleaner does not only have a reasonable price, but it also offers a long running time of 200 minutes and a fantastic performance when it comes to suction.

This vacuum uses an S pattern to clean your floors and carpets without leaving anything behind. There are four suction modes to choose from: Silent, Balanced, Turbo, and Max. The navigation system is quite precise, so you won’t hear it bumping on things.

Although you can’t connect this robot to the smart devices in your home, you can connect it to an app you can download on your phone. This app will show you a map of the room, where the Roborock E4 has vacuumed so far, the battery life, and more.

The Roborock E4 might not include as many features as Roborock S6, but it will change your life for the better. This is the simplest, most basic design on the list, but it offers just enough for clean carpets and floors.

Side by Side Comparison

ProductOur RatingKey Features
iRobot Roomba i3+
iRobot Roomba i3+ 
View on iRobot –>
View on Amazon –>
Best Overall

Overall: 4.7
90-minute battery life
Premium three-stage cleaning system for a neat home
Reactive sensor technology that prevents the robot from getting stuck
Eufy BoostIQ RoboVac 30C Vacuum
Eufy BoostIQ RoboVac 30C Vacuum
View on Eufy –>
View on Amazon –>
Best Budget

Overall: 4.5
1500 Pa suction power
100-minute running time
Slim 2.85” inch body that helps it reach everywhere
Roborock S6 Robot Vacuum
Roborock S6 Robot Vacuum and Mop
View on Roborock –>
View on Amazon –>
Best With Mop

Overall: 4.6
Powerful 2000 Pa suction
180-minute battery life
14 types of sensors for a safe movement
Kyvol Cybovac S31 Robot Vacuum
Kyvol Cybovac S31 Robot Vacuum
View on Kyvol –>
View on Walmart –>
Most Self-Emptying Dustbin

Overall: 4.5
3000 Pa suction power and four power settings
240 minutes running time
1.2-gallon bin located in the charging base
Roborock E4 Robot Vacuum
Roborock E4 Robot Vacuum
View on Roborock –>
View on Amazon –>
Best for Large Areas

Overall: 4.6
Powerful 2000 Pa suction
200 minutes running time
Four suction modes

The Complete Robot Vacuum Buyer’s Guide

Did all these mentioned features confuse you even more? That’s why I’m here to simplify things.

Just keep on reading to see why each characteristic is important and decide whether you need it as a part of your robot.

Noise

So many people are under the impression that robot cleaners don’t make any noise. Although they are typically quieter than your residential vacuum cleaner, robots still make some noise. It’s expected for some designs to be louder, while some will be quieter.

If you’re bothered by a vacuum noise, you should look for a robot that will be quiet. But, if you’re planning on using this cleaner mainly while you’re not at home, the low-noise feature shouldn’t affect your purchase.

Battery Life

Long battery life for a robot is essential if you have a large area to clean. If the battery life is short and your house is big, the vacuum might need to stop working to charge.

Most robots need between three and four hours to charge completely. If this is an issue for you, find a vacuum cleaner that has long battery life.

The average working time for a robot is between an hour and an hour and a half. However, some designs can clean for longer than an hour and a half. These are perfect for owners of big houses or flats.

Also, most cleaners feature an option to return back to their dock for charging. This makes your job much easier! After it’s done charging, it can go back to cleaning your home again.

Smart Robots

The majority of robots available on the market are equipped with a smart function, meaning they use a wireless connection to connect to your phone and other smart devices. Only the most affordable and most basic vacuums will not come with a smart feature.

Getting a smart robot will be one of your best decisions. By connecting it to your phone, you can choose when the robot will start vacuuming even when you’re not at home, stop the cycle, pause it, or schedule cleaning sessions ahead of time.

You will also get notifications on your home once the cycle is finished, when the robot starts charging, whether the battery levels are low, and much more. Most manufacturers have their own robot apps you’ll need to download, and all of them include different features.

Another reason smart robots are outstanding is that you can connect some of them to other smart devices such as Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa.

Mapping

The mapping function of a robot means your new machine will have a scan of the room that it’s supposed to clean. Brands add cameras to their designs that create a map of the space so the robot knows its route and knows the spots that it cleaned and the areas that need cleaning.

This function stops the machine from cleaning the same areas over and over again. If the battery dies, once the robot resumes vacuuming, it will remember the parts of the room that are clean and the parts that need cleaning.

Mapping is already a part of most new robot vacuums. Let’s not forget to mention that your robot will less likely bump on furniture around the house once it mapped the room. The designs that come with this function are usually more expensive.

Mopping Function

Some robots have a mopping function that will mop your floors once you add water to their tank. This is not an essential feature, but if it’s something in your interest you should purchase a robot that has it.

Size and Height

The size and height of the vacuum will determine whether it will be able to get under furniture or not. Whether the robot will get under furniture also depends on the height of the things you own.

Most robots feature similar measures, but slim designs are more likely to reach under your sofa. If the vacuum is too tall, it will bump on things and only go over furniture-free areas.

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FAQs

How Long Do Robot Vacuums Last?

The average lifespan of a robot vacuum is between four and six years. High-end robots can last for eight years, some even longer.

The secret of having the same robot for a long time is regular and proper maintenance. What most people forget about after purchasing one, is that these machines require new filters, a new battery, and new brushes after a certain time.

When the vacuum might need repair and maintenance depends on the model and the manufacturer. Robots come with an instruction manual where you’ll find advice on properly maintaining your robot and when to replace parts with new ones.

Final Thoughts

Finding the best robot vacuum cleaner is an exhausting job! These days there are so many robots to choose from with a wide range of features, so it’s easy to be confused and quit your search. If you’re in need of a high-quality robot that will help keep your home clean, any of the five products that I listed will be perfect.

There are definitely differences between the robots that I listed, but that will make it even easier for you to find the ideal one.

In the battle of the giants, the iRobot Roomba i3+ is an absolute winner. This vacuum comes from one of the best brands on the market, has an automatic dirt disposal feature, cleans carpets and floors with high efficiency, and it’s available at a very reasonable price.

If you have any comments or first-hand experiences with robot vacuum cleaners, please post them below or share your pictures via our social media.

About Maria Hernandez

Senior Floor Critic, 25 years of experience in residential and commercial cleaning

Maria Hernandez has 25 years of experience in residential and commercial janitorial and cleaning services. From hardwood to carpet to marble floors, Maria has developed a deep expertise in cleaning and maintaining many different flooring types. Visit Website.

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