How to Find the Best Budget Robot Vacuum
A bargain-priced robot vacuum is a steal. Beware of the maintenance costs that might be higher than anticipated: tangles inside brushes, blocked air inlets and emptying dust bins will quickly turn your automated cleaning dream into a chore.
The iRobot j7 Combo is the best budget robot for many people. It delivers almost the same hands-off experience for less than half the cost.
Suction Power
Some models in this category are able to handle basic vacuuming. Others might require an nozzle that can be held in a handheld for more thorough cleaning. If you live in a house that has mostly hard flooring, a budget robot vacuum should do the trick. If you have a variety of floors, have rugs or pets that shed, you will have the best results using the most powerful robot vacuum.
Certain models that are priced lower come with mopping capabilities and a water tank, increasing their versatility. The latest Dyson R7050C model for instance, has very good navigation scores in CR's tests and a large bin capacity of 770ml, however it is louder than many of the other robots we've tested, and doesn't have mopping features. The smaller Eufy Roborock Q5 Pro, however, is surprisingly quiet and features an auto-empty dock. It also comes with an water tank, powerful suction capacity of 5,500pascal and a large bin can be filled with cleaning solution to make it a more efficient mopping device. The Q5 Pro can be controlled via the smart app, which lets you mop or vacuum a space or sequence of rooms or an entire area. You can also establish no-go zones and customise suction settings for each room.
The Shark ION is a good choice for those seeking something affordable, simple and reliable. It's not as sophisticated as some of the other models we test, with a no-frills application and basic mapping capabilities, but it has good navigation and cleaning capabilities. It's also one of only a few robots that can distinguish between hard flooring and carpets. The 300ml dustbin only empty once every 30 days.
If you want an upgraded model that can mop, vacuum and draw a map of your home to help you avoid obstacles, consider some of the more premium options in this price range. The iRobot Roomba 650 and 750 have very strong suction power, clever combs for pet hair and other fine dirt, as well as in-app scheduling and voice control using your smart home assistant. Samsung Cleanbot SV8000 offers a outstanding cleaning capabilities at a reasonable price.
Navigation Efficiency
A budget robot vacuum can be just as effective the more expensive models, provided that it can navigate 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 house and evaluate its ability to find the rooms it must clean in a certain amount of time, avoiding pitfalls such as rug cords, power cables and furniture. We also evaluate the speed at which robots can traverse different terrains in a home, such as the floor and stairways.
The best budget robot vacuums are equipped with navigation systems that let them effectively clean a room without getting lost or running into obstacles. The majority of robot vacuums have mapping capabilities that are necessary for a full-house clean. However, even budget models with no mapping can be used to efficiently cover a room and it's crucial to consider the cost and features you need for your home.
We also examine how easily a robot can overcome common thresholds for homes, such as the height of a door sill or the width of a sofa. A good budget-friendly robot must be able to transition over these obstacles, and some offer settings that adjust suction power for different floor types. floor vacuum robot consider whether the robot is compatible with smart home technology and is able to be controlled remotely through an app or voice command.
The iLife V3s Pro is a excellent example of a budget robot that provides basic mapping capabilities as well as intelligent features. It's also quite affordable. robotic vacuums is controlled by the iRobot app, and has an auto-return feature that returns it back to its base once the battery is exhausted and resumes where it left off.
The iLife V3s Pro doesn't have the advanced object avoidance found on numerous premium robots, however it does have a live camera that transmits an unreliable video feed to your phone so you can watch it as it works. The cameras can spot obstacles and stairs and alert the robot when it comes across them. However, the iLife uses random navigation rather than a method that is designed to avoid objects that are stuck to furniture legs, therefore it might not be able around a leg on a chair or other tight spot as well as a robot equipped with mapping capabilities.
Cleaning Performance
When you're shopping for a robot vacuum it's important to balance cost with performance. Budget models may lack advanced features such as mapping, but they can still do an excellent job of cleaning your home. Be aware of the dimensions and capacity of the robot's dustbin. It is essential to have enough space to hold all the garbage that a robot accumulates, including pet dander, dirt, and hair.
You'll also want a robot vacuum that can remove stains from carpets. We test every model in the ZDNET chart to see whether it can remove dirt and hair from carpet. The best models have an exclusive brush that digs into the fibers to remove dirt.
The majority of budget models are successful in removing messes from carpets that are not paved or carpets with low piles however, they struggle to remove larger pieces of pet hair and debris from higher-pile carpets. They typically have less suction power than higher-end models however they can do a a good job of getting rid of debris from tight spaces such as corners and under furniture.
The iLife V3s Pro is the most affordable vacuuming model and has scored high marks in our tests with its ability to lift dirt and hair off carpets. It's also one of the quieter models we test and is easy to use. It has an opening for suction that scoops debris rather than pushing it through the brush bar, and it has the ability to adjust power to be in line with 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 as effective at in removing fine dust.
Look for a model with mop and vacuum functions, like the Combo j9 Plus. It can simultaneously mop and vacuum and you can alter the settings for each room. It's pricier than other robot vacuums on our chart but has a camera on the front that allows for a more precise mapping and better obstacle avoidance of things like power cords and cat urine.
Maintenance
Robot vacuums are handy, but they come at a cost. They require regular maintenance that ranges from emptying their dust bin to changing filters and cleaning the brush bar. They may also get caught up in cords or fall off the steps.
The best budget robot vacuums ease these problems by requiring only minimal supervision from the user. Top picks are equipped with navigation systems that enable them to avoid obstacles and avoid dangers like electrical cords, food debris and even dropped food. They also use a combination of sensors to map rooms, and then create maps that show which areas they've cleaned previously to ensure they don't re-clean the same spots repeatedly.
Don't let the cost of the more expensive models deter you from buying. They can still do a great job if given a chance. Our top budget choices are from leading OEMs like iRobot Roborock Dreame. You can be assured that they've been designed with care and are built to last.
If you're willing to spend more, think about mopping with a robot. They can use a moist cloth across floors to scrub them and remove stubborn stains, and can be used with a specialized mop pad for tough jobs like dried coffee.
The TP-Link Tapo RV30 plus is the best budget mopping robot that we have reviewed in our roundup. It has the sleek and uncluttered appearance of a home hub but the features and performance of a top robovac that includes LiDAR navigation. During our testing, the RV30 was capable of navigating without hitting furniture, and building detailed maps of its floors that it can refer to on future runs. This is the only budget robot that we have tested with this feature. iRobot Roomba also has mapping capabilities, but the app's setup guides you through the entire process.
If you decide to go with an expensive robot or a less expensive alternative, you should always keep your robovac in good condition. It's a good idea to empty its dustbin after every cleaning task and to clean the filter if one is present (check your owner's manual or the manufacturer's site for details). It is also recommended to replace its battery as needed and keep track of its Wi-Fi connectivity as well as app updates.