A robot vacuum cleaner will pootle around your house, keeping your floors looking spick and span during the week. The options available are more proficient and affordable than ever. We have rounded up the ten best robot vacuums to help you pick the one that is right for your home.
How do robot vacuums work?
When it comes to sucking up dirt, robot vacuum cleaners work in a similar way to their traditional counterparts. Brushes lift and collect the dust and dirt, which is then sucked into a dust container. Most robot vacuums have a relatively small capacity for dirt and must be manually emptied. Some newer models have a larger dustbin on their docking station and will automatically eject the contents of their dust cup into that.
Robot vacuum cleaners navigate in different ways. Some clean the floor systematically, working in straight lines or spinning in a spiral from the centre of a room. Others move around randomly, turning around when they bump into something. More advanced models can map out a room and plan a route to cover the whole area, remembering where obstacles are.
Robot vacuums can be controlled by buttons on the unit itself or using a remote control. Some robot vacuums are operated from an app on your phone and can integrate with voice assistants such as Alexa or Google.
All robot vacuum cleaners are powered by rechargeable batteries which generally last between one and three hours. More advanced models will automatically return to their docking station to recharge.
Are robot vacuums worth it?
Robot vacuum cleaners have improved considerably since the first one came to market in 1996. However, they don’t yet meet the suction power of a traditional vacuum. We think that robot vacuums are worth it for regular vacuuming in between occasional deep cleaning sessions.
Before you buy a robot vacuum cleaner, think about:
- What type of floors you have. Do you have bare floors, wall to wall carpets, rugs or a combination? Different models perform better on different types of surfaces. Some can automatically detect a change in surface and adjust suction power.
- Height of thresholds between rooms. Most robot vacuums can climb over medium-height thresholds, but if your home isn’t entirely open plan, make sure you check before you buy.
- The time you have for pre-tidying. Robot vacuum cleaners can’t navigate piles of Lego, toys, shoes and dirty laundry left on the floor. You will need to build in a pre-clean schedule before you let your robot vacuum loose.
Top 10 Smart Robot Vacuum / Hoover Cleaners
In no particular order, here are 10 great robot vacuum cleaners available on Amazon.
1iRobot s9+
Battery life: 60 minutes
Bin capacity: 400ml plus 30 bins of dirt in its self-emptying dustbin
Suction power: 2,500 Pa
Control: App
Compatible Amazon Alexa and Google Assist: Yes
Best feature: Smart mapping allow you to direct cleaning
Price: £1,200
The iRobot s9 + is the top of the range robot vacuum from iRobot. The price tag (£1,200 on Amazon) is arguable worth it as its new shape, and advanced sensors make it the best at cleaning into tricky corners and along edges. The iRobot s9 also has superior suction power compared to its competitors. Its sensors and camera-based navigation means it learns the layout of your home after a few rounds of cleaning. You can then label specific rooms or areas. Its navigation capabilities mean it rarely gets stuck, and interaction with Amazon Alexa or Google Assist make for a completely hands-off experience. Breakfast crumbs are as easily solved as “Alexa, tell Roomba to clean under the kitchen table”.
Pros
- The self-mapping is the best on the market allowing you to tell your S9 exactly where you want it to clean and when
- The dustbin attached to the docking station allows the s9 to self-empty, meaning even less work for you
Cons
- This is the most expensive robot vacuum on the market
- The s9 is louder than most robot vacuums, and the self-emptying process is noisy too
2Dyson 360 heurist
Battery life: 75 minutes
Bin capacity: 330 ml
Suction power: not available
Control: App
Compatible Amazon Alexa and Google Assist: Yes
Best feature: Easily switch between surfaces with its tank like tracks
Price: £900
Dyson’s robot vacuum is capable of learning behaviour, allowing it to continually refine a map of your home, using its memory and instructions you have given it. This means the Dyson 360 navigates along the perfect route to clean each area most effectively.
As you would expect from a Dyson, the 360 heurist has extremely powerful suction (twice as much as any other robot vacuum, according to Dyson). The suction power can be programmed by area according to the surface type.
The Dyson is controlled via an app on your phone where you can set the rules, schedule your cleans and even see where the robot has cleaned.
Pros
- Tank-like tracks instead of wheels allow the Dyson to adapt to new surfaces and manage room thresholds and rugs with ease
- Learns and adapts to your home, continually refining a map for the most effective clean
Cons
- Thicker than other robot vacuums, the Dyson often can’t get under objects like sofas
- The dustbin is tiny (just 330ml)
3iRobot i7+
Battery life: 75 minutes
Bin capacity: 400ml plus 30 bins of dirt in its self-emptying dustbin
Suction power: 1,800 Pa
Control: App
Compatible Amazon Alexa and Google Assist: Yes
Best feature: Smart mapping allow you to direct cleaning
Price: £600
This is the second Roomba from iRobot to make our top ten. The Roomba i7+ is slightly older than the s9 and so is more reasonably priced. Like the s9, the i7+ is solidly built, self-empties into a dust bin on the docking station, WiFi connected, and controllable via an app or a voice assistant.
The i7+ has excellent cleaning results, but it has less suction than the s9, and its traditional round shape means it is not as good at cleaning in corners or along the skirting. That said, the i7+ is still a solid choice and much better than most robot vacuums on the market.
Pros
- Great smart mapping and navigation
- Self empties into a dustbin attached to the docking station
Cons
- Suction power could be better
- Expensive
4Eufy BoostIQ RoboVac 15C
Battery life: 100 minutes
Bin capacity: 600ml
Suction power: 1,300 Pa
Control: Remote control and App
Compatible Amazon Alexa and Google Assist: Alexa only
Best feature: Excellent value for money
Price: £135
Eufy provides one of the best value robot vacuum cleaners. Whilst it is not the most intelligent robot vacuum, it is very reasonably priced, around £250, and you get a lot for your money.
The BoostIQ can cope with various types of floors, switching from carpet to hard floors and automatically adjusting between standard and max cleaning modes. It can be controlled via remote or connected to your WiFi for app and voice assistance sync.
Pros
- Good value for money
- Ultra-thin so glides under furniture
Cons
- It doesn’t support no-go areas
- It doesn’t have smart or systematic navigation
5Ecovacs Deebot N79S
Battery life: 100 minutes
Bin capacity: 520ml
Suction power: 1,000 Pa
Control: Remote control and App
Compatible Amazon Alexa and Google Assist: Yes
Best feature: Easy to use
Price: £130
The Ecovacs Deebot N79S is an Amazon Choice due to its competitive price and impressive results. Given its price, the suction is powerful, and its battery life is long, allowing it to make the most of its large bin.
The reason for the lower price is that you aren’t getting smart mapping or systematic navigation. Instead, the Ecovacs randomly moves around the space using infrared sensors and bumpers to “avoid” objects. This means that sometimes it is misses parts of the floor and gets stuck around furniture such as chairs and table legs.
Pros
- Fairly quiet
- Competitively priced
Cons
- Gets stuck frequently
- Not particularly thorough
6Eufy RoboVac X8 Hybrid
Battery life: 180 minutes
Bin capacity: 400ml
Suction power: 2,000 Pa
Control: App
Compatible Amazon Alexa and Google Assist: Yes
Best feature: Intelligent mapping and navigation
Price: £380
The X8 Hydrid is Eufy’s latest and most advanced model. This one has smart mapping and will learn the layout of your house, so it knows the most efficient path to take in every room. This robot vacuum makes the most of its large dustbin with a compressor that ensures as much as possible can be collected before the vacuum needs emptying.
The RoboVac X8 can detect different types of flooring and automatically choose which of its four suction levels accordingly.
The app provides all the features you would expect, allowing you to access room maps, create no-go areas, send the robot to a specific area, set schedules, adjust the suction power and even watch its cleaning route.
Pros
- Intelligent mapping and navigation
- Transitions well from hard floor to rugs and carpets
Cons
- Not as slim as some of its competitors and sometimes doesn’t fit under low furnitureThe docking station needs a lot of space
7iRobot Roomba 981
Battery life: 120 minutes
Bin capacity: 500ml
Suction power: 1,700 Pa
Control: App
Compatible Amazon Alexa and Google Assist: Yes
Best feature: Systematic cleaning pattern and above average suction power
Price: £330
The iRobot Roomba 981 is an excellent option if you are looking for an affordable Roomba product. This model is a third of the price of the s9.
Like the more expensive Roomba robots, the 981 has mapping capabilities, though not as smart. You can’t set virtual boundaries for no-go zones or divide the map into areas, so you can’t select a specific area for the robot to clean. However, the robot works systematically and has good suction, so it performs well at covering all the floor space and picking up dirt from fine to large debris.
Pros
- Follows a systematic cleaning pattern
- Three power settings
Cons
- Mapping functionality doesn’t do much
- Expensive compared to the other lower-end robot vacuums
8Coredy R500+
Battery life: 120 minutes
Bin capacity: 500ml
Suction power: 1,400 Pa
Control: Remote control
Compatible Amazon Alexa and Google Assist: No
Best feature: Good performance for the price
Price: £140
The Coredy R500+ is at the budget end of the market, so it lacks the bells and whistles of the more expensive models. But, if you are looking for a robot vacuum that will keep on top of cleaning the floor in between more thorough vacuums, you can’t go wrong with this.
One of the best features is the ability to set a cleaning schedule so you can set your Coredy R500+ to work during the night or when you are out of the house. The unit can also be operated using the buttons on the top or by the remote control provided.
The R500+ can zone clean, but you will need to purchase Coredy’s boundary strips (sold separately). These come in handy to stop the R500+ from knocking into pets’ water bowls and keep the bot away from areas it tends to get stuck in.
The Coredy R500+ navigates by moving in a random pattern so the cleaning can be slightly hit-or-miss.
Pros
- Excellent battery life gives this vacuum a long run time
- Cheap
Cons
- Random navigation means areas are missed
- Low-ish suction power means it doesn’t always pick up all the debris
9Proscenic 850T
Battery life: 120 minutes
Bin capacity: 500ml
Suction power: 3,000 Pa
Control: App
Compatible Amazon Alexa and Google Assist: No
Best feature: High suction power
Price: £175
The Proscenic 850T punches above its price. Its stated suction rating is 3,000 Pa (500 Pa more than the top of the range iRobot Roomba), but its price (currently £175 on Amazon) is at the cheaper end of the spectrum.
It comes with a remote control but can also be controlled from an app on your phone or via a voice assistant like Alexa or Google. Using magnetic floor tape, creating no-go zones is possible, and the bot works in a programmed pattern rather than following random movement. The Proscenic 850T also builds a map as it moves, but the only function is to show you where it has been.
Pros
- Extremely high suction power
- Low price
Cons
- It can be prone to getting stuck
- The app is pretty basic
10Xiaomi Roborock S5 Max
Battery life: 180 minutes
Bin capacity: 460 ml
Suction power: 2,000 Pa
Control: App
Compatible Amazon Alexa and Google Assist: Yes
Best feature: Mapping functionality allowing you to zone your home
Price: £480
On its first clean, the Xiaomi Roborock S5 Max will map out your home. You can then zone the map to define cleaning areas and create no-go area. You can also create one-off cleaning zones and specify the number of passes you’d like the robot to make.
There are several different cleaning modes, but it can be confusing to work out which one to choose. The Xiaomi Roborock S5 Max has full scheduling functionality, so you can set your robot to work overnight or when you are out. Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant controls are available, enabling you to start or stop a clean using your voice.
Pros
- Mapping allows you to zone your home giving the option for cleaning specific areas
- Cleans well on hard floors and carpet
Cons
- Confusing array of power options
- Smaller than average dust bin capacity
Can a robot vacuum replace my ordinary vacuum?
Robot vacuum cleaners don’t claim to match traditional vacuums for cleaning power, so you will need to get out your regular vacuum cleaner from time to time. As yet, no robot vacuum cleaner has been invented that works on stairs, so this is a job you’ll have to do manually.
Will a robot vacuum work on thick carpet?
Robot vacuums have less suction power than manual vacuums, so they may not be strong enough to pull the dirt out of thick pile carpets. Thick rugs can also be a problem as the robot vacuum may struggle to get onto a raised surface.
If your budget allows, look for models with higher suction power (around 2000Pa) and a good amount of clearance.
Will robot vacuums work on pet hair?
Yes, robot vacuum cleaners will try to pick up pet hair. Those with a higher suction power are more successful at the job. As with a traditional vacuum, hair stuck on the brushes will result in a drop in performance.
Do robot vacuums require WiFi?
Advanced models that can be controlled and scheduled from your phone or voice assistant will require a WiFi connection. However, simpler models don’t have WiFi capability and simply work with the remote control provided.
