How to Find the Best Budget Robot Vacuum
A bargain robot vacuum can be a great value. However, be aware that it could cost more than you expected in the maintenance department: untangling hair from brushes, clogging inlets and emptying small dust bins can quickly turn your automated cleaning dream an exercise.
The iRobot j7 Combo is the best budget robot for a variety of users. It offers a similar hands-free experience, but at only a fraction of the cost.
Suction Power
Some models that are priced at this level have strong enough suction for basic vacuuming, however others may need a little help by a handheld nozzle to reach the deepest crevices and cracks. If you live in a house with primarily hard flooring, a budget robot vacuum will likely work. However, if your floors are a mix of surfaces and you also have carpets, or have pets who shed, a more capable model will provide the best results for the money.
Some budget models come with a mopping feature and a water tank, which increases their capabilities. The newer Dyson R7050C is a good example. It has very good scores in CR's tests of navigation and a generous 770ml bin, but it's louder than a lot of the other robots we've tested and doesn't offer mopping features. Eufy Roborock Q5 Pro is a smaller robot that is quieter and has an automated dock. It also has a water tank, a powerful suction power of 5,500pascals and a large bin you can fill with cleaning solution to make it a more efficient mopping device. You can manage the Q5 Pro via the smart app to mop or vac in rooms, a sequence of rooms or an area and set no-go zones and customise mopping and suction settings to suit different rooms.
The budget Shark ION is a great pick for those looking for something simple, affordable and reliable. It's not as sophisticated as some of the other models we've tested that have a simple app and basic mapping capabilities, but it does have good navigation and cleaning capabilities. It's also one of only a few robots that can discern between hard flooring and carpets. The 300ml dustbin only empty once every 30 days.
If you're looking for a more advanced model that can mop, vacuum and create a map of your home to avoid obstacles more effectively take a look at the top models in this price range. The iRobot Roomba 650/750 has a powerful suction, a clever comb to remove pet hair and fine dirt, and can be controlled through your smart home assistant. The Samsung Cleanbot SV8000 is another option that has excellent cleaning performance for the money.
Navigation Efficiency
A low-cost robot vacuum can be just as effective a higher-priced model, provided that it can navigate your home and avoid obstacles. Our lab technicians used an instrument for tracking in a multi-room test residence to evaluate the robot's ability to navigate and locate the rooms that it needed to clean within a certain time period, while avoiding obstacles like power cords, furniture, and rug. We also look at how quickly robots can move over different types of terrain for homes, including stairways and transitions between different types of floors.
The best budget robot vacuum s are equipped with navigation systems that let them efficiently clean a space without wasting time or running into obstacles. The majority of robot vacuums have maps that are essential to complete a thorough house clean. However, even budget models with no mapping can be used to effectively cover a space and it's crucial to balance cost with the features you need for your home.
We also look at how easily a robot can traverse thresholds within the home, for example the thresholds of a door sill and a sofa. A budget-friendly robot should be able to navigate these obstacles, and some come with settings that alter the suction power according to the floor type. We also look at 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 has basic mapping capability and other advanced features in a very affordable package. It is controlled via the iRobot App and comes with an automatic return feature that will return the robot to its base when the battery is low and continues where it left off.
The iLife V3s Pro does not include the advanced object-avoidance technology that is found on a lot of top robots. However it does have live cameras that send a grainy feed to your smartphone so you can observe it working. The cameras can also detect obstacles like stairs and other steps and alert you if the robot encounters them. The iLife however, employs random navigation instead of a method specifically designed to avoid objects that are that are stuck against furniture legs. It may not be able to maneuver around a tight spot or chair leg as well as a robot system that has the ability to map.
Cleaning Performance
When shopping for a robotic vacuum, you should balance the cost and performance. Budget models may lack advanced features, such as mapping, but they will still do a great job of cleaning your home. Be aware of the dimensions and capacity of the dust bin. It is essential to have enough space to hold all the debris a robot collects including dirt, pet dander and hair.
You'll want a vacuum capable of removing stains and dirt from carpets, too. We test every model in the ZDNET chart to determine if it can remove dirt and hair from carpet. The most effective models have an exclusive brush that digs into fibers to remove debris.
The majority of budget models are effective at picking up messes on carpets that are not paved or carpets with low piles However, they struggle to get rid of larger chunks of pet hair and debris from higher-pile carpets. These models tend to have less suction however they can be effective at cleaning up debris from tight areas like corners and underneath furniture.
The iLife V3s Pro vacuum cleaner is the top vacuum in its price. It has a high score in our tests and it is able to take hairs and dirt off carpets. It's also one of the quieter models we test and is user-friendly. It has tiny suction openings that collects debris instead of pushing it through the bar, and it can adjust power to be in line with the surface. It also comes with a side brush that has three bristles that push hair and debris in the robot's path, but it doesn't do as good a job of picking up fine dust.
If you need both mop and vacuum, look for a model with both functions, such as the Combo j9 Plus. It can mop and vacuum simultaneously and you can alter the settings for each room. It's more expensive than the other robot vacuums we have in our chart but has an in-front camera that allows for a more precise mapping and better obstacle avoidance for things like power cords or cat poop.
Maintenance
The convenience robot vacuums offer is fantastic, but the technology comes with a price. They require regular maintenance including emptying their bins to replacing filters and cleaning the brush bar. They can also get tangled in cords and drop off the stairs, so they should be monitored carefully.
The best budget robot vacuums can ease these problems as they require little user management. The best models come with navigation systems that allow 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 have already cleaned.
Don't let the price of the higher-end models deter you. They are still able to do a fantastic job if given the chance. Many of our top picks for budget are from top OEMs, like iRobot, Roborock and Dreame and you can be sure that they've been created with care and are built to last.
You might consider a mopping robot in the event that you're willing to spend more. These machines can clean floors using an aqueous cloth and get rid of the most stubborn stains. They can also be used conjunction with a mop pad to tackle tough jobs, such as dried coffee.
The TP Link Tapo RV30 plus is the most affordable mopping robot that we have reviewed in our roundup. It has the sleek, fussless appearance of a home hub, but the features and performance of a top-rated robovac, including LiDAR navigation. During our testing the RV30 was able of navigating without hitting furniture, and building detailed maps of its floors that it could use when it runs. It's the only budget robot we've tested that include this feature, however the iRobot Roomba also has similar capabilities in mapping and has an in-app setup that walks you through the process step by step.
If you decide to go with a top-rated robot vacuum or a cheaper option, always remember to keep your robovac in good condition. You should empty the dustbin and clean the filter after each cleaning session (refer to the owner's manual or the manufacturer's site for more information). Replace the battery if necessary and verify the Wi-Fi connection.