I’ve been reviewing robot vacuums since Ecovacs Robotics introduced its first Deebot to Australia about ten years ago. So I’d like to think I’ve learned a few things about what to look for when buying one – knowledge I’ve used to select the best robot vacuums in Australia at the moment.
Manufacturers don’t make it easy, do they? They make every spec sheet look shiny, but you get what you pay for, especially when it comes to robot vacuums. It’s understandable that you want an affordable model, and many make sacrifices to keep costs down – you just need to be able to understand what those sacrifices mean for your personal use case.
Along the same lines, you don’t have to spend thousands of dollars on a Robovac, although you will get high-end models that come with premium prices and plenty of smart features. Some of these, like agent voice assistants and Matter connectivity, aren’t really necessary, but you may want pet-specific features that cheaper models won’t have. But not all expensive models are reliable cleaners.
So, what is a good robot vacuum to buy then? I took a look at the dozens of Robovac discounts in Amazon’s mid-year sale and picked out four at different prices, even though they all do pretty much the same thing: vacuum, mop, and clean themselves. Without a discount, they’re all expensive, but the deals make each a good value proposition for different reasons.
Follow my live coverage of Amazon’s mid-year sales for more discounts on vacuum cleaners.
My best Robovac offers
What to look for in a robot vacuum cleaner
I chose the robot vacuums above based on my own or a colleague’s experience trying the exact model or a very similar related model. When we test Robovacs here at TechRadar, we look at specific things like cleaning prowess, battery life, dock performance and much more.
Let me break it down into simpler terms for you here, so you can choose for yourself the best automated cleaning machine from my four picks or any other models you might have considered.
1. Suction power
It’s in the name: the main function of a Robovac is to vacuum, and for that, it needs good suction power. Gone are the days when 6000 Pa was considered best in class. Now, it’s over 20,000 Pa. Now, while the higher suction power is a good thing, a robovac’s cleaning prowess also depends on the airflow inside the robot to ensure that it’s able to suck up even fine particles and push them into the built-in bin. If you have carpet, definitely look for high suction specs, but hard floors will be cleaned easily with less.
2. Clean
Virtually every Robovac available today can also clean, so you’re paying for that feature anyway, but their ability to do so varies. Older models barely wet the floor, but newer models allow you to set a water flow rate based on your floor type. Some models that use circular mop pads can apply a small scrubbing motion and a little downward pressure to remove some stains, but I’ve found that roller mops work best. However, roller Robovacs are the high-end type, although models like the Roborock Saros 10 listed above can clean very well with their pads. Just make sure you choose one that can extend both pads outward for edge cleaning.
3. Robot height and threshold clearance
Most robots have a small puck on top that houses their navigation technology and, sometimes, a camera. This may prevent the droid from rolling under certain low furniture, meaning areas may remain uncleaned. If you have low furniture, choose a model without a washer or with a retractable washer, but these are high-end options. Likewise, you will need a robot that can cross a threshold of at least 3 cm or you will have to move it manually if it gets stuck somewhere. Once again, high-end models can now exceed 4 cm well.
4. Dock performance
You definitely want to make sure the robot mops are thoroughly cleaned after each mopping session and then dried as well. This prevents the growth of germs and the build-up of odors. Now, every all-in-one model has a dock that uses hot water and hot air to do this, but the most effective cleaners use hot water and hot air for the same task. However, I have yet to come across a dock that isn’t too loud to suck dirt into the dust bag – I would love that.
5. Navigation and obstacle avoidance
This is of course very important. If the technology can’t guarantee that the robot can get around socks, shoes, toys, or any other object on the floor, what’s the point? So make sure you find a model with good software that allows it to navigate a path that is both effective and efficient. You also want one that doesn’t go around in circles, cleaning the same spot multiple times.
6. Battery life
This really shouldn’t be a problem with most robovacs available today, as most offer a decent run time, but you should definitely choose one that can clean for at least 20 to 30 minutes on higher settings. Unfortunately, manufacturers only list the maximum runtime based on the lowest settings, so take it with a grain of salt, as real-world usage will never take you past 100 minutes, as some spec sheets claim.
7. Other Features to Consider
You want to make sure the mops can extend for edge cleaning, while a side brush will usually take care of the vacuuming part. Note, however, that most robot vacuums, regardless of their price, can miss corners. If you have pets, there are higher-end models that now offer pet poop avoidance features and higher suction power to vacuum up hair and dander. Even for the family, you definitely want a robot that uses a tangle-free center bar brush. Smart features, like voice control or Matter connectivity, are nice but useless for the average user. And while some robot vacuums can act as a security robot, allowing you to keep an eye on your home via its onboard camera, this feature poses security risks – another nice-to-have but not necessary feature.
8. Never pay full price
If there is a household appliance, you should never pay the recommended retail price for its robot vacuum cleaners. They frequently have discounts, which means you can buy a really good one at a better price.