The Best Self Emptying Robot Vacuum
The best robot vacuums that self-empty come with an underlying container that can hold the equivalent of a month's worth of debris and then empty it automatically. It also creates a precise map of your home, allowing you to label rooms and create "no-go" zones.
It is equipped with superior obstacle avoidance capabilities, and it will keep out of power cords and rogue socks.
iRobot Roomba s9+
This is a premium model from iRobot and performs extremely well. It is able to move effortlessly across a variety of surfaces, and is very effective at sucking dirt, dust and other debris away. It's also very well-built and looks pretty good too.
The S9 is the latest model of iRobot's premium S Series line of robot vacuums and, as such, it boasts a handful of extra features that set it apart from other models. For instance the iRobot app makes use of the camera in this unit to create a map of your home, which helps it navigate and clean efficiently.
It can also automatically return to the place where it started if its battery runs low during the cleaning process and you don't need to spend time cleaning the same areas. You can set the timer to start and stop cleaning using the voice command or by using the iRobot App. This smart vacuum is able to clean in the dark!
Another excellent feature is Carpet Boost, which gives the S9 additional suction power when it comes in contact with carpeting to collect even more dirt and dust. This unit also uses a square front design that is closer to corners and walls as opposed to the earlier round designs. This model doesn't work well with high-pile or shag carpeting.
In our tests, we discovered that the iRobot S9+ cleaned thoroughly and efficiently a variety of floor surfaces including hard and medium-pile carpets. It also performed well on laminate flooring, and vinyl flooring. It was capable of navigating furniture and other objects, but it had issues with stairs, and could accidentally crash into bookcases.
We were impressed by the feature that the S9 automatically returns to its base to empty its dust bin once it's full, which significantly reduces hands-on maintenance needs. The dust bag is expected to last for about 30 loads, or about a month or two, and you'll have to replace the filter once every few months (which is actually recommended by iRobot). The iRobot S9+ is not very noisy when it operates which makes it a great choice for families with pets or children.
Eufy RoboVac Hybrid X8
Robot vacuum cleaners are created to do the work for you and they can clean hardwood and carpeted flooring. The most effective ones can be monitored and controlled via an app on your smartphone and some include mopping technology for bathroom and kitchen floors. They are a great option for busy families, and they are becoming more affordable. But if you want top-tech features for your robotic vacuum cleaner, you're going to be spending a little more.
The Eufy RoboVac X8 Hybrid is an all-in-one vacuum and mopping machine making it a great option for those living in a flat with multiple floors. Its dual motors offer impressive cleaning power and the 0.6l dustbin can hold plenty of pet hair. The dust bin is easy to remove and empty, which is great because you'll have to do this regularly.
It's also simple to set it up, although I recommend fully charging the X8 Hybrid prior to running it for the first time. Install the Eufy Home application and follow the instructions to connect it to your WiFi network. The app will then help you draw an outline of your home. It can identify the rooms, split rooms into sub-rooms in order to make it easier for open-plan living, and direct the X8 Hybrid towards specific areas that require cleaning at a particular time. Eufy's app is more intuitive and refined than other robots that have similar mapping and scanning functions.
The X8 Hybrid has a great feature: you can control the vacuum cleaner or mop via voice thanks to its integration with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. This is a nice addition that makes the robot more hands-free. It also is working well in our test house.
The X8 Hybrid, like many robotic vacuums has some issues with flooring that is not clean. It is prone to miss pet hair and small items, and it tends to get into things, like its own charger that sits on its base for charging. It's not as quiet as some other models we've tested and the whirring sounds could be distracting.
Roborock V3S Pro
This model isn't as feature-rich as some of the more expensive models we tested but it does come with the basics. It has a large enough dust bin that can hold plenty of dirt before it's empty and its vacuum and mop system works great on both carpets with low pile and hard floors. It's also extremely quiet. We were able to watch the TV while it was cleaning without feeling like we were overwhelmed by the sound.
Our test participants were extremely pleased by how simple the machine was to operate and read more set up. They also appreciated its ability to remove all the messes from their floors. It was effective in getting rid of pet hair, messes and carpeting however it was a bit more difficult at eliminating stubborn stains. The app was simple to use and user-friendly. They could set up the vacuum to clean frequently to cut down on manual work. It doesn't have any mapping or object avoidance technology, so it isn't able to be able to be directed to specific rooms or follow virtual boundaries (though magnetic boundaries work).
Another model from iRobot's low-cost line that is the V3S Pro has some impressive features for its price. It was the best of all robot vacuums we tested when it comes to finding and avoiding obstacles and it's the best budget option for those who want a cleaner self-emptying robotic vacuum that can handle pet hair and messes both on carpeting and hardwood floors. It's also extremely quiet and has a large dust bin that can hold a lot of debris before it's time to empty it, so you don't have to worry about constantly emptying it.
While the V3S Pro didn't earn a spot in any of our top picks roundups of reliable sources that conduct tests with hands-on, it got high marks from reviewers from Modern Castle, Smart Robot Reviews, and The Ambient. They appreciated the ease with which it was setup and use, however they noted that its battery life is limited and it wasn't able to avoid some of the toughest mess we've put it through.
Roborock Q Revo
The Q Revo is a solid low-cost robot vacuum and mop that doesn't scrimp on features or prices. It comes with many of the features that you'll find on the top models, like intelligent navigation and mapping, without spending a fortune. You can even use voice commands through Alexa, Google Assistant, or Apple Siri shortcuts to create custom automations and begin cleaning remotely while you're away.
Roborock has taken its time to design this clever cleaner. The result is that the product is incredibly solid and feels like it was constructed from premium materials. The base is sturdy and robust with an integrated charging port for the battery. On the top, you'll find a dock for the clean water tank as well as dirty water bins. You'll also find a wall under the dock that holds the vacuum bag that is sealed.
After pairing your device with the application, you'll be able to see a 3D and 2D map of your home that will show you the location of your robot at any given time and what area it is cleaning. You can also build virtual barriers to keep your robot out of certain areas or clean only certain types of flooring. It is also able to adjust its power settings according to the type of floor being cleaned and choose the most efficient cleaning method.
Contrary to other robot vacuums that are available, the Q Revo is able to lift both mop heads while vacuuming to ensure that your carpet doesn't get stained fibres. In fact, it's one of the only vacuums on the market that can do this.
When it comes to mopping the Q Revo's 5500Pa suction powers can be enough to take out dust particles, strands of pet hair and other debris. The all-rubber brush can be great at disentangling human and animal hair and also adapting to uneven surfaces.
The only downside to this model is that it takes some time to empty and fill both the clean and dirty tanks. Luckily, you can reduce the frequency of this by utilizing the auto-empty feature that will automatically empty the bin after a few days. There is no automatic reminder to verify the level of water on the dock.