Robot vacuum cleaners are perfect if you don't like to make your hands messy. They are more efficient than manual cleaning and are great for single-storey homes and flats.
Smart features are a bonus. These include mapping technology that can remember your home layout, staying clear of furniture and rugs, and getting into those nipples beneath furniture that bigger robots struggle with.
iRobot Roomba j7+
The iRobot Roomba J7+ is an upgrade to the previous model of the company and adds some new technology to make it more effective in preventing pet waste. It uses smart mapping to create maps of floors and rooms and is able to avoid obstacles such as furniture, charging cords, and shoes. It can also identify dirt and prioritize cleaning areas that are heavily filthy. This is a major improvement over older models which frequently ignored the dirtiest spots or only cleaned them for a short period of time.
The robot vacuum comes with a self-emptying bin that can deposit dustbin debris into its own 2.4L dirt bag. iRobot's claims this can hold up to 60 days of trash, which means you only have to empty and refill the bag once every three months. The base station can also hold bags for spares and quick replacements.
The Roomba is easy to set-up and use. It is compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant, and can be controlled using the iRobot Genius App. With the app, you can choose to begin and stop cleaning, determine the amount of time it should be able to spend on each task and then create a timetable.
In our tests during our testing, the iRobot Roomba J7+ cleaned flooring and area rug surfaces in the family room, foyer and kitchen without issue. It listened to our commands and carried out its tasks in a quiet manner, registering only 64 decibels on the decibel meter when it was in operation. It took about 90 minutes to sweep a single room and the battery had to be recharged following the cleaning for a total of an hour and 58 minute. You can also expand your iRobot ecosystem with the Combo j7, which allows you to pair it up with the iRobot mop m6 and let one machine run while the other moves around the room.
Dyson 360 Viz Nav
The Dyson 360 Viz Nav robot vacuum cleaner is a great choice for anyone living in a multi-floored residence. This model can make maps for different floors and save them in the app. It is then easy to move between spaces without having to repeat the setup process. The robot is controlled via voice commands, like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.
Dyson's robot vacuum employs a combination of cameras, sensors and other technologies to detect obstacles. A panoramic camera on the top of the robot along with 26 external sensors will help to create a map of the space as it moves. This helps the robot to avoid furniture and obstacles.
In our tests, the Dyson 360 Vis Nav was capable of reaching right up to the edges and baseboards, and could also be easily navigated around furniture pieces with very tight corners. The suction of the robot was strong and was able to pick up every dust speck hair, strand of hair, and dried-out piece of Playdoh that we threw at it. The vacuum was able to empty the bin quickly and easily and reduced cleaning time by half.
However the Dyson 360 Viz Nav didn't do better than other robots in our obstacle-avoidance tests. It had a tough time with a drying rack that it was unable to move under, but ended up getting stuck and disrupting the cleaning process. It also had a hard time avoiding some taller pieces of furniture, like chairs or tables. The Dyson 360 Vis Nav also has a problem climbing stairs which is a concern for a lot of people who live in multi-story homes.
Roborock
Roborock robot vacuums come with top-of-the-line features to make them stand out from the crowd. They have dual mop heads that spin while pressing down, and then effortlessly lift the stains. They also automatically lift when vacuuming carpets to prevent leaving streaks of dirt and cleaning the vacuum of dirt. They are able to suction up to 5,500 Pa to ensure superior dirt and dust removal. Additionally they are equipped with intelligent water flow control to ensure the proper amount of moisture for each flooring type.
One of the most remarkable things about Roborock is its ability to map out your complete home's layout using laser technology. The LiDAR system in a Roborock robot rotates continuously, emitting laser beams and measuring the time they take to bounce back from surrounding objects. This information is used to create a live map of your home which allows the robot to move precisely and avoid obstacles.
Depending on which model you select You can alter the map to include furniture placements, no-go zones and a specific room's cleaning. You can also choose a routine to vacuum only mop or vacuum+mop, and schedule regular cleanings using an app-based cleaning schedule that lets you set it and forget it.
Roborock offers a variety of options, from the budget-friendly S6MaxV up to the premium S7 MaxV. All models come with advanced mapping and a long-lasting battery and a large dustbin. They also have docks that provide a variety of options, such as charging and refilling hot water tanks. In the UK they also have a two-year guarantee.
Beko RCV 5
The Beko RCV 5 may be an unassuming newcomer to the robotic vacuum and mopping world but its sleek style and reasonable cost have already made it a huge hit. The Beko RCV 5 has a few tricks in its sleeve that distinguish it from the rest, such as object recognition and self-emptying functionality. It's simple to set up and use using an easy-to-use application that lets you customize many options.
The navigation system in this model utilizes sensors and mapping technology to navigate your home and does an excellent job of getting around obstacles. The app lets you modify the cleaning route to allow certain areas to be cleaned more frequently. The app can be confusing at first but once you've learned how to use it, you will be able to schedule cleanings and also manage the robot's power levels.
Despite its impressive array of features and features, the RCV 5 is not without its flaws. It has an extremely small water tank that holds up to 240 ml of water at each time. While this is enough to do the basic wipe clean, it's not ideal for getting rid of stubborn stains. Additionally the wiping plate is rather simplistic and doesn't include a vibration or rotation function.
The battery life of a robot in this price range is not as long as one would think. In actual fact the RCV 5 only lasts for approximately a third of the cleaning cycle before it needs a recharge. It's not a huge issue, but it is something to keep in mind when you are looking for a new robotic vacuum cleaner.
Karcher RCV 5
Karcher, a German manufacturer renowned for its pressure washers, has entered into the robot vacuum market with the RCV 5, a model that vacuums and mop. The RCV 5 offers an impressive range of features including excellent obstacle detection (with dual lasers) and mapping that can be monitored in real-time via the app that is smart.
It also can detect carpeted areas and automatically activate the wet mopping function. It also has a spot cleaning function that intensely cleans a small area of approximately 3 feet and can be programmed to repeat every week. The RCV 5 is a decent 2,500 pascals of suction power and a good sweeping capacity for both hard and soft floors and can get into tight nooks and under furniture, which can impede larger robot cleaners.
Like many modern robots, the RCV 5 has a smartphone-powered app known as Karcher Home Robots. It can be used to initiate cleaning and manage home maps. It's also possible to create virtual walls and zones in which the RCV 5 isn't allowed to drive, as well as a host of other controls.
The RCV 5 has a downside in that its dust container is only a litre and will have to be cleaned regularly. This is in contrast to other models that incorporate disposal technology into their docking station. It's also heavier than many of its competitors, making it less mobile, and thus requiring more space in the charging station. The RCV 5 was highly rated by the testers for its ease of use and app control. It performed well in our tests, however some testers had trouble getting its voice technology to work effectively.