How to Find the Best Budget Robot Vacuum
A bargain robot vacuum is a great value. Beware of maintenance costs that may be higher than you anticipated: tangles in brushes, clogged air inlets and emptied dust bins will quickly turn your automated cleaning dream into a chore.
For many people the most affordable robot is the iRobot j7 Combo. It provides the exact hands-off experience for only a fraction of the cost.
Suction Power
Certain models in this range are able to handle basic vacuuming. Others might require a handheld nozzle for deep cleaning. A budget-friendly vacuum is likely to do the job well if you live in a house with mostly hard floors. If you have a mix of floors, have rugs or pets that shed, you will be able to get the best results with an advanced robot vacuum.
Some budget models come with mopping and water tank capability, further increasing their flexibility. The latest Dyson R7050C model for instance, has very good navigation scores in CR's tests and a huge bin of 770ml, but it's louder than a lot of the other robots we've tested and doesn't offer mopping features. The smaller Eufy Roborock Q5 Pro, in contrast, is quite quiet and features an auto-empty dock. It has a water reservoir, a powerful suction power of 5,500-pascals as well as a large bin you can fill with cleaning solutions to make it more effective. You can manage the Q5 Pro via the smart app to mop or vacuum in rooms, a sequence of rooms or an entire area, and you can create no-go zones and customize mopping and suction settings for different rooms.
The Shark ION is a good choice for those who are looking for something affordable and simple to use. It's not as advanced as the other models we've tested that have a simple app and basic mapping capabilities, but it offers solid navigation and cleaning abilities. It's also among the few robots we've tested which can distinguish between hard flooring and carpets, and it has a 300ml dustbin that has to be emptied every 30 days.
Take a look at some of the top models that are priced at this level if you want something more sophisticated, able to vacuum mop, sweep, and create maps for smarter obstacle-avoidance. The iRobot Roomba 650 and 750 have very strong suction power and combs that are clever for pet hair and other fine dirt, as well as in-app scheduling and voice control with your smart home assistant. The Samsung Cleanbot SV8000 is another option that offers excellent cleaning capabilities for the price.
Navigation Efficiency
A budget robot vacuum can be just as effective a higher-priced model in the event that it is able to navigate your home and avoid obstacles. Our lab technicians employed an instrument for tracking in a multi-room test home to evaluate the robot's ability to navigate and find the rooms that it needed to clean within a specific time frame, while staying clear of obstacles such as furniture, power cords and rugs. We also examine how fast the robot can move across various terrains used in the home including stairways as well as transitions between different floor types.
The most affordable robot vacuums come with navigation systems that allow them to clean a room efficiently without wasting time or running into obstacles. Most robot vacuums have mapping capabilities that are necessary for a full-house clean. However, even models that do not have mapping can be used to efficiently cover a room and it's crucial to balance cost with the features you want for your home.
We also look at the ease with which robots can cross over thresholds in the home, for example the thresholds of a door sill or a sofa. A budget-friendly robot should be able to negotiate these obstacles and some come with settings that alter the suction power based on the type of floor. In the end, we must take a look at whether a budget robot is compatible with your home's smart-home setup and can be controlled remotely via an app or voice command.
One example of an excellent budget robot is the iLife V3s Pro, which comes with basic mapping capabilities and other smart features in a very affordable package. It can be controlled using the iRobot App and comes with an automatic return feature that returns the robot to its base once the battery runs low and then picks up where it started.
The iLife V3s Pro doesn't have the advanced object avoidance that you find on numerous premium robots, however it has live cameras that send an unreliable video feed to your smartphone so that you can keep an eye on it while it is working. The cameras can detect obstacles like stairs and other steps and alert the robot when it encounters them. However the iLife utilizes random navigation rather than a method designed to keep objects from getting stuck to furniture legs, so it might not be able to get around a leg on a chair or any other tight spot as a robot with mapping capabilities.
Cleaning Performance
When choosing a robotic vacuum, it is important to consider the cost and performance. The cheapest models might not have advanced features such as mapping, but they can still be effective of cleaning your home. It is important to pay attention to the dimensions of the dustbins on robots and how much dirt it can hold prior to having to empty it. You'll need enough room to accommodate all the trash that robots accumulate such as hair dirt, pet dander.
You'll also require a robotic vacuum that is able to remove staining from carpets. We test all models on the ZDNET robot vacuum chart to determine their ability to remove dirt and hair from carpet, and the best models have a specific brush designed to dig into the fibers and pull out debris.
Budget models are effective in getting rid of small messes on bare floors or low-pile floor coverings but they aren't able to get rid of larger pet hairs and debris from higher-pile carpets. These models typically have less suction power however, they can be effective at cleaning up debris from tight areas like corners and under furniture.
The iLife V3s Pro is the most affordable model for vacuuming, scoring high marks in our testing with its ability to lift hair and dirt from carpets. It's also one of the quieter models we tested and is simple to use. It has tiny suction openings which collects debris instead of pushing it through the brush bar, and it has the ability to adjust power to match the surface. It has a sidebrush that comes with three bristles to push hair and debris into the path of the robot. However, it is not as effective in picking fine dust.
If you require a vacuum and a mop, look for a model with both functions like the Combo j9 Plus. It can simultaneously vacuum and mop, and it is possible to make specific vac/mop settings to each room. It's more expensive than the other low-cost robots in our list however it comes with the advantages of a forward-facing camera which enables more precise mapping and better obstacles to avoid for things like power cords and cat poop.
Maintenance
The ease of use robot vacuums provide is great, but the technology comes with a price. Regular maintenance is required, from emptying the dustbin to changing filters and cleaning the brush bar. They can also get caught up in cords or fall off the staircase.
The best budget robot vacuums reduce these issues by requiring minimal management from the user. The top models are equipped with navigation systems that enable them to avoid obstacles and avoid hazards such as electrical cords and food items that have been dropped. Sensors are used to map rooms, and create maps that inform them where they have already cleaned.
Even the tiniest robotic vacuums can give a decent clean if you give them a shot and don't be put off by the price of better models. Our top budget picks are from top OEMs such as iRobot Roborock Dreame. You can be sure that they have been designed with care and built to last.
If you're willing more, think about investing in mopping with a robot. These machines can scrub floors with an aqueous cloth and get rid of the most stubborn stains. They can also be used conjunction with a mop pad to tackle difficult jobs, like dried coffee.
The TP Link Tapo RV30 plus is the best value mopping robot in our roundup. It has a neat minimalist design, and it also has all the features and capabilities of a top-rated robot vacuum. During our tests it was able to navigate without a hitch. RV30 was capable of navigating without hitting furniture, and also create detailed floor plans that it could use on future runs. This is the only robot in the budget that we tested with this feature. iRobot Roomba also has mapping capabilities, but the app setup guides you through the entire process.
Be sure to maintain your robot regardless of whether you opt for an expensive robovac or one that is more affordable. It is a good idea to empty its dustbin after every cleaning task, and also to clean the filter if one is present (check your owner's manual or the manufacturer's website for more details). You should also replace its battery when needed and keep track of its Wi-Fi connectivity and app updates.