How to Find the Best Budget Robot Vacuum
A bargain robot vacuum can provide a fantastic value. Beware of the maintenance costs that may be higher than expected: tangles in brushes, blocked air inlets and empty dust bins can quickly turn your automated cleaning dream into a chore.
The iRobot j7 Combo is the best budget robot for a variety of users. It offers the same hands-off performance for less than half the cost.
Suction Power
Certain models that are priced at this level have sufficient suction for basic vacuuming, but others may need a little help by a handheld nozzle to reach into the smallest cracks and crevices. A budget-friendly vacuum is likely to do the job well if you live in an apartment with primarily hard floors. If you have a variety of floors, have rugs or pets who shed, you'll have the best results using an advanced robot vacuum.
Some models with a budget price include a mopping feature and a water tank, which increases their flexibility. The more recent Dyson R7050C for instance, has very good scores in CR's tests of navigation and a generous bin of 770ml, but it's louder than most of the other robots we've tested and doesn't offer mopping features. The more compact Eufy Roborock Q5 Pro, in contrast, is quite quiet and has an auto-empty dock. It has a water reservoir and a suction power of 5,500-pascals and a large bin that you can fill with cleaning products to boost its effectiveness. The Q5 Pro can be controlled through the app's smart function, that lets you mop or vacuum a space, sequence of rooms, or an entire area. You can also establish no-go zones and customise suction settings for each room.
The Shark ION is a good option for those seeking something affordable, simple and reliable. It's not as sophisticated as some of the other models we test and comes with a basic app and basic mapping capabilities, but it has good navigation and cleaning capabilities. It's also one of the few robots we've tested that can differentiate between hard flooring and carpets, and it has a 300ml trash bin that has to be empty every 30 days.
If you want a more advanced model that can mop, vacuum and draw an outline of your home for smarter obstacle avoidance, consider some of the more premium options within this price range. The iRobot Roomba 650 and 750 are extremely powerful suction power and combs that are clever for pet hair and other dirt, and an in-app scheduling and voice control via your smart home assistant. Samsung Cleanbot SV8000 offers a great cleaning performance for a reasonable price.
Navigation Efficiency
A low-cost robot vacuum can be as effective as a higher-priced model as long as it is able to navigate your home and avoid obstacles. To assess the effectiveness of navigation, our lab technicians installed a tracking device to observe a robot's move through a multiroom test house and evaluate its ability to find the rooms it needs to clean in a certain amount of time, while avoiding obstacles like rug power cords, power cords and furniture. We also examine how fast a robot can travel over different types of terrain for homes including stairways as well as transitions between different types of floors.
The best budget robot vacuums feature efficient navigation systems that aid in helping them clean a room without having to waste time, crashing into obstacles or getting stuck. Many models have mapping capabilities, which are essential for full-house cleaning. Even budget models without mapping can cover a room efficiently. It is crucial to balance the cost of your device with the features that you need.
We also consider the ease with which robots can get over common thresholds in the home, such as the height of a door sill or the width of the sofa. A good budget-friendly robot must be able to pass over these obstacles, and some offer settings that alter suction power to suit different flooring types. We also look at whether a budget-friendly robot is compatible with your home's smart-home configuration and can be controlled remotely using an app or voice control.
One excellent budget robot is the iLife V3s Pro, which includes basic mapping capabilities as well as other features that make it a very affordable package. cleaning robots 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 exhausted, then continues where it started.
The iLife V3s Pro does not come with the advanced object-avoidance technology you find on a variety of premium robots. However, it does have a live camera which transmits an unreliable feed to your phone so you can observe it working. The cameras can spot stairs and other obstructions and alert the robot when it encounters them. The iLife, however, uses random navigation instead of a method that is designed to avoid objects that are stuck against furniture legs. It may not be able to maneuver around a tight spot or a leg of a chair as a robotic system with the ability to map.
Cleaning Performance
When you're shopping for a robot vacuum, it is important to balance price with performance. Budget models may not include advanced features such as mapping, but you can find many that perform very well in cleaning your home. You should also be aware of the size of the dustbin and how much dirt it can hold prior to needing to empty. You'll need to have enough space to hold all the trash that a robot accumulates, including pet dander, dirt and hair.
You'll also need a robot vacuum that removes the stains that carpets have. We test every model in the ZDNET chart to see if it can remove dirt and hair from carpet. The most effective models have a brush that digs through the fibers to eliminate debris.
The budget models are great at getting rid of small messes on flooring that is not covered with coverings however, they struggle to get rid of bigger debris and pet hairs from higher-pile carpets. They tend to have less powerful suction than more expensive models however they can do a well at cleaning up debris from tight spaces like corners and under furniture.
The iLife V3s Pro is the most affordable vacuuming model with top marks in our tests due to its ability to remove hair and dirt from carpets. It's also one of the quieter models we tested and is simple to use. It has a small suction opening that scoops debris rather than pushing it through the brush bar, and it can adjust the power to match the surface. It also has a side brush with three bristles that push hair and debris in the direction of the robot, however it's not doing as good as it does in picking up fine dust.
Find a model that has mop and vacuum functions, such as the Combo j9 Plus. This robot can simultaneously vac and mop, and make specific vac/mop settings to each room. It's more expensive than the other budget robot vacuums on our chart however it comes with the advantages of a forward-facing camera which enables more precise mapping and better obstacle avoidance for things like power cords and cat piss.
Maintenance
The convenience that robot vacuums offer is fantastic, but the technology comes at a price. They require regular maintenance including emptying their bins to replacing filters and cleaning the brush bar. They may also get caught in cords and fall off the stairs, so they need to be monitored carefully.
The most affordable robot vacuums ease the burden because they require minimal user management. Top picks are equipped with navigation systems that allow 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 tell them where they've cleaned.
Even the most basic robotic vacuums will give a decent clean If you try them Don't be deterred by the price of higher-end models. A majority of our top budget choices are made by top OEMs like iRobot, Roborock and Dreame, so you'll be assured that they've been developed with care and are built to last.
Think about a robotic mopping machine If you're willing to spend more. These machines can clean floors using a damp cloth and eliminate the most stubborn stains. They can also be used in conjunction with mop pads 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 clean and uncluttered appearance of a home hub but the features and performance of a top-rated robot that includes LiDAR navigation. During our tests, the RV30 was capable of navigating without bumping into furniture and building detailed maps of its floors that can be used to reference when it runs. This is the only robot in the budget that we have tested with this feature. iRobot Roomba also has mapping capabilities, however the app setup guides you through the entire procedure.
No matter if you opt for the top-rated robot vacuum or a cheaper option, make sure you maintain your robot regularly. It's a good idea empty its dustbin after every cleaning job and to clean the filter if one is present (check the owner's manual or the manufacturer's site for details). It is also recommended to replace its battery as required and monitor its Wi-Fi connectivity and app updates.