How to Find the Best Budget Robot Vacuum
A bargain robotic vacuum is a great value. Beware of maintenance costs that might be higher than anticipated: tangles inside brushes, clogged air inlets and emptying dust bins will quickly transform your dream of automated cleaning into a chore.
For many, the best budget robot is the iRobot J7 Combo. It delivers almost the same hands-off experience for a fraction of the price.
Suction Power
Certain models in this range have enough suction to do basic vacuuming. Others may need a handheld nozzle for deep cleaning. A budget robot vacuum will likely do the job if you live in a home that has primarily hard floors. If you have a variety of floors, carpets or pets who shed, you'll get the best results with a more capable robot vacuum.
A few budget models include mopping and a water tank capabilities, which adds to their flexibility. The more recent Dyson R7050C, for example, has very good navigation scores in CR's tests and a generous bin capacity of 770ml, however it's louder than most of the other robots we've tested and doesn't offer mopping features. The smaller Eufy Roborock Q5 Pro, by contrast, is relatively quiet and has an auto-empty dock. It also comes with an water tank, powerful suction power of 5,500pascals and a large bin that can be filled with cleaning solution to make it an efficient mopping machine. The Q5 Pro can be controlled via the smart app, which allows you to mop or vacuum a room or a sequence of rooms or a whole area. You can also create no-go zones and customise suction settings for each room.
The budget Shark ION is a great choice for those seeking something simple, affordable and reliable. It's not as sophisticated as other models, having a basic app and no-frills mapping capabilities, but it does have outstanding cleaning and navigation capabilities as well as cleaning. It's also one of only a few robots that can differentiate between hard flooring and carpets. The 300ml dustbin only empty once every 30 days.
If you're looking for an upgraded model that can vacuum, mop and even create a map of your home for smarter obstacle avoidance look at some of the more premium options in this price range. The iRobot Roomba 650/750 has a powerful suction and combs to remove pet hair as well as dust, and it can be controlled via your smart home assistant. Samsung Cleanbot SV8000 offers a excellent cleaning performance for a reasonable price.
Navigation Efficiency
A robot vacuum cleaner that is budget-friendly can be just as effective as expensive models, as long as it is able to navigate through your home and avoid obstacles. To assess the effectiveness of navigation our lab technicians set up a tracker to observe a robot's move through a multiroom test home and test its ability to identify the rooms it must clean in a certain amount of time frame, while avoiding hazards such as power cords, rugs and furniture. We also look at how quickly robots can move over various terrains used in the home including stairways as well as transitions between different floor types.
The most affordable robot vacuums are equipped with navigation systems that let them efficiently clean a space without wasting time or running into obstacles. Most robot vacuums have the ability to map which is essential for a full-house clean. Even low-cost models with no mapping can cover a room efficiently. It is important to weigh the cost of your machine with the features that you need.
We also look at how easily a robot can get over common thresholds in the home, such as the height of a door sill or the height of a sofa. A good budget-friendly robot must be able to move over these obstacles, and some offer settings that adjust suction power for different kinds of floors. We also take a look at whether a budget robot is compatible with your home's smart-home setup and is able to be controlled remotely using an app or via voice control.
The iLife V3s Pro is a fantastic example of a robot that is budget-friendly that provides basic mapping capabilities, as well as other smart features. It's also quite affordable. It is controlled via the iRobot App and comes with an automatic return feature that returns the robot to its home base once the battery runs low and then picks up where it began.
The iLife V3s Pro does not include the advanced object-avoidance technology that is found on a variety of top robots. However, it does have live cameras that transmit a grainy feed to your smartphone so that you can observe it working. The cameras can also spot obstacles like stairs and other steps and elicit an alert if the robot comes across them. However the iLife utilizes random navigation instead of a method designed to avoid objects stuck against furniture legs, which means it might not be able to get around a leg on a chair or other tight spot as well as a robot that has mapping capabilities.
Cleaning Performance
When you're shopping for a robot vacuum it's crucial to balance cost with performance. Budget models may not feature advanced features such as mapping, but you can find some that excel at cleaning your home. Be aware of the size and capacity of the dustbin. It should be able to accommodate all the waste that robots accumulate including hair, dirt, and pet dander.
You'll also want a robot vacuum that removes stains from carpets. We test all models in the ZDNET robot self vacuum chart for their ability to remove dirt and hair from carpet, and the best ones have a special brush designed to dig into the carpet's fibers and pull out dirt.
The majority of budget models are effective at picking up messes on plain floors and in low-pile carpet however, they struggle to remove larger chunks of pet hair and debris from carpets with higher pile. These models typically have less suction, but they can still be effective at cleaning up debris from tight areas like corners and under furniture.
The iLife V3s Pro vacuum cleaner is the top vacuum in its price range. It has a good score in our tests, and it is able to remove hairs and dirt from carpets. It is also one of our quieter models, and is simple to use. It has a suction opening which collects debris instead of pushing it through the brush bar. It can also adjust the power to match the surface. It also comes with a side-brush that has three bristles that push debris and hair into the path of the robot, but it's not doing as good a job of picking up fine dust.
Look for a model with mop and vacuum functions, such as the Combo j9 Plus. It is able to simultaneously vacuum and mop, and it is possible to define specific vac/mop setting for each room. It's more expensive compared to other budget robot vacuums on our chart, but it has the advantages of a forward-facing camera, which allows for more precise mapping and better obstacles to avoid for things like power cords and cat Poop.
Maintenance
The convenience robot vacuums offer is fantastic, but the technology comes with cost. They require regular maintenance, from emptying their dustbin to replacing filters and cleaning the brush bar. They may also get caught up in cords or fall off the stairs.
The best budget robot vacuums ease these problems by requiring only minimal supervision from the user. The top models are equipped with navigation systems that allow them to avoid obstacles and avoid hazards like electrical cords and dropped foods. Sensors are used to map rooms and create maps that tell them where they have already cleaned.
Even the most basic robotic vacuums will deliver a good clean when you try them, so don't be discouraged by the cost of higher-end models. Our top budget choices are from the top OEMs like iRobot Roborock Dreame. You can be sure that they've been designed with attention to detail and are built to last.
If you're willing more, consider a mopping robot. They can use a moist cloth across floors to scrub them clean and help eliminate stubborn stains, and they can be utilized with a mop pad that is specifically designed to tackle tough jobs such as dried coffee.
There are many mopping robots in our roundup, but the best budget model is the TP Link Tapo RV30 Plus. It has a sleek, uncluttered appearance, but it also has all the features and performance of a top rated robotvac. During our tests the RV30 was able to navigate without hitting furniture, and building detailed maps of its floors that can be used to reference when it runs. This is the only budget robot that we tested with this feature. iRobot Roomba also has mapping capabilities, however the app setup guides you through the entire process.
Remember to maintain your robot regardless of whether you opt for the most expensive or one that is more affordable. It's a good idea empty its trash bin after every cleaning job and to clean the filter, if it has one (check the manual of your owner or the manufacturer's website for more details). You should also replace the battery when needed and keep track of its Wi-Fi connectivity and app updates.