How to Find the Best Budget Robot Vacuum
A bargain-priced robot vacuum is a steal. Beware of the maintenance costs that might be higher than you anticipated: tangles in brushes, blocked air inlets and empty dust bins can quickly transform your dream of automated cleaning into a chore.
For many people the most affordable robot is the iRobot Combo. It delivers almost the same hands-off performance for a fraction of the price.
Suction Power
Certain models that are priced at this level have sufficient suction to perform basic vacuuming, while others may need a little help from a handheld nozzle to reach into the smallest crevices and cracks. A budget-friendly robot vacuum will likely do the job if you live in an apartment with primarily hard floors. However, if your floors are different surfaces and you have some carpets, or have pets that shed, a higher-end model will provide the best results for your cost.
Some budget models come with mopping and water tank capability, further increasing their versatility. The newer Dyson R7050C is a good example. It has excellent scores in CR's tests of navigation and a huge 770ml bin, but it's louder than a lot of the other robots we've tried and doesn't offer mopping features. Eufy Roborock Q5 Pro is a smaller robot that is quieter and has an automated dock. It also has water tank, powerful suction capacity of 5,500pascal and a large container that you can fill with cleaning solution to make it an efficient mopping machine. The Q5 Pro can be controlled through the app's smart function, that lets you vacuum or mop a room, sequence of rooms, or an entire space. You can also establish no-go zones and customize suction settings for each room.
The budget Shark ION is a great option for those who want something basic, affordable and reliable. It's not as well-equipped as some of the other models we've tested and comes with a basic app and basic mapping capabilities, but it does have good navigation and cleaning capabilities. It's also among a few robots that can discern between hard flooring and carpets. The 300ml dustbin only emptying once every 30 days.
Take a look at some of the top models that are priced at this level If you're looking for something more sophisticated, able to vacuum mop, sweep, and create maps for more effective obstacle-avoiding. The iRobot Roomba 650/750 has a powerful suction and combs to get rid of pet hair and fine dirt and voice control via your smart home assistant. The Samsung Cleanbot SV8000 is another option that provides outstanding cleaning performance for the money.
Navigation Efficiency
A budget robot vacuum can be just as effective as a higher-priced model as long as it is able to navigate your home and avoid obstacles. To measure the effectiveness of navigation our lab technicians set up a tracking device to monitor a robot's movements through a multi-room test house and assess its ability to identify the rooms it needs to clean in a certain amount of time, avoiding pitfalls like rug cords, power cables, and furniture. We also analyze how fast the robot can move across a variety of household terrain, including stairways and transitions between different floor types.
The most affordable robot vacuums have effective navigation systems that can help them to tidy up a space without wasting time, running through obstacles, or getting stuck. Most feature mapping capabilities, which are crucial for full-house cleaning. However, even budget models with no mapping have ways to effectively cover a space, so it's important to consider the cost and features you need for your home.
We also examine the ease with which robots can pass over common household thresholds, such as the threshold of a door's sill or the width of the sofa. A good budget robot should be able to transition over these obstacles, and a few provide settings to alter suction power according to floor types. We also consider whether the robot is compatible with smart home technology and is able to be controlled remotely via an app or voice commands.
One excellent budget robot is the iLife V3s Pro, which includes basic mapping capabilities as well as other features that make it an affordable price. It is controlled via the iRobot App and comes with an automatic return feature that returns the robot back to its base once the battery runs low and continues where it started.
The iLife V3s Pro doesn't have the advanced object avoidance features found on many of the top robots, but it does have live cameras that stream an unreliable video feed to your phone so you can keep an eye on the robot as it performs. The cameras can spot obstacles and stairs and alert the robot when it encounters them. However the iLife utilizes random navigation rather than an approach designed to avoid objects stuck against furniture legs, which means it may not be able to maneuver around a leg of a chair or other tight spot as well as a robot that has mapping capabilities.
Cleaning robot vacuum cleaner cheap
When you're shopping for a robot vacuum, it's crucial to balance cost with performance. There are models that aren't as expensive and don't include advanced features such as mapping but there are models that are very effective in cleaning your home. You should also pay attention to the size of the dustbin and the amount of dirt it can hold prior to needing to empty. You'll need enough space to accommodate all the waste that a robot collects, including hair dirt, pet dander.
You'll also want a robot vacuum that removes staining from carpets. We test all models on the ZDNET robot vacuum chart for their ability to lift dirt and hair from carpet. The best models have a specific brush that is designed to penetrate the fibers and pull out dirt.
The majority of budget models are successful at picking up messes on bare floors and carpets with low pile however, they struggle to remove larger chunks of pet hair and debris from higher-pile carpets. These models typically have less suction, but they can still be effective at cleaning up particles from tight spaces like corners and underneath furniture.
The iLife V3s Pro vacuum cleaner is the top vacuum in its price. It has a high score in our tests, and it can remove dirt and hair from carpets. It's also one of our quieter models, and is simple to use. It has an opening for suction which collects debris instead of pushing it through the brush bar, and it is able to adjust the power to be in line with the surface. It also comes with a side-brush that has three bristles that push hair and debris in the direction of the robot, however it doesn't do as good a job of picking up fine dust.
If you're looking for mop and vacuum you should look for a product with both functions, such as the Combo j9 Plus. This robot can simultaneously mop and vacuum and you can alter the settings for each room. It's pricier than other robot vacuums on our chart, but it does have an in-front camera that allows for a more precise mapping and better obstacle avoidance of things like power cords and cat urine.
Maintenance
The ease of use robot vacuums provide is fantastic, but the technology comes at a price. Regular maintenance is required to empty the dustbin to changing filters and cleaning their brush bar. They can also get caught in cords and fall off the stairs, so they must be watched carefully.
The most affordable robot vacuums ease the burden as they require little management by the user. The top picks have navigation systems that stay clear of objects and are free of hazards, such as the tangled electrical cords or dropped food. They use sensors to map rooms, and create maps that tell them where they have already cleaned.
Don't let the cost of the higher-end models deter you. They can still do a great job if given the chance. Many of our top budget choices come from leading OEMs, such as iRobot, Roborock and Dreame and you can be sure that they've been designed with care and are built to last.
If you're willing more, consider a mopping robot. These machines can clean floors using an aqueous cloth and get rid of stubborn stains. They can also be used combination with mop pads to tackle tough jobs, like dried coffee.
There are several mopping robots in our roundup but the most affordable model is the TP-Link Tapo RV30 Plus. 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 it proved that the RV30 was able of navigating without bumping into furniture and building detailed maps of its flooring, which it can refer to in future runs. It's the only budget robot we've tested that include this feature, although the iRobot Roomba also has similar mapping capabilities with an in-app setup that walks you through the process step by step.
No matter if you opt for the top-rated robot vacuum or a cheaper alternative, you should always maintain your robovac regularly. It is important to empty the dustbin and clean the filter after each cleaning session (refer to your owner's guide or the website of the manufacturer for more details). Replace the battery when needed and check the Wi-Fi connection.