What is the best robot vacuum?
Sometimes you are just too tired, have a very tight schedule or are just too lazy to vacuum the house. Necessity is the mother of invention, they say. You can hardly get a more accurate saying. We have become innovative enough to manufacture robot vacuum cleaners to make the activity more bearable. Today, we are going to delve into all things you need to know about best robot vacuum cleaners you can buy in 2024.
Vacuum cleaners have come a long way since the first release. From large canister bases connected to unwieldy plastic hoses to robot vacuum cleaners in recent times, their development continues.
Best Robot Vacuum 2024 – Comparison Table
Before we dig deeper into the specifications, let me list the best robot vacuum cleaners for you to skim through:
| Best Robot Vacuums 2022 | |
|---|---|
| 1. iRobot Roomba 981 (Our top pick) | |
| 2. iRobot Roomba 960 | |
| 3. iRobot Roomba 880 | |
| 4. iRobot Roomba 860 | |
| 5. iRobot Roomba 650 | |
| 6. iRobot Braava 380t | |
| 7. ILIFE A6 | |
| 8. ILIFE A4s | |
| 9. ILIFE V5s | |
| 10. ILIFE V3s | |
| 11. Eufy RoboVac 11 | |
| 12. Neato Botvac D80 | |
| 13. bObsweep PetHair | |
| 14. Hovo 780 4-in-1 | |
| 15. ECOVACS DEEBOT N78 |
Reviews of the Best Robot Vacuums of 2024
Owning a vacuum cleaner has, for a long time, been priceless. Its usefulness as a cleaning tool is undoubted. However, robot vacuum cleaners initially left a lot to be desired – lovely gifts but lousy cleaners. That trend is fast changing. Thanks to advancing technologies – improved programming, better edge cleaning capacity, and stronger suction – vacuum cleaners have become great household tools.
A good robot vacuum alongside an air purifier is crucial in efforts against allergies.
Using any of the best robot vacuum cleaners available makes cleaning a whole lot easier. You can comfortably sit on the couch and have your robot vacuum cleaner do the cleaning. It will help you dispose of dust, pet fur, snack crumbs, or any other debris, in your home. However, as the market for this product floods, there is sure to be the good, the bad and the ugly.
This is essentially a round-up of some of the best options available on the market. these are the best robot vacuums 2024:
1. iRobot Roomba 981 – best robot vacuum 2024
The major selling point of the Roomba 981 is its ever-increasing smart functionality. This has led to a complete replacement of some button-controlled functionalities with smart app control. Now, using the iRobot Home app (Android and iOS), you can schedule a regular cleaning cycle, apply Carpet Boost, and Edge Clean. This has led to a cut-down of the number of buttons on its interface to three Clean, Spot Mode, and Home buttons.
The Spot Mode button is an excellent addition if you are looking to focus your cleaning on a particular spot rather than the entire room. By enabling this mode, the Roomba 981 focuses on vigorous cleaning within a 3-foot circle. The iHome app is smarter and easier to use, although it still lacks a battery indicator and useful push notifications.
Other updates have seen the addition of a grid-based movement mapping to its system which allows for patterned cleaning. This puts an end to the problems of some areas receiving repeated cleaning, while others remain untouched. Enforcement of the “virtual walls” system protects pet food and any other areas that are already clean.
The new battery allows it last up to 2 hours of constant use before needing a recharge. This makes cleaning faster, while the battery life (before needing replacement) is relatively longer. The Roomba 981 is definitely in the higher echelons of robot vacuum cleaners. That explain its price. Performance-wise, it is definitely worth the investment.
To find out more about the Roomba 981, click here .
2. iRobot Roomba 960
The Roomba 960 runs on the older Roomba motor found in the 800-series Roombas. Nonetheless, this motor can hold its own amongst the very best. It does come close enough (better at times) even in direct competition with the latest. Regarding upgrades, the Roomba 960 features almost as many sensors as the 981 in addition to a camera.
There are signature iRobot acoustic sensors that enable more cleaning in dirtier areas. However, a new mapping system has been added to reduce random cleaning – which occasionally happens – and increase patterned cleaning. This makes it a tad more efficient in general cleaning than the Roomba 800 and 600 series.
The new mapping system makes this vacuum cleaner a lot better than most of its predecessors, as it can figure out home layouts. Like the 981, it is able to keep to cleaning schedules better and less likely to roam off. The success of lithium batteries in the Roomba 981 might have led to its inclusion here. Unfortunately, it is designed to last for much less time (75 minutes) when compared to the 981 (120 minutes).
This is definitely good value for money: cheaper than the 981 (Check current price here), but better than the 800’s.
3. iRobot Roomba 880
The Roomba 880 is best known for its high-efficiency vacuum cleaning. Priced in the mid-range “luxury vacuum cleaner” pricing categories, it retained the standard features of iRobot’s Roomba brand. Notable additions include an increased bin size, more smart functionalities, and high-end performance. The vacuum has a spinning side brush and easily removable bins alongside the extractors. Beyond that, you get a Home Base, Virtual wall sensors, cliff sensors, obstacle detection and Dirt Detect features.
The Roomba 880 features an attractive minimalist design with four large control buttons. The Virtual Wall accessories are very efficient at marking out areas you don’t want the Roomba to access. It comes with three handy modes: Clean – for regular or scheduled cleaning, Spot – for extra attention, Home – for docking. However, the dirt-detect functionality allows it to detect spots with more dirt and give them extra attention. There are several indicator lights for different purposes – crash, charge, full bin, etc. The iRobot Roomba 880 is a moderately priced, smart, highly efficient robot vacuum cleaner.
Want to find out more about this product? Click here.
4. iRobot Roomba 860
Early Roombas, and in fact cheaper robot vacuum cleaners, have had some cleaning difficulties due to hair tangling. This usually required regular cleaning from you, the owner. However, that is not the case with the Roomba 860 due to its tangle free extractors. Thus, with the 860, you have much less need for cleaning the cleaner.
The Roomba 880 might still be the “brainchild” of the series, but the Roomba 860 stands out for its performance as a vacuum cleaner. This is thanks to the more powerful suction power than the older series of iRobot Roomba. Another interesting feature of the Roomba 860 is its smart functionality.
Thanks to iAdapt, you can schedule your cleaning at any time (whether you’re home or not) and be confident that it would get the job done, and return to base seamlessly.
The Roomba 860 might be much improved, but it does have a few flaws. It lacks Wi-Fi connectivity and remote control mechanism. It also has the occasional random bump and requires manual transfer to its workstation after charge. In all, this was a relatively good attempt by iRobot to introduce competitively-priced products without compromising on many features.
Click here to get the latest pricing.
5. iRobot Roomba 650
What the Roomba 650 lacks in beauty, it makes up for in its sheer power. The brush design remains one of the strongest of the iRobot Roomba series and can sufficiently clean tight spaces. It also comes with spot cleaning feature, though this is different from the more efficient, higher priced Roombas. Impressively, it has the virtual wall feature that allows you to mark out areas you don’t need it to clean.
Enabling the wide angle beam ensures protection of obstacles that are not marked out. The Roomba 650 can avoid ramming into walls thanks to its IR sensors from iAdapt. However, it does have a problem avoiding furniture legs. Considering its weight and force of movement, it can shake a table upon contact. The upside of this is that it is better able to clean out filthy places or tight spaces.
The iRobot Roomba 650 is still one of the best vacuum cleaners available. Its compactness, powerful suction, and cleaning, and manageable navigation patterns are fair enough. While it does not give you the best of the Roomba experience, it does give you something close enough if you are on a budget.
To find out more about its pricing and specifications, click here.
6. iRobot Braava 380t Mopping Robot
Lacking suction, brush roll, or dirt bin, it is clear what sets this robot vacuum cleaner apart. It is strictly designed for mopping or dusting. Some of its major features include room-to-room cleaning capabilities, quick clean mode, and fast charging. The furniture protecting bumpers also keep your furniture safe by minimizing collisions and reducing impacts. Its primary “selling point,” though, is its second-to-none noiselessness.
The Braava 380t can operate in a room unnoticed. However, it does lack certain features for which iRobot vacuum cleaners have come to be known. There’s no auto-recharging or scheduled cleanings. Furthermore, whereas it is mainly a mopping robot, its cleaning capabilities are limited to light stains. If your room is in need of heavy mopping, this is not the best bot for you.
The charging dock of the Braava requires vertical alignment while charging – this takes up much less space than horizontal alignment. The battery life is also robust and lasts up to 4 hours sweeping or 150 minutes mopping. The Braava 380t picks up a surprising amount of dirt and dust while sweeping. It also does well to pick up pet hair.
However, you’ll get optimal results using this product by vacuuming first before use. By paying equal attention to each place it cleans, the Braava 380t fails to give extra cleaning to dirtier areas.
Regarding pricing, it is not as expensively priced as the Roombas and is closer to the Roomba 650. Therefore, if you live in a place which requires routine cleaning, the Braava 380t is an excellent choice. It is easily one of the best robotic vacuum cleaners for its complementary factor.
Click here to check out the latest price.
7. ILIFE A6 Robotic Vacuum Cleaner
The ILIFE A6 comes with a Bladeaway Spiral blade rubber brush which replaces traditional bristled rubber blades. The motor is also an upgraded “Gen 2” with a higher suction power on carpets and rugs. Navigation on the A6 is much better than what we’ve come to expect from ILIFE. It has an advanced Virtual wall that protects areas you don’t need it to go.
The battery life is also enhanced to last up to 160 minutes. With the A6, ILIFE worked on getting more features cramped into a more compact device. It is small enough to get under almost any furniture, without any significant hustle. As with every robotic vacuum cleaner, it has an option for daily cleaning scheduling.
For now, its most notable issue is that it jumps over anything black. As you would expect, it does a good job cleaning tiles and hardwood, but it’s not that great on carpets. Eventually, we’d say the notable upgrades from the previous series are worth the price increase. Meanwhile, the pricing remains within the low-range.
Click here to for the latest product pricing.
8. ILIFE A4s Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Much like its successor, the A6, it is slightly above (but still within) the low-end pricing spectrum. The A4s has IR sensors that make navigation much easier and less hazardous. When these sensors fail to pick out obstacles, the physical bumper is on hand to pick them up. The Vacuum component boasts side brushes, 1000pa suction, and HEPA filtration.
This has largely improved its cleaning capacity. Consequently, the A4 is great at picking up dust, dirt, and pet fur. Furthermore, the HEPA filter is on hand to help with dust or pet allergies. There are also various cleaning modes that get the best out of this device. The A6 does not come with a smart app but boasts a highly functional infrared remote control.
Conclusively, the A4 is seen as a cheap yet highly useful robotic vacuum cleaner. Low priced, smart navigation, great battery; what’s more to ask?
Click here to find out the latest price.
9. ILIFE V5s Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Sweep or mop, whichever you wish for, or need, is readily available on the ILIFE V5s.
While its counterparts above might have upgraded performance levels, the V5s is highly efficient. For dry sweeping, its capacity is 850pa. This means it gets nearly as good as any of the best robotic vacuum cleaners out there. The addition of HEPA filters makes this package even more attractive. Like all of ILIFE’s robot vacuum cleaners, it is also relatively noiseless.
It is also highly compact. The V5s robot uses IR sensors to detect cliffs, while bumper sensors protect furniture. It also comes equipped with three cleaning/navigation modes. The battery life is above average (150 minutes) and scheduling option properly functional.
The ILIFE V5 compares favorably with higher priced robot vacuum cleaners. However, it does have a few necessities left out. It lacks virtual walls or magnetic strips, can get a little erratic in movement, and has a weak alert system.
To check out its full specifications and current prices, click here.
10. ILIFE V3s Robotic Vacuum Cleaner
The ILIFE V3s Robotic Vacuum Cleaner is designed to sweep, mop, and pick up pets fur and other debris. It is also suitable for multiple floor types – carpet, hardwood, and tiles. The V3s might not be the most compact robotic vac out there, but, at 3-feet high, it sure holds its own. The V3s is also impressively quiet; quiet enough to let you have a conversation or watch TV while it’s on.
Based on its low noise and compactness, you’d expect the V3s to have a reduced suction power. Well, you are in for a surprise! It does not particularly get as deep as the Roomba’s or BotVac’s. However, it compares favorably with the low-end “luxury robotic vacuum cleaners”. Its lithium battery easily lasts up to 2 hours – a truly impressive feat. Furthermore, the bin is moderate in size and lasts long enough while cleaning.
Navigation has proven to be a major trouble of low-end robotic sensors, and that is again present here. However, the presence of 10 IR bumper sensors douse the effects of collision by reversing before a crash occurs. Its cliff detectors are sharp enough, while movement is not as erratic as expected. It has different levels of navigation control and does well to cover most of its allotted portion. For its price, it is one of the biggest bargains vacuum cleaners you can own.
Click here to find out more features and current pricing.
11. Eufy RoboVac 11, High Suction
With its highly minimalistic design, it’s no surprise it holds only one button – the Power button. This button has a natural blue glow which turns red to indicate it is low on juice or requires troubleshooting. A dirt bin, filter, a rolling brush, powerful suction, and two brushes make up the vacuum.
When it comes to navigation, it lacks cameras and comes in with “only” an infrared sensor. The implication of this is that the RoboVac 11 quickly runs into stuff – furniture legs and all. It also has the occasional problem of getting stuck in tight corners. However, to be fair, it is priced on the low end (see price here). In addition, these accidents are rarely occur.
The RoboVac 11 is primarily built for carpets but has no problem dealing with hardwood and tiles. It lacks a smart app but comes with a pretty useful remote control unit. The battery life isn’t bad either coming up at about an hour and a half. Ultimately, if you are looking for a budget-friendly robotic vacuum cleaner, this is an excellent choice.
Click here to find out more features and current pricing.
12. Neato Botvac D80 Robot Vacuum for Pets
The Botvac D80 features a new brush system that makes it much quieter on hardwood floors. This is a general upgrade in Neato’s line of robot vacuum cleaners. The sophisticated LaserSmartMapping feature is an added navigation system that lets the D80 scan and map the room. This allows for ease of cleaning and prevents the problem of irregular cleaning patterns.
The vacuum comes with impressive features such as SpinFlow Power clean system, a spiral blade brush, and side brush. These functions ensure that the Botvac D80 is a highly efficient vacuum cleaner. With its combination of suction and precision, it is effective at eliminating dirt, pet fur, dust, fibers, and carpet fuzz. Homes with pets are ideal for this robot vacuum cleaner. Consequently, it comes with a large dustbin which requires lesser emptying than most.
A drawback of the unit for some might be its lack of a remote control system. This means control is strictly on contact. However, the system is entirely intuitive; it returns automatically to the docking station and is fully responsive to its environment. The Botvac D80 is recommended highly due to its many features. These include laser scanning, room mapping, obstacle detection, Virtual walls, noise control and floor adaptation.
Click here for the latest pricing.
13. bObsweep PetHair Robotic Vacuum Cleaner
The bObsweep PetHair Robotic Vacuum Cleaner covers it all – sweep, vacuum, and mop. The HEPA filter combined with the Sterilize setting allows for even deeper, healthy cleaning. With the ability to program cleaning schedules, it easily lets you focus on other activities while it cleans through any surface type.
Unlike more expensive competitors, it lacks coordinated pattern cleans and moves in random patterns. The disadvantage of this is that some areas tend to receive extra cleaning, while some barely receive any. Regardless, it does well to cover large areas with each cycle.
As with most vacuum cleaners on this list, it isn’t particularly loud. Adapting to different surfaces is touted as one of its outstanding features, and it doesn’t disappoint. However, it is not a particularly smart (intuitive, if you will) unit.
In all, the bOsweep PetHair Robotic Vacuum Cleaner is one for you if you’ve got pets in your home. It is adept at removing any pet stains or pet hair and is an excellent cleaner for its price. That easily earns it a place on our list of best vacuum cleaners.
Click here for the latest pricing information.
14. Hovo 780 4-in-1 Robotic Vacuum Cleaner
Initially, high priced, the Hovo 780 4-in-1 has come down to the lower pricing rungs of vacuum cleaners. Like most on this list, it is built to clean just about everything – dust, pet fur, and pollen. Similarly, it is sensitive to battery levels and returns to base before complete exhaustion. The addition of HEPA filtration allows for deep cleaning that focuses on allergen and dirt removal.
Furthermore, there is a built-in UV light to kill harmful microorganisms and dust mites on the floor or dustbin. Virtual Blocker prevents entry to areas you mark out. This sets it up as a high-end vacuum cleaner that’s reasonably priced.
Other impressive features include the anti-allergy function, sweep scheduling, auto-recharge, and energy efficiency. Unfortunately, it easily gets stuck under furniture, which can be pretty frustrating. It also does not come fitted with mapping sensors and cleans in random patterns. Conclusively, we’d say this is a good enough, low priced robotic vacuum cleaner, and is certainly worth its price.
Click here for to find out more about the Hovo 780.
15. ECOVACS DEEBOT N78 Robotic Vacuum Cleaner
The first thing you’d notice about the N78 is its compactness. Only about 2.2 inches tall, it is lower than most robotic vacuum cleaners. In fact, there seems to be a trade-off of particular useful capabilities for size. This makes it incredibly easy for the DEEBOT N78 to get under the lowest of furniture. The top of the unit features only one button – Auto. This wakes up the bot and activates it for auto cleaning.
All of the other features of the ECOVACS DEEBOT – programming a cleaning schedule, manual navigation, and docking – are remote controlled. The vacuum itself contains a suction intake and two rotating side brushes. With an attachable wash cloth and water tank accessories, it can also be used for mopping.
One of the more attractive features of the DEEBOT N78 is its relative quietness for a vacuum cleaner. Others are cliff sensors and low camera sensors. However, for all of its stated features, the DEEBOT N78 falls quite short performance-wise. It has a number navigation issues and tends to wander easily. Additionally, the suction feels inadequate and mopping power a little off. It is not up to par with those in its price range, but is not too far off either.
For detailed pricing and specifications, click here.
Conclusion
So, there you have it. This is neither an exhaustive list of all vacuum cleaners, nor of all robot vacuum cleaners. It is an insight of a select few of the best robot vacuum cleaners on the market in 2024. I have done my research in terms of ease of use as well as durability of the vacuum cleaners.
If you need to buy one, please select one from this list and you will never look back. You can see from the list that Roomba Vacuums dominate the industry. For a more detailed review of specific Roomba models, click here. Another robot vacuum that is worth checking out is the SharkNinja Ion Robotic Vacuum featured in this best Shark vacuum review. It also does a splendid job.
These are the 15 best robot vacuums in 2024:
- iRobot Roomba 981
- iRobot Roomba 960
- The iRobot Roomba 880
- iRobot Roomba 860
- iRobot Roomba 650
- The iRobot Braava 380t
- ILIFE A6
- ILIFE A4s
- ILIFEV5s
- ILIFE V3s
- Eufy RoboVac 11
- Neato Botvac D80
- bObsweep PetHair
- Hovo 780 4-in-1
- ECOVACS DEEBOT N78
Check out this YouTube video by iRobot below on how to use the iRobot Roomba 980 Robot Vacuum: