The Best Self Emptying Robot Vacuum
The most effective robot vacuums that self-empty feature bases that can hold the equivalent of a month's worth of debris and automatically empty it. It creates a detailed home map, allowing you identify rooms and to create "no go" zones.
It has superior obstacle-avoiding capabilities, and it can stay clear of power cords and rogue socks.
Roomba s9+ from iRobot
This robot is a premium model from iRobot and performs extremely well. It maneuvers easily across a range of different surfaces and is extremely efficient in taking in dust, dirt, and debris. It's also very well-constructed and looks pretty nice as well.
The S9 is iRobot’s latest premium S Series robot vacuum. It comes with a number of additional features that make it distinct from other models. The iRobot App use, for instance, the camera to create maps that allows the unit to navigate and clean efficiently.
It will also return to the spot where it left off if its battery gets depleted during cleaning and you don't need to re-clean the same areas. You can also start and stop cleaning sessions using a simple voice command or via the iRobot app, and this smart vacuum can also clean in the dark!
Another feature that is great is Carpet Boost, which gives the S9 extra suction power when it comes in contact with carpeting to collect even more dirt and dust. The S9 has a square-front design which lets it get closer to walls and corners than the older round designs. This model is not compatible well with shag or high-pile carpeting.
During our tests, we discovered that the iRobot S9+ cleaned thoroughly and efficiently a range of floor surfaces including hard and medium-pile carpets. It also performed well on vinyl flooring, and laminate flooring. It also did a nice job of maneuvering between furniture and objects, however it had some issues with stairs, where it can accidentally crash into things like bookcases.
We liked the fact that the S9 automatically returns to its base to empty its dust bin once it's full, which significantly reduces the need for hands-on maintenance. The dust bag should last about 30 loads, or about two months and you'll need to replace the filter once in a while (which is actually recommended by iRobot). In our experience, the iRobot S9+ doesn't get extremely loud when it's in use, so it's a good choice for those who live with kids or pets.
Eufy RoboVac Hybrid X8
Designed to remove one of the most difficult tasks off your shoulders, robot vacuum cleaners can do all the hard work of keeping carpeted and hardwood floors free of the everyday dirt. The best ones are controlled and monitored via an app on your smartphone, and some even have mopping tech for bathroom and kitchen floors. They're a great choice for busy families and are becoming more affordable. If you want top-of-the-line features for your robotic vacuum cleaner, you're going to need to pay a little more.
The Eufy RoboVac X8 Hybrid vacuum and mopping machine is an excellent choice for people who live in a multi-floored apartment. Dual motors provide it with impressive cleaning power, and the vacuum's 0.6l dustbin can store plenty of pet hair. The dustbin can be easily removed and emptied which is great as you'll have to do this on a regular basis.
It's easy to set it up and I would recommend fully charging the X8 Hybrid before running it for the first time. You'll have to install the Eufy Home app and follow the instructions for connecting it to your Wi-Fi network. After you've completed this, the app will help you to create a detailed map of your home. It can identify the rooms, divide large areas into sub-rooms to facilitate open-plan living, and guide the X8 Hybrid towards specific areas that need to be cleaned at a specific time. Eufy's app is more intuitive and precise than other robots with similar scanning and mapping capabilities.
One of the great features of the X8 Hybrid is that you can activate the vacuum or mop with your voice, thanks to integration with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. This is a great feature that makes the robot hands-free. It worked well in our test house.
The X8 Hybrid, like many robotic vacuums, has problems with floors that are not fully covered. It is prone to be unable to see pet hair or small items, and it tends to hit objects - like its own charger that sits on its base for charging. It's not as quiet and the whirring sound could be distracting like other models.
Roborock V3S pro
This model doesn't have the same number of features as some of the more expensive models we've tested, but it does have the basics covered. It has a large enough dust bin that can hold plenty of dirt until it's empty and its vacuum and mop system works great on both carpets with low pile and hard floors. It is also very quiet. We were able watch TV while it cleaned without feeling like we were bombarded with noise.
Our testers loved how easy it robot vacuum was to install and use, and they were impressed by its capacity to take all the mess out of their flooring. It did a good job getting rid of pet hair, messes and carpeting however, it was a bit more difficult at eliminating stubborn stains. They found the app user-friendly and intuitive, and they were able to schedule the vacuum to clean regularly to cut down on the amount they had to manually do. It doesn't feature any mapping or object avoidance technology, which means it cannot be used to send specific rooms or follow virtual boundaries (though magnetic boundaries work).
Another model from the iRobot's budget line, the V3S Pro has some impressive features for the money. It was the best of all robotic vacuums we tested when it comes to finding and avoiding obstacles and is the ideal budget option for those who want a cleaner self-emptying robotic vacuum that is able to handle pet hair and messes on both hardwood floors and low-pile carpeting. It is also very quiet and has a huge dust bin which can hold a lot of dust before it needs to be emptied.
Although the V3S Pro didn't earn a place in any of our top picks roundups of reliable sources that conduct tests with hands-on, it was highly praised by reviewers at Modern Castle, Smart Robot Reviews and The Ambient. They were impressed with the ease with which it was install and use, but they did note that the battery life was limited and it wasn't able to stay clear of some of the toughest messes we put it through.
Roborock Q Revo
The Q Revo is an entry-level robot vacuum cleaner that offers a lot of features at a reasonable price. You'll get a lot of the features found on top models, such as smart navigation and mapping, without spending top dollar. You can also make use of voice commands through Alexa, Google Assistant, or Apple Siri shortcuts to create custom automations and start your cleaning cycle from anywhere while you're away.
Roborock spent a lot of time designing this smart cleaner. As a result, the product is extremely solid and feels like it was made with premium materials. Its base is strong and sturdy, with an integrated charging port for the battery. You'll find the docking station for the tank that is clean and dirty-water bins on top. Below, you'll find a panel that holds the sealed vacuum bag.
When you connect your device with the app, you'll get an interactive map of your home. It will show the location of where your robot is in and the area it's cleaning. You can also build virtual barriers to keep your robot out of certain areas or to only clean certain kinds of flooring. It's also able to adjust its power settings according to the kind of floor being cleaned, as well as selecting the most effective method of cleaning.
The Q Revo is unique to many other robot vacuums because it can lift both of its mop heads while vacuuming. This prevents carpet fibers from getting stained. In fact, it's the few vacuums on market that can do this.
When mopping, the Q Revo's 5500Pa suction capabilities are enough to suck up specks of dust and pet hair strands, and other debris. The all-rubber brush is able to break up animal and human hair, as it adjusts to uneven surfaces.
The only drawback is that it does take some time to fill and empty water tanks, both clean and dirty. Fortunately, you can cut down on the frequency of this by using the auto-empty feature that will automatically empty the bin after a couple of days. It is still necessary to check the water levels in the dock manually however, since there's no way to set an automatic reminder.