Best robot vacuums 2024: How to choose the best for your home

Robot vacuums are one of the smart devices that assist you in keeping your floors clean without even raising a finger. They can manoeuvre around every nook and corner of your house, avoid obstructions and suck up dust, pet hair, dirt and all sort of debris.

There are models that can mop up your floor or empty their own dustbin.

However, there are numerous options available in the market that raise several questions about the best robot vacuums.

Today we will be discussing some of the frequently asked questions about robot vacuums and things to consider when buying one.

Why buy a robot vacuum

Robot vacuums have proved to be way more advantageous than those traditional vacuums as they can:

• Save you time and effort: You don’t have to manually vacuum your floors or move furniture around. You can simply set a schedule or use voice commands or an app to start a cleaning session whenever you want.

  Clean hard-to-reach areas: Robot vacuums can go under beds, sofas, tables, and other furniture that may be difficult to access with a regular vacuum. They can also clean along edges and corners with precision.

  Improve your indoor air quality: Robot vacuums have filters that can trap dust, allergens, and bacteria. Some models have high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters that can capture 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 microns.

  Enhance your smart home: Robot vacuums can connect to your Wi-Fi network and integrate with your smart speakers, such as Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. You can control them with your voice, monitor their status, and receive notifications on your smartphone or tablet.

Things to consider in robot vacuums

Robot vacuums can vary in price, performance, and functionality. With that in mind and to make things easier for you, we've mentioned below some of the key features to consider when choosing a robot vacuum.

• Suction power. This determines how well the robot vacuum can pick up dirt and debris from different types of floors. Suction power is measured in pascals (Pa) or air watts (AW).
• The higher the number, the stronger the suction. For example, the Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra, considered one of the best robot vacuums, has a suction power of 2,700 Pa, which is one of the highest on the market.
• Battery life. This affects how long the robot vacuum can run before it needs to recharge. Battery life is measured in minutes or hours.
• The longer the battery life, the more area the robot vacuum can cover in one session. For example, the Ecovacs Deebot X Omni has a battery life of 3 hours, which is enough to clean up to 3,200 square feet.
• Navigation system. This influences how smart and efficient the robot vacuum is in finding its way around your home. Navigation systems can be based on sensors, cameras, lasers, or a combination of these.
• The more advanced the navigation system, the better the robot vacuum can map your floor plan, avoid obstacles, and resume cleaning from where it left off. For example, the iRobot Roomba j7+ has a navigation system that can detect and avoid pet waste, cords, and other objects.
• Dustbin capacity. This determines how much dirt and debris the robot vacuum can hold before it needs to be emptied. Dustbin capacity is measured in litres (L) or millilitres (mL). The larger the dustbin capacity, the less often you have to empty it.
• Some models have self-emptying bases that can automatically suck the contents of the dustbin into a disposable bag. For example, the Shark IQ Robot Self-Empty XL RV1001AE has a self-emptying base that can hold up to 30 days of dirt.
• Mopping function. This adds an extra level of cleaning to your floors. Some robot vacuums have a water tank and a mop pad that can wet and wipe your hard floors.
• Some models can also adjust the water flow and the suction power depending on the floor type. For example, the Bissell SpinWave Wet and Dry Robotic Vacuum has a mopping function that can sanitise your floors with steam.

The best robot vacuums contain all or at least some of the above features. When you are visiting the market to buy a vacuum, you must look for these things in your intended product.