If you've ever wanted to buy a robot vacuum now is the time. CNET's top-rated models will be available for Black Friday and Cyber Monday with discounts as high as 57%.
The Roborock Q7 Max is a powerful robot that has smart mapping and app-based no-go zones. Its run time of 180 minutes is impressive. It also self-empties and refills its water tank.
1. Roomba j7+ iRobot from iRobot.
The Roomba j7+ is iRobot's smartest robot vacuum to date. Its most notable innovation, however, is its camera-based obstacle-detection technology. This uses AI to identify objects such as charging cables and shoes. It's the first robot to send you images of objects that it encounters, so that you can instruct that it is safe to avoid it.
The Combo j7+ is also the most effective mop-bot we've ever tested, picking up dirt and spills with ease while leaving no trace it was there. The iRobot application makes it simple to control. It can schedule cleanings and even create Keep Out Zones to ensure it doesn't sweep in areas you don't want. It's also compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant, so you can turn it on and off by speaking to it.
The design is also better than the competition. It has a sleek, top piece that appears like a toy rather than an obnoxious and loud robot. And the Clean Base Automatic Dirt Disposal System is self-emptying which is great for reducing your cleanup time.
In our tests the j7+ was quick to clean up dust dirt, pet hair and even pet hair. The counter-rotating rubber brushes kept the debris in one place rather than sending it scattering around the floor. It was able to collect sand, small gravel and even a bit of grit. Most robots can't achieve this feat. And it did all of this without getting caught in our pet's shedding hair.
Although it's not as efficient as the $1,217 Roomba s9+ Self-Emptying Robot Vacuum, and it's not able to clean stairs The J7+ is an excellent choice for those who need both mopping and a vac in their home. It's not too expensive, and the iRobot app makes it very user-friendly to use.
While the iRobot Home app is very easy to use, we've found it to be less reliable than other apps that use robotic cleaners. It can take a while to download updates and it can be difficult to determine whether they're functioning until you actually witness them in action.
2. Roborock Q5+
If you're looking to purchase a vacuum that does more than simply clean floors, the Best Amazon Vacuum choice is probably a hybrid. These bots are equipped with a water tank, so they can mop and vacuum at the same time. They also come with a variety of extra features, including smart mapping, small obstacle avoidance, and even the capability to wash and dry mopping pads. They're expensive at full retail but often come down in price on Black Friday or Cyber Monday.
Roborock makes several of our top robotic vacuums and the Q5+ is no exception. disappoint. This is the cheapest model in their auto-empty line. Although it doesn't have some of the more expensive features (like no-go zones or multi-story memories) but it's an excellent option when you're willing to compromise to save a few dollars.
The Q5+ is noticeable soft around obstacles like table legs and walls and walls, which makes it a great option for homes with a lot of furniture. It's also extremely thorough when it comes to cleaning dust bunnies, which is a problem where many cheaper robot vacuums often be a bit sloppy. The navigation technology in the Q5+ is excellent and has very few missing in corners and along walls.
The Q5+, just like other Roborock products, can be controlled by only a few buttons on your device, or via the Roborock App. With the app you can begin and stop cleanings and schedules, as well as create virtual barriers and no-go zones and adjust your home map or change the labels of rooms.
If you decide to go with the Q5+, it ships with a new auto-empty dock that's specifically designed to make the machine easy to maintain. It requires a screwdriver install, but once it's in place the process of emptying the bin is simple. It features a large LCD screen that is very useful for setting up schedules or adjusting settings. This isn't an essential feature for most people, but it's one that will assist you in keeping track of the maintenance intervals for your robot easily.
3. Narwal Freo X Ultra
The Freo X Ultra robot vacuum and mop is a smart, well-rounded mop and vacuum. It's capable of vacuuming and mopping. Its design is among the top in the market, but it's expensive.
The base station is attractive and is hidden when it's not in use, and the size is quite compact. But the station's main selling point is how it automates many tasks and functions that most other robots leave up to you. It can store clean and dirty water, electrolyzes and heats the water (which many other robots require you to do) and empty the dust bin after vacuuming, and keeps your robot charged and clean.
And its vacuuming is impressive and efficient, too. It's one of the few robovacs I've tried that does very well at collecting debris from plain floors, and is not as loud as the more expensive Roomba 980 or iRobot 900 series.The Freo X Ultra is not without faults, particularly when it comes to navigation. Its LiDAR sensors and laser sensors aren’t as reliable as other robovacs. This means that it can get stuck or confused in certain areas or rooms of the house. It's not able navigate stairs as well as some competitors, for instance and doesn't come with a dock that lets the user to set up an area for cleaning that is specifically designed for plush carpets.
Although it doesn't provide the same amount of cleaning-related options in its app, or as many in-app shortcuts like other robovacs the Freo X Ultra is still an excellent choice for anyone looking for a comprehensive robot vacuum and mop that's worth the price cost.
If you're looking to save money or aren't concerned about the limitations of the robot, there are other options on the market. Many of the eufy models cost significantly less. The Eufy Qrevo Curv, for instance is less expensive and provides a similar in-app experience with more features, including stair climbing, a full-function dock, and better overall performance when vacuuming floors as well as high- and low-pile carpets.
4. eufy RoboVac G30
Eufy, an Anker company is a long-standing leader of making robot vacuums that strike the right balance between features, performance and price. The G30 Hybrid is no different, offering a capable cleaning of hard floors as well as mopping functions as well as carpets at a reasonable price. It's easy to set it up, just snap on one of the side brush, turn it on and connect your charging dock. The app walks you through several steps to connect to your Wi-Fi and then the G30 is ready to go. The dock must be placed close to an outlet that has plenty of room to move.
The G30 is a small device that measures 2.85 inches in height, meaning it can be placed under most couches and low-clearance pieces furniture. Its design is a little less flashy than some of the rival models, sporting sleek black finish and three physical buttons that control Auto Cleaning, which can be paused or started. Recharge and Spot Cleaning (which cleans the area in an arc for two minutes). You can also connect the G30 to Amazon Alexa or Google Home for voice commands to perform unscheduled cleaning.
The main feature that sets the G30 apart from its competitors is the way it cleans. It uses an integrated map to draw an image of the unmovable items that are in its path. It keeps track of the things it has cleaned and what it is unable to access. If it requires a recharge, it returns to its base, and then resumes cleaning from where it started.
The eufy G30 isn't without its faults, though. The iRobot Roomba is built better and has lower monthly costs. It is faster to charge, has similar battery life and is more effective on bare floors or low-pile carpet. It has a larger dust bin, which does not require the same amount of emptying. It also comes with boundary strips that keep it from certain areas. The G30 on the other hand is more affordable and is much more manageable to maintain. Its smaller size means that it doesn't need to be emptied as frequently and it's less trouble with bulky materials like cereal.
