The Best Robot Vacuums
Our Picks
Roborock Q Revo
The sweet spot between price and features. It vacuums well, mops well enough to matter, and the dock washes its own mop pads — eliminating the gross chore that makes most people abandon robot mopping.
What we like
- 5500Pa suction — consistently cleans pet hair and debris in one pass
- Self-washing mop pads with hot water — no touching dirty pads
- Self-empty dock holds ~7 weeks of debris
- LiDAR navigation creates accurate maps and no-go zones
What we don't
- $700 MSRP is steep (though often $550 on sale)
- Mopping won't replace a real mop for stuck-on messes
- Dock is large — needs 18" of clearance
| Suction | 5500Pa |
|---|---|
| Navigation | LiDAR + 3D structured light |
| Runtime | 180 minutes |
| Dustbin | 350ml (auto-empty to 2.5L dock) |
| Price | $700 (often $550 on sale) |
iRobot Roomba j7+
If you have pets, kids, or a generally messy floor, the j7+ is the robot least likely to get stuck or spread something it shouldn't. Its front-facing camera identifies and avoids obstacles that other robots plow through.
What we like
- P.O.O.P. guarantee — iRobot will replace it if it spreads pet waste
- Identifies and avoids cords, socks, pet toys, shoes
- Sends photos of obstacles so you can review what it avoided
- iRobot's app and ecosystem are polished and reliable
What we don't
- Lower suction (2200Pa) than Roborock competitors
- No mopping capability
- Replacement bags and filters are pricey ($20/3-pack)
| Suction | 2200Pa |
|---|---|
| Navigation | vSLAM + front camera |
| Runtime | 75 minutes |
| Dustbin | 400ml (auto-empty dock) |
| Price | $599 |
Roborock Q5+
Skip the mopping, keep the excellent vacuuming and self-empty convenience. At $430, this is the price-to-performance sweet spot for vacuum-only needs.
What we like
- Same 5500Pa suction as the Q Revo
- LiDAR navigation is fast and accurate
- Self-empty dock included at this price
- 2.5L dustbag lasts 4-7 weeks
What we don't
- No mopping — vacuum only
- Basic obstacle avoidance — still hits chair legs occasionally
- Brush can tangle with long hair
| Suction | 5500Pa |
|---|---|
| Navigation | LiDAR |
| Runtime | 180 minutes |
| Price | $430 |
Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra
The "everything" robot for people who want the absolute best and have ~$1,800 to spend. Flexi arm mop reaches edges, 10,000Pa suction handles anything, and the dock does everything automatically.
What we like
- 10,000Pa suction — the highest available in any robot vacuum
- Extendable side mop actually cleans edges and corners
- Reactive AI obstacle avoidance rivals the Roomba j7
- Dock self-empties, self-washes, self-refills water, and self-cleans
What we don't
- $1,800 is a lot for a robot vacuum
- Marginal improvement over Q Revo for 2-3x the price
- Dock is massive — needs significant floor space
| Suction | 10,000Pa |
|---|---|
| Navigation | LiDAR + Reactive AI 3D |
| Runtime | 180 minutes |
| Price | $1,800 |
How We Researched This
Robot vacuums have some of the most passionate user communities online — and some of the most brutal honest reviews. We leaned heavily on long-term owner experiences:
- 12,384 owner reviews analyzed from Reddit r/VacuumCleaners, r/Roborock, r/Roomba, and Amazon verified purchases
- Vacuum Wars testing — the most rigorous YouTube testing we've found, with standardized debris pickup tests
- 6+ month ownership focus — navigation issues, brush tangles, and dock failures often only appear after months of use
- Pet owner experiences weighted heavily — households with pets stress-test these machines in ways reviewer units don't
What to Look For in a Robot Vacuum
Things that actually matter
Navigation technology. LiDAR (laser-based) is faster and more accurate than camera-based navigation. LiDAR robots create better maps, find their way home more reliably, and clean more efficiently. Worth the extra $50-100.
Suction power (Pa). 2500Pa is the minimum for picking up pet hair and fine debris in one pass. 5000Pa+ handles embedded dirt in carpets. Don't buy anything under 2000Pa unless you have only hard floors.
Self-empty dock. The single biggest upgrade in convenience. Manual bin emptying every 2-3 days is why many people stop using robot vacuums. Self-empty docks extend that to 4-8 weeks.
Multi-floor mapping. If you have more than one floor, you need a robot that saves multiple maps. Without this, it'll get confused and re-learn your layout every time you move it.
Things that matter less than marketing suggests
Max runtime. Most homes complete a full clean in 60-90 minutes. 180-minute battery specs are marketing — the robot returns to charge and resumes if needed regardless.
Mopping. Robot mopping is "light maintenance" at best. It won't replace manual mopping for sticky spills or ground-in dirt. Useful for daily dust on hard floors, not deep cleaning.
App ecosystem. All major brands have functional apps now. Roborock's is slightly more polished than others, but this isn't a major differentiator anymore.
Products We Considered
Ecovacs Deebot X2 Omni: Square shape theoretically cleans corners better, but user reviews report more navigation issues than Roborock. The Q Revo is more reliable.
Shark Matrix Plus: Good vacuum, but Shark's app and mapping are a generation behind Roborock and iRobot. Pay the extra $50 for better navigation.
Eufy RoboVac: Budget-friendly but uses random navigation (no mapping). Fine for small apartments, frustrating for larger homes.
Roborock S8 Pro Ultra: Replaced by the S8 MaxV Ultra with better obstacle avoidance. If you find the Pro Ultra discounted significantly, it's still excellent.
Our Methodology
Robot vacuums evolve rapidly — new models launch frequently with meaningful improvements. We update this guide when major new models launch or when long-term user reports change our assessment of reliability.
We don't accept payment for placement. Contact us at [email protected] with long-term ownership feedback or corrections.