The best robot vacuums for 2023 | Digital Trends

Whether you live in a cozy studio, sprawling mansion, or anything in-between, a robot vacuum is a great way to cut down on your weekly chores. Vacuuming can eat up several hours of your week, and between all the maintenance and dirty dustbins, it’s arguably one of the least appealing household responsibilities.

The best robot vacuums make all that a thing of the past, with premium models offering self-maintenance and the ability to automatically purge their dustbins after each cleaning. Those with smaller homes that don’t need all those fancy features can save a bit of cash by opting for more affordable models that simply clean your home on a regular basis – although you’ll still need to empty the dustbins occasionally. But no matter how you cut it, robot vacuums are a useful addition to any smart home. And in 2023, you have more options than ever before.

From Roborock and Eufy to Roomba and Samsung, here’s a look at the best robot vacuums of 2023.

Roborock S8 Pro Ultra

The best overall

It’s not cheap, but the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra is worth every penny. Its ability to both mop and vacuum without manual input is just the tip of the iceberg, as you’ll also be treated to a charging station that automatically empties its dustbin so you don’t have to worry about it for more than a month. It can also clean (and dry) the mopheads so there’s no mold buildup. Best of all, the vacuum maxes out at a staggering 6,000 Pa of suction, allowing it to provide an impressive clean that’s leagues ahead of the competition.

Like all Roborock products, this one comes with a sleek design and powerful smartphone app. Using the app, you can schedule cleanings, check when maintenance needs to be performed, or run a customized cleaning if you accidently spill something or just need another vacuuming before guests show up. It’s an incredibly versatile device – and if you truly want to automate your cleaning, this is the robot vacuum to get. Looking to save a bit of cash? Consider the outgoing Roborock S7 lineup instead.

Roborock S8 Pro Ultra

The best overall

Ecovacs Deebot T20 Omni

Best for mopping

The Deebot T10 Omni was quickly replaced by the T20 Omni, which isn’t just cheaper, but it’s better in almost all aspects. The biggest upgrade is its retractable mopheads, allowing it to vacuum and mop in one pass. It also features more suction (6,000 Pa) and a dock that uses both warm water and warm air to clean itself. There’s also a dustbin that stores up to 60 days of debris, allowing you to go weeks without dirtying your hands.

Ecovacs Deebot T20 Omni

Best for mopping

Roborock S7 Max Ultra

Best low-maintenance option

The S7 Max Ultra is remarkably similar to the S8 Pro Ultra. Not only can it mop and vacuum in a single run, but it can hold up to seven weeks of debris in its docking station. The docking station is also capable of cleaning its mopping pad with water, then performing a warm air dry to eliminate odors. It’s lacking a bit of suction compared to its more expensive sibling (5,500 Pa compared to 6,000 Pa) and it can’t lift its brush while mopping (although it can lift its mop while vacuuming). But aside from that, there isn’t much you’re missing out on. And since it costs a few hundred dollars less, it’s a great way to get a premium product and save a bit of cash.

Roborock S7 Max Ultra

Best low-maintenance option

iRobot Roomba s9+ (9550)

Most versatile

Sure, a robot vacuum makes cleaning your floors a heck of a lot easier. But, you still have to empty the dustbin just about every time you run it. With its Clean Base and compatibility with Alexa and Google Assistant, the S9+ is capable of literally vacuuming without having you lift a finger. Just say “Alexa” or “OK, Google, ask Roomba to start cleaning,” and your S9+ will start cleaning. The best part about the S9+ is that it sucks dirt and debris into an anti-allergen base that holds up to 30 deposits (60 days of dirt).

In addition to being one of the most user-friendly robots you can buy, the S9+ adopts a new D-shaped design to allow for better edge and corner cleaning. Naturally, it’s outfitted with the latest tech under the hood — consisting of a new 3D sensor in the front bumper that enhances Roomba’s wall detection, a more powerful cleaning head, and intelligent mapping. It can tell where it has already been and where it still needs to clean. The robot can clean your entire home, or you can instruct it to clean specific places. Its sensors can locate the higher traffic areas in your home, and the robot will be extra attentive to those dirtier areas of your floors. The S9+ is perfect for those that can’t fit a regular upright vac cleaning into their packed schedule, thanks in part to the many automations and customizations the bot is capable of.

While the iRobot Roomba S9+ is expensive, its performance and features are top-notch. If you want the best of the best in terms of robot vacuums, the S9+ is the way to go.

iRobot Roomba s9+ (9550)

Most versatile

iRobot Roomba j7+

Best for object avoidance

There’s a good reason that iRobot’s product line is featured twice in this roundup. While the Roomba j7+ may not offer the same suction power and full 3D environmental scanning as the leading s9+ model, it still packs in plenty of great cleaning tech for a few hundred dollars less than the flagship Roomba.

Chief among the j7+’s vacuum capabilities is something that Roomba calls PrecisionVision Navigation. This cleaning tech ensures that the j7+ avoids things like shoes, wires, and other floor-based obstacles when cycling through the many rooms of your home. There’s also Reactive Sensor Technology, an avoidance feature that allows you to tell the j7+ where it isn’t allowed to clean.

The j7+ does a great job of tackling messes by vacuuming in zig-zagging patterns and is also smart enough to return to its charging bin/dirt disposal tank when the battery is low and when the dustbin is chock full of debris.

If you’re looking for something even fancier, consider picking up the Roomba Combo j7+, which can go from mopping to vacuuming without any manual input (thanks to a nifty mophead that automatically stows away when not in use).

iRobot Roomba j7+

Best for object avoidance

Eufy BoostIQ RoboVac 30

Best multisurface

Whether you need a quick sweep or a full home detail, the Eufy RoboVac G30 is your best bet for getting the house spotless. With Eufy’s Smart Dynamic Navigation 2.0, your RoboVac takes a detailed scan of your home that the vac will reference during each cleaning. Where other robot vacs set off on randomized paths when enabled, the RoboVac will build its cleaning course based on what floor it’s located on, the room, and the surface type it will be cleaning.

Featuring 2000Pa of suction power, the RoboVac will have zero issues with whatever carpeting, tile, hardwoods, or other surfaces your home has to throw at it. Plus, with the included BoostIQ technology, the RoboVac will automatically increase suction power when it moves from a hard surface to a carpeted area, so you won’t have to worry about adjusting suction strength in the companion app.

Speaking of which, the Eufy app (for iOS and Android devices) is your one-stop command center for your Eufy RoboVac G30, allowing you to assign spot cleaning duties, create vacuum schedules, view the bot’s cleaning history, and more.

Eufy BoostIQ RoboVac 30

Best multisurface

Samsung Jet Bot AI+

Best for home security

Having a mobile security camera that you can access on the go is never a bad idea. Fortunately, the Samsung Jet Bot AI+ boasts a powerful security camera that you view through the SmartThings app. Once in a room, the vac will scan the environment and send you a notification if it detects a motion. While it won’t cue up automatically, you can still build a schedule for the vac to follow.

In terms of cleaning features, there’s plenty on board to get your house spotless. Lidar sensors create detailed maps of your home while navigating the vac to all the hard-to-see cracks and crevices, employing a main roller brush and side-sweepers to grab whatever dirt and pet hair is around. Object avoidance is on-point, too, combining lidar and the camera to keep away from valuables and furniture while still getting the job done.

Voice controls, a 90-minute runtime, and automatic dirt disposal are all sweet additions to this Samsung package. While the price is a bit on the high side, the Samsung Jet Bot AI+ is a phenomenal patrol vac and a solid cleaner, too. Read our full review of the Samsung Jet Bot AI+, and learn about how the vacuum uses A.I.

Samsung Jet Bot AI+

Best for home security

Eufy RoboVac 11S Slim

Best low-profile

Eufy’s BoostIQ vacuuming tech has been around for a few years now, but the renowned manufacturer has been making continuous improvements to an already-great suction feature. And with the arrival of the Eufy RoboVac 11S Slim, the minds at Eufy shifted development to an improved chassis design.

Measuring only 2.85 inches from top to bottom, the 11S Slim was built with our most delicate furniture in mind. This Eufy vac can easily get underneath couches, chairs, beds, and many bureaus, and 1300Pa of total suction power means there’s no pile of dust bunnies left untreated.

The 11S Slim serves up about 100 minutes of performance time, but once the battery starts depleting, the vac will automatically return to its charge base to re-juice. Rounded out by a triple-layer filtration system, an accommodating 0.6-liter dust box, and several onboard automation options, the Eufy RoboVac 11S Slim is a great budget buy, and not just for its smaller stature.

The only drawback here is the lack of voice assistant support. Sorry, Alexa and Google Assistant households.

Eufy RoboVac 11S Slim

Best low-profile

iRobot Roomba i3+ EVO

If you only need a robot vacuum (that is, you don’t need something that can also mop), then the iRobot Roomba i3+ EVO is a solid choice. Not only is it reasonably priced, but it can perform self-emptying tasks for up to 60 days before its docking station needs to be manually cleaned.

Beyond its impressive self-emptying skills, you’ll be treated to impressive cleaning skills thanks to an edge-sweeping brush, two rubber brushes to pull out debris and pet hair from your carpet, and intelligent sensors that automatically adjust the roller height to optimize its performance based on the surface it’s traveling across. The EVO can also detect how dirty a surface is, allowing it to ramp up its cleaning abilities for areas that need a bit more care.

Frequently Asked Questions

Still not sure which model to get? Check out our robot vacuum guide that can help you decide.

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