How to Find the Best Budget Robot Vacuum

A bargain robotic vacuum is a steal. However, be aware that it could cost more than you expect in the maintenance department: untangling hair from brushes, clogging inlets, and emptying the tiny dust bins could quickly turn your dream of automating cleaning to be a chore.

For a lot of people the most affordable robot is the iRobot j7 Combo. It offers the same hands-free experience at only a fraction of the cost.

Suction Power

Some models in this price range have sufficient suction for basic vacuuming, while others might require help with a handheld nozzle in order to reach into the smallest crevices and cracks. If you live in a house with primarily hard flooring, a budget robot vacuum will likely work. If you have a mix of floors, have rugs or pets who shed, you'll get the best affordable robot vacuum results with the most powerful robot vacuum.

A few budget models include mopping and a water tank capability, adding to their flexibility. The Dyson R7050C features an enormous 770ml bin as well as excellent navigation scores, however it is louder and doesn't have mopping capabilities. The smaller Eufy Roborock Q5 Pro, in contrast, is quite quiet and features an auto-empty dock. It also has an water tank, powerful suction power of 5,500pascals and a large container that can be filled with cleaning solution to make it an efficient mopping machine. You can control the Q5 Pro via the smart app to mop or vac in the room, or a series of rooms or an entire area as well as define no-go zones as well as customize mopping and suction settings for different rooms.

The Shark ION is a good choice for those looking for something affordable easy to use and reliable. It's not as sophisticated as the other models we test and comes with a basic app and basic mapping capabilities, but it offers solid navigation and cleaning abilities. It is also one of the few robots we've tested that can differentiate between carpets and hard flooring and also has a 300ml trash bin that needs to be empty every 30 days.

Consider some of the premium models in this price range if you want something more advanced that can vacuum mop, sweep, and create maps for smarter obstacle-avoidance. The iRobot Roomba 650 and 750 have very strong suction power and combs that are clever for pet hair and other fine dirt, and an in-app scheduling and voice control via your smart home assistant. Samsung Cleanbot SV8000 offers a outstanding cleaning capabilities at a reasonable price.

Navigation Efficiency

A low-cost robot vacuum can be just as effective the more expensive models, provided that it can navigate your home and avoid obstacles. To measure the effectiveness of navigation our lab technicians set up a tracker to observe a robot's move through a multiroom test house and evaluate its ability to identify the rooms it needs to clean in a given time, avoiding pitfalls like power cords, rugs, and furniture. Additionally, we analyze how fast a robot vac can travel over a variety of household terrain such as stairways and transitions between different floor types.

The best budget robot vacuums come with effective navigation systems that can help them clean a room without having to waste time, running through obstacles, or getting stuck. Many models have mapping capabilities, which are vital to complete house cleaning. Even budget models without mapping can cover a room efficiently. It is important to balance the cost of your machine with the features that you need.

We also consider the ease with which robots can traverse thresholds within the home, for example the heights of a door sill and the heights of a sofa. A good budget robot should be able to move over these obstacles, and a few provide settings to alter suction power to suit different floor types. Finally, we look at whether a budget-friendly robot is compatible with your smart home configuration and can be controlled remotely via an app or voice control.

The iLife V3s Pro is a fantastic example of a budget robot that comes with basic mapping capabilities and other smart features. It's also very affordable. It can be controlled by the iRobot App and has an automatic return feature that returns the robot to its base when the battery is exhausted and then picks up where it left off.

The iLife V3s Pro doesn't have the advanced object avoidance found on numerous premium robots, however it has live cameras that stream a grainy video feed to your smartphone so that you can keep an eye on the robot as it performs. The cameras are also able to detect stairs and other obstacles and alert you if the robot encounters them. However, the iLife utilizes random navigation rather than a method that is designed to avoid objects stuck to furniture legs, which means it might not be able around a leg of a chair or other tight spot as well as a robot with mapping capabilities.

Cleaning Performance

When you're searching for a robot vacuum, it's important to balance cost with performance. Some budget models don't have features such as mapping, but they can still do a great job of cleaning your home. Pay attention to the dimensions and capacity of the robot's dust bin. You'll need enough room to accommodate all the trash that robots collect, including hair, dirt, and pet dander.

You'll also want a robot vacuum that can remove the stains that carpets have. We test every model in the ZDNET robot vacuum chart for their ability to remove dirt and hair off carpet. The most effective models have a specific brush that is designed to penetrate the fibers and pull out dirt.

The majority of budget models are successful in cleaning up spills on plain floors and head to Lovettcreations carpets with low piles, but struggle to clear larger chunks of pet hair and debris from higher-pile carpets. They usually have less suction power than more expensive models however they can do a an excellent job of cleaning up debris from tight spaces such as corners and under furniture.

The iLife V3s Pro vacuum cleaner is the top vacuum in its price range. It has a high rating in our tests, and it is able to remove dirt and hair from carpets. It's also one of the quieter models we tested and is easy to use. It has a small suction opening which collects debris instead of pushing it through the bar, and it is able to adjust the power to match the surface. It has a sidebrush with three bristles to push hair and other debris into the path of the robot. However, it's not as effective in sweeping up fine dust.

If you're looking for a vacuum and a mop, look for a model that offers both functions like the Combo j9 Plus. This robot can vacuum and mop simultaneously and you can alter the settings for each room. It's more expensive compared to other budget robot vacs in our list however it comes with the advantages of a forward-facing camera, which allows for more precise mapping and better obstacles to avoid for things like power cords and cat poop.

Maintenance

The convenience robot vacuums offer is wonderful, however the technology comes with cost. They require regular maintenance including emptying their bins to changing filters and cleaning the brush bar. They can also get caught in cords, or fall off the steps.

The best inexpensive robot vacuum budget robot vacuums ease the burden as they require little management by the user. The top models are equipped with navigation systems that enable them to avoid obstacles and stay clear of hazards like electrical cords, food debris and even dropped food. They use sensors to map rooms, and create maps that inform them where they have already cleaned.

Don't let the cost of the higher-end models deter you. They are still able to do a fantastic job if given the chance. Our top picks for budget-friendly models are from leading OEMs like iRobot Roborock Dreame. You can be sure that they have been designed with care and built to last.

If you're willing more, think about investing in mopping with a robot. They can use a moist cloth across floors to scrub them and help eliminate stubborn stains, and can be used with a specialized mop pad for tough jobs like dried coffee.

The TP Link Tapo RV30 plus is the best value mopping robot vacuum price we've reviewed in our roundup. It has the clean, fussless appearance of a home hub, but the performance and features of a top-rated robovac with LiDAR navigation. During our tests it was able to navigate without a hitch. RV30 was capable of navigating without hitting furniture and build detailed maps of its floorplan that it could use on future runs. It's the only budget robot we've tested that include this feature, however the iRobot Roomba has similar mapping capabilities with an in-app setup that walks you through the process step by step.

No matter if you opt for an expensive robot or a less expensive option, make sure you maintain your robot regularly. You should empty the trash bin and clean the filter after each cleaning session (refer to the owner's manual or the site of the manufacturer for more details). You should also replace its battery as needed, and check in on its Wi-Fi connectivity and app updates.