How to Find the best robot vacuum and mop under $500 Robot Vacuum
If you don't need the most advanced features such as mapping and do not mind cleaning your trash bin every 60 to 90 days, a basic robotic vacuum is probably suitable for you. Select a model with clean and tidy base that is compatible with voice assistants.
It excels at removing dirt, clumps of pet hair and cat litter on hardwood floors, tile and carpeting with less pile than any other robo vacuum we've tried. It can also map out and create virtual no go zones for rooms or specific areas.
- Powerful Suction
A robot vacuum can keep up with the pet hair, dust and dander that accumulates on your floors on a daily basis. It also can reduce the frequency of deep cleaning, saving you both time and effort. The most effective models feature powerful suction, which will tackle most messes with ease and leave your home clean.
You can cover more area by using a robot vacuum as well as a mop, which is especially useful if you have a large house. You can find a model with a tank for water either built into the chassis or as an additional piece that you can remove after vacuuming. You'll need to empty and refill it, though, so this is an additional task that will require a little extra work on your part.
In a perfect world, you'd clean your floors prior to using your robot vac to keep it from hitting things. In the majority of homes, this is not possible or desirable. Most robots allow you to use an app that you can install on your phone to create virtual barriers that the robot can see. Some models include no-go areas, which you can flag areas you don't want the robot to access. For example the child's room or a pile cords in a corner.
If you're looking to buy a basic robot vacuum that doesn't have all the bells and whistles, this model made by the company that makes networking TP-Link is a great option. It's quiet and is able to work on hard floors as well as carpets with low pile and can be programmed using the app to mop and vacuum at your own convenience. It has a long battery life, which can last up to 180 minutes before it requires to recharge.
- Simple to operate
In general robot vacuums require little input from you. They make use of navigational tools such as sensors, lasers, and cameras to move around and collect dust, pet hair, and food crumbs from hard floors, tiles and hardwood. Many have boundary strips to allow them to stay within the walls of a room while more expensive models can be programmed to automatically wake up and begin cleaning at a set time. Some models have fall detection technology to help them avoid falling down stairs or getting caught in cords.
If you'd like to control your robot vacuum from the comfort of your couch, you should look for models that work with voice assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant. You can also choose Wi-Fi models that allow you to begin cleaning anywhere you want using an app. Depending on how large your home is, you might prefer one that has a long battery life and a large dust bin that doesn't require being emptying frequently.
Some robot vacuums can also be mopping. They utilize water reservoirs to clean the floor. This is great for mopping, but not great for tough messes like pet poop and other wet spills. You can pick hybrids with a removable microfiber mopping pad, or a self-emptying version that allows you to go up to 60 days before emptying the base.
- Smart Mapping
Some robots use advanced mapping technologies to build an accurate map of your floorplan as they clean the floor, which makes it easier for them to avoid falling into furniture or tripping over things like chair legs or cords. This feature is only available on higher-end models however it lets your robot have a thorough understanding of the layout of your home and to know where it should go when the battery is out.
If you don't want your robot navigating into areas of your house that you'd prefer it to stay clear from (like your kids' toys or the tangled mess of gadget cords in the corner), most robots offer some method of creating virtual barriers, either via their app or physical boundary strips. You can block off areas you don't wish your robot to enter, so that it can concentrate on areas that require the most attention.
A lot of robots are able to automatically navigate to different floors based on the type of floor they're cleaning, whether that's changing between hard and carpet or focusing on particular areas of your home, such as baseboards and corners. This feature proved to be effective in our tests and improved the performance of the vacuum on both hardwood flooring and low-pile floor carpeting. It is essential to put away any loose cords or furniture prior to using your robot vacuum, so that it doesn't become caught.
- Remote Control
The majority of robot vacuums have WiFi capabilities and can be controlled via voice commands, Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa or Siri Shortcuts. Many connect to smart home systems that create a map of your space after each cleaning session, so they can "learn" your layout and design more efficient routes for future runs. Some come with obstacle avoidance features built in to prevent them from causing damage to furniture or getting stuck on objects like loose charging cables or pet hair.
The majority of robots come with an remote control that you can use to navigate them around your house. However, many can be controlled using an app for mobile devices that comes with additional features. You can typically create multiple cleaning schedules, make a list of favorite rooms and even manually guide your robot to certain areas by using directions on the screen.
Some models have zones that are not allowed. These are virtual barriers can be created in the app to prevent the robot from entering specific areas (like kid's toys or dishes and dog beds). Other apps let you make an outline of your home and give the robot detailed information about your floors. The app on our top choice Roborock S7+, the Roborock S7+, has many useful options to help you clean your home, but its interface isn't as polished as those from iRobot and Shark.
- Long Battery Life
Robotic vacs that can clean all over your home without stopping to recharge or empty their trash bins can save you time and energy. Some of them work with smart home platforms like Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri Shortcuts to allow hands-free operation. They can also create a map of your living space that allows you to program them to clean certain areas or rooms and beware of obstacles.
The majority of robot vacuums come with some degree of object detection and object detection, but more expensive models like the iRobot j7 come with advanced features like "home mapping" and advanced obstacle avoidance that will make your life easier (although our test bot did once "eat" a pair of socks). If you're seeking to improve the quality of your home maintenance, think about the use of a robot mop and a water container that can be filled and then empty.
While none of the models we tested could match the ability to pick up dirt of a standup vacuum, they did a great job cleaning hard floors and carpets with a low pile. They excel at sweeping up food crumbs and dirt that has been tracked in. They can also tackle scattered cat litter, as well as metal screws and nuts. The top robot vacuums can remove dirt from edges and corners and can even work on furniture. For a basic model that works on its own and is relatively inexpensive look into the Eufy 11S.
- Convenient Self-Charging
A robot vacuum can help keep your home clean and tidy without doing many tasks. You can schedule cleanings through the app and create zones that are not allowed to enter so that your robot doesn't damage your plants or your favourite chair. Many of our top picks also automatically empty their bins and clean their docking stations for you.
The best robot vacuums can be programmed to clean your floors on a regular basis for weeks or even months at a stretch, freeing you from the arduous task of manually sweeping and mopping your floors on a daily or weekly basis. This allows you to spend more time doing things you enjoy, and decreases the time needed to clean your floors manually.
During testing during testing, Q Revo was able to grab small particles such as baking soda and oatmeal. It also snatched up heavier debris like nails and screws made of metal, as well as fluffy stuff like pet hair. It does not have the smart mapping and object-avoiding features of our top picks, but is still a great option for most families.
The most appealing aspect of the j7 robot is that it uses camera and processor-powered sensors to identify and avoid obstacles such as power cords, shoes socks and pet waste. This means that you don't need to tidy up before using your robot. However, cluttered rooms can cause your robot to become stuck and do a poor job.