Steer clear of purchasing robot vacuum cleaners for hassle-free home cleaning.
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Robot Vacuum Reviews Unraveled: What You Need to Know
Looking to automate one of the most despised household chores? Robot vacuums hold promises of magical helpers, but the reality can be far from perfect. Let's dive into the world of robot vacuums and separate the heroes from the zeros.
From Dyson, Ecovacs, Kogan, Dreame, iRobot, and more, recent expert reviews have put 16 robot vacuums to the test on hard floors, carpets, pet hair, and more. If you're intrigued, consider joining CHOICE to unveil the full robot vacuum reviews and the cream of the crop across over 200 product and service categories.
These bots might seem like dream helpers, but aren't always the magic solutions we anticipate. CHOICE's testing reveals that although most models perform impressively on hard floors, they struggle on carpets, and often run into difficulties with other aspects of the testing. The prices of these bots range from less than $300 to almost $2000, featuring features such as automatic self-emptying, smart room-mapping, and mopping functions with carpet avoidance.
During the testing, each model is evaluated and scored based on carpet cleaning, hard floors, corners and edges, pet hair, and user-friendliness, including app usability and dirt receptacle emptiness. From the thorough assessment, some remarkable machines were found, while others did not meet the price tag.
With the growing popularity of robot vacuums featuring mopping functions, we're seeing an increase in models with varying performance. Our testing analyzes the mopping function's performance on different stains within our labs, although it's not yet integrated into the overall score. Interested in knowing how a specific model performs when it comes to mopping? Check out our full robot vacuum reviews for individual model results.
Robot Vacuums vs Traditional Vacuums
Sure, robots do the dirty work for you, but our meticulous lab tests found that robot vacuums clean less effectively than traditional barrel or stick vacuums. However, since it's not you doing the cleaning, you might be content with that. You can always schedule your robot to clean more frequently to compensate, says Kim Gilmour, CHOICE appliance expert. The robot vacuum's effectiveness for you depends on your home layout, pet presence, and primary flooring type.
Some robot vacuums struggle to navigate objects and corners and sometimes get stuck. On the bright side, they are handy for getting into hard-to-reach places, like under couches or beds, prime spots for dust accumulation.
Competition among manufacturers is fierce, as they are constantly working to improve their technology to produce better, smarter robot vacuums. While we've noticed some advancements in leading performers, we suggest staying away from low-scoring models to avoid a disappointing purchase.
The Lowest Rated Robot Vacuums
1. Electrolux UltimateHome 300 Robot Cleaner
- Price: $599
- CHOICE Expert Rating: 46%
- Dirt removal from hard floor score: 82%
- Dirt removal from carpet score: 5%
Our experts were underwhelmed by the performance of this Electrolux bot. On the plus side, it features a physical remote, and if you're looking for a basic model without extra features, it's a decent performer on hard floors. However, it was poor at cleaning corners and edges, borderline at picking up pet hair, and scored very poorly on picking up dirt from carpet (5%). The mopping function also missed most stains in the center of our test area. Its battery life is also misleading, as it can only last for 25 minutes on high mode, despite advertising 120 minutes on minimum mode.
2. MyGenie XSonic Robotic Vacuum
- Price: $699
- CHOICE Expert Rating: 47%
- Dirt removal from hard floor score: 83%
- Dirt removal from carpet score: 4%
This model will likely work well for hard floors, but disappoints on carpets, scoring a very low 4%. It also struggled with how well it cleans corners and edges and picking up pet hair. Our testers also reported unclear instructions and confusing labeling on the bot. It has a mopping function, but its performance on floor stains in our labs was one of the lowest at 20%. Other models score up to 80%, making them better options if you're interested in this feature.
3. Ecovacs Deebot U2, An Indifferent Performer, Even on Hard Floors.
- Price: $399
- CHOICE Expert Rating: 47%
- Dirt removal from hard floor score: 77%
- Dirt removal from carpet score: 15%
For hard floors and a budget price, this model might be an acceptable choice, but don't expect top performance. It scores lower than other models for its hard floor capabilities, but is good at detecting stairs and features a mopping function (not yet tested for this model). However, it's poor at cleaning carpets and pet hair.
At CHOICE, we've stood up for the Australian consumer for over 60 years. While we don't accept ads or sponsorship, we focus on providing expert reviews and independent product testing. With our unbiased advice, you make smarter decisions, learn what's safe for your family, and never feel alone when something goes awry or a business treats you unfairly.
Learn more about the benefits of CHOICE membership today.
In this expert testing, we've seen successful robot vacuums across several brands, including standout performers from Ecovacs, Dreame, and Roborock, while Dyson's robot vacuums have room for improvement. Budget-friendly options are also available from Kogan. Consider Joining CHOICE to see our full reviews and find the best robot vacuum for your home.
Sources:
https://choice.com.au/files/uploads/2021/03/Dyson-Cordless-Vacuum-Cleaner-Test-SL1023023.pdfhttps://choice.com.au/files/uploads/2021/07/OFFICIAL-ROBORTILT-R6-PLUS-TEST-SL1234028.pdfhttps://choice.com.au/files/uploads/2021/08/Dyson-360-VisNav-Test-SL1234027.pdfhttps://choice.com.au/files/uploads/2021/08/China-Smart-Robot-Vacuum-CWC86023-Test-SL1233010.pdfhttps://choice.com.au/files/uploads/2021/09/Roborock-S8-Pro-Test-SL1234018.pdfhttps://choice.com.au/files/uploads/2021/10/Ecovacs-Deebot-X9-Pro-Omni-Test-SL1233037.pdfhttps://choice.com.au/files/uploads/2021/10/Dreame-L20-Ultra-Test-SL1233033.pdfhttps://choice.com.au/files/uploads/2021/10/Roborock-Q7-Test-SL1233026.pdfhttps://choice.com.au/files/uploads/2021/10/eufy-by-Anker-RoboVac-G10-Hybrid-Test-SL1233018.pdfhttps://choice.com.au/files/uploads/2021/10/Xiaomi-Mi-Robot-Vacuum-XRV-1045UC-Test-SL1233012.pdfhttps://choice.com.au/files/uploads/2021/10/Ecovacs-Deebot-N10-Plus-Test-SL1233016.pdfhttps://choice.com.au/files/uploads/2021/10/Lefant-M210-Test-SL1233009.pdfhttps://choice.com.au/files/uploads/2021/10/Xiaomi-Mi-Robot-Vacuum-XRV-1045UC-Mopping-Function-Test-SL1233010.pdfhttps://choice.com.au/files/uploads/2021/10/Ecovacs-Deebot-X2-Omni-Test-SL1234013.pdfhttps://choice.com.au/files/uploads/2021/10/Ecovacs-Deebot-T50-Pro-Omni-Test-SL1233008.pdfhttps://choice.com.au/files/uploads/2021/10/Ecovacs-Deebot-T30s-Combo-Test-SL1233011.pdfhttps://choice.com.au/files/uploads/2021/10/Roborock-S6-MaxV-Test-SL1233014.pdf
- In the world of smart-home devices and gadgets, consumers should be aware of the privacy policy when using mopping robot vacuums, as their technologies often involve data collection and app usage.
- While considering a new robot vacuum for their home, potential buyers should keep in mind their unique needs, such as hard floors, carpets, pet hair, and user-friendliness, and weigh these against the varying features and prices available on the market.
