How to Find the
Best Budget Robot VacuumA bargain robot vacuum is a bargain. However, be aware that it could cost more than you expected in maintenance: detangling the fur from brushes, blocking inlets and emptying small dust bins could quickly turn your dream of automated cleaning a chore.
For many people, the best budget robot is the iRobot Combo. It offers the same hands-free experience at a fraction of its price.
Suction Power
Certain models in this range have enough suction to do basic vacuuming. Others may require the use of a handheld nozzle for deeper cleaning. A budget robot vacuum will likely do the job if you live in an apartment with primarily hard floors. However, if the floors are different surfaces and you also have rugs, or if you have pets that shed, a higher-end model will provide the most effective results for your money.
Some budget models come with mopping capabilities and a water tank, increasing their capabilities. The latest Dyson R7050C model is a good example. It has excellent scores in CR's tests of navigation and a huge bin of 770ml, but it's louder than a lot of the other robots we've tried and doesn't have mopping features. Eufy Roborock Q5 Pro is smaller and quieter and has an automated dock. It has a reservoir of water with a suction capacity of 5,500-pascals, and a large bin you can fill with cleaning products to make it more efficient. The Q5 Pro can be controlled by the smart app which allows you to mop or vacuum a room, sequence of rooms, or an entire space. You can also establish no-go zones and customize suction settings for each room.
The budget Shark ION is a great option for those who want an affordable, basic device that is reliable. It's not as sophisticated as other models, having a basic app and no-frills mapping capabilities, but it does have excellent navigation and cleaning abilities. It's also among few robots that differentiate between carpets and hard flooring. The 300ml dustbin only emptied once every 30 days.
Look into some of the best models in this price range if you want something more sophisticated, able to vacuum mop, sweep, and create maps to help you avoid obstacles. The iRobot Roomba 650 and 750 are extremely powerful suction power and combs that are clever for pet hair and other fine dirt, and an in-app scheduling and voice control using your smart home assistant. The Samsung Cleanbot SV8000 is another option that provides excellent cleaning performance for the money.
Navigation Efficiency
A budget robot vacuum cleaner can be just as effective as expensive models, so long as it is able to maneuver through your home and avoid obstacles. To determine navigation efficiency our lab technicians set up a tracker to observe a robot's move through a multiroom test home and test its ability to find the rooms it needs to clean in a certain amount of time, while avoiding obstacles like rug cords, power cables, and furniture. We also look at how quickly a robot can travel over various terrains used in the home such as stairways and transitions between different types of floors.
The best budget robot vacuums have navigation systems that let them clean a room efficiently without getting lost or running into obstacles. Most feature mapping capabilities, which are crucial to complete house cleaning. Even models that aren't mapping can efficiently cover a room. It is crucial to balance the cost of your machine with the features you require.
We also consider how easily a robot can traverse thresholds within the home, such as the heights of a door sill and a sofa. A good budget robot will be able to pass through these obstacles and some have settings that adjust the suction power according to the
floor robot type. We also consider whether a budget robot is compatible with your home's smart-home setup and is able to be controlled remotely through an app or voice command.
One example of an excellent budget robot is the iLife V3s Pro, which has basic mapping capability and other
smart robot vacuums features in an extremely affordable package. It can be controlled using the iRobot App, and it has an automatic return feature that returns the robot to its home base when the battery is exhausted and continues where it began.
The iLife V3s Pro doesn't have the advanced object avoidance that you find on many premium robots, but it does have a live camera that transmits a grainy video feed to your phone so you can keep an eye on the robot as it performs. The cameras can spot stairs and other obstructions and alert the
robot vacuum hoover if it comes across them. The iLife however, employs random navigation instead of a method designed to prevent objects from being stuck to furniture legs. It may not be able to maneuver through a tight space or a leg of a chair as a robotic system with mapping capabilities.
Cleaning Performance
When you're searching for a robot
self vacuum, it is important to balance price with performance. The cheapest models might not feature advanced features such as mapping however, you can find models that are very effective in cleaning your home. It is important to be aware of the size of the dustbin and how much dirt it can hold before needing to empty it. It is essential to have enough space to accommodate all the debris that a robot accumulates, including pet dander, dirt and hair.
You'll also require a robotic vacuum that removes stains from carpets. We test each model in the ZDNET chart to see whether it can remove hair and dirt from carpet. The top models come with a special brush that digs into the fibers to remove debris.
Budget models are good at cleaning small spills from flooring that is not covered with carpets however, they aren't able to get rid of larger pet hairs and debris from higher-pile carpets. These models tend to have a less powerful suction however they can be effective in removing debris from tight areas such as corners and under furniture.
The iLife V3s Pro is the best budget model for vacuuming and has scored high marks in our tests because of its ability to remove dirt and hair off carpets. It's also among the quieter models we test and user-friendly. It has an opening for suction that scoops debris rather than pushing it through the bar, and it can adjust the power to be in line with the surface. It has a sidebrush that comes with three bristles that push hair and other debris into the path of the robot. However, it's not as effective at picking dust particles.
Find a model that has mop and vacuum functions, like the Combo j9 Plus. The robot can mop and vacuum simultaneously and you can also customize the settings for each room. It's more expensive than the other robot vacuums we have in our chart but has a camera in the front that allows for more precise mapping and better obstacle avoidance for things like power cords and cat poop.
Maintenance
Robot vacuums are useful however they come with costs. Regular maintenance is required for everything from emptying the dust bin to changing filters and cleaning the brush bar. They can also get caught in cords and fall off the stairs, which is why they need to be monitored carefully.
The most affordable robot vacuums can ease these problems because they require minimal administration by the user. Top picks are equipped with navigation systems that allow them to avoid obstacles and stay clear of hazards such as electrical cords and food items that have been dropped. They also use a variety of sensors to map rooms, and then create maps that indicate which areas they've cleaned previously so that they don't have to go over the same areas again.
Even the cheapest robotic vacuums can deliver a good clean if you give them a chance Don't be deterred by the high cost of more expensive models. A majority of our top budget picks come from leading OEMs, like iRobot, Roborock and Dreame and you can be sure that they've been designed with the utmost care and built to last.
If you're willing to invest more, think about investing in a mopping robot. These can swish a wet cloth over floors to scrub them clean and remove stubborn stains and can be used with a specially designed mop pad for difficult jobs such as dried coffee.
There are a number of mopping robots included in our list however the most affordable model is the TP Link Tapo RV30 Plus. It has the clean and uncluttered appearance of a home hub, but the performance and features of a top-rated robot with LiDAR navigation. During our testing it proved that the RV30 was capable of navigating without hitting furniture, and also creating detailed maps of its floors that it could use when it runs. This is the only robot in the budget that we have tested with this feature. iRobot Roomba also has mapping capabilities, but the app's setup guides you through the entire process.

Remember to maintain your robot regardless of whether you pick the most expensive or one that is less expensive. It is important to empty the dustbin and clean the filter after each cleaning session (refer to your owner's guide or the website of the manufacturer for more information). Replace the battery if needed and check the Wi-Fi connectivity.