The 4 Best Robot Vacuums - Fall 2023 Reviews

The Roborock S8+ is the best robot vacuum we've tested. This high-end robot vacuum has a dual-sensor navigation system, which combines a LIDAR mapping sensor that maps out your home with a pair of 3D scanning cameras at the front of the vacuum that let it spot, identify, and, if necessary, avoid common obstacles like power cords, furniture legs, or even pet waste in real-time. The vacuum can also store up to four maps, so you can use it on any floor in your home. It leverages the utility of its camera sensors to spot landmarks and automatically identify which room it's working in. It can also output a 3D representation of your home after mapping.

You can also specify different cleaning settings for different rooms, set up no-go zones, or use the pin-and-go feature to direct it to a specific area to clean small spills. Compared to the older Roborock S7 MaxV, the S8 features a redesigned twin-roller floorhead that's far more effective for dealing with pet hair on various surfaces. The S8 is a better performer overall. However, it's worth noting that only the S7 MaxV had a color-capable front camera and a built-in microphone that allowed you to use it as a roving security camera.

Its ultrasonic mopping system differs from most passive mopping systems, as its pad vibrates to actively scrub away dried-on stains. The S8+ variant of this vacuum comes bundled with Roborock's Auto-Empty Dock Pure station, which allows the vacuum to transfer debris from its dustbin into an external dirtbag when docked. However, you'll have to step to the pricier, slightly mechanically different S8 Pro Ultra to get an auto-empty station that refills its water tank and washes and dries its mopping pad.

The Roborock Q5+ is a good choice if you're shopping at a lower price. While you're missing out on the real-time hazard identification, twin-roller cleaning head, and ultrasonic mopping systems found on the Roborock S8+, the '+' variant of the Q5 offers self-emptying capability at a much lower price. It has the same companion app as the S8, which is a good thing, as it's very easy to use and offers a broad range of features, like drawing virtual boundary lines directing it to clean a specific room in your home. It delivers exceptional performance on bare surfaces like hardwood or tile floors and is remarkably effective when dealing with pet hair, though it struggles a little on carpet.

Unfortunately, despite having a high-efficiency E11 filter, it does a terrible job of sealing in fine particles, which are blown free from gaps in its body and LIDAR sensor. If you want a robovac with a mopping feature, the Roborock Q7 Max is very similar in design but includes a passive mopping system. Ultimately, however, the Q7 Max is noticeably pricier than the Q5, and its mopping system isn't all that efficient, as it doesn't scrub the floor like the Roborock S8+/S8's Ultrasonic mop does.

If you're shopping for something marginally cheaper, the Wyze Robot Vacuum is among the robot vacuums we've tested. Unlike the Roborock Q5/Q5+, this robot vacuum isn't compatible with a self-emptying base station; you'll need to empty its tiny dirt compartment at the end of almost every cleaning session. However, it still offers plenty of features for the money. This includes a LIDAR sensor that allows for quick and precise room mapping, even in the dark, and you can access the coverage map it outputs to set up virtual no-go zones or direct the vacuum to individual rooms.

Debris pickup on carpets is reasonable for the most part, though it can have a really hard time with finer material embedded deep within carpet fibers. Thankfully, it has no trouble dealing with solid debris and pet hair on bare floors.

For those looking to spend as little as possible, the Shark AI Robot is the best robot vacuum cleaner at a budget price we've tested. Unlike the Roborock Q5+, it isn't compatible with a self-emptying base station, so hands-on maintenance requirements are a little more demanding since you'll need to empty its dustbin manually at the end of almost every cleaning session. However, it's still a fairly strong proposition for the money. Given its relatively affordable price point, it has a wide variety of automation features, including support for virtual boundary lines and scheduling cleaning sessions in advance. Unfortunately, the SharkClean companion software isn't intuitive and provides a somewhat clunky and buggy user experience.

If you're shopping for a budget-friendly robot vacuum you can use without an internet connection, the ILIFE A4s is a worthy alternative that you can operate only using a provided remote control. Unsurprisingly, it's far more basic in functionality than the Shark, with no actual room mapping capability.