Robot Vacuum Cleaner: The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly

· 6 min read
Robot Vacuum Cleaner: The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly

Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner UK

If you don't wish to get your hands dirty then robot vacuum cleaners are ideal. They are more efficient than manual vacuum cleaners and are ideal for houses with one storey or less.

Smart features are an added bonus. They include mapping technology that can remember your home's layout, avoiding furniture and rugs and getting into those nipples underneath furniture that larger robots have to contend with.

iRobot Roomba j7+

The iRobot Roomba J7+ is an upgrade over the previous model of the company and adds some new technology to make it more effective in avoiding pet waste. It uses intelligent mapping and navigation to create maps of rooms and floors and tries to avoid obstacles like charging cords, furniture and shoes. It also can detect dirt and prioritise areas for cleaning that are dirty. This is a major improvement over older models that sometimes ignore the dirtiest spots or only clean them for a short period of time.

The robot vacuum comes with a new self-emptying base station that will deposit debris from the dustbin into its own 2.4L dirt disposal bag. iRobot claims that the bag can hold debris for up to 60 days, so you'll only need to empty it and then replace it every three months. The base station also has a spare bag that can be used to quickly replace.

It's easy to set up and use the Roomba that is compatible with Alexa, Google Assistant and can be controlled via the iRobot Genius app. Using the app, you can choose to start or stop cleaning, set the amount of time it should be working on each job, and then create a timetable.

In our tests we found that the iRobot Roomba J7+ cleaned the floors of area rug and hardwood in the family room, foyer and kitchen with no problem. It was quiet and listened to us as it worked. The decibel meter measured just 64 decibels during the operation. It took about 90 minutes to sweep a single room and the battery needed to be recharged afterward for a total of an hour and 58 minute. The Combo J7 lets you expand your iRobot ecosystem by pairing it with the iRobot Mop m6. One can run while the other moves around the room.

Dyson 360 Viz Nav

The Dyson 360 Viz Nav is the ideal robot vacuum cleaner for anyone living in a multi-floor home. This model can create maps for different floors and save them into the app. It's then easy to switch between spaces without having to repeat the setup procedure. The robot is controlled via voice commands, like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.

Dyson has taken a different approach to obstacle detection that is different from other robots, employing a combination of sensors and cameras. A panoramic camera mounted on the top of the robot along with 26 other sensors will help to create an image of the area as it moves. This helps the robot avoid obstacles and furniture.

In our tests, the Dyson 360 Vis Nav was able to reach right up to edges and baseboards. It could also be easily navigated around furniture pieces with very tight corners. The robot's suction was strong, and it was able to capture every speck of dust hair, hair strand and dried-out piece of Playdoh we tossed at it. The vacuum removed the bin quickly and efficiently and reduced the cleaning time by half.

The Dyson 360 Viz Nav did not perform as well as other robots we tested during our obstacle avoidance tests. It had a hard time with a drying rack that it repeatedly tried to move under, but ended up getting stuck and interrupting the cleaning process. It also had difficulty avoiding furniture pieces that are taller, such as the chair or coffee table. The Dyson 360 Vis Nav is also not able to climb stairs, which will be a problem for many people living in multi-story homes.


Roborock

Roborock robot vacuums are equipped with top-of-the-line features to make them stand out from the rest. Dual mops are available that spin and lift stains when pressing down. They also automatically lift carpets when vacuuming to keep streaks of dirt from being left behind and making the vacuum clog again with dirt. They are able to suction up to 5,500 Pa to ensure superior dirt and dust removal. They also have sophisticated water flow controls to make sure the right amount of moisture is absorbed by every floor type.

Roborock's ability to map your entire home using laser technology is one of its most impressive capabilities. The LiDAR system on the Roborock robot constantly rotates emitting laser beams, and calculating the amount of time they take to bounce back off surrounding objects. This information is used to create a real-time map of your home, permitting the robot to navigate accurately and avoid obstacles.

Based on the model you select, you can customize the map to include furniture placements, no-go zones and a specific room's cleaning. You can also pick a cleaning routine for vacuum only, mop on its own or a combination of vacuum and mop. You can schedule regular cleanings by using an app-based cleaning system that allows you to set it and forget.

Roborock has a broad range of options, ranging from the budget-friendly S6 MaxV to the premium S7 MaxV Ultra. All models feature advanced mapping, a long-lasting battery, and a large dustbin. The docking station offers many functions, such as charging and refilling the hot water tank. Lastly, they have a two-year warranty in the UK.

Beko RCV 5

The Beko RCV 5 may be an relative newcomer to the robotic vacuum and mopping industry, but its sleek design and affordable price have already made it a hit. This robot has some tricks to make it stand out from other robotic vacuums, like object recognition and self emptying features. It's also a breeze to set up and use, using an easy-to-use app that lets you customize many settings to suit your needs.

The navigation system in this model utilizes sensors and mapping technology to guide your home, and it does a fantastic job of getting around obstacles. You can also alter the cleaning path using the app, making it simple to clean certain areas more frequently than others. The app may initially be confusing, but once you learn how to use it, you will be able schedule cleanings, and also manage the robot's power levels.

The RCV 5 has some flaws despite its impressive list. It has a tiny water tank, which can only hold 240 milliliters at any given time. Although this is sufficient to do a basic wipe clean, it's not the best for removing the most stubborn stains. Furthermore the wiping plate itself isn't very sophisticated and doesn't feature a vibration or rotation function.

affordable robot vacuum  of an RCV 5 at this price is not as long as one might expect. The RCV 5's battery lasts about a third a cleaning cycle. This isn't a major issue, but is something to keep in mind when looking for the latest robotic vacuum cleaner.

Karcher RCV 5

The German manufacturer Karcher is most well-known for its pressure washers, but it's now entering the market of robot vacuums with a model that vacuums and mop. The RCV 5 has a range of impressive features including a superior obstacle detection using a dual-laser system and mapping that can be monitored in real time via the smart app.

It also can detect carpeted surfaces and then automatically activate the wet mopping feature. The spot cleaning feature is also very useful. It can be programmed to repeat weekly. The RCV 5 is a reliable robot cleaner with suction power of 2500 pascals. It is able to clean both hard and soft flooring, and can get into tight corners and even under furniture that is low.

Like a lot of modern robots, the RCV 5 has a smartphone-powered application called Karcher Home Robots. This app can be used to initiate cleaning processes and to create and manage maps of the home. It is also possible to create virtual walls and zones within which the RCV 5 isn't able to drive, as well as a host of other control options.

A downside of the RCV 5 is that its dust bin is only able to hold around 1 liters and requires regular emptying, in contrast to models with integrated disposal technology integrated into their docking stations. It's also heavier than some of its rivals which makes it less mobile, and thus requiring more space in the charging station. The RCV 5 was highly rated by the testers for its user-friendliness and app control. It was a great performer in our tests, but some users had difficulty getting the voice tech to work well and the docking station was difficult to put in a flat position.