UPDATE: Sep. 16, 2022, 5:00 p.m. EDT This story has been updated to include the best deals on robot vacuums from iRobot, Shark, Roborock, and more.
We’ve compiled the best deals on robot vacuums from brands like iRobot, Shark, and Ecovacs. Here are the ones to grab as of Sept. 16:
-
BEST BUDGET DEAL: The Ionvac SmartClean 2000 is a no-frills, efficient daily cleaner — $99
$179.98(save $80.88) -
BEST SELF-EMPTYING DEAL: The Roborock Q5+ rarely gets stuck and can be sent to specific rooms in your home — $599.99
$699.99(save $100) -
BEST ROBOT VACUUM/MOP DEAL: The Yeedi Vac Station offers zone cleaning, automatic emptying, and mopping at a wicked value — $349.98
$499.98(save $150)
Only three things are certain in life: Death, taxes, and a few days each month when you need to vacuum but just don’t have time. Whether you detest the chore or get a little bummed when you can’t have that satisfying dance with your Dyson, a robot vacuum is a lifesaver. Shop models on sale below.
Robot vacuums under $200
Why we like it
Multiple robot vacuums under $100 exist — they’re just not necessary reliable. But Tzumi’s Ionvac SmartClean 2000 is an outlier. Tons of Walmart reviewers have used it, noting how though it’s not a deep-reaching carpet cleaner, it’s a clutch low-stakes purchase for daily upkeep of hard floors.
More robot vacuums under $200
-
Neato Robotics D6 — $199.99
$499.99(save $300)
Robot vacuums under $500
Why we like it
Eufy’s priciest (and arguably coolest-looking) robovac has hit a new all time low price at Amazon thanks to an extra $100 coupon. The X8’s exterior rocks blue and pink racing stripes while the interior houses twin turbines that Eufy claims offer increased suction. Despite all the horsepower, the X8 can run for up to three hours on one charge.
More robot vacuums under $500
-
Shark AI AV2001 — $225.49
$429.99(save $204.50) -
iRobot Roomba i3 Evo — $299.99
$349.99(save $50) -
Shark EZ RV913S — $285
$549.99(save $264.99) -
Roborock Q5 — $329.99
$429.99(save $100) -
Dreametech L10 Pro — $369.99
$489.99(save $120) -
Shark IQ RV1001AE XL — $418.19
$599.99(save $181.80) -
Dreametech Z10 Pro — $479.99
$599.99(save $120)
Robot vacuums under $800
Why we like it
In June 2022, Roborock debuted a mid-range self-emptier (compared to its other self-emptiers, which start at $949.88.) In just a few months, the Q5+ has already racked up nearly $3,000 five-star reviews for its nimble navigation, floor coverage, and hearty suction. It doesn’t mop like the S7+, but it does use LiDAR to map.
Robot vacuums under $1,000
Why we like it
Surprise: Amazon has the better price on the Jet Bot AI+ than Samsung’s own website. Like the Roomba j7+, the Jet Bot AI+ uses an array of 3D sensors to identify and avoid small obstacles that usually cause problems, like chargers and pet toys. (It just looks like a spaceship while doing so.) The Clean Station holds debris for a month or two.
Robot vacuum and mop hybrids and dedicated robot mops
Why we like it:
Yeedi isn’t a name with brand recognition like iRobot or Shark, but with this kind of bang for your buck, it should be. The Vac Station gets you zone cleaning and virtual boundaries, automatic emptying, and mopping for under $350.
More hybrids and robot mops on sale
-
Dreamtech D9 — $219.99
$299.99(save $80) -
iHome AutoVac Eclipse Pro — $199
$299(save $100) -
Ecovacs Deebot T8 — $349.99
$549.99(save $200) -
Eufy Robovac X8 Hybrid — $399.99 for Prime members
$599.99(save $250) -
Roborock S5 Max — $379.99
$549.99(save $170)
Are robot vacuums worth it?
The control of an upright vacuum comes with its own type of satisfaction. But if you’re not one to classify cleaning as cathartic, a robot vacuum could erase that huge, agonizing task from of your chore list. (And did we mention the joy of having « first day clean » floors all the time?)
But whether robot vacuums are worth it or not comes with a caveat: It can’t be just any robot vacuum. A cheap robot vac that doesn’t do the job right — scattering dust, bumping into walls, getting stuck on area rugs — might actually create more work for you.
What to consider when buying a robot vacuum
-
Suction power: A vacuum is the one purchase that you hope sucks a lot. Suction power is typically measured in Pascals (Pa), with most current vacs ranging between 1,500 Pa and 3,000 Pa. Stronger sucking will be needed to pick up heavier pieces of debris (be sure to set a no-go zone around Legos) and to pull matted-down pet hair from rugs.
-
Floor type: Carpeting and high pile rugs will probably require stronger suction than hard floors, as well as special features like an extra-wide or self-cleaning brush roll to prevent hair from wrapping and clogging. Folks in homes with multiple floor types might consider a bigger, sturdier robot vacuum that can hurl itself and its wheels over mats, rugs, and transitions from carpet to hard floors.
-
Automatic emptying: Because robot vacuums are typically under four inches tall, their onboard dust bins are also small — which means they frequently require emptying. (Dustbins fill up particularly quickly in homes with pets.) A self-emptying vacuum takes that job out of your hands, emptying itself into a larger dustbin in its charging dock. These larger bins can typically hold weeks of dirt without needing to be cleaned or dumped out.
-
Home layout: Every robot vacuum is equipped with sensors and drop detection. But if your home has lots of rooms, lots of turns, or lots of close-together furniture, you’ll have fewer navigation issues with an advanced model that uses intelligent mapping to remember exactly how your home is laid out, including labeling of specific rooms, mental notes of staircases, and ability to deploy zone cleaning.
-
Low-profile furniture: No one should have to be scared about what’s accumulated under their couch over the past year. A robot vacuum measuring three inches or less in height should be able to scoot under most low-hanging couches and beds.
-
Battery life and square footage: One of the main complaints people have about their robot vacuum is that it craps out in the middle of the floor. Larger spaces require more time to clean, and it all depends on how annoyed you’ll be if it only finishes a few rooms at a time. Average run times for the list below range between 90 and 200 minutes, which translate to about 500 and 2,800 square feet covered on one charge.
-
App control: WiFi-enabled robot vacuums can be synced with a smartphone app to control scheduling, manual start, cleaning settings, as well as telling your vac to make its rounds when you’re not home. Low-end models that don’t connect to WiFi will usually come with a separate remote. If you’re used to asking Alexa or Google to turn off the lights or tell you the weather, a model with voice integration will blend in nicely.
