Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner UK
If you don't wish to get your hands dirty, then robot vacuum cleaners are ideal. They can save time and effort when compared to manual cleaning and are ideal for flats or single-storey homes.
Smart features are an added bonus. They include mapping technology that can remember your home's layout, and avoiding furniture and rugs and getting into those nipples underneath furniture that bigger robots struggle with.
iRobot Roomba j7+
The iRobot Roomba J7+, an upgrade to the previous model made by the company, adds new technology that makes it more efficient in avoiding pet waste. It uses smart mapping to create maps of rooms and floors, and it works hard to avoid obstacles such as furniture, charging cords, and shoes. It also detects dirt and prioritise areas of cleaning that are particularly dirty. This is a major improvement over previous models that often ignore dirtiest spots or only clean them for a short period of time.
The robot vacuum comes with a brand new self-emptying base station, which can dump dust from the bin into its own 2.4L dirt disposal bag. iRobot claims that the bag will hold debris for up to 60 days. This means that you only have to empty it and replace it every three months. The base station also comes with 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 is fully controllable via the iRobot Genius app. The app allows you to select when to start and stop the cleaning, and how long it should spend on the task at hand and then create a timetable.
In our tests in our lab, the iRobot Roomba J7+ was able to clean areas rug and hardwood floors without issue in the foyer, kitchen and family room. It was quiet and listened to us while it did its job. The decibel meter registered just 64 decibels during operation. It took approximately 90 minutes to complete a single cleaning and its battery needed an hour and 58 mins to recharge following the cleaning. The Combo j7 allows you to increase the size of your iRobot ecosystem by pairing it with the iRobot Mop M6. One can run while the other moves about 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 of floors across multiple floors and save them to the app, making it easy to switch between different rooms without repeating the setup process. The robot can also be controlled with voice, and can be controlled by Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.
Dyson has taken a different approach to obstacle detection than other robot vacuums, employing sensors and cameras. A panoramic camera that is mounted on the robot's top, together with 26 sensors external, help create a map as it moves. This helps the robot to avoid furniture and obstacles.
In our tests, the Dyson 360 Vis Nav was able to reach right all the way to the edges and baseboards. It could also be easily guided around furniture pieces with very tight corners. The suction of the robot is powerful and it can pick up every hair strand, dust particle, and dried-out piece of Playdoh we tossed its way. The vacuum took out the bin quickly and easily and reduced cleaning time by half.
The Dyson 360 Viz Nav did not perform as well as the other robots we tested during our obstacle avoidance tests. It had a difficult time with a temporary drying rack that it repeatedly tried to scoot under, eventually getting stuck and interrupting the cleaning cycle. robot vacuum hoover struggled to evade some of the larger pieces of furniture such as chairs or tables. The Dyson 360 Vis Nav also has a problem climbing stairs which is a concern for many people who live in multi-story houses.
Roborock
Roborock robotic vacuum cleaners have the highest quality cleaning features and are an upgrade from the rest. It includes two mops that rotate while pressing down and effortlessly lift stains. They also automatically lift when vacuuming carpets, to avoid leaving dirty streaks and making the vacuum clog again with dirt. They have a suction of up to 5,500 Pa which is the best in the removal of dirt and dust. In addition to this, they have intelligent water flow control to ensure the correct amount of moisture for each flooring type.
Roborock's ability of mapping your entire home using laser technology is among its most impressive capabilities. The LiDAR system of the Roborock robot is constantly rotating emitting laser beams, and calculating the time it takes them to bounce back from surrounding objects. This data is used to create a live mapping of your home, permitting the robot to navigate precisely and avoid obstacles.
Depending on the model you pick, you can customize your map to include no-go zones, furniture placements, and room-specific cleaning. You can also choose a cleaning routine for vacuum only, mop on its own, or vacuum+mop. You can schedule regular cleanings with an app-based system for cleaning that lets you set it and forget.
Roborock has a broad range of options, ranging from the budget-friendly S6MaxV to the most expensive S7 MaxV Ultra. All models feature advanced mapping as well as a battery that lasts for a long time and a large dustbin. The docking station offers many options, including charging and refilling the hot water tank. In the UK they also come with a two-year warranty.
Beko RCV 5
The Beko RCV 5 is a relative newcomer to the robotic vacuum and mopping market and is already making waves with its sleek design and reasonable price. This robot has some tricks up its sleeves that set it apart from other robotic vacuums, such as self-emptying functionality. It's easy to set-up and use with a simple application that allows you to customize a variety of settings.
The navigation system in this model uses a combination of sensors and mapping technology to navigate your home and does an excellent job of staying clear of obstacles. You can also adjust the cleaning route with the app, making it simple to clean certain areas more frequently than other areas. The app may be confusing at first but once you've mastered how to use it, you'll be able to schedule cleanings and control the robot's power levels.
The RCV 5 has some flaws despite its impressive list of features. It has a tiny water tank that can only hold 240ml at a given time. This is enough to do a basic clean-up, however, it isn't ideal for more tough stains. Furthermore, the wiping plate is quite basic and doesn't feature the ability to rotate or vibrate.
The battery life of the robots at this price isn't the length one would expect. In fact the RCV 5 only lasts for approximately a third of the cleaning cycle before needing a recharge. It's not a huge issue however it is something to be considered when shopping for a new robotic vacuum cleaner.
Karcher RCV 5
Karcher is a German manufacturer best known for pressure washers and other pressure washers, has entered the robotic vacuum market by introducing the RCV 5, a model that vacuums and mop. The RCV 5 has a range of impressive features, including excellent obstacle detection using a dual-laser system, and mapping that is monitor in real-time using the smart app.
It also can detect carpeted surfaces and then automatically activate the wet mopping function. The spot cleaning feature is extremely useful. It can be programmed to run weekly. The RCV 5 is a reliable robot cleaner with suction power of 2500 pascals. It is able to clean hard and soft floors and can get into tight corners and under low furniture.
As with many modern robots the RCV 5 has a smartphone-powered application called Karcher Home Robots that can be used to start cleaning processes and create and manage maps of your home. The RCV 5 also has the ability to create virtual walls and zones in which it can't drive.
One drawback to the RCV 5 is that its dust bin only holds around 1 liters and requires regular emptying, unlike some models with integrated disposal technology built into their docking stations. It's also heavier than many of its rivals, making it less mobile and needing more space in the charging station. The RCV 5 was highly rated by testers for its user-friendliness and app control. It performed well in our tests, but some testers had trouble getting its voice technology to work correctly.