Before iRobot launched the Roomba I7+, a part of robot vacuum ownership was emptying the dust container.
It is a hard but necessary task It can be messy. But that all changed when the i7+ came out, and it was a huge hit – being one of the most famous automatic blank bots ever made.
Since it came out, other brands have followed suit, and we’ll be looking at the best self-priming robot vacuums (At least the ones I tested).
Table of Contents
Overview of the best automatic vacuum cleaners
Despite the title of the article, it is impossible to name a specific model, the best empty robotic robot, Where many variables are included.
The top three choices
So I came with Three main categories for this list. I was planning to add “best for carpets”, but since then
You will also see all files Other robot vacuums I’ve tested for your reference. Please scroll down to see all the info, plus my comment on each.
Best in cleaning performance: Roomba S9 +

- air flow: 25 cubic feet per minute
- deep cleaning: 93%
- Automatic unloading: yes
- bag capacity: 2.5 liters
- Mobility: CAMERA AND SLAM
- Save the map: yes
- Number of maps: 10
- containment: yes
- Selective room cleaning: yes
- Recharge and resume: yes
- Trash capacity: 500 ml
- Side brush: One
- battery: 3300 mAh Li-ion
- the show length: 75 minutes
- Noise: 74.1 dB
Best value-for-money alternative: Yeedi Vac . Station

- air flow: 23 cubic feet per minute
- deep cleaning: 80%
- Cleansing: yes
- Automatic unloading: yes
- bag capacity: 2.5 liters
- Mobility: smart navigation
- Save the map: yes
- Number of maps: 1
- containment: yes
- Selective room cleaning: yes
- Recharge and resume: yes
- Trash capacity: 420 ml
- Water tank: 240 ml
- Side brush: One
- battery: Li-ion battery 5200 mAh
- the show length: 200 minutes
- Noise: 66.1 dB
Best Hybrid Robot Vacuum Cleaner And Mop: Roborock S7 +

- air flow: 13.91 cubic feet per minute
- deep cleaning: 78.85%
- Cleansing: yes
- Automatic unloading: yes
- bag capacity: 3 liters
- Mobility: Lidar and SLAM
- Save the map: yes
- Number of maps: 4
- containment: yes
- Selective room cleaning: yes
- Recharge and resume: yes
- Trash capacity: 420 ml
- Water tank: 300 ml
- Side brush: One
- battery: Li-ion battery 5200 mAh
- the show length: 180 minutes
- Noise: 69.8 dB
Cheaper alternatives to Roomba S9 + for carpets
The S9+ may be the best carpeted option, but it’s also the most affordable. Here are excellent, less expensive options for those who don’t want to spend a premium.
Please note that Roomba I3+ does not have VSLAM, so it lacks advanced features such as blocking zones; That is why it is cheaper than the i6+.
Roomba I6 +

- air flow: 8.2 CFM
- deep cleaning: 82.5%
- Cleansing: no
- Automatic unloading: yes
- bag capacity: 2.5 liters (approx.)
- Mobility: queues
- Save the map: yes
- Number of maps: 10
- Stay out of zones: yes
- Selective room cleaning: yes
- Recharge and resume: yes
- Trash capacity: 400 ml
- Side brush: One
- battery: 1800 mAh
- the show length: 75 minutes
- Noise: 64.9 dB
Roomba I3 +

- air flow: 7.27 cubic feet per minute
- deep cleaning: 84.7%
- Cleansing: no
- Automatic unloading: yes
- Mobility: smart navigation
- Save the map: yes
- containment: no
- Selective room cleaning: yes
- Recharge and resume: yes
- rubber extracts: yes
- Trash capacity: 400 ml
- Side brush: One
- battery: 1800 mAh
- the show length: 75 minutes
- Noise: 64.9 dB
Best obstacle to avoid bots
Ecovacs and Dreame are options with front 3D laser sensors that are skilled at avoiding objects.
Based on our tests, the Dreame Z10 Pro is generally better with a bunch of avoidable obstacles, while the Ecovacs N8 Pro+ has stuck with the boot and tried to climb over a scale.
Ecovacs N8 Pro +

- air flow: 22.29 cubic feet per minute
- deep cleaning: 66.16%
- Cleansing: yes
- Automatic unloading: yes
- bag capacity: 2.5 liters
- Mobility: Lidar and SLAM
- Save the map: yes
- Number of maps: 2
- containment: yes
- Selective room cleaning: yes
- Recharge and resume: yes
- Trash capacity: 420 ml
- Water tank: 230 ml
- Side brush: two
- battery: 3200 mAh
- the show length: 110 minutes
- Noise: 64.4 dB
Dreame Z10 Pro

- air flow: 19.33 cubic feet per minute
- deep cleaning: 79.95%
- Cleansing: yes
- Automatic unloading: yes
- bag capacity: 4 liters
- Mobility: Lidar and SLAM
- Save the map: yes
- Number of maps: 3
- containment: yes
- Selective room cleaning: yes
- Recharge and resume: yes
- Trash capacity: 400 ml
- Water tank: 150 ml
- Side brush: two
- battery: Li-ion battery 5200 mAh
- the show length: 150 minutes
- Noise: 75.5 dB
Other ‘budget’ alternatives
These models are other cheap, empty car alternatives for budget-conscious shoppers.
Shark IQ pioneered this and remains one of the most popular options.
Ultenic is brand new, and its primary selling point is the large 4.3-liter bag that can hold up to 60 days of debris.
Shark IQ XL Auto Blank

- air flow: 18.87 cubic feet per minute
- deep cleaning: 80%
- Cleansing: no
- Automatic unloading: yes
- Auto Empty Dustbin Capacity: 1.8 liters
- bag capacity: no bag (without bag)
- Mobility: smart navigation
- Save the map: yes
- Number of maps: 1
- containment: yes
- Selective room cleaning: yes
- Recharge and resume: yes
- Trash capacity: Approximately. 400 ml
- Water tank: Unavailable
- Side brush: two
- battery: 2990 mAh Li-ion
- the show length: 60 minutes
- Noise: 64.8 dB
Ultenic T10

- air flow: 14.52 cubic feet per minute
- deep cleaning: 49.55%
- Cleansing: yes
- Automatic unloading: yes
- bag capacity: 4.3 liters
- Mobility: Lidar and SLAM
- Save the map: yes
- Number of maps: 1
- containment: yes
- Selective room cleaning: yes
- Recharge and resume: yes
- Trash capacity: 580 ml
- Water tank: undefined
- Side brush: two
- battery: Li-ion battery 5200 mAh
- the show length: 280 minutes
- Noise: 69.5 dB
Introduction to Best Empty Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Self-vacuum cleaners are gaining in popularity with more brands Implemented this feature (at least) at their best option.
Its primary selling point is automatically Empty the robot’s trash after each runrid consumers of this messy task.
I tested a bunch, and there are two main types of designs: ramp and vertical outlet.
Incline mode provides better stability
The most common design you’ll see on shopping sites is a ramp, where the robot sits on a ramp.
Many prominent brands use this design, such as iRobot, Dreame, Roborockand Ecovacs and Yeedi.
This design provides the best stability since the port is located directly under the robot, eliminating any alignment issues.
Port size will vary by design.
Most of them will have a single port that works like Share iQ, Roomba I3 +i6+, S9+, Ultenic T10and the Dreame Z10 Pro.
Other brands like Yeedi and Ecovacs have two outlets, which help them better discharge large amounts of debris.
Vertical ports are smaller
One of the problems with sloping style sidewalks is the bulk with the slope protrusion.
Vertical ports do not have this problem because they do not have a ramp.
My favorite design is the Shark IQ Automatic Knob Blank Station, which makes it easy to navigate.
However, the biggest problem with this design is the potential alignment problem because the port is vertically aligned.
Some brands like Ultenic advise against using a dock on carpet because of this.
In comparison, others like Shark have a stability aid extension (SharkMat).
Best in overall cleaning performance: Roomba S9 +
I have tested many robotic vacuum cleaners, and one model that stands out as the best cleaning option is Roomba S9 +.
It was consistent on both surfaces, receiving a near-perfect score on surface debris and the highest score yet in our deep cleaning tests.
Positives
- Best vacuum cleaner performance in its class
- 9 wide straws provide a wider cleaning path than most other brands
- Excellent at cleaning compact sand on medium pile carpets (93%)
- Great for picking up five and seven inch locks of hair
- Square interface makes it effective for edge cleaning
Negatives
- expensive
- Short term time (between 45 and 75 minutes)
- iRobot lacks some features
The
All improvements are aimed at improving cleaning performance.
The most obvious change was the shape. iRobot changed it from a puck-shaped design to a square interface similar to Neto Botvac.
The second improvement is to move the brush roller toward the front end and increase the width to 9″ (or 30% wider than I . series).
These changes and increased power have improved the performance and efficiency of the S9+ compared to previous I Series bots.
Like I said, it’s the best performing bot across the board.
Wide extractors, advanced agitation, and airflow enable it to capture more debris than any other robotic vacuum cleaner.
This was not only based on measured tests, but also an eye test.
I picked up 100% sand on hard floors And 93% in deep cleaning tests – The best of the bunch is here.
Best Value for Money Choice: Yeedi Vac . Station
One of the surprises that breaks the results of this article is the results of Yadi Fak Station.
It was third overall in the cleaning tests behind Roomba S9 + and Roborock S7 +backed by a solid 80% lead in deep cleaning tests – the best options other than the Roomba devices here.
Here’s the clincher – it’s one of the Least expensive alternatives in this list.
So I had no choice but to hail this as the best value for money option.
Positives
- One of the least expensive options on this list
- Excellent cleaning performance for the price
- Low profile design that fits perfectly into furniture with 3.1 . clearance
- Mopping is almost as good as the Roborock S5 Max
- Only Android VSLAM with live map
- Works for up to 180 minutes
Negatives
- Coarse side brush will wear faster
- VSLAM algorithm is light based (may not work optimally in dark space)
Yeedi Vac Station’s performance is no surprise since then It shares many components with Ecovacs.
Some comments In my video review Remember that Yeedi Under the umbrella of Ecovacsso the availability of parts should not be a problem since the filter, bags and side brushes interchangeable.
But since it’s not as popular as the iRobot, hard-to-find components like a side brush motor can be a problem down the road.
An important aspect of robot vacuum ownership is maintenance, which I will cover in a separate article.
The use of VSLAM also makes this robot light-dependent.
Using it in a dark environment may cause some navigation problems.
Don’t expect it to perform like a
Finally, the mopping feature allows it to be a very versatile option on hard floors.
It doesn’t have a vibrating wiping pad like the Roborock S7+, but the results were almost as good as Roborock S5 Max.
I like the simplicity of the design because the lack of moving parts bodes well for its longevity.
I would not recommend it for heavy duty wiping. None of the vacuum hybrid robots I’ve tested will work well on heavily soiled floors.
Best Hybrid Robot Vacuum Cleaner And Mop: Roborock S7 +
Outside
But one advantage it has over other alternatives here is acoustic scanning systemwhich gives it an element of excitement absent in other brands.
Positives
- Outstanding cleaning performance (#2 behind
Roomba S9 + in general) - Acoustic cleansing adds an element of excitement that other brands lack
- The upgraded brush roll takes irritation to another level
- Decent deep cleaning results
- Automatic empty bag slightly larger than Roomba’s options
- Automatic discharging dock picks up debris stuck to the filter
- Long run time 180 minutes
Negatives
- Technological complexity raises some concern about its long-term viability
- Huge scanning chip adds a lot of weight to the robot
- Substandard edge cleaning
- very expensive
What is impressive to me is how the Roborock achieved excellent cleaning with less airflow.
I’m not sure why the S7’s airflow rates are so low. The roller can be chunky covering most of the opening, but the results speak for themselves.
For homes with no or minimal carpeting, I would choose the Roborock S7+ above
S7 is the most versatile Android It does both things well.
One concern raised by some is the complexity of the scanning system. How long will it last?
Only time will tell how it holds up, but one way to ensure longevity is to use a new pad for each wipe cycle.
Doing so will reduce unnecessary wear, which bodes well for longevity.
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cheapest alternative to Roomba S9 +: Roomba I6 +
For budget-conscious shoppers who can’t or don’t want to spend a premium on the S9+, a good, less expensive alternative is Roomba I6 +.
It retains many of the same features as the S9+ but with less power and slightly lower quality performance.
The most important of these differences is its shape, with the I6 retaining the circular bezel in the older Roomba models.
So it uses narrower extractors and a fast spinning side brush that tends to disperse debris.
Outside
Positives
- Less expensive option
Roomba S9 + - One of the best options for deep carpet cleaning
- Abundant spare parts availability makes it viable for long term
- iRobot can save up to 10 map levels
Negatives
- A quick spinning side brush that will disperse large amounts of debris
- VSLAM depends on light
Important Note: The Roomba I6+ is similar to the I7+ with differences in color scheme and accessory additions out of the box.
Roomba products are excellent for carpeting, thanks to iRobot’s patented anti-rotation hoods and dirt detection.
These rollers have grooves that move carpet better than any robotic vacuum cleaner I’ve seen.
The dirt detector makes extra passes when it senses more debris, so it’s also the most comprehensive option available.
Again, if cost was a higher priority, the Roomba I6+ would be a more attractive option than the S9+.
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iRobot Auto Budget Option: Roomba I3 +
The latest version of the iRobot Trio is Roomba I3 +. It is one of the later releases after the S9, I7, and I6, providing consumers with a more cost-friendly alternative.
One of the reasons for iRobot’s price cut is because It does not have a camera-based VSLAM algorithm.
In its place are gyroscopes and an optical ground tracking sensor for navigation.
Positives
- Cheapest empty car option from Roomba
- Crossover pattern is more efficient than Roomba I6 and S9
- Slightly better than I6+ at deep cleaning carpets
- Although there is no VSLAM, it still has recharge and resume
Negatives
- No map saving and access to features like exclusion zones and selective room cleaning
The lack of VSLAM means that I3 cannot save maps; Therefore, it will not have advanced features like block zones.
Surprisingly Fixed cross cleaning pattern cleaning It appears to be more efficient – at least in the small room test.
The i3+’s matte exterior is more fingerprint-resistant than the glossy finishes in the other two Roombas.
There’s nothing fancy with this alternative, but it’s a good good option for those who don’t mind not having the advanced navigation specs.
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3D Obstacle Avoidance: Ecovacs N8 Pro +
Next, we’ll look at the second best robot in the bunch for obstacle avoidance – Ecovacs N8 Pro +.
This alternative is a recent release from Ecovacs as their “budget” alternative to T8 AIVI . series.
But the truth is that the N8 Pro’s 3D sensors are better than the T8 AIVI’s single-lens camera at avoiding obstacles.
This version is cheaper because it uses a smaller 3300 mAh lithium-ion battery, which cuts the runtime from 180 to 110 minutes.
Not a big deal for small and medium sized homes due to its efficiency, but it may be for larger homes.
Positives
- The best obstacle to avoid bot on this list
- Less expensive option for T8 AIVI
- 2 in 1 mopping and sweeping functions
- Decent in cleaning surface debris
- Decent scanning results on red wine stains
- Efficient Navigation
Negatives
- Perform sub-part deep cleaning
- Shorter runtime than T8 AIVI
Aside from its snag-avoidance capabilities, the N8 Pro is above average at cleaning surface dirt.
As with most dual-brush robots, one problem is that they disperse debris.
But it shouldn’t be a problem for your daily cleaning tasks to dust.
However, this is a note from these tests and something to keep in mind for consumers who may have things like, let’s say, pet litter to clean up.
The N8 Pro’s biggest Achilles heel will be the deep cleaning, captured an average of 66.16%.
Not a bad score, but below average versus the other options above.
Regardless, this option is a decent option, especially for people who prioritize avoiding obstacles or want additional scanning functionality.
Dreame Z10 Pro
Another option to avoid obstacles is Dreame Z10 Pro. It is similar to Ecovacs in that it has front 3D sensors.
I’m not sure how these manufacturers calibrate these sensors, but the Dreame version is better in Avoid a wide variety of things.
It also deep cleans (carpet) better than Ecovacs, and you could argue it’s a better value option if you don’t mind its novelty.
Positives
- Fourth best position behind Yeedi Vac Station, Roborock S7 and
Roomba S9 + In cleaning tests - It has an excellent obstacle avoidance system
- Above average deep cleaning results
- The large 4-liter bag will hold up to 65 days of debris
- Very efficient navigation
Negatives
- The automatic degassing system tends to blow the debris into the inlet port
- Being a new player means limited spare parts
One of the issues with new brands or models is the uncertainty regarding the availability of parts.
The question is, will Dreame still be there after the next five to ten years?
I’ve seen new brands come and go in the past few months with cordless vacuum cleaners, specifically Jimmy JV 51 And Moosoo K17.
So I’ve been taking a pause and not fully recommending new brands until they have proven their longevity in the industry.
Dreame is a relatively newcomer but very active in product development and release.
Being under the supervision of Xiaomi mitigates the risks, but it’s not a big-name company like iRobot, Shark or Ecovacs with a more established following.
Consider the Dreame Z10 Pro if you value cleaning performance and snag avoidance.
Shark IQ Auto is empty
before Shark IQ robot vacuum cleaner Introduced, Roomba dominated this space with its innovative but expensive products.
Shark broke the price barrier with IQ Auto Empty and gave consumers Cheaper alternative.
The initial version had its drawbacks, the most obvious being the lack of a floor tracking sensor, which led to problems with creating maps.
Fortunately, this issue has been corrected by Addition of a floor tracking sensor.
It only took one run to build the map during the tests, and it was fast.
IQ Auto Empty is the only bagless option here, with Smallest capacity of only 1.8 liters.
One positive with the reduced volume is the compact frame, and it comes with a handle, which makes it easier to move around.
Positives
- Easy to move compact automatic empty dock
- Excellent at resisting threads than 5 inch shorter threads
- Good at cleaning compact sand on medium pile carpets (75%)
- A bagless berth means saving money in exchange for not having to constantly buy bags
- The slowly rotating side brush will not scatter debris
Negatives
- SharkClean lacks features
- He can only do one pass run – lacks accuracy
- Emptying automatically emptied trash can be messy if you’re not careful.
Using a bagless design means a lower operating cost because the bags are not required to be purchased and replaced regularly.
But you still have to replace the HEPA filter, but that will be less frequent.
Performance-wise, the Shark IQ is decent with shallow debris but not great.
What hinders this is the lack of accuracy as it only rotates once.
SharkClean has an extended launch option, but I don’t see any improvement with this feature turned on.
The higher airflow mitigates this deficiency, but you’ll have to do multiple rounds per day to be more precise.
Shark advertises that the IQ has an anti-interlacing system, but it works up to a certain length—only five inches.
Anything higher will stop the robot and prevent the brush from spinning, resulting in an error code.
You can see in the image below; Long hair is brushed.
Another problem is the app because it lacks certain features. Apart from the single track, it can only save one map, which goes against the purpose of the light base station.
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Ultenic T10
The last bot on this list is Ultenic T10. It’s brand new, and they sent me this robot vacuum to test it out as part of their marketing campaign.
One advantage going for it is Large bag 4.3 liters – Bigger options are here.
Ultenic says it can hold up Up to two months of debris.
However, one of the issues with the T10 auto vacuum station is its incompatibility on the mat due to alignment concerns.
It’s one of the focus points I explained earlier in this article.
Depending on how you lay your floors, it could be a problem. Another issue is Poor deep cleaning performance (49.55%)worst result among the nine robots here.
Positives
- The spacious 4.3L bag can hold up to two months of debris
- It has a complete bag sensor to notify users
- Innovative containment feature, combining invisible walls and restricted areas
- Above average in cleaning surface debris
- Ultra-long run time of 280 minutes
Negatives
- Had the worst results in deep cleaning the carpet
- Automatic empty dock is not usable on carpet
Despite this, this robot is decent on hard floors, especially with sand, as it rose by 99.1% – better than the Roomba I3 and I6!
It also doubles as a robotic mop, but I’ve noticed it stops a few times while running a mop with red wine stains.
I wouldn’t recommend it for cleaning like this, but only for light wiping.
Automatic empty dock comparison
These variants will have different designs for an empty terminal automatically, split into the two different types I mentioned earlier.
I prefer it to be a ramp as it provides stability, so it is usable on different surfaces.
Base station size will vary, and the Dreame Z10 Pro has the largest clean base station.
Most of the brands I’ve tested have a boxed system.
Only Shark IQ has an empty bagless litter box, and here are the capacities.
- Ultenic T10 (in sachets): 4.3 liters
- Dreame Z10 Pro (packaged): 4 liters
- Roborock S7 (packed): 3 liters
- Ecovacs N8 Pro (packaged): 2.5 liters
- Yedidi Fak Station (packed): 2.5 liters
- Roomba S9+ (packaged): 2.5 liters *
- Roomba I6+ (packed): 2.5 liters *
- Roomba I3+ (packaged): 2.5 liters *
- Shark IQ Auto Empty (without bag): 1.8 liters
* Bag size for
These robots mainly use different navigational algorithms – SLAM and VSLAM.
SLAM robots rely on a laser on top to create maps and avoid obstacles.
One advantage is the ability of the laser sensor to quickly fire infrared signals in a 360-degree pattern.
This aspect greatly helps in the creation and accuracy of maps.
These robots also avoid obstacles better, at least with objects within the laser’s line of sight.
However, one problem with LIDAR-based robots is the extra vertical real estate from the laser cap, adding one-eighth of an inch.
VSLAM bots have a lower profile, but they won’t be accurate.
It is based on a top-mounted camera and an optical sensor that acts as a GPS sensor for mapping.
Since it uses a camera, it relies heavily on light, and the viewfinder will not be as accurate as a laser.
In addition, the optical sensor is the primary sensor that identifies contour lines.
Therefore, if items are blocking a wall, such as a shoe or a bag, you will interpret it as a wall.
You can see the difference between the two in the map output.
The bottom line is that LIDAR bots are more accurate than camera bots in this area.
Another advantage of SLAM bots is that almost all variants have live maps, where users can monitor the status in real time.
Most VSLAM bots do not have this feature. Only the Yeedi Vac station has it, and it doesn’t have the network lines you’ll see with SLAM bots.
Again, this is the accuracy of LIDAR in action.
Of the nine bots here, only Roomba I3+ doesn’t have SLAM, which means it can’t save maps, so it doesn’t have access to features like block zones.
But it’s still technically a smart navigator bot because it can track location, recharge, and resume.
Efficiency comparison
Another aspect that I tested with these bots is efficiency, which I do in conjunction with the coverage test.
I scatter Quaker oats around the room to see how much these robots will pick up. Then I check the footage to see how long it takes the bot to run two passes.
The coverage test is not measured but is an eye test, but it is a good measure of what to expect.
Here are the results for all nine bots.
- Yedidi Fak Station: 13:25 minutes
- Dreame Z10 Pro: 16:00 minutes
- Ultenic T10: 16:28 minutes
- Ecovacs N8 Pro +: 17:00 minutes
- Shark IQ Auto blank: 18:00 min
- Roborock S7: 20:45 minutes
- Roomba I3+: 22:43 minutes
- Roomba I6+: 28:00 min
- Roomba S9: 32:33 minutes
Yeedi Vac Station is the most efficient based on timed trials, while
But considering how much debris is dumped on each pass,
The Roborock S7 was a close second, getting more than any other brand outside of the S9+.
Air Flow Comparison
I use an anemometer to measure the airflow at the brush roll, here are the results at the maximum setting.
- Roomba S9+: 25 cubic feet per minute
- Yedidi Fak Station: 23 cubic feet per minute
- Ecovacs N8 Pro +: 22.29 cubic feet per minute
- Dreame Z10 Pro: 19.33 cubic feet per minute
- Shark IQ Auto blank: 18.87 cubic feet per minute
- Ultenic T10: 14.52 cubic feet per minute
- Roborock S7+: 13.91 cubic feet per minute
- Roomba I6+: 8.2 CFM
- Roomba I3+: 7.27 cubic feet per minute
hand by hand ,
One surprise on the list is the Yeedi Vac station at 23 CFM, which is the second highest station, despite being one of the cheapest options.
Since it uses the same Ecovacs engine, it should come as no surprise that both brands have them.
Compare cleaning results
since
But the second robot is that it got the third worst airflow score.
Despite having only 13 CFM’s, the Roborock S7+ had the second best cleaning results.
This is a clue to the new bristle-free roller and floating brush set.
The third-ranked Yeedi shouldn’t be a shocker because it has the second highest airflow. It’s also the best deep cleaning rug other than Roomba – which is a big reason for choosing it as the best value for money option.
The Roomba I3 and I6 didn’t perform as well as the S9+, but they’re still good enough to finish two and three, respectively, at deep cleaning carpets.
What is the best option on hardwood floors?
The
One of the metrics I use is sand, and the S9+ picked up a ranking of 100%.
But keeping its versatility in mind, I’ll be examining the case of the Roborock S7+ with a vibration scanning pad.
Although the airflow was low, it picked up an average of 99.8% of sand (second best grade).
It is the best hybrid robot vacuum I have tested and it does both tasks perfectly.
Edge cleaning comparison
The S9+’s square front end and wide extractors make it the best and most efficient edge cleaner.
Among the noteworthy are the Ecovacs N8 Pro and Yeedi Vac Station, thanks to the dual-sided brush design.
Hair wrap comparison
Next, we’ll look at how much hair these robotic brooms have captured using five- and seven-inch strands.
Taking the averages of both lengths,
The Roomba I6+ and Shark IQ are the best, with shorter 5-inch threads at 100% and 99%, respectively.
Unfortunately, the Shark IQ’s anti-tangle system didn’t hold up well with threads longer than seven inches.
Which Self-Vacuuming Robot Vacuum Cleaner Is Best for Carpet?
Again, it’s a file
The rare combination of high airflow, wide hoods, and excellent agitation make it a compelling choice if carpet cleaning performance is a high priority.
The cheapest options to consider are Yeedi Vac Station, Roomba I3 + and I6 +.
Yeedi is the cheaper alternative, but it won’t clean as deeply as the two Roomba options I mentioned.
Cleansing comparison
Not all options here have this functionality. Only Roborock, Yeedi, Ecovacs, Dreame and Ultenic have this option.
Unfortunately, iRobot and Shark do not have a scanning feature.
You’ll need to purchase an iRobot Braava or a Shark AI VacMop, so it’s an additional cost for these brands.
The clear winner here is the Roborock S7+ because it’s the only option that has a vibrating wiping pad, which boosts the excitement.
For this reason, they are the most effective in removing stains easily. It only needed one pass to clean red wine stains, the others needed a second pass to achieve the same results.
Runtime comparison
The Ultenic wins this category with 280 minutes thanks to its large capacity, 5200 mAh lithium-ion battery.
I’m not sure how Ultenic achieves this range, it may be the weakest engine, but it’s an impressive number.
Yeedi had the second best run time with 200 minutes, while Shark IQ had the worst running time at just 60 minutes.
All of these options have recharge and resume, relieving those with shorter range.
But it can be a problem inside larger homes over 4,000 square feet, as you may need multiple recharges to complete the job.
noise comparison
I use an audio meter to check loudness levels from a few meters away in order to test for noise. Please note that the results you see are of the highest setting.
- Ecovacs N8 Pro +: 64.4 dB
- Roomba I6+: 64.5 dB
- Shark intelligence: 64.8 dB
- Yedidi Fak Station: 64.9 dB
- Roomba I3+: 64.9 dB
- Ultenic T10: 69.5 dB
- Roborock S7: 69.8 dB
- Roomba S9+: 74.1 dB
- Dreame Z10 Pro: 75.5 dB
Check out individual reviews for full results.
The Dreame Z10 Pro and
The Ecovacs N8 Pro + and Roomba I6 + are the quietest at 64.4 and 64.5 dB, respectively.
app comparison
All options have a smartphone app, which unlocks all their features, but the feature set will vary by brand.
I’ll summarize the salient features below to give you an overview of what to expect.
1. Live Map
All LIDAR robots come with a live map, perhaps my favorite feature of smart robot vacuums.
It displays the location of the robot on the map in real time and takes full advantage of LIDAR’s 360-degree scanning ability.
Only Yeedi Vac Station is VSLAM with this function. But it lacks the lines you see in laser-based robots that distinguish it.
2. Save map
With the exception of Roomba I3+, all models have a map save feature, but the number of maps will vary.
- Roomba S9+: 10 maps
- Roomba I6+: 10 maps
- Roborock S7: 4 maps
- Ecovacs N8 Pro +: 2 maps
- Dreame Z10 Pro: 2 maps
- Ultenic T10: 1 map
- Yedidi Fak Station: 1 map
- Shark IQ Auto blank: 1 map
The
While other options can save between one or two levels of the map, this may change with a future firmware update.
3. Modify the map
Once the map is created, the firmware tries to add sections.
I’ve noticed that this process is more straightforward for LIDAR bots for areas with entrances because it’s an easy point of reference.
However, you will have to manually add sections for camera-equipped bots, which is an extra step.
Room label is also available. Some apps have a custom room label, while others don’t.
- Roomba S9+: yes
- Roomba I6+: yes
- Roomba I3+: No (no map to save)
- Roborock S7: yes
- Ecovacs N8 Pro +: no
- Dreame Z10 Pro: no
- Ultenic T10: Yes (only in the region tab, but no room naming option)
- Yedidi Fak Station: no
- Shark IQ Auto blank: no
4. Containment
With the exception of Roomba I3+, all products here have containment features, with each brand using its own terminology.
Basically, there are two basic types of containment: a confinement area which is a no-go area for robots and lines (or invisible walls) that can be drawn straight or diagonally, preventing the robot from overtaking it.
iRobot calls the blocking areas in the boxed area, but it can’t reach the invisible wall.
Roborock calls them restricted areas and has access to forbidden areas, which has the same function, but only prevents the bot from scanning.
However, I don’t feel mop-free areas are useful for the S7 since it has a LIFT feature, so the pad rises if you spot a rug.
Yeedi invokes the default boundary of the filled area, but it does not have an invisible wall feature.
Ecovacs and Dreame also have an invisible wall and restricted areas as well.
Ultenic has a hybrid feature that combines invisible walls and restricted areas, with up to 10 corners.
5. Selective room cleaning
Another feature of SLAM (based on laser and camera) is selective room cleaning, where users can choose a specific room they want to clean.
But different apps have different ways of doing this.
For apps with a live map (Roborock, Xiaomi Home, Ecovacs, Yeedi), users can tap on the room(s).
Consumers can click on multiple areas if they need to clean more than one area and select the order in which those rooms are cleaned.
For apps without a live map (iRobot, SharkClean), users will have to “check” the rooms in the drop-down list.
6. Clean areas
One difference in selective room cleaning is zone cleaning, where people can select a smaller area to clean.
It’s a similar feature to in-place cleaning in older randomized navigation bots, but SLAM-equipped bots have a more refined version.
Instead of bringing the robot into the area, users can simply draw a box, the robot goes to that area, vacuums and then recharges.
This is a hands-free method, and each variant here has its own version.
However, only the iRobot app enables people to save these areas for quick access on future runs.
Other brands don’t have the feature to save by regions, but hopefully they’ll consider adding it in future updates.
Availability of spare parts
One aspect that has been underestimated in the robot vacuum selection process is the availability of parts.
A robot vacuum has a lot of moving parts, and they will wear out over time.
Roomba is the clear winner here because it is the most popular. A large selection of parts is available, not only from iRobot, but also from third-party manufacturers.
What’s great about Roomba products is that it’s hard to find components sold by iRobot on their website.
Ecovacs and Roborock are also gaining popularity, and more third-party brands are starting to sell parts like filters and brushes.
However, it’s not at iRobot’s levels yet, so it’s something to wait and see.
Ecovacs and Yeedi share many components, especially the brush, water tank, auto-empty bags, and filters. So you can buy a portion of Ecovacs, and it will fit into a Yeedi Vac station.
product specification
Know that the specifications you see below are from the time of writing the review. Software features such as the number of maps may change, depending on future updates.
SLAM refers to LIDAR-based robotics that use a laser sensor.
VSLAM refers to camera-equipped robots that rely on a camera mounted on top and an optical tracking sensor on the floor below to create the map.
Uptime figures are based on manufacturer claims.
Air flow numbers are taken from the maximum setup results. Please check individual reviews for full results at different suction levels.
Where can I buy these bots?
These bots are available in online stores such as Amazon. Check out the links below for the latest pricing information.
Disclaimer: I’ll earn a commission if you buy through any of the links above, but at no additional cost to you, so it’s a win for us!
Verdict: What’s the best self-defrosting robot vacuum?
Announcing one winner will result in you being short sold since there is no such product.
Like anything else in life, there will be compromises to be made by choosing a robot vacuum for an empty robot.
The best vacuuming option is hands-on, and
But remember its drawbacks, such as the short operating time and the lack of some features of the application.
It is also one of the most expensive automatic discharge options available. I suggest waiting for sale season like Black Friday to get this at a good price.
Roborock S7 will be the best choice for homes that don’t have much carpet because it has acoustic mopping technology, which makes it the best choice The best hybrid robotic mop available now.
to Shoppers looking for valueConsider Yeedi Vac Station. It is one of the cheapest alternatives without sacrificing much performance.
Cheaper options to consider for carpet cleaning include the Roomba I3+ and I6+, while the Dreame Z10 Pro and Ecovacs T8 offer the best snag-avoidance performance.
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