10 Things We Love About Robot Vacuum Deals
Top Black Friday and Cyber Monday Robot Vacuum Deals
Now is your chance to own a robotic vacuum. CNET's top models are on sale this Black Friday and Cyber Monday, with savings of up to 57%.
auto vacuum cleaner is a powerful robot that has smart mapping and app-based no-go zones. Its running time of 180 minutes is impressive. It also automatically replenishes and self-empties its water tank.
1. Roomba j7+ from iRobot
The Roomba J7+, iRobot's most intelligent robot to date, is the Roomba j7+. Its biggest breakthrough is its camera-based obstacle detection system that utilizes built-in AI to detect objects like charging cords, shoes and the pet waste that the majority of other robots cannot avoid (and often plough right through). It's also the first robot to automatically send you a picture of an object it encounters so you can tell it to stay clear of it in the future.
The Combo J7+ is the most effective mop-bot we've ever tested, removing dirt and spills with ease without leaving any trace that was there. It's simple to control via the iRobot Home app, which lets you schedule cleaning and set up Keep Out Zones to make sure it doesn't clean areas you do not want it to. It's also compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant, so you can start and stop it by speaking to it.
Its design is also an improvement over the rest and features a sleek, top piece that looks more like a toy than a loud, obnoxious one. Clean Base's Automatic Dirt Disposal System also self-empties, which can cut down on cleaning time.
In our tests, we found that the j7+ swiftly removed dust, dirt, and hair from pets. The rubber brushes that counter-rotate kept the debris in place, rather than scattering it around the floor. It even was able to take small gravel and sand, which most other robots aren't able to do. And it did all this without getting tangled up in our pet's hair shedding.
While it's not quite as sophisticated as the $1,217 Roomba s9+ Self-Emptying Vacuum and can't clean stairs, the J7+ is an excellent choice for those who need mopping and a vacuum in their home. It's not expensive and the iRobot App makes it easy to use.
While the iRobot Home app is very user-friendly however we've found it be less reliable than other applications that work with robotic cleaners. It can take a while to download updates, and often it's difficult to tell if the update is actually functioning until you've seen it in action.
2. Roborock Q5+
If you're looking for a vacuum that does more than just clean floors, your most effective option is likely to be one that is a hybrid. These bots are equipped with a water tank so they can vacuum and mop simultaneously. They also have a number of extra features, including smart mapping, small obstacles avoidance, and even the capability to wash and dry mopping pads. The negative is that they can be pricey at full retail price, but on Black Friday and Cyber Monday they often drop in price.
Roborock is one of our top robot vacuums and the Q5+ is no exception. It's the cheapest model in their auto-empty line. Although it doesn't come with some of the luxurious features (like no-go areas and multi-story memories) however, it's an excellent choice if you are willing to compromise to save a few bucks.
The Q5+ is extremely soft when it comes to obstacles like tables and walls. This makes it an excellent option for homes with lots of furniture. It's also extremely thorough in cleaning dust bunnies, which is an area where many cheaper robot vacuums often be a bit sloppy. The Q5+'s navigation system is excellent, with few misses along walls or in corners.
Like other Roborock devices like the Q5+, the Q5+ can be controlled with the buttons on the device itself or through the Roborock app. Through the app, you can start and stop cleanings and schedules, as well as create virtual barriers and no-go zones and adjust your home map, or change the labels of rooms.
If you decide to go with the Q5+, it comes with a brand new auto-empty dock that's designed specifically to make this robot simple to maintain. Installing it requires a screwdriver but once it's installed, emptying the bin is done easily. It features a large LCD screen which is helpful for setting up schedules or altering settings. This feature isn't necessary for everyone, but it can help effectively keep the robot's maintenance schedules.
3. Narwal Freo X Ultra
The Freo X Ultra robot vacuum and mop is a clever, well-rounded vacuum and mop. It's capable of both vacuuming and mopping. Its design is among the most innovative in the market however it's quite expensive.
It is a relatively small base station that looks great and is easily hidden when not in use. But the station's main selling feature is the way it automatizes many tasks and functions that most other robots leave up to you. It can keep clean and dirty water and electrolyze and heat the water. Many other robots require this.
Its vacuuming capabilities are impressive, too. It's one of the only robovacs that I've tested that does very well at collecting debris from bare floors, and it's not as loud as the more expensive Roomba 980 or iRobot 900 series.
However, the Freo X Ultra has its faults, especially when it comes to navigation. Its laser and LiDAR sensors aren't as reliable as some other robovacs, which means it can get stuck or confused in certain areas or rooms of the home. It can't navigate stairs as well as competitors, either, and it doesn't have a dock that allows you to set up an area for cleaning that is specifically designed for carpets with plush padding.
The Freo X Ultra robot vacuum and mop is an excellent choice for those who need a robot vacuum that does everything.
If you're looking for a way to save money or aren't concerned about the limitations of the robot, there are many other options on the market. Many eufy models cost considerably less. The eufy Qrevo curv, for instance is a bit more expensive, but offers more features, such as stair climbing and a full-function Dock, that provides an improved overall experience when vacuuming on bare floors carpets with low pile as well as high-pile ones.
4. eufy RoboVac g30
eufy is an Anker company with a long history of creating robot vacuums with the right balance of features, performance and price. The G30 Hybrid offers a powerful cleaning power for carpets and hard floors, as well as mopping capabilities at an affordable price. It's easy to setup by snapping one of the side brushes on, turn on and plug in the charging dock. The app walks you through the steps needed to connect it to your Wi-Fi and then the G30 is ready to go. The dock will need to be located close to an outlet that has enough space to move.
The G30 is tiny, 2.85 inches tall to be exact and can be placed under couches and other low-clearance furniture. Its design is a little less flashy than some of the rival models, and features a sleek black finish and three buttons that are physical such as Auto Cleaning start/pause, Recharge and Spot Cleaning (which scrubs a space in spiral patterns for 2 minutes). It is also possible to connect the G30 to Amazon Alexa or Google Home to conduct cleaning without a schedule using voice commands.
The way the G30 cleans is what differentiates it from its rivals. It uses a built-in mapping to create an image of the immovable objects it encounters while retaining what it's cleaned and the areas it's not able to access. If it requires a recharge, it automatically returns to its base, and then resumes cleaning from where it began.
The eufy G30 isn't without its faults, though. The iRobot Roomba is more durable and has lower monthly costs. It charges faster, offers similar battery life and performs better on bare floors or low-pile carpet. It also comes with a larger dust bin that doesn't require to be emptied as frequently and comes with an array of boundary strips to restrict it from certain areas. The G30 however is less expensive and much more manageable to maintain. Its smaller dust canister doesn't need emptying as often and is less prone to suffocating bulky materials such as cereal.