ROBOT vacuum cleaners have come a long way in recent years.
Many now offer extended battery lives, clever navigation systems, and greatly improved suction.
You can set them on a schedule to keep your home dust-free while you get on with other things, and some are even wifi-enabled and can empty out the trays in the device into bins so you don't have to.
Plus, with more budget-friendly models coming in at the same price as regular vacuum cleaners, they’re becoming much more affordable, too.
But are they really worth the money and what’s the best robot vacuum cleaner around? We've tested some of the most popular models around so you don't have to.
The Roomba j7+ is the latest model from robot vacuum specialists iRobot - and naturally, it’s also the most advanced.
You can operate it right from your phone or smart home device, and set schedules so it will clean your home on its own.
And as it’s smart enough to recognise obstacles ranging from shoes or pet poo - and avoid these - you don’t have to tidy up beforehand if you don’t have the time.
We also loved that this device was super quiet and can automatically dispose of any dirt and debris into a bigger vacuum bag so you don’t have to empty it as often.
The device is on a continuous self-charge, so it’s ready to go at any time.
But it does take a while to learn the layout of your home, and it can’t get into tight spots.
Miele Scout RX3 home robot vacuum cleaner, £779 from John Lewis -
Miele is well known for its home appliances and often wins awards for its design and the quality of its products so we had high hopes for the Scout RX3, the third generation of its home robot vacuum cleaner.
And fortunately it tested pretty well.
The robot comes in a flat design that easily navigates under raised furniture while two front cameras and a whopping 10 infrared sensors meant that it never bumped into our furniture.
Unlike other robot vacuum cleaners, this one came with two sets of side brushes - one for carpeted floors and one for hardwood floors - that cover both sides of the device so no corners are missed.
Unusually, you also get a remote control so you can send instructions to your robot from the couch if you don't want to sync it up to your phone via its dedicated app.
While vacuuming, the Scout RX3 will automatically create a map of your home and update it every time it cleans.
It’ll also show you on the app exactly where it is on the cleaning route.
Afterwards, you just click open the bin drawer on top and pull it out to empty so there’s no need to flip the device over and interrupt the charging process.
There were a couple of downsides though.
Like most people with hardwood floors, we had rugs down - the Scout RX3 kept lifting these up and couldn’t adjust its movements to go over them, unlike its competitors.
And because the map is updated with every use, it’s harder to define rooms and send the robot to a specific spot in your home, especially if you sometimes have a door open and sometimes not.
While we were very impressed with how well it cleaned, for the price we hoped the smart features would be, well, smarter.
eufy by Anker RoboVac G20
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eufy by Anker RoboVac G20, £259.99 from Amazon -
eufy RoboVac G20 is one of the most compact robot vacuum cleaners around.
It measures just 32.5cm x 7.25 cm, which means it’s able to slip under raised furniture with relative ease.
But its size hasn’t impacted its power. In fact, it has up to 2500 Pa of suction power, which is on the higher end of the spectrum for robot vacuum cleaners.
None of that energy is wasted though, as this device is fitted with smart sensors that automatically adjusts the suction power according to the type of floor it’s on.
Hardwood floors for example will use 1500 Pa of suction power. And when it moves to carpeted areas, it’ll automatically increase this to 2500 Pa.
Despite being so powerful, it’s seriously quiet, with a noise level of just 55 dB (A), which is about the same as the hum of a microwave.
It’s also meant to be much more efficient as it marks out a cleaning square and thoroughly cleans it in a zigzag pattern before moving onto the next square, rather than bouncing randomly around the room.
When we tested this model over several weeks, we were seriously impressed.
It was easy to set up and didn’t bump into our furniture nearly as often as a more expensive brand we tested.
It was also able to pick up a lot of dirt and debris - even we were surprised (and embarrassed) by the amount of muck around given how regularly we set it to clean.
Although you can set a cleaning schedule using the app, there’s no mapping function so you can’t send the G20 to clean specific areas.
To overcome that, the app has a manual takeover function where you can order your robot around like a remote controlled car. Just don’t let your kids get hold of it.
eufy by Anker RoboVac X8
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eufy by Anker RoboVac X8, £449.99 from Amazon -
The wifi-enabled eufy RoboVac X8 is a much more premium model compared to the G20 and is best for those with bigger homes.
Thanks to a special Laser Distance Sensor (LDS) at the top of the machine, it can create a complete map of your home within minutes - even across multiple floors.
You can then use this map to create floor plans and send your robovac to the exact location you need it to clean.
Over time, the device will update the map as it cleans to get an even more accurate picture of your home.
The machine is also equipped with two turbines, each with 2000 Pa of suction power, while the soft roller brushes help it to sweep up any pet hair.
On carpets, it’ll even automatically adjust the suction power to give it a deeper clean.
When we tested this device, we were very impressed by how quickly it mapped out our home. But to create rooms and cleaning spots takes quite a long time - as it does with other robovacs we’ve tested before.
The app does have a “Tap and Go” function that you can use to direct your robovac as soon as you have your initial map, and you can take it over manually as well.
In terms of the cleaning, it managed to cover everything in record time but we found it didn’t offer as deep a clean as the G20.
When there’s a transition between hardwood floor and a rug especially, it can miss out some areas.
The LDS on top of the device also added a bit of extra height, which meant it wasn’t as good at getting until some raised furniture.
Overall we weren’t as impressed with the X8 as we were the G20 and price is a big influence here.
That said, if you have a big home and need a device that can target a specific room, this is a great value option.
Plus, it can clean up to 180 minutes on a single full charge, which is more than enough for most homes.
What is a robot vacuum cleaner?
A robot vacuum cleaner is designed to clean your home autonomously - i.e. without the need for you to do any work.
They work through a map of your house, which is either created using built-in sensors or dictated by you, depending on the model.
They are usually smaller and lighter than traditional vacuum cleaners.
Are robot vacuums worth it?
While robot vacuums allow you to keep on top of dirty floors without the need for you to vacuum your house yourself all the time, they cannot replace a traditional machine entirely.
You will still have to do it the old-fashioned way every now and again in order to clean hard-to-reach spots.
However, if you can afford them, they can significantly cut down the amount of time you spend doing chores - especially if you have a pet that sheds a lot of hair.
What are the benefits of robot vacuum cleaners?
If you've got a large home with uncluttered floors that need regular cleaning, a robot vacuum cleaner can be a big time saver.
It won't get every piece of dirt, but a robot vacuum cleaner will make your floors look presentable with minimal effort from yourself.
The smarter models will negotiate your furniture with ease and do a methodical and thorough cleaning job.
What are the downsides of robot vacuum cleaners?
First and foremost is price.
Cheaper models are available, but in our opinion, a robot vacuum without a camera (or some other type of smart navigation system) isn't worth owning as they'll just bump around your house randomly, missing large areas that need cleaning.
They are getting cheaper though, and there are always sales to look out for.
But even with a good robot vacuum cleaner, you'll still have to tidy your home before you start a cycle for a proper clean.
While a robot vacuum will avoid large obstacles, it can still chew up phone cables and similar items easily.
On top of that, robot vacuum cleaners can knock dirt around your floor without picking it up, which means you either have to take manual control, do a second cycle or just break out your regular vacuum.
Which robot vacuum is best?
There are a number of brands in the running for the best robot vacuum cleaner.
iRobot for example has been making robotic vacuum cleaners for nearly 20 years.
Its Roomba is synonymous with robot vacuum cleaners in the same way that Hoover is used instead of vacuuming.
However, there are lots of options available, including Dyson, which is often thought to make the best vacuum cleaners, as well as brands like eufy, which offer a good product at a lower price tag.
How to keep robot vacuums from getting stuck under furniture
Even the most sophisticated robot vacuum cleaners can get confused and become stuck under a sofa, chair, or dining table.
Manufacturers recommend that you put its base (which it uses as a reference point) in a part of the room with plenty of space.
You should also keep the room bright so that the vacuum's optical sensors can function properly.
Can a robot vacuum clean multiple rooms?
Yes - as long as you keep the doors between the rooms open, the best robot vacuum cleaners can map and clean multiple rooms in your home without the need for you to move it yourself.
However, they cannot navigate stairs, and some models are more sophisticated than others.
If you're planning on getting your model to clean multiple rooms and floors, make sure that you read the description to see how adept it is.
How to clean a robot vacuum cleaner
Depending on how often you use your robot vacuum, it's recommended that you clean it at least once a week, or run the risk of it not working correctly.
Many will come with tools that allow you to get tangled hair out of it, although a knife or pair of scissors can also be used to do this,
You should also clean the sensors — usually a dry cloth will suffice, but check the manufacturer's instructions.
If for any reason you need to disinfect your vacuum, it's recommended that you do so using 70% isopropyl alcohol wipes.
What robot vacuum works with Google Home?
A large number of robot vacuums in our list work with Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa, allowing you to control them with your voice.
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