Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner UK
If you don't wish to get your hands dirty then robot vacuum cleaners are a great choice. They save time and effort when compared to manual cleaning, and are great for single-storey homes or flats.
Smart features are a great benefit. These include mapping technology that can remember your home's layout, avoiding furniture and rugs and getting into those nipples under low furniture that larger robots struggle with.
iRobot Roomba J7+
The iRobot Roomba J7+ is an upgrade over the previous model by the company and includes a new feature to make it more effective at avoiding pet waste. It makes use of smart mapping to create maps of floors and rooms and works hard to avoid obstacles such as furniture, charging cords, and shoes. It can also identify dirt and prioritize cleaning areas that are heavily dirty. This is a significant improvement over older models which sometimes ignored the dirty spots or only cleaned them for an insignificant amount of time.
The robot vacuum comes with a self-emptying base which can put dustbin debris into its own 2.4L dirt bag. iRobot claims that the bag can store debris for up to 60 days. This means that you'll only need to empty it and refill it every three months. The base station can also be used to store a spare bag for quick replacements.
The Roomba is simple to set up and use. It is compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant, and can be controlled using the iRobot Genius App. The app allows you to select when to start and stop the cleaning, how it should take to complete a particular task and also create a schedule.
In our tests, the iRobot Roomba J7+ cleaned hardwood and area rug surfaces in the foyer, family room and kitchen without a problem. It listened to our instructions and did its jobs quietly, recording just 64 decibels on the decibel meter during operation. It took around 90 minutes to complete one cleaning and its battery took an hour and 58 mins to recharge afterward. The Combo j7 allows you to expand your iRobot eco-system by combining 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 robot vacuum cleaner is a great option for those who live in a multi-floored house. This model can make maps of floors across multiple floors and save them to the app, making it easy to switch between different rooms without having to repeat the setup process. The robot can also be controlled by voice, with support for Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.
Dyson has developed a unique approach to obstacle detection than most other robot vacuums, employing sensors and cameras. A panoramic camera on the top of the robot, together with 26 sensors externally will help to create an image of the area as it moves. This helps the robot to avoid furniture and obstacles.
In our tests, we discovered that the Dyson 360 Vis Nav could reach all the way to baseboards and edges, and was able navigate around furniture with tight corners. The robot's suction is strong and it can pick up every dust particle, hair strand, and dried-out piece of Playdoh that we tossed at it. The vacuum took out the bin quickly and effortlessly and reduced the time spent cleaning by half.
The Dyson 360 Viz Nav did not perform as well as other robots we tested in our obstacle avoidance tests. It had a tough time with a temporary drying rack that it repeatedly tried to maneuver under, eventually getting stuck and interrupting the cleaning cycle. It also struggled to evade some furniture pieces that are taller, like the coffee table or a chair. The Dyson 360 Vis Nav is also unable to climb stairs, which will be a problem for a lot of people living in multi-story homes.
Roborock
Roborock robot vacuum cleaners provide high-end cleaning features that are an upgrade from the other. Dual mops are available that spin and lift stains while pressing down. They also automatically lift carpets when vacuuming to avoid leaving dirty streaks and making the vacuum clog again with dirt. They have suction that is up to 5,500 Pa which is the best in the removal of dirt and dust. They also have smart water flow controls to ensure the proper amount of moisture is applied to each floor type.
One of the most impressive aspects about Roborock is its capability to create a complete home's layout with laser technology. The LiDAR system in a Roborock robot rotates continuously emitting laser beams, and calculating the time it takes for them to bounce back off nearby objects. The data is then used to construct an accurate map of your home's layout that allows it to navigate precisely and avoid obstacles.
Depending on which model you select You can alter the map to include no-go zones, furniture placements and room-specific cleansing. You can also pick the cleaning routine to include mop only, mop alone or vacuum and mop. You can schedule regular cleanings using an app-based cleaning system that allows you to set it and forget it.
Roborock provides a range of options, ranging from the budget-friendly S6 MaxV to the top-of the-line S7 MaxV. All models feature advanced mapping capabilities, a high-performance battery life, and a huge capacity dustbin. The docking station offers many features, including charging and refilling the hot water tank. They also are covered by a two-year guarantee in the UK.
Beko RCV 5
The Beko RCV 5 may be a relative newcomer in the robotic vacuum and mopping world, but its sleek design and reasonable price have already made it a hit. The robot has a few tricks up its sleeves that set it apart from other robotic vacuums, such as object recognition and self emptying functionality. It's also simple to set up and use, using an easy-to-use app that lets you alter the settings to your liking.
The navigation system of this model uses a combination of sensors and mapping technology to navigate your home, and it does a great job of avoiding obstacles. You can also adjust the cleaning route using the app, making it easy to clean certain areas more often than other areas. The app may be confusing at first but once you learn how to use it, you will be able to schedule cleanings and control the robot's power levels.
Despite its impressive list of features, the RCV 5 is not without its faults. For starters, it uses a tiny water tank that only holds up to 240 ml of water at one time. This is sufficient to do a basic clean-up, however, it isn't ideal for more stubborn stains. Additionally the wiping plate itself isn't very sophisticated and doesn't include an ability to rotate or vibrate.
Finally, the battery life isn't as long as you would expect for a machine of this price range. In actual fact, the RCV 5 only lasts for about a third of a cleaning cycle before needing to recharge. This isn't necessarily a deal-breaker however it is something to be aware of when searching for a new robotic vacuum cleaner.
Karcher RCV 5
Karcher, a German manufacturer best known for pressure washers and other pressure washers, has entered the robotic vacuum market by introducing a model which vacuums and mop. The RCV 5 offers an impressive array of features, including superb obstacle detection (with a dual laser system) and mapping that can be viewed in real time through the app that is smart.
It also detects carpeted surfaces and triggers mopping mode when wet. There's also a handy spot cleaning feature that cleans a localised area of around 3 feet. It's also programmed to repeat every week. The RCV 5 is a reliable robot cleaner with suction capacity of 2,500 pascals. It is able to clean both hard and soft flooring and can get into tight corners and even under furniture that is low.
Like many modern robots, the RCV 5 has a smartphone-powered app called Karcher Home Robots that can be used to initiate cleaning processes and to create and manage maps of the home. It is also possible to set up virtual walls and zones which the RCV 5 isn't able to drive, as well as numerous other control options.
The RCV 5 has a downside in that its dust container is only a litre, and it'll require regular emptying. This is unlike other models that have integrated disposal technology into their docking station. It's also heavier than many of its competitors, making it less mobile and requiring more space in the charging station. However, robot vacuums cheap found the RCV 5 to be very easy to use and rated its app control as high. It was a great performer in our tests, though some users struggled to get the voice technology to function correctly and also found the docking station difficult to put in the flat position.