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When life gets busy and your floors never seem to stay clean, a good robot vacuum can be a total lifesaver. These automated cleaners handle everyday dust, crumbs, and pet hair on their own — no manual effort required — making them perfect for keeping your home tidy between deep cleans.
Over several years of hands-on testing, we pushed 18 of the best robot vacuums through real-world challenges to find out which models truly deliver consistent, hands-free cleaning performance — and which ones still need a little human supervision.
The best robot vacuum for most people is the Roborock Qrevo S5V. It delivers great carpet cleaning and top-notch mopping, rivaling more premium vacuums at a fraction of the price. If you're looking for the most inexpensive robot vacuum you can still count on, the Eufy 11S Max is the machine for you. And right in the middle is the Roborock Q7 M5+ , an affordable but powerful model with few flaws.
Of course, there are also specialists in the mix that are mopping experts or designed to conquer fur-covered floors.
Robot vacuums aren't perfect for every cleaning task. They lack the power for thick rugs or deep cleaning, so consider an upright vacuum as a complement to your routine.
Editor's Note: This review was revamped on December 9, 2025, to include new robot vacuums from Roborock, Ecovacs, TP-Link, and Yeedi.
The Roborock Qrevo S5V is one of the best robot vacuums we've tested, delivering a premium cleaning experience without a sky-high price tag. It stands out for its combination of powerful vacuuming, excellent mopping performance, and a too-easy-to-believe user experience. In testing, it left both hard floors and carpets looking freshly cleaned with minimal debris, while the dual spinning mops and adjustable water levels provided consistent, deep cleaning for wet and dry messes alike. During mopping tests, it was one of the few robots to completely wipe away hard flooring stains we challenged it with.
Like a lot of models in this class, it struggled a bit navigating our testing space and wasn't a master at cleaning up pet hair — but those bumps weren't enough to make its overall score plummet. Pet hair posed a challenge specifically along edges and corners, though the dual brush design kept hair from tangling around the wheels.
If pet hair is your biggest concern, the Narwal Freo X Ultra will make the perfect alternative here — it was our top-scoring robot for tackling heavy shedding and had decent performance in most other areas. If you want a robot that can fully detect everything, the DREAME X40 Ultra has more advanced cameras for better object avoidance, but you'll pay dramatically more. Still, we decided this was the best user-friendly robot out there that delivers top-notch cleaning without breaking the bank.
The Roborock Saros 10R is the ultimate luxury robot vacuum for those who want cutting-edge technology and near-flawless, hands-off cleaning. It combines stellar obstacle avoidance with consistent, high-powered cleaning across carpets, rugs, and hard floors. Cleaning performance is impressive across the board. On hard floors, it cleared 92% of debris in testing, leaving only a minimal trace of sand behind. Carpets also received meticulous attention, showing crisp travel lines, tight rows, and clean edges, though finer debris sometimes was lifted to the surface rather than fully removed. It's mopping blew other models out of the water — the auto-detachable pads, precise water release, and ability to heat water to 176°F allowed it to tackle tough dried stains with ease.
The Saros 10R successfully avoided every obstacle in our testing, ran smoothly over thresholds, and consistently found its dock without assistance. Its mapping and AI make it one of the most reliable navigators on the market aside from the DREAME X40 Ultra, and it is suited for even cluttered homes. The app adds another layer of control, letting you save multiple floor maps, adjust cleaning sequences, and mark no-go zones with ease.
The only way this model disappointed us was in the pet hair category — it just wasn't enough for such a premium robot. Edges and corners were sometimes missed completely and longer strands were caught temporarily in the dual split brush. Cleanup is easier than most, but pet owners may still need to intervene for heavy shedding. If you've got the budget, this is the robot vacuum you want to own. If the price tag seems outrageous to you, check out the Roborock Qrevo S5V — it's an overachiever at about a third of the cost.
The Roborock Saros 10R not only vacuums effectively, but it also mops (and does a good job at it too)! The only drawback is the lackluster pet hair cleaning. Credit: Matt Lighthart
Considering its entry-level price point, the Eufy 11s Max is surprisingly good at cleaning. It thrives on hardwood, sucking up 91% of the mess we put down in our tests, which outperformed the majority of the lineup. It is the best basic model for people who just want some help reducing their time sweeping or pushing vacuums. When we picked up shoes and socks first, this vacuum visually cleaned every spot of the carpet it rolled over, even cruising under couches that taller models can't fit under. It also hugged walls and slipped into small areas, generating a pleasant, low-pitched purr that was quieter than all the other robots we tested. With no app, this robot was made with simplicity in mind, which another tester appreciated, saying, “I like that I can just turn it loose to knock back the mess without needing to install a special app on my phone to control it.”
The Eufy 11S Max relies on basic bounce-based navigation, moving along until it hits an object and then turns around and ventures in a different direction, much like a pinball game. This often leads to it missing spots at random. Because of this low-tech approach, it's also not the best object avoider. It barreled into shoes, spun in circles on our fake poo, and eventually zoomed off to eat a sock in our obstacle course tests. You'll have to develop a thorough tidy-up routine before letting this robot loose to avoid these hang-ups. When the battery runs low, it heads back to its dock—but it doesn't remember where it left off. So in bigger homes, some of those farther-out rooms might not get as much love as they should. Some of the premium options, like the Roborock Saros 10R, have LiDAR mapping and progress tracking, ensuring it finishes the job thoroughly, though you'll have to pay a couple of hundred dollars more for the increased intelligence. The big deciding factor is if you're willing to spend the time to pick up stray socks or cords before letting the vacuum roam. If that doesn't bother you—and you don't mind the occasional hiccup—the 11S Max is a great little helper that's often on sale for around $150, making it an easy entry point into the convenience of robot vacuums.
You can see the bounce navigation design at work here. Where the 11s Max did roll over the mess, you can see its decent cleaning performance. You just can't rely on it to hit all spots every time. Credit: GearLab Staff
The Roborock Q7 M5+ isn't the cheapest robot, but it isn't going to blow your budget either — it rests right in the middle of the pack as an exceptional option if you find a deal on it. It excels in mopping and overall floor coverage while keeping the operation simple and accessible. Its mopping performance is impressive for the price, handling 90% of both wet and dry stains on hard floors, leaving surfaces looking refreshed except for some sore spots in tight corners. The app is intuitive and responsive, making scheduling, mapping, and basic operation straightforward for first-time users and seasoned owners alike.
Where the Q7 M5+ struggles is in vacuuming performance and navigation. On carpet, suction is only average, especially for low-pile debris, and its roller brush tangles easily with pet hair. Navigation is functional but clumsy, with inconsistent obstacle avoidance. It rolled over almost every cord with it challenged, bashed into a lot of furniture, and had trouble getting home to its dock here and there. Homes with clutter or pets may require tidying before a clean, as the robot is not a true “set-and-forget” solution. Still, it covers space thoroughly, cleaning around 84% of test areas and handling thresholds and varied floor surfaces reliably.
The Q7 M5+ is a practical, budget-friendly choice for households prioritizing mopping over vacuuming. Pet owners may want to consider similarly priced models that handle hair better, like the Ecovacs Deebot N20 Pro or Yeedi C12 Pro+, but you'll be taking a downgrade elsewhere. Carpet-heavy homes should consider alternatives, but for mostly hard floors, it delivers excellent value.
The DREAME X40 Ultra is one of the most impressive navigators we've tested in a robot vacuum/mop combo. Its LiDAR lasers and AI-driven camera system allow it to map entire floor plans with incredible accuracy, identifying walls, furniture, and obstacles with precision. During our testing, it completely avoided all 12 obstacles we set up, including small items like Legos. The app complements this navigation by letting you schedule cleanings, adjust suction, and set no-go zones, giving you complete control over how the robot moves through your space.
But smart navigation isn't just about avoiding things — it also means reaching tricky spots. The X40 Ultra features an extendable arm that can whisk debris from deep corners, improving on the common limitations of circular robot designs that often miss these areas. Combined with its AI object recognition, this robot requires minimal pre-cleaning prep, saving you time and effort. The X40 Ultra is also a standout cleaner and mopper. It knows to grab its own mop pads, return them for a heated self-wash cycle at 158° Fahrenheit, and then dry them with hot air. Carpets also get a thorough cleaning, making this robot a full-service floor-care solution.
The only major drawback of the DREAME X40 Ultra remains its high price. While its navigation and mopping performance are almost flawless, pet hair cleaning wasn't quite at the level we expected for a premium model. At this price, you may want to upgrade to the Roborock Saros 10R, which performed better in most categories with just a slight cost bump. You can't find that model on sale as frequently, though. For anyone who prioritizes intelligent, reliable navigation above all else, the X40 Ultra is the robot vacuum you want in your home.
The DREAME X40 Ultra is a competent carpet cleaner, outstanding hard floor mopper, and a cautious navigator you can trust to avoid stray socks and random puppy poo, making it a reliable time-saver for busy households with kids and pets. Credit: GearLab Staff
Of all the robot vacuums we have tested over the years, none have picked up pet hair quite like the Narwal Freo X Ultra. The vacuum didn't struggle with tufts of any size, mostly picking up all hair on the first pass. With a second pass, all larger tufts were picked up. To our delight, no longer strands got wrapped around the brush roller - a common issue for vacuums. Hard flooring was no match for this machine either, with a whopping 93% of our flooring picked up. The Narwal is mopping capable with two removable mop pads. The aid station is full-service: auto mop washing, warm air drying, detergent dispensing, and auto station cleaning. It even adjusts the water levels based on the air temperature. A humid day? It'll use less water to prevent standing water on floors. The excellent pet hair cleaning and smart mopping function make this a no-brainer for pet owners, especially when they track in mud.
There are some considerations before buying the Narwal Freo X Ultra. While it is remarkable for hard flooring, carpet isn't so lucky. It also doesn't have the most robust navigation, like seen on the Roborock Saros 10R. And, for the premium features, you'll be paying a premium price (unless you happen to find it on sale). The affordable Ecovacs Deebot N20 Pro also did well at picking up pet hair, but it is louder and doesn't have as impressive mopping skills. All things considered, the Narwal Freo X Ultra is a good choice for pet owners or for those who need frequent mopping.
The Freo X Ultra can appear all over the place, but its precise movements are targeted and get the job done. Credit: Matt Lighthart
Compare Products
Many of these robot vacuums might look similar, but we put each through a series of side-by-side tests that reveal performance differences, even among models from the same brands.
How We Tested
We start by purchasing some of the most in-demand robot vacuums from the most reputable brands. We make sure we include options at all price ranges, including those with and without self-emptying docks and mopping capabilities. That means we put 18 models through our side-by-side tests to push their abilities to the limits, resulting in months of direct time with these robots in our testing lab, warehouse, and the homes of multiple testers.
We tested these robot vacuums using six different performance metrics:
We measured and weighed each robot's collection of different types of debris on carpet and hard floors to evaluate their core floor cleaning abilities. We also test them along baseboards to see if they can clean along the edges and corners of the room, a difficult task for a circular cleaner.
We tested each robot's ability to map multiple floor plans and environments, assessing how they can navigate among unexpected obstacles, like shoes, clothing, and cords. This is how we determine if a robot can be left to its own devices or needs an occasional push in the right direction.
Like many of you, we're dog owners too, so we understand how important it is to find a vacuum that can keep up with all the relentless shedding. We use real fur, brushed from our own dogs, mashed into the carpet, and repeat the same conditions for each vacuum.
We dive into the app like curious users, checking how easy it is to schedule cleanings, adjust settings, and see what the vacuum has been up to. This also helps locate problem areas that each robot might be struggling to clean.
For models with mopping features, we tested how well they handled both wet spills and dried-on coffee stains.
Finally, we recorded the decibels of noise they produce while running and using their docks, so you'll have an idea what living with a robot vacuum might be like in your own home.
We use and test these vacuums in various ways to see how they perform. We consider navigation, noise level, app performance, and much, much more.
Why Trust GearLab
Genaveve Bradshaw is a the lead of our team. She's a Senior Review Analyst who spent months putting these 18 models through challenging cleaning tasks, logging hundreds of hours testing their abilities to clean specific messes in controlled tasks as well as in uncontrolled environments to see how they behave. She relies on robot vacuums in her own home to cut down on how often she needs to manually clean. Between all the dirt she tracks in from outdoor adventures and her dog (fittingly named Roomba) constantly shedding, there's always something on the floor.
Gena has grown to love these machines, even giving them personal names. Credit: Matt Lighthart
Becca Glades knows all things vacuums, including which ones to keep an eye on during sale season, and which to avoid if you have pets. Having a toddler and two labs, she relies on a robot vacuum in her own household for day-to-day management between deeper cleans.
Kyle Hameister has used, tested, and reviewed robot vacuums since 2016. He has a longstanding recognition of how their quirks and abilities have evolved over the years. In his own home, he's worked robot vacuums long enough to wear out their batteries and replace them.
Chris Maxcer and Sam Hill are both tech experts with years of testing, comparing, and contrasting the features and abilities of different types of vacuums. This team of robot vacuum experts is here to test, question, and investigate each and every vacuum that rolls through the door, all so you can be confident in your purchasing decision.
Analysis and Test Results
Depending on your home and cleaning needs, you may prefer one robot vacuum over another. Take a look at our test metrics below to learn which important factors matter most to you and find the model that fits best.
Worse Value
Better Value
What's the Best Value?
Robot vacuums have one of the widest price ranges among household appliances. Due to the technology involved, the costs can quickly add up once you start checking the boxes for fancy features. However, if you don't need all the bells and whistles, the Eufy 11S Max does a surprisingly good job picking up what it rolls over, especially on hard floors. This is the most affordable vacuum we recommend, and a great place to start if you don't have the funds to invest. Others in this price range typically don't have a brush roller, a key feature that is necessary to dislodge the dirt on the ground, which often leads to poor cleaning performance from other budget vacuums.
The Roborock Q7 M5+ is a hybrid robot that features a mop, so considering its dual-purpose capabilities, the vacuum packs a valuable punch. For just a bit more than the most basic models, this model gives you a major boost in performance, one that's often more noticeable than the smaller gains you'd get from jumping to much pricier premium vacuums. You'll spend less time prepping your space compared to the Eufy, since this model is smarter and navigates more independently. It's still a budget model in the sense that it doesn't have cameras and advanced AI to help avoid everything, but you'll have to invest hundreds more dollars more to get those premium features.
The Roborock Q7 M5+ is also a mop, offering a little more bang for your buck.
What You Need To Know About Docking Stations
While all robot vacuums come with a charging dock, there is a significant difference between a basic one and the all-in-one stations that come with higher-end models. Simple docks just recharge the vacuum, meaning you'll need to manually empty the dustbin yourself, sometimes after every run. In contrast, more advanced docks can do much more: they can empty the vacuum into a larger dust bag, wash and dry mop pads, and even store clean and dirty water for mopping. The less you want to deal with your robot, the more helpful these smart stations become, but they also bump up the price, so it's really a balance between cost and convenience.
Cleaning Performance
At the core of any robot vacuum's job is cleaning, so to put that to the test focusing on carpet and hard flooring like wood, tile, and concrete. We also considered how well each vacuum performed along baseboards and edges.
Cleaning Performance
Product
Carpet Cleaned
Hard Floor Cleaned
Roborock Q5 Max+
84
92
Roborock Saros 10R
82
92
DREAME X40 Ultra
77
90
iRobot Roomba i3+ EVO
77
87
Shark AI Ultra 60 Day
73
89
Roborock Qrevo S5V
80
80
Ecovacs Deebot X9 Pro Omni
75
85
Eufy 11s Max
69
90
Roborock Q10 S5+
79
78
Narwal Freo X Ultra
61
93
iRobot Roomba Combo 10 Max
74
76
Ecovacs Deebot N20 Pro
83
62
TP-Link Tapo RV30 Max Plus
74
71
Yeedi C12 Pro+
71
69
Roborock Q7 M5+
57
79
Eufy x10 Pro Omni Vacuum & Mop
52
69
iRobot Roomba QO120
55
63
Lefant M210
42
72
iLife V3S Pro
38
62
Carpet Cleaning
Both the Ecovacs Deebot N20 Pro and Roborock Saros 10R performed best on carpet, picking up 83% and 82% of the mess, respectively. Testers were impressed by the Deebot N20 Pro's strong traction and roller brush performance, which lifted nearly all large debris on the first pass, provided solid coverage across carpets, and removed most sand and smaller particles, The Saros 10R performed similarly but our tester noted that they could “see areas where sand was lifted to the top of the carpet but not fully vacuumed.”
The Roborock Saros 10R cleans in an impressive, tight pattern but you can still see areas where traces of blue sand was left behind. Credit: Genaveve Bradshaw
The Roborock Qrevo S5V, Roborock Q10 S5+, and DREAME X40 Ultra were second-tier in cleaning tests, each coming in around or just below 80% of debris vacuumed successfully. The Roborock Qrevo S5V was particularly impressive — even though it only hit the 80% mark, our tester said the carpet looked nearly spotless from a quick eye-test.
Some of our best carpet cleaners include the Roborock Qrevo S5V (first), Roborock Q10 S5+ (second), and DREAME X40 Ultra (third).
The worst performer in our carpet test was the iLife V3S Pro, which left entire sections untouched. The Lefant M210 wasn't far behind. It managed to pick up a few Cheerios but struggled with anything more embedded. Neither models have a brush roller, relying instead on open suction slots, which means they can't agitate carpet fibers to dislodge debris. As a result, both had a hard time with heavier materials like sand and even moderately settled messes like rice.
If you prioritize carpet cleaning, make sure that any model you choose has a spinning roller brush at its suction intake to avoid mediocre results on carpet. The small inlet on the Lefant M210 also made it more likely to get clogged. Credit: Genaveve Bradshaw
High Pile, Shag Carpet? Don't Count on a Robot
They don't have the suction and deep-agitating bristles necessary to suck debris buried under longer carpet fibers. Some even struggled to move on shaggy rugs, so you still need a quality upright or canister vacuum for effectively cleaning thick rugs.
Many robot vacuums struggle to move on thick carpets and most are utterly ineffective. Credit: GearLab Staff
Hard Floor Cleaning
The Narwal Freo X Ultra is the clear winner when it comes to hard flooring, sucking up 93% total, and tidying up nearly as well as if we had swept it ourselves. This model dynamically adapts its cleaning method based on the room's dirtiness, which appears to result in some unusual navigation on hard floors, but it certainly gets the job done well.
The Freo X Ultra got a little random, but we can't fault its ability to clean hard floors. Credit: Matt Lighthart
The Roborock Saros 10R and DREAME X40 Ultra were no slouches here, and at a glance, all three of these models left floors that looked similar. We could only determine a difference after we weighed the collected material.
For its more affordable price point, we have to give a shout-out to the Eufy 11s Max. It vacuumed our hard floors as well as the most expensive model we tested (90% pick up). In fact, if you're willing to run it a bit more frequently to compensate for its random navigation, its vacuuming abilities could approach stellar status.
The Eufy 11s Max not only cleans hardwoods well, but it fits in tighter places that other vacuums often miss. Credit: Matt Lighthart
Edges and Corners
Robot vacuums have a hard time sucking debris from wall edges because they try to maintain a small gap to avoid scraping. Plus, unlike many manual cordless stick vacuums, robot suction slots are rarely positioned close to the edges of their own frames; they're more centered underneath. As for corners, their circular designs make it hard to reach directly into 90-degree junctions. To increase effectiveness, most models use spinning side brushes to whisk dirt away from walls and out of sharp right-angle corners, allowing them to run over and suck it up.
Edges are tricky. To see which cleaned these hard-to-reach areas best, we sprinkled ground coffee and measured the amount picked up. We also noted how deep each vacuum was able to clean, shown here in our edge test.
The DREAME X40 Ultra, with its unique extendable side brush, had a clear advantage when cleaning along baseboards and corners. It didn't leave any piles of debris along our walls, and we especially appreciated how thorough it was around the edges of the test area.
The Roborock Qrevo S5v and Roborock Saros 10R also reached deep into corners and along baseboards, leaving barely a crumb behind.
The DREAME X40 Ultra's side brush effectively pulls debris in along edges. Credit: Matt Lighthart
If cleaning every inch of the floor is critical to you, the Eufy x10 whisked corners admirably clean, too, leaving only about a half-inch of coffee grounds in the corner and less than a quarter-inch along the walls.
Other products might clean well along one wall but miss spots along others, or miss many areas altogether, which means when you run them on a schedule, you can't really trust they'll hit all the baseboards and tight spaces every time.
The Eufy x10 cleaned along walls and baseboards admirably in our testing, leaving little behind. Credit: Genaveve Bradshaw
Navigation
While overall cleaning performance is key, it doesn't matter how powerful a robot vacuum is if it can't reach the mess. A vacuum's ability to navigate rooms and avoid obstacles is crucial to making sure it actually cleans your floors, not just parts of them. Our navigation score is broken down into two parts: object avoidance and whole room coverage.
Object Avoidance
There's nothing more frustrating than coming home from a long workday to a robot that's stuck partway through its cleaning routine, leaving you annoyed and with dirty floors. To see if these products can actually complete the job, we put them through an obstacle course, placing common household objects they're likely to encounter.
Obstacle Avoidance Course
Dog Poo
Socks
Hat
Charging Cords
Shoes
Star Rating
Eufy 11s Max
✖
✖
✖
1
2
3
4
5
Eufy x10 Pro Omni Vacuum & Mop
1
2
3
4
5
iLife V3S Pro
✖
✖
1
2
3
4
5
iRobot Roomba Combo 10 Max
✖
✖
1
2
3
4
5
iRobot Roomba i3+ EVO
✖
✖
✖
✖
1
2
3
4
5
iRobot Roomba QO120
✖
✖
✖
✖
✖
1
2
3
4
5
Lefant M210
✖
✖
1
2
3
4
5
Shark AI Ultra 60 Day
✖
✖
✖
1
2
3
4
5
DREAME X40 Ultra
1
2
3
4
5
Narwal Freo X Ultra
✖
✖
1
2
3
4
5
Ecovacs Deebot N20 Pro
✖
✖
✖
1
2
3
4
5
Ecovacs Deebot X9 Pro Omni
1
2
3
4
5
Roborock Q10 S5+
✖
✖
1
2
3
4
5
Roborock Q7 M5+
✖
✖
✖
*
1
2
3
4
5
Roborock Qrevo S5V
✖
✖
✖
1
2
3
4
5
Roborock Saros 10R
1
2
3
4
5
TP-Link Tapo RV30 Max Plus
✖
✖
✖
*
1
2
3
4
5
Yeedi C12 Pro+
✖
✖
✖
✖
1
2
3
4
5
Only two vacuums avoided every single obstacle in our test: the Roborock Saros 10R and the DREAME X40 Ultra. The Roborock Saros 10R excels in navigation, using its StarSight Autonomous System 2.0 with AI and LiDAR to recognize and avoid 108 types of obstacles. The DREAME X40 Ultra also impresses with strong navigation, moving from room to room without getting lost or stuck, but it leaves wider margins around furniture. Considering these are the most expensive robot in our lineup, it's nice to see that high-end tech is actually making a difference with these products.
The Saros 10R uses its StarSight Autonomous System to avoid running into objects. Credit: Matt Lighthart
If you keep your space fairly tidy, any of these vacuums should handle your space just fine. They may sometimes get hung up on small things, but we've found they get out of most situations undeterred to finish their cleaning job. Most come with a premium price tag over $900, but the Eufy x10 Pro is a nice surprise. It performs reliably while costing significantly less than the top models.
The iRobot Roomba QO120 could never consistently avoid any of our objects in our tests. On top of that, the robot knocks into things with vigour, often knocking over our shoes and sucking up socks.
Some vacuums like the DREAME X40 Ultra passed with flying colors, while others like the Roomba QO120 ran over everything in sight. Credit: Matt Lighthart
Whole Room Coverage
Most modern robot vacuums that use LiDAR-based laser navigation are very effective at fully covering floors. This, in a sense, gives the robot eyes to sense an object and to vacuum around it and keep moving throughout the room. Many of the premium models are starting to use AI in their systems, furthering the mapping capabilities so that more of the space is covered.
Whole Room Coverage
Product
Room Coverage
Narwal Freo X Ultra
92
Shark AI Ultra 60 Day
90
Eufy x10 Pro Omni Vacuum & Mop
90
DREAME X40 Ultra
89
iRobot Roomba Combo 10 Max
87
Ecovacs Deebot X9 Pro Omni
86
Roborock Saros 10R
85
Roborock Q7 M5+
84
Ecovacs Deebot N20 Pro
82
iRobot Roomba i3+ EVO
82
Yeedi C12 Pro+
81
TP-Link Tapo RV30 Max Plus
80
iRobot Roomba QO120
78
Roborock Qrevo S5V
77
Roborock Q10 S5+
75
Eufy 11s Max
74
iLife V3S Pro
69
Lefant M210
59
The Narwal Freo X Ultra was the most meticulous in its coverage, navigating 92% of the office, though the differences among the top navigators are admittedly small. What sets the Freo X Ultra apart is its increased attention around furniture, where it makes tight, scrupulous turns around chairs or tables to grab every stray crumb.
The Narwal Freo X Ultra utilizes 360 degree LiDAR to navigate its way around the room. Credit: Matt Lighthart
The Eufy x10 Pro Omni and Shark AI Ultra 60 both covered 90% of our room. Both use AI to navigate and avoid obstacles. These vacuums were too tall to fit underneath our end table, but both managed to clean tightly around our desk, chair, and couches.
The Shark AI Ultra 60 covered 90% of our testing space, though its slightly too tall to fit under furniture. Credit: Matt Lighthart
The Lefant M210 performed the worst in terms of room coverage, failing to cover more than 41% of the floor we tested. Lefant reports that this model uses anti-collision infrared sensors, but in our experience, it seems as if it relies heavily on bumping into objects to spark a new path direction. In some situations, it repeatedly bashed itself against table legs, even as it occasionally attempted to use more ordered zig-zag patterns to cover a room.
Narwal Freo X UltraLefant M210
These time-lapse room-coverage photos show the difference between the best coverage (Narwal Freo X Ultra) compared to the worst (Lefant M210) — even though it was small enough to fit under a table.
Similarly, the Eufy 11s Max and iLife V3S Pro struggled to completely cover our floors due to their random bump-based navigation. If you choose these vacuums, just know they won't consistently clean your entire house, including far-off rooms in larger homes, due to their sporadic navigation.
Charge And Resume?
Many budget models like the Eufy 11s, iRobot Roomba QO120, iLife V3s, and Lefant M210 don't remember where they've been. Once their dust bin is full and they head back to the dock, they stop cleaning entirely. After you empty them, they just start a new run instead of picking up where they left off, so in larger homes, some rooms might never get touched.
Ease of Use
Prefer to set it and forget it? Or maybe you want an immersive app that lets you stay in control. Or maybe a little of both? Regardless, your robot vacuum shouldn't be hard to use. We considered the app experience, connectivity issues, and any features that enhance or detract from the overall usability of each vacuum.
Overall, the DREAME X40 Ultra was the easiest to use and is packed full of features. Included in these are “smart” multi-floor mapping, virtual assistance integration, do-not-disturb mode, video monitoring, and a child lock. Of these, our team loved the video monitoring to check on the dogs while away (yes, really) and the child lock (because a robot vacuum is easily a toddler's favorite toy).
All features are accessible through the clean, easy-to-use app. You can also pair this robot with smart home providers like Apple, Google, Dreame Home, and Alexa. The “smart” mapping of the DREAME is the most detailed and customizable option of all. The vacuum maps different flooring types (wood, carpet, tile, etc.), and in real-time detects and avoids obstacles. Through the app, you can set boundaries, room cleaning sequences, no-go zones, and much more.
Smart mapping, object recognition, and customizable cleaning modes are just a few of the great features of the DREAME X40 Ultra. Credit: Matt Lighthart
The Roborock family follows closely behind, mostly because they all share the same app and many great features. If you happen to own multiple Roborock vacuums, the intuitive app makes it easy to toggle between them and adjust settings. The Roborock Saros 10R is the easiest of the bunch. Features include smart mapping (multi-floor), virtual assistance, do not disturb mode, video monitoring, and child lock. You can even select an option to “Search for the Pet” and the vacuum will go looking for your dog or cat. The Roborock Qrevo S5V, Q7 M5+, and Q10 S5+ have all of these except for the video monitoring and find-my-pet option. These products can be paired with Apple, Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and even an Apple Watch.
Shown here are the settings, zone cleaning, and scheduling for the Roborock Qrevo S5v. We love how intuitive and straightforward it is to use this app. Credit: Rachael Lamore
Robot vacuums might look smart, but the tech still has its quirks. We're not past the early days yet, and it shows. Some models get confused mid-clean, restart routines unexpectedly, or freeze up after returning to the dock. Even when the app seems to be working fine, the robot can still have trouble communicating or following instructions. To rule out phone or Wi-Fi issues, we test every vacuum on the same network and devices, but more often than not, the hiccup comes down to clunky programming.
The Eufy x10 Pro Omni app checks all the right boxes and has an awesome interface, but we started to get annoyed by its reliability issues, making it hard to use. Over the course of three months, it sometimes struggled to load maps or connect to the robot. This is a prime example of why we test these robots over multi-month test sessions and provide ratings as part of our evaluations.
App Features
Virtual Assistance Integration
Do Not Disturb Mode
Video Monitoring
Child Lock
Eufy 11s Max
✖
✖
✖
✖
Eufy x10 Pro Omni Vacuum & Mop
iLife V3S Pro
✖
✖
✖
✖
iRobot Roomba Combo 10 Max
iRobot Roomba i3+ EVO
✖
iRobot Roomba QO120
✖
✖
Lefant M210
✖
✖
✖
Shark AI Ultra 60 Day
✖
✖
DREAME X40 Ultra
Narwal Freo X Ultra
✖
Ecovacs Deebot N20 Pro
✖
Ecovacs Deebot X9 Pro Omni
Roborock Q10 S5+
✖
Roborock Q7 M5+
✖
Roborock Qrevo S5V
✖
Roborock Saros 10R
TP-Link Tapo RV30 Max Plus
✖
Yeedi C12 Pro+
✖
Not all robot vacuums are “smart.” The Eufy 11s Max and iLife V3S do not have an app, so they drastically limit their customizability and convenience. You can schedule automated cleaning, but you're stuck with a basic daily run. Though the Lefant M210 has a virtual assistant and 'Find My Robot,' it continued to beep and clean despite our attempts to repeatedly change commands on the app, proving that having an app means little if it isn't reliable.
The Eufy 11S Max doesn't have an app, but it has a handy remote. Credit: Matt Lighthart
Pet Hair
For the many dog and cat owners out there, pet hair performance can be the single most important factor for choosing a robot vacuum. As another pet owner put it, “If I can automatically clean up just half of the pet hair my dogs shed, that can save our household 90 minutes of manually vacuuming each week!” To see how well each robot helps out pet owners, we worked a generous amount of fur (4 grams) into our test carpet. We also added in bright, long hair extensions to see how they handle other types of hair.
The Narwal Freo X Ultra was the clear winner for tackling pet hair. It picked up over 90% of the fur on the floor and prevented clogs and tangles in the brush roll. On the first pass, the vacuum picked up mostly all small and medium-sized tufts. Any larger tufts left behind were swiftly picked up on the second pass. As our pet-owning tester put it, “This is the vacuum I turn to when leaving for the workday because I know when I return home, the pet hair will be taken care of.”
The Narwal Freo X Ultra is the best at picking up pet hair, leaving almost nothing behind. Credit: Matt Lighthart
The Ecovacs Deebot N20 Pro shocked us with its ability to pick up pet hair. While not nearly as good as the Narwal, it still managed to clean 74% of the pet hair we placed on the carpet, which was our next best result. However, the vacuum had hair wrapped around the wheels and roller, though it didn't take that much effort to remove. All in all, we were pleased with this budget-friendly vac.
Though the Ecovacs Deebot N20 Pro picked up plenty of dog hair, some of it made its way around the brush roller.
Overall, the iRobot Roomba QO120 was the worst robot vacuum we tested for pet hair. On our carpet, it only cleaned 40% of the pet hair we put down. This model cruised over much of the hair but simply failed to suck it up. It declared the job done at about 9 minutes, despite so much fur being left for us to deal with.
Hair Tangling Problems With Robot Vacuums
Long human hair and pet fur often get caught in a robot vacuum's rollers, accumulating over time and potentially affecting its performance. We track this in our testing and reflect it in our scores, so you'll know which models might need more hands-on maintenance.
The Narwal Freo X Ultra uses a floating-end roller that helps guide long hair off the roller, tangling just 4 percent of the hair in our test. The Roborock Qrevo S5V and Roborock Saros 10R also performed well, avoiding tangles in general and having an easy way to remove hair with resorting to scissors. On the other hand, the Eufy X10 Pro Omni and iRobot Roomba QO120 tangled nearly half of the long hair, making them less ideal for homes with long-haired occupants.
Even the best models sometimes get hair clogs, but others constantly create infuriating hair tangles we needed to clear by hand. Credit: Matt Lighthart
Noise
Most robot vacuums are louder than you'd expect, especially when running at full suction or emptying into the dock. If you're working from home or trying to focus, it's not the best time to run a cleaning cycle. While a few models are quieter than others, in general, it's wiser to schedule cleaning when no one's in meetings, napping, or just trying to enjoy some peace.
We measure the decibels each vacuum produces while running. The premium Roborock Saros 10R came in as the quietest robot vacuum we tested at just 50 decibels, which is similar to the hum of a refrigerator.
The Roborock Saros 10R has a nice, white-noise-like hum that is quieter than most. Credit: Kenji Mowrey
The Eufy 11s Max and Lefant M210 came in right behind at 51.3 and 52.1decibels, respectively. Both were relatively unobtrusive—no annoying clicks or clunks—and often blended into the background like white noise. They were easy to ignore while chatting or moving around the house, though you still might not want them running while working or studying when quiet focus really matters.
The loudest was the Eufy x10 Pro Omni, which produced an ear-ringing 88.3 decibels — though we also recorded spikes of over 100 decibels. What's even worse, it squeaked and produced an annoying high-pitch whistle. We do not like to be around when the x10 Pro Omni is working a task.
The Eufy x10 Pro Omni is the loudest vacuum in our lineup. Credit: Matt Lighthart
Mopping
Even though we turn to robot vacuums primarily for sucking up dry materials like dirt, hair, and crumbs, models with mopping features can take your hard floors to the next level by cleaning up sticky messes, dried liquid spills, and fine dust. If a model has a mopping function, we evaluate its abilities by testing it on wet spills and on dry stains.
Separate Your Vacuuming and Mopping Schedules
With hybrid robot mop vacuums, running both modes in one go can backfire, especially if mopping starts before vacuuming. This often leaves the robot dragging a soggy mop pad across your floors and, worse, onto your carpets. To avoid this, we recommend you set separate cleaning schedules: run a vacuum-only cycle first to pick up debris, then follow up later with a mop cycle. This keeps your mop pads cleaner, protects carpets from moisture, and results in a more effective clean overall.
Mopping Scores
Product
Dry Stains
Wet Stains
Roborock Saros 10R
9.5
9.5
Roborock Qrevo S5V
9
8.5
DREAME X40 Ultra
8
9
Ecovacs Deebot X9 Pro Omni
7
9
Roborock Q7 M5+
8
8
Narwal Freo X Ultra
8.5
7
Yeedi C12 Pro+
7.5
8
Ecovacs Deebot N20 Pro
6
8
TP-Link Tapo RV30 Max Plus
6
7
Roborock Q10 S5+
5
6
Eufy x10 Pro Omni Vacuum & Mop
3
4.5
iRobot Roomba Combo 10 Max
2.5
4.5
The Roborock Saros 10R stands out for its mopping skills. It delivers impressive mopping performance thanks to its dual spinning mop pads and 30 levels of adjustable water flow, tackling even tough dried stains with ease. Its dock handles auto-refill, self-washing, and warm-air drying, making mop maintenance virtually hands-free.
Only a few robot vacuums with mopping features were particularly good, but they can reduce the frequency of manual mopping you might need to do in your own home and help collect fine dust. Credit: Genaveve Bradshaw
The DREAME X40 Ultra also handles mopping ahead of the pack, tackling both wet spills and dried stains with dual spinning pads. It cleans its own mop pads with hot water and dries them with heated air, and the app notifies you when to refill or empty the water tanks. A thoughtful touch: it can leave its mop pads at the dock to avoid dragging them around, or lift them 10mm to vacuum carpets, though this height might not clear thicker rugs if the pads are wet.
The DREAME leaves the mop pads behind when not in use. Credit: Matt Lighthart
The Narwal Freo X Ultra can also wash and dry its own mop pads, and it includes a cool smart environmental sensor: It will adapt its mop water levels to the environment. For instance, if your floors are sunny and warm, it will add more water to their mop heads. If the robot detects higher humidity levels, it will reduce mop saturation to prevent standing water on floors. The Narwal can detect dirt levels, upping its cleaning power when needed. It also retracts the mop pads to prevent dragging them across the carpet.
The Freo X Ultra does a great job cleaning the floors, even detecting when more power is needed for stuck-on dirt. Credit: Matt Lighthart
Despite its general high scores, the iRobot Roomba Combo 10 Max struggled to fully clean dry stains and left patchy messes when it came to full-floor mopping coverage. Occasionally, we could task this machine through its app to “Smart Scrub” a particularly stained area, but it delivered big inconsistencies in how much attention and scrubbing power it brought to each task.
Likewise, the Eufy x10 Pro struggled to apply enough pressure with its rotating pads to tackle tougher stains. When we checked the pads mid-clean, they barely felt damp—hardly enough moisture to stand a chance against the dried-up coffee.
The Eufy x10 Pro Omni handled light and medium dried stains easily but struggled to apply enough pressure and/or moisture with its dual rotating mop pads to clean heavier stains. Credit: Genaveve Bradshaw
How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum
The sub-market of robot vacuums is a relatively new development in the wider world of more traditional vacuums, but after more than a decade, they've evolved quickly. They're inherently tech-heavy and have required a ton of iteration to get to where they are today, giving us many choices that can help keep our floors clean.
The short answer is, unfortunately, no. They still struggle with high pile carpet, tight spaces, and can't vacuum stairs. Robot vacuums are comparatively small products that inherently lack the same cleaning, lifting, and suction power as their larger counterparts. Think of them more as a way to keep the dust and hair that accumulates with daily life under control, between the deeper cleans of your primary cleaning device. They're complementary, not a full replacement.
The big draw of a robot vacuum is that it can clean your home with minimal effort from you, and more often than you'd probably haul out a bulky upright or canister vacuum. Most models can learn your home's layout and let you set schedules or no-go zones through an app. Still, you'll need to do some prep, like picking up stray socks or cords and emptying the dustbin. Higher-end models offer features like object recognition and self-emptying docks, but those come at a premium. It really comes down to how much work you want to do versus how much you're willing to pay to have the robot do it for you.
The other main consideration is the type of flooring in your home or business. Some models perform better on carpets, while others excel on hard surfaces. Some models have mopping accessories, and most bog down on thick, shaggy rugs.
Navigation plays a huge role in whether a robot vacuum can actually finish the job. Some models get hung up easily—often to the point of frustration—even when we prepped the space, so it's worth looking into trusted brands and reading up on how well they avoid everyday objects like socks and cords in our obstacle course.
You might find your jaw dropping at the sight of some list prices, but the cost often reflects added convenience features like smart mapping, object detection, or self-emptying bins. Understanding what each model offers at its price point helps you decide whether you're paying for essentials or extras you may not actually need.
Each dock is designed differently, ranging from simple charging to advanced features like self-emptying, mop washing, and dustbin drying.
Conclusion
Hopefully this review has helped you decide which robot vacuum is the best fit for your needs and budget, regardless of whether you are looking for the absolute best of the best when it comes to these automated assistants or you're shopping on a tighter budget.
—Genaveve Bradshaw, Becca Glades, Chris Maxcer, Sam Hill, and Kyle Hameister
