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%..
The Roborock Q7 Max offers strong pressure and smart mapping using apps-based no-go zones, and its 180-minute runtime is awe-inspiring. It also self-empties itself and automatically refills its water tank.
1. Roomba j7+ from iRobot
The Roomba j7+ is iRobot's most intelligent robot vacuum to date. Its most significant innovation is a camera-based obstacle detection system that makes use of built-in AI to detect objects like charging cords, shoes and the dreaded pet waste that the majority of other robots cannot avoid (and often plough right through). It's the first robot to send you a picture of an object that it encounters, so that you can instruct the robot to stay clear of it.
The Combo j7+ is also the best robot to mop we've ever tested, picking up dirt and spills with ease and leaving no trace that it was there. The iRobot application makes it simple to control. It can schedule cleanings and create Keep Out Zones to ensure that it doesn't sweep in areas that you don't wish to. It's compatible with Alexa or Google Assistant so you can start it and stop it using voice.
The design is also better than the competition. It features an elegant, top piece that appears like an toy, not a loud and obnoxious robot. Clean Base Automatic Dirt disposal System also self-empties, which will cut down your cleaning time.
In our tests, we found that the j7+ quickly removed dust, dirt, and hair from pets. The counter-rotating rubber brushes kept the debris in one place instead of scattering it all over the floor. It was able capture small gravel, sand and even a bit of grit. The majority of robots cannot achieve this feat. It did this without getting caught in our pet's hair.
The j7+, though not as intelligent as the $1,217 Roomba S9+ Self-Emptying Vacuum Robot from iRobot, and can't clean the stairs, is still an option for those who need both mopping and vacuum. It's not expensive and the iRobot application makes it user-friendly.
Although the iRobot Home app is very user-friendly however we've found it be less reliable than other apps that utilize robotic cleaners. It can take a long time to download updates, and often it's difficult to know whether the update is working until you see it in the action.
2. Roborock Q5+
If you want a robot vacuum cleaner that does more than just clean your floors then a hybrid is the best choice. This category of bots typically comes with a built-in tank for water, meaning they can both mop and vacuum your home simultaneously. They also come with a variety of extra features, including smart mapping, small obstacles avoidance, and the ability to wash and dry mopping pads. The negative is that they tend to be expensive when purchased at full retail, but on Black Friday and Cyber Monday they are often reduced in price.
Roborock has some of our most loved robot vacuums and the Q5+ isn't an exception. It's their cheapest auto-empty model. While it's not equipped with certain features that are found on more expensive models (like no-go zones and multi-story memory) it's a great choice if you're willing to sacrifice a little to save a few hundred dollars.
The Q5+ is noticeable soft around obstacles like wall legs and table legs and walls, which makes it an excellent option for homes with a lot of furniture. It's also very thorough in cleaning dust bunnies, which is a place where cheaper robot vacuums can really be a bit sloppy. The Q5+'s navigation is top-quality, with a few misses along walls or in corners.
Like other Roborock devices as well, the Q5+ can be controlled with a handful of buttons on the device itself or through the Roborock app. Through the app, you can start and stop cleaning or schedules, establish virtual barriers and no-go zones and alter your home map, or re-label rooms.
If you choose to purchase the Q5+ model, it ships with a new auto-empty dock specifically designed to make the machine easy to maintain. Installing it requires a screwdriver, but once in place emptying the bin can be done with relative ease. It also has a large LCD display, which is nice to have when you're creating schedules or changing settings. This isn't a necessity for most people however it can assist you in keeping the track of the intervals between maintenance for your robot easily.
3. Narwal Freo X Ultra
The Freo X Ultra robot vacuum and mop is a smart, well-rounded vacuum and mop. It's capable of vacuuming and mopping. Its design is among the most innovative in the market however, it's costly.
It is a relatively small base station that looks great and can be hidden when not in use. But the station's main selling point is how it automates many tasks and functions that most other robots will leave to you. It can keep clean and dirty water and also electrolyze and warm the water. Many other robots require you to perform this.
And its vacuuming is impressive, too. It's the only robovacs that I've tested that do very well at collecting debris from bare floors, and it's not nearly as loud as the more expensive Roomba 980 or iRobot 900 series.
The Freo X Ultra is not without flaws, especially when it comes to navigation. Its laser sensors and LiDAR sensors aren't as reliable as other robot vacuums. This means it could get stuck or confused in certain corners or rooms in the home. It also can't climb stairs as well as other models and isn't equipped with a dock to create a clean zone for plush carpets.
Although it doesn't have as much in the way of cleaning-related options in its app, or as many shortcuts in the app as other robovacs, the Freo X Ultra is still a top choice for those seeking a great all-round robot vacuum and mop that's worth the higher price tag.
If you're looking to save money or aren't concerned about the limitations of the robot, there are many alternatives available. Many of the eufy models cost significantly less. The Eufy Qrevo curv, for example is less expensive however it comes with more features, such as stair climbing and a full-function Dock, which provides a better overall vacuuming experience on plain floors, low-pile carpets and even high-pile ones.
4. eufy RoboVac G30
eufy, an Anker company is a long-standing leader of making robot vacuums that strike the right balance between features, performance and price. The G30 Hybrid is no different it offers a high-quality cleaning of hard floors and mopping, carpets and other surfaces at an affordable price point. It's easy to set up, simply connect one of the side brush, turn it on and connect the charging dock. The app walks you through the steps needed to connect it to Wi-Fi. After that, the G30 is ready to go. The dock should be placed close to an outlet that has plenty of space to move.
The G30 is a small device that measures 2.85 inches in height, so it is able to fit under most couches and pieces of low-clearance furniture. Its design is less ostentatious than some rival models, sporting sleek black finishes and three buttons that are physical such as Auto Cleaning start/pause, Recharge and Spot Clean (which scrubs a space in a spiral pattern for two minutes). It is also possible to connect the G30 to Amazon Alexa or Google Home to use voice commands to do unscheduled cleaning.
The way the G30 cleans is what separates it from other models. It uses a built-in map to create an image of the immovable objects in its path while retaining what it's cleaned and the areas it's not able to access. It automatically returns to the base to recharge and then continues cleaning where it left off.
best robot floor cleaner eufy G30 has its flaws, though. The iRobot Roomba is built better and has lower monthly costs. It charges faster, has the same battery life and performs better on unfinished flooring or carpet with a low pile. It also comes with a larger dust bin that doesn't need to be emptied as frequently and comes with an array of boundary strips to restrict it from certain areas. The G30 is cheaper and easier to maintain. Its smaller dust canister doesn't need emptying as often and it has less trouble with bulky materials such as cereal.