I've been reviewing robot vacuum cleaners since Ecovacs Robotics brought its first Deebot to Australia about a decade ago. So I like to think that I've learnt a few things about what to look for when buying one — knowledge that I've used to curate the best robot vacuums in Australia right now.
The manufacturers don't make it easy, do they? They make every spec sheet sound glowing, but you get what you pay for, especially when it comes to robot vacuums. It's understandable that you'd want an affordable model, and there are plenty that make sacrifices to keep costs down — you just need to be able to understand what those sacrifices mean for your personal use case.
In the same vein, you don't have to spend thousands on a robovac, although you will get the top-of-the-line models at premium prices that offer plenty of smart features. Some of those, like agentic voice assistants and Matter connectivity, aren't really necessary, but you might want pet-specific features that cheaper models won't have. But not all expensive models are reliable cleaners.
So, what's a good robot vacuum to buy then? On paper, the Ecovacs Deebot T50 Pro Omni sounds good at half price, but my experience with it was very disappointing, but we found the older and cheaper T30 family to be better.
Now, you're not expected to know what's good and what isn't, so I've picked a few models that I think are worth considering right now, and they're all discounted. They do pretty much the same things — vacuum, mop and clean themselves, so you don't need to do much yourself — at different price points. Where they vary is suction power, but I've listed a variety that should cover carpets and pet needs too.
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What to look for in a robot vacuum
I picked the above robot vacuums based on my own or a colleague's experience of either trying the exact model or a related one that's very similar. When we test robovacs here at TechRadar, we look at specific things like cleaning prowess, battery life, dock performance and much more.
Allow me to break it down into easier terms for you here, so you can choose the best automated cleaning machine yourself from my four picks or any other model you might have been eyeing.
1. Suction power
It's in the name — a robovac's primary function is to vacuum, and for that it needs good suction power. Gone are the days when 6,000Pa was considered class leading. Now it's upwards of 20,000Pa. Now, while the higher suction power is a good thing, a robovac's cleaning prowess is also dependent on the airflow inside the bot to ensure it's able to suck up even fine particles and push them through into the onboard bin. If you have carpets, definitely look for high suction specs, but hard floors will be cleaned easily with less.
2. Mopping
Practically every robovac available today can mop as well, so you're paying for the feature anyway, but how well they're able to do so varies. Older models barely wet the floor, but newer models allow you to set a water-flow rate to suit your floor type. Some models that use circular mop pads can apply a little scrubbing motion and a tiny amount of downward pressure to tackle some stains, but I've found that roller mops perform better. However, robovacs with rollers are the premium kind, although models like the Roborock Saros 10 listed above can mop really well with its pads. Just make sure you pick one that can extend both pads outward for edge cleaning.
3. Robot height & threshold clearance
Most bots have a little puck on the top that houses their navigation tech and, sometimes, a camera. This can prevent the droid from rolling under some low-lying furniture, which means you may have areas being left uncleaned. If you do have low furniture, pick a model with no puck or a retracting puck, but these are premium options. Similarly, you'll want a bot that can clear at least a 3cm threshold or you'll need to move it manually if it gets stuck somewhere. Again, premium models can now do well over 4cm.
4. Dock performance
You definitely want to make sure the mops on the bot are cleaned thoroughly after each mopping session, and then dried as well. This prevents germ growth and odour build up. Now, every all-in-one model has a dock uses warm water and air to do so, but the more effective cleaners use hot water and warm air for the same task. I'm yet to meet a dock that isn't too loud when sucking out dirt into the dust bag, though — I'd love that.
5. Navigation & obstacle avoidance
This is very important, of course. If the tech can't ensure the bot can circumnavigate around socks, shoes, toys or anything else on the floor, what's the point? So ensure you find a model with good software that allows it to travel a path that's both effective and efficient. You also want one that doesn't keep going around in circles, cleaning the same spot multiple times.
6. Battery life
This really shouldn't be an issue with most robovacs available today as most will offer a decent runtime, but you definitely want to pick one that can clean for at least 20-30 minutes at higher settings. Sadly manufacturers only list the maximum runtime based on the lowest settings, so take it with a pinch of salt as real-world use will never get you upwards of 100 minutes as some spec sheets claim.
7. Other features to consider
You want to make sure the mops can extend for edge cleaning, while a side brush will typically take care of the vacuuming part. Note, however, that most robot vacuums, no matter how expensive, can miss corners. If you have pets, there are premium models that now offer pet-poo avoidance features and higher suction power to suck up fur and dander. Even for just the family, you definitely want a bot that uses an anti-tangle central bar brush. Smart features, like voice control or Matter connectivity, are nice but unnecessary for the average user. And while some robovacs can double up as a security bot, allowing you to keep an eye on your home via its onboard camera, there are security risks with this feature — another one that's nice to have but not necessary.
8. Never pay full price
If there's one home appliance you should never pay RRP for it's robot vacuums. They're frequently discounted, which means you can pick up a really good one at a better price.