In a world where AI is snatching jobs from us, why not let the tech tackle the tasks that we actually don’t want to do anyway? I’m talking about the daily domestic drudgery of vacuuming, of course.
The best robot vacuums do a chore that’s tedious and time-consuming, without you having to lift a finger. I don’t know about you, but I’m more than happy to let our future robotic overlords take this job away from me.
So happy, in fact, that I’ve real-world-tested 10 robot vacuum cleaners in my home.
Best robot vacuums at a glance
Best overall – Tapo RV50 Pro Omni: £399, Tapo.com
Best budget buy – Ultenic T20 Pro: £240, Amazon.co.uk
Best for mopping – Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal: £1,039, Sharkninja.co.uk
Best for small homes – iRobot Roomba Mini: £249, Irobot.co.uk
Best for pure power – EcoVac DeeBot T90 Pro Omni: £699, Ecovacs.com
What was I looking for in my contenders? Nothing less than the gladiatorial Gold Standard in flawless navigation, dirt detection, suction power, measured up against mopping ability and – the dream of the domesticated madman – self-emptying.
So, which of these robo vacs could mop the floor with the others? Read on.
How I tested
My home features a range of flooring types, from hardwood and tile to acrylic and carpet – all seem to attract dust and hair like some kind of ludicrous magnet. So, this was the testing ground.
For each model, I noted Pascals – the standard unit of measurement for suction pressure – ease of use and set-up (from base stations to apps), the guidance system, mopping performance, and price. From a couple of hundred to well over a grand, costs can vary as wildly as performance.
Tapo RV50 Pro Omni robot vacuum
★★★★★
Best: Overall robot vacuum
What we love: Surprisingly affordable, powerful suction, great mopping, capacious base dustbin, and all-round excellent performance
Take note: Noisy emptying
With 50 per cent off at the time of writing, Tapo RV50 is firmly in the realm of the affordable. Packing some 15,000Pa, it’s a decently powerful beast that boasts a maximum runtime of a colossal 250 minutes, covering up to 200m² of hardwood, carpet and tiled flooring. It vacuums and scrubs them to perfection with its dual rotating mop pads.
Featuring a HEPA filter, the app/voice/on-device buttons-driven Tapo comes with adaptive edge-extension for better edge and corner cleaning, auto-empties into the base station’s vast 3-litre dustbin, self-cleans, self-charges, and even comes with an automatic hair-cutting mechanism inside the base station that cuts hair from the roller, making it enormously low-maintenance.
Does it have its downsides? Il collide with things occasionally, emptying is noisy, and you’re locked into buying Tapo’s proprietary detergent. But at the 400 quid mark… it’s an absolute bargain which you should snap up now.
Buy now £399.00, Tapo.com
Ultenic T20 Pro robot vacuum cleaner
★★★★☆
Best: Budget robot vacuum cleaner
What we love: Excellent value for money, impressive specs, large capacity dustbin on both vac and base, good runtime
Take note: Basic mopping and obstacle navigation not great
For less than £300, the Ultenic T20 Pro robot vacuum cleaner tackles carpet, hardwood and tiles with ease, thanks to a Pascal rating of 8000. That does mean the deep pile shag rug is out, but this is not the 1970s, so move on, man!
The T20 competes with much pricier products, equipped with mopping, auto-emptying and a runtime of over 180 minutes. Plus, there’s even advanced AI LiDAR guiding the Ultenic about, which is pretty much unheard of in models at this price point.
Complete with a HEPA filter to seal away all the tiny nasty pollen, dust mites, spores and smoke particles that may be lingering around your home, there’s even a voluminous 3.5l base dust capacity, so you’ll spend far less time emptying. Also, as an aside, if your house is full of pollen, mites, spores and smoke, you REALLY need this.
Downsides? It can sometimes struggle to find its way back to charge, auto-emptying makes a bit of a racket, cables on the floor are an absolute Achilles’ heel, and it only connects with 2.4GHz Wi-Fi. But, operable by remote, app or voice using Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant, the vac offers outstanding value for money.
Buy now £226.00, Amazon.co.uk
Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal robot vacuum cleaner
★★★★★
Best: Robot vacuum for mopping
What we love: Powerful suction system, mighty mopping, and UV detection cleans up everything
Take note: Mopping can leave too much water behind and obstacle detection is too keen
The Shark was already impressive when it cost a grand, but now it’s less than £700. The vac eschews Pascals for a dynamic, sensor-driven auto-adjusting suction power – a smart system they call Dirt Detect – which gives it dominance across all floor types, including deep-pile rugs.
Comfortably covering areas up to 290m2 with up to 180 minutes runtime, the robot boasts a 380ml onboard dustbin and somewhat less generous 1.5-litre base dustbin.
Then there’s the UV Reveal thingie to take into account. This robotic vacuum can “see” the dirt that you can’t, like pet piddle and sweat, diligently cleaning it all away with its powerful HyperSonic Mopping system. Indeed, with the Shark, you’ll have floors so clean you could eat off them; and you could, because this auto-emptying, self-cleaning, auto-charging will clean that up afterwards too.
Controlled by an app, buttons and/or voice, there are pros aplenty here, so what of the cons? Well, it can get a bit water-mad, leaving floors overly doused at times, and obstacle detection is over-sensitive, leaving the Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal in a literal bit of a spin at times. But these are minor quibbles in the grand scheme of domestic robots, especially when weighed up against all that other awesome spec; and may I remind you: now just £639…
Suitable surfaces: Hardwood, Vinyl, Tile, Carpet, Deep-Pile Rugs
Mopping: Yes
Controller type: App, Voice, On-Device
Compatible devices: Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant
Running Time: 180 minutes
Dimensions: 34 x 34 x 10.4cm
Buy now £639.00, Sharkninja.co.uk
iRobot Roomba Mini
★★★★☆
Best: Robot vacuum for small homes
What we love: Small footprint, impressive suction for size, fast mapping, and uses AllergenLock bag
Take note: Struggles with carpet and is easily damaged
Founded by roboticists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), iRobot is synonymous with space bots and military operations. It branched into robo vacs in 2002 – so you can safely assume they know what they’re doing.
New for 2026, the Roomba Mini is a dust-beating droid designed for smaller homes (it measures just 24.5 x 24.5 x 9.2cm). Small but mighty, it produces 7000Pa of suction, making it ideal for hard floors, but it’s not so great for low-pile carpet.
Surprisingly quick to map its way around, the Mini can cover 130m² for up to 75 minutes (a trade-off with its smaller body). Naturally, it gets further into the nooks and crannies than a standard-size robo vac, leading to a better clean in corners and edges.
It cleans and charges without your involvement – and for self-emptying, it uses bags. Yep, while all other base stations will eventually need you to open up and empty their dustbins, the iRobot Mini base station packs all that former floor filth into AllergenLock bags so that contact with dust and associated dirt is kept to the absolute bare minimum.
Operable over app, hard buttons or Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant or Apple Siri for complete control, the Mini offers many advantages for those living in petite pads. One downside is the initially smart-looking bodywork, which is susceptible to picking up scuffs and scrapes at an alarming rate (you’ll want to keep it away from sharp edges).
Buy now £379.00, Irobot.co.uk
EcoVac DeeBot T90 Pro Omni robot vacuum
★★★★★
Best: Robot vacuum for pure power
What we love: Powerful suction, supreme across all surfaces, excellent runtime, multiple control options, large capacity base dustbin, and great with pet hair
Take note: Costly and doesn’t like clutter
Got a more palatial home with a blend of hardwood, vinyl, tiles, carpet, and long-haired pets? You need the DeeBot T90 Pro Omni from EcoVac.
Boasting a mighty suction (30,000Pa), nothing will escape through its HEPA filter, as it covers 500m2 with an impressive 350 minutes on hardwood.
The T90’s Ozmo Roller 3.0 mopping system deep-cleans as it goes, leaving the likes of hardwood pleasingly streak-free. The dustbin self-empties back on the 3.5l capacity base station, then cleans itself and recharges itself ready for next time.
The DeeBot’s ZeroTangle technology effectively stops brush entanglement, and the T90 can even lower itself to under furniture – a very nice touch.
Navigation-wise, a mix of LiDAR and EcoVac’s AIVI 3D system works well, though if the room is cluttered, then the cleaning will take longer. Controllable via app, hard buttons, or voice, utilising Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, or EcoVac’s very own built-in Agent Yiko assistant, which, I’ll be honest, is pretty damn cool.
Is it on the pricey side? Well, yes, but performance is first-rate in all areas.
Buy now £699.00, Ecovacs.com
Mova Z60 Ultra Roller
★★★★☆
Best: Robot vacuum for all surfaces
What we love: Powerful suction, suitable on all surfaces, decent coverage on one charge, excellent obstacle avoidance, threshold climbing, and excellent mopping
Take note: Expensive and quite slow
With a whopping amount of Pascal power under the hood, the Mova Z60 Ultra Roller can handle any floor you can throw at it – even deep pile carpets – and leave it spotless in next to no time. Tackling 200m2 with a healthy running time of 210 minutes (depending on usage), it mops as it goes and features a HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) filter. Plus, there’s a reasonably sized 220ml dust bin on the bot and a nicely capacious 3.2L bin on the base.
Controllable via app, buttons or via voice (Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant), the Z60’s Dual-Laser 3D Structured Light and RGB AI object avoidance mean it won’t get stuck in places or be found choking on a stray sock.
Child’s play to set up, you can leave the Mova to it: its smart nav system, the ability to adjust its own height and the LiftPro Chassis help the Z60 climb up and over low barriers with ease, meaning you can send the Ultra Roller rolling and get on with your life.
Downside? At £1249, it’s rather pricey, but for a fast, efficient and effortless clean, the Mova Z60 Ultra Roller is hard to beat.
Buy now £569.00, Tesco.com
Dreame Aqua10 Ultra Roller Complete robot vacuum
★★★★☆
Best: Self-navigating robot vacuum
What we love: Massive Pascal power, almost flawless navigation, large base dustbin capacity, and good runtime between charges
Take note: Loads of money and navigation is precise but slow
Costing a hefty £1100, the Dreame Aqua10 Ultra Roller ticks all the boxes for even the most demanding of dusty environments, armed as it is with a mahoosive 30,000Pa rating, meaning that anything is game, from hardwood floors to tiles to the deepest, most luxuriant carpet.
Complete with Dreame’s cutting-edge AstroVision System, plus AI, RGB, and LED, it’s blessed with the sharpest navigation and obstacle avoidance system you’re likely to find. Once powered up, download the app, let it go and never think of it again until you have to empty the sizable 3.2L base dustbin.
Controllable using the app or voice (Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant or Siri), a HEPA filter is fitted, and a runtime of roughly 180 minutes means it can cover vast swathes of your home before auto-returning to its base station to recharge.
Yes, the Dreame Aqua10 Ultra Roller costs a metaphorical arm and leg – but when it comes to pure, utterly autonomous cleaning power and convenience, to paraphrase the Mamas and the Papas, dream a little Dreame of the Aqua10 Ultra Roller.
Buy now £599.00, Amazon.co.uk
Hobot LEGEE Q10 robot vacuum
★★★☆☆
Best: Robot vacuum with tank tracks
What we love: Low price, decent runtime, and tank tracks for tackling thresholds
Take note: No base station, clumsy obstacle avoidance, more frequent dustbin emptying
Owing to this robo vac’s relatively affordable price, expectations must be managed. The Hobot features 5000 Pascals of suction power, which should prove perfectly adequate for hardwood floors, tiles, low-pile carpets and vinyl flooring, and it has a decent runtime of up to 150 minutes. Plus, the built-in 400ml dustbin is more than adequate for most, and it mops as well as vacs.
Drawbacks? Well, there’s no base station for auto-emptying. So once the on-board dustbin is full, you’re up. There’s a charging station it dutifully returns to when required, but it’s got the obstacle avoidance of a drunken bull in a china shop, often crashing into objects both inanimate and animate.
But when you consider the HEPA filter, the various means of control (Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and/or Siri), and the fact that its little tank tracks help it ease over most thresholds, the pros begin to outweigh the cons. Although be aware, it only supports 2.4GHz WiFi, not 5GHz.
So, as long as you don’t mind getting your hands dirty more frequently, this budget robo vac could well be the suck-up steal you’re seeking.
Buy now £199.00, Amazon.co.uk
Eufy C28 robot vacuum
★★★★★
Best: Value-for-money robot vacuum
What we love: Powerful Pascals, perfect cleaning performance, long runtime, anti-tangle brush, and excellent price/performance ratio
Take note: Obstacle avoidance could be better, and the taller profile stops it getting under low furniture
Under the hood sits 15,000Pa, making it good to go on hardwood, tiled, carpet and vinyl floors. It vacuums and mops to an exceptional degree, while the HEPA filter helps deep-clean carpets. The HydroJet mop removes stubborn stains from hard surfaces with ease.
It navigates well, even in low-light conditions, while the runtime of 216 minutes for vacuuming alone and 123 minutes for vac and mop action is ample.
The base station features auto-emptying, cleaning, and charging, complete with a 3L dustbin. It’s operable via app, device or voice. Obstacle avoidance is subpar – you can expect a few furniture altercations – and it’s also tall due to its excellent HydroJet system. Overall, however, the Eufy C28 offers a phenomenal performance on par with models at much higher prices.
Buy now £649.00, Eufy.com
Karcher RCV 5 robot vacuum
★★★★☆
Best: Robot vacuum with rapid mapping
What we love: Good-looking design, decent navigation and obstacle detection, and rapid mapping
Take note: No base station and price might be difficult to justify
Karcher’s baseless option comes in at well under £400, but the question is: is £350 too much for a vac with no base station when the other baseless options are considerably cheaper?
With a relatively low suction rate of just 5000Pa, the Karcher is best on hard floors and subpar on carpet – despite boosting suction when carpet is detected. You’re limited to a 330ml dustbin, while the 120 minutes of runtime is low too.
The navigation system and obstacle avoidance are actually rather good. While others spin and hesitate, the RCV 5 can cover an area more quickly – up to 170m2 on a single full charge.
Mapping is performed rapidly and precisely, while the low profile allows it to get into places others can’t. Similarly, the compact charging station is easy to keep out of the way.
I was genuinely impressed by the performance, but it might struggle to win people over from the far more affordable Ultenic or Hobot models.
Buy now £549.00, Tesco.com
What is the best robot vacuum?
The specs speak for themselves: the more you pay, the better you get. But the drastically price-reduced Tapo RV50 Pro Omni hits the sweet spot. Feature-packed and delivering excellent performance, the price/performance ratio can’t be bested.
However, and it’s important to say, had it not been for the Tapo price drop, my pick for the king of the robo cleaners would almost undoubtedly have been the Eufy C28, its performance and features winning by an, ahem, clean sweep.
Why trust me?
Stuart Pritchard has been reviewing appliances for major publications for years, from air-moving products to air purifiers, neck fans and aircon units. Everything he reviews, he tests in real-world conditions.
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