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Have you ever asked yourself, do I actually need a robot vacuum cleaner? For a lot of people, the answer has probably always been no. I'm here to change your mind about that once and for all though, and make the case that everyone should have two decent vacuums - a robot and a corded or cordless vacuum.
In the past, robot vacuums and mops have been sorely overpriced and underwhelming in terms of performance - seen as a middle-class gadget that you'll regret, rather than revere. Nowadays, that's simply not true. Yes, they are still on the pricier side - they do, after all, clean up for you. However, the budget options have become far more affordable and the more premium models are as good, if not better, than their handheld counterparts. Of course, you're still going to get a few bad eggs but that's where I come in.
I've been testing home appliances for years and have tested dozens of robot vacuums, from the affordable Eufy models, to Shark and Dyson's latest AI tech. Below are reviews of five of my favourite models, suitable for every sized home. I break down which ones are best for carpet, hard floors and a mix of both - proving that everyone can benefit from having a robot vacuum in their home.
Best robot vacuums: Quick list
- Best robot vacuum for most people: Karcher RCV 5
- Best budget robot vacuum: Shark Navigator
- Best robot vacuum and mop: Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal
- Best robot vacuum for pet hair: Dyson AI Spot + Scrub
- Best robot vacuum for carpet: Eufy Omni E28
The best robot vacuums to buy right now
1. Best robot vacuum for most people: Karcher RCV 5 robot vacuum and mop
Karcher RCV 5 robot vacuum and mop
★★★★★
£249.99 from Amazon, £249.99 from Karcher
Product Specs: Mopping: Yes, Battery life: 120 mins
What we love: Price, lots of features for your money, object detection really good at registering and avoiding objects, compact good for smaller homes.
What could be better: Speed slower than many competitors, no self-emptying, bin must be emptied every time.
If you need a robot vacuum that's going to go the distance but don't want to spend the 800+ on top of the range features, the Karcher RCV 5 is a great compromise. It's still on the pricier side but it comes with the cleaning power and features you'd expect from more premium models. This includes floor mapping via a camera, which can also live stream as its cleaning (ideal if you need to check in on any issues or just spy on your pets). Wet mopping - though this feature is not quite as sophisticated as other models, it's more of a quick wipe down than a true mopping experience and there's no self cleaning. Where it really shines though is its AI object detection. The Karcher RCV 5 recognises everyday objects such as socks and shoes, and will flag them in real time on your floor map via the app. I tested this extensively and it genuinely surprised me how quickly it picked up on, and more importantly, avoided everything including pet messes. All in all, this is a really competent and thorough robot that's continued to impress.
2. Best budget robot vacuum: Shark Navigator Robot Vacuum & Self-Empty Base
Shark Navigator Robot Vacuum & Self-Empty Base
★★★★★
£349.99 from Shark, £260 from Amazon
Product Specs: Mopping: No, Battery life: 120 mins, Self-emptying: Yes
What we love: Price affordable for a self-emptying vacuum, features as well as auto-empty, you can also map and save floor plans.
What could be better: Mopping no mopping feature.
While it's not the best cleaner on this list, the Shark Navigator is a sensible option for those who don't want to spend £500+ on an allrounder. This is a robot only - there's no mopping function. Interestingly though, it does have a self-emptying base, which is really great for the price and takes away a lot of the hassle of cleaning. You get about 60 days of self-emptying on average before you need to empty out the main container (based on cleaning every day). Reviews of this one seem to be generally positive as well, and like the pricier PowerDetect, it's easy to use and set up. We've not been able to get our hands on this one just yet but keep your eyes peeled for a full review in the coming weeks.
3. Best robot vacuum and mop: Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal
Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal robot vacuum
★★★★★
£549.99 from Shark
Product Specs: Mopping: Yes, Battery life: 180 mins, Self-emptying: Yes
What we love: Performance excellent results in vacuuming and mopping tests, features self empties and self cleans for a true hands-off experience.
What could be better: Price a bit of an investment.
This is one of Shark's most complex robot vacuums to date, with a price tag to match. But what you're getting here is so much more than a simple vacuum and I really think it earns every penny. The mopping is some of the best I've seen on a robot and it does a fantastic job of lifting up the mop head when it detects carpet or rugs. The fact it can actually detect the more stubborn stains on your floor, and then spend extra time cleaning them, is very impressive too. This is everything a robot vacuum should be. It actually performs well, rather than just bumbling around getting confused, you can see it's cleaning precisely and with purpose. It maps and remembers your home, it can navigate around a changing room and it genuinely takes effort and stress out of cleaning with its self-emptying function. Just schedule it to clean, mop or both when you want and let it get on with it.
4. Best robot vacuum for pet hair: Dyson AI Spot + Scrub
Dyson AI Spot+ Scrub robot vacuum
★★★★★
£849 from AO, £849 from John Lewis
Product Specs: Mopping: Yes, Battery life: 180 mins, Self-emptying: Yes
What we love: Mopping hot roller mop really cleans hard floors properly, features object detection and mapping are excellent.
What could be better: Price some cheaper models perform better.
Dyson's robot vacuums have fallen a little flat in the past, particularly given the fact they're often some of the most expensive. This one is somewhat of a redemption for it, as its powerful 18,000 PA suction makes it ideal for cleaning trickier things such as pet hair. I haven't had the chance to properly test this one just yet but from what I've seen so far, I can see why it has had mostly 4 star + reviews. Unlike cheaper robots, the Dyson enlists the help of a hot roller to mop the floors, rather than a sweeping pad. This is much better at agitating dirt on hard floors. It also has tons of really premium features that take away 90% of the work. These include auto-emptying, auto mop washing and drying with hot water/hot air, automatic refilling and general self-cleaning. Robots costing £1,000+ are becoming more of a norm, especially as they get smarter and faster at cleaning. While I'm not saying it's not a lot of money (it's a serious investment), for what you actually get with Dyson's latest robot, it's going to be worth it for some people.
5. Best robot vacuum for carpet: Eufy Omni E28
Eufy Omni E28
★★★★★
£999 from Argos, £899 from Eufy
Product Specs: Mopping: Yes, Battery life: 216 mins, Self-emptying: Yes
What we love: Features self empty, self-cleaning and even comes with a portable spot cleaner, powerful suction power makes it great for carpets and tough messes.
What could be better: Price another investment product.
When I say that robot vacuums are better than they've ever been, this is what I mean. Eufy is currently the number one brand of vacuum cleaner in the UK and is knocking it out of the park when it comes to innovative robot designs. This model is both a vacuum and a mop but it also features a portable spot cleaner for extra stubborn carpet stains. The powerful 20,000 PA suction (more than Dyson's latest robot) is designed to deep clean both carpets and hard floor. The mop roller is also constantly cleaning the floor and itself using hot steam. Both the vacuum and mop element of this model are auto empty and the main dustbag will only need to be emptied every 75 days on average. You can control and schedule cleaning via the Eufy app, which is one of the best apps we've used across any robot vacuum brand. While we haven't been able to fully test with one yet, we're already impressed with its credentials and our full review and verdict will be coming soon.
Our verdict
If you're looking for the best of the best, no expense spared, our choice would be the Eufy Omni E28 - it's got everything the Dyson has but at £200 less. Similarly, the Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal was our favourite classic robot and mop combo. It was a great powerful all-rounder and quite easy to use and setup - perfect if you're a technophobe. Those looking for a simpler affair should consider the Shark Navigator - this has no mopping function but does have a self empty system, which is easy to use. It's also a lot more affordable due to having no mopping - a good compromise in our eyes.
Can robot vacuums make a map of your home?
Most mid to premium price range robot vacuums will have mapping capabilities. More value models tend to offer more basic mapping, while ultra-premium models offer more advanced mapping, multi floor mapping and even real time camera feeds.
Do robot vacuums also mop?
Some do and some don't. Nowadays, most modern robots also offer mopping but it's not always the best. The majority tend to use flat mop pads, which scrub as they go along - good for a quick clean but not the best for really messy homes. Models like the Eufy E28 and Dyson AI Spot + Scrub, both featured on this list, use roller mops that exert pressure and hot water/steam for a real deep clean.
Which brand of robot vacuum is best?
This depends on what you want from a robot vacuum. Eufy is one of the biggest robot vacuum brands in the UK at the moment and has a range of budget and premium options to suit different needs. We've featured one of the brand's latest premium models here but if you're after something simple, we also recommend models like the Eufy L60 and Eufy C10. Shark also has a great range of robot vacuums across different price points, with a focus on user-friendliness. Meanwhile if you're looking for budget friendly models, RoboRock is worth a look - although the cleaning power isn't as good.
How we test and why trust us
When testing robot vacuum cleaners, we take a slightly different approach to our regular vacuum testing. This is because robots operate in a slightly different way and often don't have quite the same high power suction as handhelds - especially corded models. However, that doesn't mean we let them get away lightly. We still put them up against things like flour, semolina and pet hair. If the robot also has a mopping function we test that too by letting ketchup and mud dry on our hard floors, then sending the robot out for a clean to see how well it picks it up. As well as performance, we also consider value for money - are you getting a lot of features included such as self-emptying? Does the robot actually save you time and make cleaning easier? Danielle, along with others in the Daily Mail team has been testing vacuum cleaners for years. She's seen them go from clunky uninspiring robots to genuine home helpers. This also means she knows what works and what doesn't. All of her reviews reflect this - they're honest, impartial and will always reflect the good and the not so great features of a product, so you can make an informed purchase.
