September 2022
Robotic Vacuums: Meta Ranking Report
This report contains an aggregate consensus of Robotic Vacuum rankings posted by key online experts, as of September 2022.
Summary
As of 2 Sep 2022, iRobot Roomba s9+ takes the cake as the most critically-acclaimed robotic vacuum with 4 expert endorsements. 2 experts out of 4 recommended it as the '#1 robotic vacuum' this month. It is followed by iRobot Roomba i3 Plus and Eufy RoboVac 11S , with 4 and 3 expert endorsements respectively.
At a glance - September 2022 Ranking
| Rank | Change | Price | Robotic Vacuum |
The Strategist
|
Good Housekeeping
|
PCMag
|
Business Insider
|
Wirecutter
|
WIRED
|
Consumer Reports
|
Modern Castle
|
Rtings.com
|
HGTV
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
- | $989 |
iRobot Roomba s9+
|
-
|
1
|
-
|
4
|
-
|
2
|
-
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
|
2
|
- | $480 |
iRobot Roomba i3 Plus
|
-
|
-
|
9
|
1
|
2
|
-
|
2
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
3
|
+1 | $200 |
Eufy RoboVac 11S
|
2
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
5
|
-
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
4
|
-1 | $759 |
iRobot Roomba j7 Plus
|
-
|
-
|
2
|
-
|
-
|
3
|
3
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
5
|
- | $1300 |
Ecovacs Deebot X1 Omni
|
-
|
-
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
5
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
6
|
- | $280 |
Eufy RoboVac G30
|
-
|
-
|
7
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
1
|
|
7
|
- | $650 |
Roborock S7
|
-
|
3
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
2
|
-
|
|
8
|
- | $260 |
iRobot Roomba 675
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
4
|
-
|
3
|
|
9
|
- | Check price |
Roborock S4 Max
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
3
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
4
|
|
10
|
- | $500 |
Ecovacs Deebot Ozmo T8 AIVI
|
-
|
-
|
5
|
3
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
15
|
- | $999 |
iRobot Roomba s9
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
4
|
-
|
5
|
-
|
|
16
|
- | $297 |
Wyze Robot Vacuum
|
-
|
-
|
11
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
3
|
-
|
|
17
|
- | Check price |
Yeedi K650
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
7
|
-
|
-
|
4
|
-
|
|
18
|
- | $950 |
Roborock S7 Plus
|
-
|
-
|
6
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
5
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
19
|
- | $239 |
iRobot Roomba 694
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
4
|
8
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
We ranked iRobot Roomba s9+ #1 in September 2022 because:
- 4 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Robotic Vacuums” rankings.
- Out of those, 2 experts ranked iRobot Roomba s9+ as #1.
- Good performance on wooden floors
- Autonomous dirt disposal
- Advanced navigation capability
- Loud operation
- Expensive
Experts are impressed with the iRobot Roomba s9+, which passed every performance test with flying colors. The suction is powerful enough to collect human/pet hair, small particles, larger debris, and it has no problem picking up dirt from wooden floors. Performance on carpeted areas was almost just as good. Its unique D-shaped design allows it to tackle corners with no difficulty. It uses a smart mapping system so it can remember the layout of various rooms. Most experts also praise its ability to empty the collected dirt into a dustbin without any human intervention. The device intuitively returns to its charging base when it’s time to repower. Once fully-charged, it returns to its previous position to keep cleaning. One negative point some reviewers noted is that it tends to be loud while operating. It may be noisy, but the iRobot Roomba s9+ certainly gets the job done.
Good Housekeeping
Best Overall Robot Vacuum
|
Pros
Easily picks up dirt on carpet and bare flooring
|
Cons
Noisy
|
Business Insider
Best Robot Vacuum for Hardwood Floors
|
Pros
Cleans Well On Hardwood Flooring
Good Performance On Carpeting
Rarely Gets Stuck
Comes With a Charging Dock That Empties the Dustbin
Large Main Brushes
Has a Useful App With Virtual No-Go Zones
|
Cons
Loud
Poor Performance in Carpeted Corners
|
Modern Castle
Best Robot Vacuum Overall
|
Pros
D-shaped body makes it easier to access corners and edges
Dust bin empties automatically, the same technology as the Roomba i7+
Improved smart navigation using Imprint technology for zoned cleanings and digital mapping
|
Cons
Much more expensive than other models on the market
Requires physical barriers to block off sensitive spaces
|
We ranked iRobot Roomba i3 Plus #2 in September 2022 because:
- 4 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Robotic Vacuums” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked iRobot Roomba i3 Plus as #1.
- Good cleaning performance
- Strong suction power
- Self-emptying
- A bit noisy
- No mapping capability
The iRobot Roomba i3 Plus may not come with all the bells and whistles of higher-end models, like mapping and setting no-go zones, but it certainly does excel in other areas. Experts are unanimous about two things. Firstly, it collects dirt from carpets and rugs effectively. Secondly, its ability to unload collected dirt automatically into the bin is useful and convenient for users. A review by Business Insider mentioned that it never got stuck during testing and that it concentrated specially on cleaning dirtier areas. Reviewers also praised the strong suction capability of this model. Unfortunately, despite all the praise, there’s no way to remedy the loud sound of this machine. Setting it up is easy and takes mere minutes to get it ready for use. It may not be the most advanced robotic vacuum on the market, but the iRobot Roomba i3 Plus does the job well.
PCMag
Most Affordable Self-Emptying Roomba
|
Pros
Self-emptying dustbin
Works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant
Supports IFTTT and scheduling
Detects and focuses on heavily soiled areas
|
Cons
Average battery life
Can be loud
|
Business Insider
Best robot vacuum overall
|
Pros
Excellent Performance On Carpeting
Cleans Well On Hardwood
Pairs With the App and Alexa
Comes With An Automatic Dirt Disposal Base
Doesn't Get Stuck Easily
|
Cons
Loud
Virtual Wall Barriers Cost Extra
Not Impressive in Corners
|
Methodology: combine opinions of key experts
Identify Experts
We identify key publishers and experts that consistently review and recommend Robotic Vacuums.
Capture Rankings
For each publisher we find a currently recommended "top 10" list of Robotic Vacuums, it must be updated in the last 9 months.
Aggregate Rankings
We put all those lists together and aggregate them. The more frequently a product is recommended, the higher it is in our ranking
Experts chosen for September 2022 ranking
The Strategist
Good Housekeeping
PCMag
Business Insider
Wirecutter
WIRED
Consumer Reports
Modern Castle
Rtings.com
HGTV
We ranked Eufy RoboVac 11S #3 in September 2022 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Robotic Vacuums” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked Eufy RoboVac 11S as #1.
- The price is reasonable
- Quiet operator
- Can reach tight spaces
- It doesn’t look durable
The Eufy RoboVac 11S is an affordable robotic vacuum cleaner that received very high scores in expert reviews. All were rather surprised at how well it cleaned bare floors, even with just one sweep. It was able to pick up most of the debris during tests. The clever design allows it to fit into spaces that other vacuums can’t reach. The Robovac 11S was also praised for being very quiet. The sound it produces is barely noticeable. While experts agree that this is a good vacuum for the price point, they also agree that it will probably not last more than a few years. However, considering all the advantages, it is probably still worth it.
We ranked iRobot Roomba j7 Plus #4 in September 2022 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Robotic Vacuums” rankings.
PCMag
Best for Avoiding Pet Poo / Editors' Choice
|
Pros
Pet waste-avoidance guarantee
Auto-empty base
Intelligently suggests Keep-Out Zones
Supports Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant voice commands
Allows for scheduled area cleanings
Rarely gets stuck
User-friendly companion app
|
Cons
Expensive
Unimpressive battery life
|
We ranked Ecovacs Deebot X1 Omni #5 in September 2022 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Robotic Vacuums” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked Ecovacs Deebot X1 Omni as #1.
PCMag
Best Overall Vacuum and Mop Hybrid / Editors' Choice
|
Pros
Self-emptying dustbin
Self-washing, drying, and refilling mop
Built-in voice assistant
Carpet sensor
AI-powered obstacle avoidance
Works as a security camera with two-way audio
Good battery life
|
Cons
Expensive
Large base
Mop scrubs less than main competitor
Cannot install/remove mopping pads while robot is docked
|
We ranked Eufy RoboVac G30 #6 in September 2022 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Robotic Vacuums” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked Eufy RoboVac G30 as #1.
PCMag
Best for Cleaning Tight Spaces
|
Pros
Compact, low-profile design
Strong suction power for its size
Well-designed app
Easy to set up and use
Works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant voice commands
Features smart navigation for systematic cleaning
|
Cons
Doesn’t support strips or virtual boundaries
Battery life is on the short side
|
We ranked Roborock S7 #7 in September 2022 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Robotic Vacuums” rankings.
Good Housekeeping
Best 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum and Mop
|
Pros
Washable air filter
|
Cons
One consumer tester had trouble picking up pet hair on carpet
|
We ranked iRobot Roomba 675 #8 in September 2022 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Robotic Vacuums” rankings.
Modern Castle
Best Budget Robot Vacuum
|
Pros
Great cleaning performance
Includes wifi connectivity for remote control
Value-priced which puts this model in-budget for many people
|
Cons
No on-board camera for advanced navigation or zoned cleaning cycles
Doesn’t have Recharge & Resume
|
We ranked Roborock S4 Max #9 in September 2022 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Robotic Vacuums” rankings.
We ranked Ecovacs Deebot Ozmo T8 AIVI #10 in September 2022 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Robotic Vacuums” rankings.
PCMag
Best Battery Life / Editors' Choice
|
Pros
Automatically recognizes and avoids obstacles
Exceptional battery life
Allows for remote home monitoring with built-in camera
Supports virtual boundaries
Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant voice support
|
Cons
Expensive
Mops with water, not cleaning solution
Moderate learning curve
Auto-Empty Station is sold separately
|
Business Insider
The best robot vacuum with a mop
|
Pros
Excellent Performance On Carpeting And Hardwood
Automatically Empties the Dustbin
HD Video Surveillance,
Impressive Deep-cleaning Mop Attachment
Quiet Operation
|
Cons
Got Stuck On the Threshold In Our Tests
Doesn't Get Deep Into Corners
|
We ranked iRobot Roomba s9 #11 in September 2022 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Robotic Vacuums” rankings.
We ranked Wyze Robot Vacuum #12 in September 2022 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Robotic Vacuums” rankings.
PCMag
Best for Affordable Laser Mapping
|
Pros
Strong suction power
Features laser mapping technology
Supports app control, area cleaning, scheduling, and virtual walls
HEPA filter
|
Cons
No voice command support
Relatively short battery life
Occasionally gets stuck
|
We ranked Yeedi K650 #13 in September 2022 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Robotic Vacuums” rankings.
We ranked Roborock S7 Plus #14 in September 2022 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Robotic Vacuums” rankings.
PCMag
Best for Multiple Floor Types / Editors' Choice
|
Pros
Vacuums and mops
Auto-empty base
Strong suction power
Rarely gets stuck
Multiple mop scrubbing levels
Supports multi-level maps, schedules, virtual boundaries, and zone cleaning
Multi-stage HEPA air filtration
|
Cons
Expensive
Only mops with water
Loud when vacuuming carpets
|
We ranked iRobot Roomba 694 #15 in September 2022 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Robotic Vacuums” rankings.
