The Best Self-Empting Vacuums
Robot vacuums are fantastic in keeping your floors spotless However, they typically have dust bins that are small and require manual emptying after each cleaning session. The best models come with self-emptying bases that remove this step and allow for a hands-free cleaning experience.
The best self-emptying vacuum cleaners come with docking systems that can hold up to 45 days worth of debris, with no intervention. These smart vacuums also map your home, and are able to avoid power cords and other obstacles.
1. Roomba S9+ from iRobot
iRobot has pioneered self-emptying robot vacuums using the Roomba i7, and it elevated the technology to the next level with the s9+. The flagship model is expensive, but it offers the most impressive performance we've ever seen in any robovac and comes with upgrades other brands can only dream of.
It first sucks dirt into its Clean Base automatically. Then, it emptys the dirt into a large bag that you can dispose away every 60-days. This is a great solution for those who prefer to clean their homes without having to touch it, but still want peace of mind knowing their home is clean of allergens and germs.
The s9+ also has advanced corner-cleaning capabilities that allow it much closer to walls than previous models could, and it's better in spot cleaning, too. The application will return to a particular area if it feels that it requires extra attention. If the area is extremely dirty, the s9 will return to it with a more powerful suction until all the mess has been removed.
The s9+ can be controlled by the app that comes with it or via Amazon Alexa (the s9+ is compatible with both), which allows you to give full voice commands including the ability to stopping, starting and pausing. You can program the robot to begin and stop its work at a certain time, or let it decide when it should return to its dock.
The s9+ is great for carpets that are not bare. It is able to easily take small pieces of debris, like rice, as well as larger objects like cereal. It is also good in cleaning carpets with a low pile and has a strong suction, even when the dirt compartment is stuffed. However, it will not do as well with carpets that are thicker.
2. Roborock S7 maxV Ultra
The Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra is a robot vacuum and mop that is able to sweep, detect rugs, and self-clean, making it one of the most hands-free robotic cleaners that are available. Its advanced navigation and mapping system provides an exceptional level of maneuverability. The companion app lets users to select from a variety cleaning configurations. It also supports third-party apps that let you monitor your home as it is in action.
The S7 MaxV Ultra, like its predecessor, is excellent in sweeping carpets as well as hard floors. It scored very well in our tests of dirt pickup and excelled at tackling hard-to-clean tasks like the sand embedding test and the carpet deep clean test which we conduct by weighing the robot's dustbin before and after a set amount of time. The S7 MaxV Ultra is also great at mopping, generating lots of suction power to deal with both small and bulky debris as well as pet hair on bare floors. It has a little difficulty with hair on densely woven low-pile carpet, but it is able to trap most of the hair on this type of floor.
This model is among the quietest we've tested. Its low-power Quiet mode generates maximum noise of 57.5 dBA. It's not as quiet when it's when it's in its highest-power "Max" setting, which generates more than 80 dBA.
The S7 MaxV Ultra is equipped with docks that automatically fill the water tank of the robot, as well as emptying its dust bin. It's a little more complicated to setup than the X1 Omni but it isn't difficult, and once you have your robot set up and set-up, it will mostly run independently without intervention from you.
3. Shark IQ XL
The Shark IQ Robot XL has an impressive suction and many clever features. It comes with self-emptying bags that are bagless and can map your home as it cleans for complete coverage. You can control the SharkClean with the SharkClean App or with voice commands using Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also utilize physical boundary markers to limit the access of the device.
It has a basic, all-black design and feel. It requires only a few steps out of the box, and requires only a few snaps to attach the side brushes included and the charging dock. The dirt compartment could be somewhat small, and it will be necessary to empty it often.
In tests, the IQ Robot XL quickly responded to app commands and performed well during cleaning cycles. The app lets you choose power modes, alter settings, and also monitor the robot's current battery level. The app also features a Find Robot button that helps you locate the device if it gets lost.
The IQ Robot XL, like other Shark products has a powerful suction that can easily handle dust bunnies and dog hair. Its self-cleaning brushroll stops hair from wrapping around the machine while it brushes through debris too. Its navigation module uses a combination of sensors to detect the surroundings as it moves, but it's not as thorough as those with LIDAR modules. It takes just a few clean cycles before the IQ Robot XL completely maps your space.
Compared with the iRobot Roomba 690, the Shark IQ Robot XL is easier to maintain, incurs lower costs for recurring maintenance, and delivers stronger performance across a variety of surfaces. The iRobot is more robust, more durable, and charges faster and offers similar battery performance. It also has a suite of advanced automation features, which allows you to set the coverage map for your home with no-go areas.
4. Eufy 11S
The Eufy 11S robot vacuum is ideal for people who don't have the phone or voice control, but still want a robot that can clean according to their schedule. The sleek robot is easy to set up and maintain, and it can easily clean dirt and dust. It is ideal for cleaning light-duty daily tasks in order to keep your floors looking great.
It's not as impressive as our other top picks but has some advantages worth considering. For instance, its slim size lets it maneuver under furniture with a low profile that other vacuums aren't able to. It also has a very efficient 'Quick Cleaning mode, which makes use of multiple passes to make your floors as clean as you can. Its 'Smart Pathing' feature is less efficient however it's enough to help you avoid repeating the same cleaning routes over and over again.
The model isn't better than the iRobot Roomba S9+, however, it is better than the Coredy R550 (which is the same price) and the bObsweep Bob Pro. The iRobot is built better and incurs less recurring costs, has a larger dirt compartment, lasts longer on a single charge and is more maneuverable. It also removes pet hair faster and is more effective on floors with carpets and bare floors.
The Eufy 11S is more expensive than the iRobot Roomba 614, but it's also more expensive than the Ecovacs N79S. However, the iRobot is better-built and has a longer battery life, and picks up more dust and dirt than the Eufy. It's also more easy to maintain, has fewer expenses that are recurring, and has more automation capabilities. The companion app is superior and provides more details about the status of the vacuum as well as its battery level.
5. Ecovacs Deebot Pro+
It may look like just about every other robot vacuum available but this one has some clever tricks in its bag. You can assign specific areas or rooms for cleaning, control the power levels and mops through the app, and even utilize voice controls to define your preferences. Its 2600Pa suction power is impressive and, at 67dB, it's much quieter in use than most other robots I've tested.
Deebot N8 Pro+ can also stay clear of obstacles thanks to its TrueDetect 3D Laser. robot vacuum that empties itself makes use of structured light to scan the room and map out the contents, which means it can work around furniture and showpieces, shoes, and charger cables. It's more precise than other robots as it works at the millimeter level to identify small objects and plan a way around them.
ECOVACS App lets you monitor the robot's progress and schedule cleaning times, as well as alter settings, from anywhere. It also allows you to set specific boundaries to provide you with more control over the areas where it cleans. This will keep it from securing important family items, messy school projects, and laundry.
The app is easy to use, and the instructions are simple. The entire process of setting it up takes about an hour. Once it's mapped your house, you can let it run on its own, or make a separate cleaning plan for each room. When the battery is low, it will return to the dock that charges it and continue to where it left off when fully charged. A dust bin that automatically emptys is included in the ECOVACS Deebot N8 Pro+ which means you don't have to touch its contents unless you want to change the dust bag.