Top Black Friday and Cyber Monday Robot Vacuum Deals
If you've always wanted to buy a robot vacuum now's your chance. CNET's best-rated models will be on sale during Black Friday and Cyber Monday, with discounts up to 57%..
The Roborock Q7 Max is a powerful Robot Vacuum Mops with smart mapping and app-based no-go zones. Its run time of 180 minutes is impressive. It also automatically refills and self-empties its water tank.
- iRobot Roomba j7+
The Roomba J7+, iRobot's most advanced robot to date is the Roomba J7+. Its biggest innovation is a camera-based obstacle detection system that uses built-in AI to detect objects like charging cords, shoes and the pet waste that most other robots can't avoid (and often plough right through). It's the first robot to send you a picture of an object that it encounters, so you can tell the robot to stay clear of it.
The Combo J7+ is the most efficient mop robot we've ever tested, picking up spills and dirt with ease without leaving any trace that was there. It's easy to control through the iRobot Home app that allows you to schedule cleaning times and set up Keep Out Zones to make sure it doesn't clean areas you don't want it to. And it's compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant, so you can start and stop it using your voice.
Its design is an improvement over the rest and features a sleek, top piece that appears more like a toy robot rather than a loud, loud one. Clean Base Automatic Dirt disposal System is also self-emptying which can cut down on cleaning time.
In our tests the j7+ was quick to pick up and remove dust dirt, pet hair and other particles. The counter-rotating rubber brushes held the debris in place instead of scattering it on the floor. It was able capture small gravel, sand and even a tiny bit of grit. Most robots could not achieve this feat. It did this without getting caught in our pet's hair.
The j7+, while not as smart as the $1,217 Roomba S9+ Self-Emptying Vacuum Robot from iRobot, and can't clean the stairs, is still an option for those who want both mopping and vacuum. It's not expensive and the iRobot App makes it easy to use.
The iRobot Home App is easy to use, but we found it less reliable than other robotic cleaner applications. It can take a while to download updates and it's sometimes difficult to know if they are working until you see them in action.
- Roborock Q5+
When you're looking for a robot vacuum that does more than just clean floors, the most effective option is likely to be one that is a hybrid. These bots are equipped with a tank of water so they can vacuum and mop simultaneously. They also have a number of extra features, including smart mapping, small obstacle avoidance and even the ability to dry and wash mopping pads. The disadvantage is that they can be expensive at retail, but during Black Friday and Cyber Monday they usually drop in price.
Roborock makes some of our most loved robot vacuums, and the Q5+ isn't an exception. This is the least expensive model of their auto-empty line. While it may not include some of the expensive features (like no-go zones or multi-story memories) however, it's a great choice when you're willing to compromise to save a few bucks.
The Q5+ is noticeably gentle around obstacles such as table legs and walls, which makes it a good choice for homes with lots of furniture. It's also very thorough when it comes to cleaning up dust bunnies, which is a place where many cheaper robot vacuums often fail. The Q5+'s navigation system is also superb, with only a few mishaps along walls or in corners.
The Q5+, just like other Roborock products can be controlled via a few buttons on the device or via the Roborock App. The app allows you to start and stop cleaning. You can also set schedules, design virtual barriers and no-go zones or modify your home map or change the room's label.
If you opt for the Q5+ model, it comes with a new auto-empty dock specifically designed to make this machine easy to maintain. It requires a screwdriver for install, but once it's installed, the process of emptying the bin is relatively simple. It has a large LCD screen which is helpful in setting up schedules and adjusting settings. This isn't a necessity for everyone, but it's one that will assist you in keeping track of the intervals between maintenance for your robot with ease.
- Narwal Freo X Ultra
The Freo X Ultra robot vacuum and mop is a smart well-rounded mop and vacuum. It's capable of both mopping and vacuuming. Its design is among the most innovative in the market however, it's costly.
The base station is attractive and hides it when not in use, and the dimensions are quite small. But the station's main selling factor is its ability to automate various tasks and functions that most other robots leave to you. It can store clean and dirty water and also electrolyze and warm the water. The majority of other robots require you to do this.
And its vacuuming is impressive, too. It's the only robovac I've tried that does an excellent job of removing dirt from floors that aren't. It's also not as loud as the costly Roomba 900 series or iRobot 980.
The Freo X Ultra is not free of faults, especially when it comes to navigation. Its laser and LiDAR sensors aren't as reliable as other robovacs. This means it can get stuck or confused in certain areas of the house. It's also not able to climb stairs as well as other models and isn't equipped with a dock that can create a cleaning area for plush carpets.
The Freo X Ultra robot vacuum and mop is an excellent option for those looking for a robot vacuum that does it all.
If you're looking to cut costs or aren't concerned about the limitations of the robot, there are alternatives available. Many eufy models cost significantly less. The eufy Qrevo Curv, for instance, is cheaper and offers an identical experience on the app with additional features such as the ability to climb stairs, a full-function dock, and a better overall performance when vacuuming floors and low and high-pile carpets.
- Eufy RoboVac G30
Eufy, a Anker company has a proven track record of making robot vacuums that strike the right balance between performance, features and price. The G30 Hybrid is no different and offers a powerful cleaning of hard floors as well as mopping, carpets and other surfaces at a price that is affordable. It's easy to set it up, simply connect one of the side brush, turn it on and plug in your charging dock. The app will guide you through the steps required to connect your G30 to your Wi-Fi. You'll need to leave the dock near an electrical outlet and plenty of room for it to move around, however.
The G30 is tiny, 2.85 inches tall to be exact It can be placed under couches and other furniture with a low clearance. Its design is more subtle when compared to rival models. It is sleek with a black finish with three physical buttons for Auto Cleaning start/pause (which scrubs an area in a spiral fashion over two minutes) Recharge and Spot Cleaner. You can also connect the G30 to Amazon Alexa or Google Home to use voice commands to do routine cleaning tasks that are not scheduled.
The way that the G30 cleans is what sets it apart from its rivals. It makes use of a built-in map to create an image of the immovable objects it encounters and then keeps track of what it has already cleaned and the areas it's not able to access. When it's time to recharge, it automatically returns to its starting point and begins cleaning where it started.
The sleek G30 has a few flaws. The iRobot Roomba 675 is much better constructed, has lower recurring costs, is charged faster and has a similar battery life. It also offers superior performance on floors that are unfinished and carpets with low pile. It also has a bigger dust bin that doesn't need to be emptied as frequently and comes with the boundaries to keep it away from certain areas. The G30 however is less expensive and is much more manageable to maintain. Its smaller dust canister does not require emptying as often and is less prone to suffocating bulky material like cereal.