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Self-emptying, LiDAR-equipped robot vacuums from iRobot and Shark are still under $400

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Roomba j7+ on auto empty dock

UPDATE: Oct. 28, 2022, 11:30 a.m. EDT This story has been updated to include the best deals on robot vacuums from iRobot, eufy, and more.

We've compiled the best deals on robot vacuums from brands like iRobot, Shark, and Ecovacs. Here are the ones to grab as of Oct. 28:

  • BEST BUDGET DEAL: The Shark AI RV2002 is the rare reliable LiDAR-equipped model that's under $200 — $169 $249 (save $80)

  • BEST SELF-EMPTYING DEAL: The Shark AI Ultra AV2501AE XL is one of Shark's priciest robot vacs with an XL self-empty dock, now almost 40% off — $395 $649.99 (save $254.99)

  • BEST ROBOT VACUUM/MOP DEAL: The Roborock Q7 Max+ is a triple threat of LiDAR, self-emptying, and mopping at a digestible cost — $649.99 $869.99 (save $220 with on-page coupon)

Only three things are certain in life: Death, taxes, and a few days each month when you need to vacuum but just don't have time. Whether you detest the chore or get a little bummed when you can't have that satisfying dance with your Dyson, a robot vacuum is a lifesaver. Shop models on sale below.

Robot vacuums under $200

Shark robot vacuum and smartphone with purple screen and Shark logo
Credit: Shark
Our pick: Shark AI RV 2002 (opens in a new tab)
$169 at Walmart (save $80)
(opens in a new tab)

Why we like it

You'd be hard-pressed to find a LiDAR-equipped robot vacuum for less than $200, and even more hard-pressed to find one that can actually find the rooms it maps. On sale for $169, Shark's model hits the mark, and administers 30% more effective carpet cleaning than its predecessor (according to Shark).

  • Room mapping and zone cleaning

  • 120-minute battery life

  • Self-cleaning brush roll

More robot vacuums under $200

Robot vacuums under $500

Shark self emptying robot vacuum and smartphone with purple Shark screen
Credit: Shark
Our pick: Shark AI Ultra AV2501AE XL (opens in a new tab)
$395 at Amazon (save $254.99)
(opens in a new tab)

Why we like it

One of Shark's most intelligent (and most expensive) robot vacuums is nearly 40% off at Amazon. The black-and-chrome vacuum itself maps out your home, then follows that map or your specific room commands with methodical row-by-row sweeping. The XL dock holds at least two months of debris before you need to empty it.

  • Room mapping and zone cleaning

  • 120 minute battery life

  • Self-empty dock holds almost nine weeks' worth of debris

More robot vacuums under $500

Robot vacuums under $800

Roborock Q5+ robot vacuum and self-empty dock
Credit: Roborock
Our pick: Roborock Q5+ (opens in a new tab)
$599.99 at Amazon (save $100)
(opens in a new tab)

Why we like it

In the summer of 2022, Roborock debuted two mid-range self-emptying series (compared to its other self-emptiers, which start at $949.88.) Both use LiDAR to map your home and head to the rooms you specify, deploying hearty suction and emptying into a compact dock. The Q5+ is the one that skips mopping to stay the most affordable, but still self-empties.

  • Room mapping and zone cleaning

  • 180 minute battery life

  • Self-empty dock holds almost seven weeks' worth of debris

More robot vacuums under $500

Robot vacuum and mop hybrids and dedicated robot mops

Roborock Q7 Max+ and smartphone with home map on screen
Credit: Roborock
Our pick: Roborock Q7 Max+ (opens in a new tab)
$649.99 at Amazon (save $220 with on-page coupon)
(opens in a new tab)

Why we like it:

Of those new 2022 Roborocks, the Q7 Max+ is the most elite of the hybrid series. It simultaneously vacuums with tenacious suction and scrubs — except on carpet, where it will lift its mopping pads to keep soft floors from getting wet. Its dock holds the debris it auto-empties for seven weeks (or more) at a time.

  • Room mapping and zone cleaning

  • 180-minute battery life

  • Self-empty dock holds seven weeks' worth of debris

More hybrids and robot mops on sale

Are robot vacuums worth it?

The control of an upright vacuum comes with its own type of satisfaction. But if you're not one to classify cleaning as cathartic, a robot vacuum could erase that huge, agonizing task from your chore list. (And did we mention the joy of having "first day clean" floors all the time?)

But whether robot vacuums are worth it or not comes with a caveat: It can't be just any robot vacuum. A cheap robot vac that doesn't do the job right — scattering dust, bumping into walls, getting stuck on area rugs — might actually create more work for you.

What to consider when buying a robot vacuum

  • Suction power: A vacuum is the one purchase that you hope sucks a lot. Suction power is typically measured in Pascals (Pa), with most current vacs ranging between 1,500 Pa and 3,000 Pa. Stronger sucking will be needed to pick up heavier pieces of debris (be sure to set a no-go zone around Legos) and to pull matted-down pet hair from rugs.

  • Floor type: Carpeting and high pile rugs will probably require stronger suction than hard floors, as well as special features like an extra-wide or self-cleaning brush roll to prevent hair from wrapping and clogging. Folks in homes with multiple floor types might consider a bigger, sturdier robot vacuum that can hurl itself and its wheels over mats, rugs, and transitions from carpet to hard floors.

  • Automatic emptying: Because robot vacuums are typically under four inches tall, their onboard dust bins are also small — which means they frequently require emptying. (Dustbins fill up particularly quickly in homes with pets.) A self-emptying vacuum takes that job out of your hands, emptying itself into a larger dustbin in its charging dock. These larger bins can typically hold weeks of dirt without needing to be cleaned or dumped out.

  • Home layout: Every robot vacuum is equipped with sensors and drop detection. But if your home has lots of rooms, lots of turns, or lots of close-together furniture, you'll have fewer navigation issues with an advanced model that uses intelligent mapping to remember exactly how your home is laid out, including labeling of specific rooms, mental notes of staircases, and ability to deploy zone cleaning.

  • Low-profile furniture: No one should have to be scared about what's accumulated under their couch over the past year. A robot vacuum measuring three inches or less in height should be able to scoot under most low-hanging couches and beds.

  • Battery life and square footage: One of the main complaints people have about their robot vacuum is that it craps out in the middle of the floor. Larger spaces require more time to clean, and it all depends on how annoyed you'll be if it only finishes a few rooms at a time. Average run times for the list below range between 90 and 200 minutes, which translates to about 500 and 2,800 square feet covered on one charge.

  • App control: WiFi-enabled robot vacuums can be synced with a smartphone app to control scheduling, manual start, and cleaning settings, as well as telling your vac to make its rounds when you're not home. Low-end models that don't connect to WiFi will usually come with a separate remote. If you're used to asking Alexa or Google to turn off the lights or tell you the weather, a model with voice integration will blend in nicely.


via IFmashable.com
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