Buying Guide: The Best Robot Vacuums for 2022 in the UAE and Saudi Arabia
Vacuums have come a long way. You no longer have to suffer the indignity of dragging around an unwieldy plastic hose connected to a clumsy, wheeled canister the size of a Galapagos tortoise. In fact, you don't even need to get off of the couch. Robot vacuums can help you dispose of dust, pet hair, and other debris in your home without requiring you to lift a finger.
Unlike more traditional canister or stick models, robot vacuums are autonomous and (for the most part) intelligent. The vacuums we've tested are equipped with lasers, motherboards, sensors, and even Wi-Fi to navigate around your home without assistance. With a few exceptions, you barely have to interact with them at all.
Just pick a robot-accessible spot for the charging dock, and the bot will return on its own before it runs out of juice. When it does, it will sit there until it has enough energy to go back out and continue to bust dust from where it left off. You can also set schedules for most bots to wake up and start a cleaning job, so it can take place while you're out of the house. That means you can potentially avoid all physical interaction until the vacuum needs to be emptied. Even better: Some models actually empty themselves!
With so many different features to choose from, which robot vacuum is right for you? We've rounded up the best models we've tested to help you decide. Read on for our top picks, as well as all the factors you should consider when buying a robot vacuum.
1. Ecovacs Deebot X1 OMNI
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| + Self-emptying dustbin | - Expensive |
| + Self-washing, drying, and refilling mop | - Large base |
| + Built-in voice assistant | - Mop scrubs less than main competitor |
| + Carpet sensor | |
| + AI-powered obstacle avoidance | |
| + Works as a security camera w/audio | |
| + Good battery life |
Ecovacs Deebot X1 OMNI
Why We Picked It
The Ecovacs Deebot X1 Omni is the most expensive floor-cleaning robot we've reviewed, but it's also the most advanced. It can both vacuum and mop, empty its own dustbin, and wash and dry its own mop cloth, representing a major step forward in robotic floor cleaning. It even doubles as a roving home security camera with two-way audio, and features a built-in voice assistant, dubbed Yiko, that allows for voice control without a separate smart speaker.
In our testing, it cleaned for up to 145 minutes in Auto mode before running low on juice, a good battery life result. It never got stuck on common obstacles like power cords and long curtains, and had no trouble sucking up dust, hair, and other debris.
Who It's For
This top-of-the-line model is suitable for those with deep pockets who are willing to pay a premium for convenience. With long battery life, strong suction power, and AI-powered obstacle avoidance technology, the X1 Omni is an excellent option for large homes, and those with pets. The Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra offers similar features and performance for a bit less money, but the X1 Omni is our Editors' Choice thanks to its streamlined design, built-in virtual assistant, larger water tanks, and hot-air mop-drying feature.
2. iRobot Roomba j7+ (7550) Self-Emptying Robot Vaccum
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| + Pet waste-avoidance guarantee | - Expensive |
| + Auto-empty base | - Unimpressive battery life |
| + Intelligently suggests Keep-Out Zones | |
| + Supports Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant | |
| + Allows for scheduled area cleanings | |
| + Rarely gets stuck | |
| + User-friendly companion app |
iRobot Roomba j7+ (7550) Self-Emptying Robot Vacuum
Why We Picked It
The iRobot Roomba j7+ might induce sticker shock, but it's one of the smartest standalone robot vacuums you can buy. It uses a built-in camera and machine learning technology to recognize obstacles in its cleaning path in real time, and automatically reroute itself around them. iRobot has trained its PrecisionVision Navigation machine learning algorithms to identify phone cords, power cables, headphones, pet waste, shoes, clothing, and towels on the floor using hundreds of millions of images crowdsourced from its customers who have opted in to contribute to its database.
When it encounters potential obstacles that aren't in its database, the j7+ snaps photos and asks you whether it should avoid those areas in the future. It only takes about a minute to review the obstacle images, and doing so can prove extremely useful. This method allows you to quickly and easily create Keep-Out Zones around areas that typically halt cheaper robot vacuums.
Who It's For
If you have a cluttered home or accident-prone pets and you're in the market for a standalone robot vacuum, the iRobot Roomba j7+ is the model to buy. iRobot is so confident in the robot's poop-evading abilities that it's offering it with a P.O.O.P. (Pet Owner Official Promise) guarantee: If the Roomba j7+ fails to avoid solid pet waste within a year of your purchase, the company will give you a new one for free.
3. Shark IQ Robot Self-Empty XL R101AE
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| + Features bagless self-emptying base | - Average battery life |
| + Maps your home and supports scheduling | - Can get loud |
| + Works with Alexa and Google Assistant | |
| + Comes with a physical boundary strip | |
| + Never got stuck in testing |
Shark IQ Robot Self-Empty XL R101AE
Why We Picked It
These days, automatic dustbin emptying is becoming a standard robot vacuum feature. While most self-emptying robot vacuums transfer the contents of their bin into a bag, the Shark IQ Robot XL takes a different approach. It has two dustbins: one in the robot itself, and a larger one in the base station that only needs to be emptied about once a month. The advantage of Shark's bagless auto-empty system is that you never have to worry about running out of bags.
The Shark IQ Robot XL also stands out for its self-cleaning brushroll, which in our testing successfully prevented hair from getting wrapped around it, a common problem with many robot vacuums. Moreover, it delivered strong suction power, effectively cleaning dust, debris, and pet hair from hard flooring and carpet, and it never got stuck. It offers a number of useful smart features, including home mapping for targeted room cleaning and virtual no-go zones.
Who It's For
If you're looking to upgrade from a basic robot vacuum to one with self-emptying abilities, the Shark IQ Robot XL is an excellent choice. Thanks to its bagless self-emptying system and self-cleaning brushroll, it's one of the lowest-maintenance robot vacuums we've tested. That said, allergy sufferers might prefer the comparably priced Roomba i3+ EVO, which empties its bin into an AllergenLock bag so you're not exposed to dust.
4. Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| + Self-washing and refilling mop | - Expensive |
| + Self-emptying dustbin | - Large base |
| + AI-powered obstacle avoidance | - No hot-air mop-drying |
| + Carpet sensor and mop-lifting feature | - Small water tanks and dust bag |
| + Best-in-class mopping performance | - Camera doesn't point outward when robot docks |
| + Works as a security camera w/audio | |
| + Can install/remove mop bracket while robot is docked |
Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra
Why We Picked It
The Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra stands alongside the Ecovacs Deebot X1 Omni as the two most advanced floor-cleaning robots currently on the market. Like Ecovacs' competitor, this high-end hybrid can do it all: it vacuums and mops your floors, then cleans itself, so it's always ready for the next run without requiring you to lift a finger. Even better, it undercuts the X1 Omni by about $150.
The S7 MaxV Ultra boasts a unique mop-lifting feature, also available on the more affordable Roborock S7+, which allows for more efficient cleaning runs than the competition. Most two-in-one robots with a carpet sensor, including the X1 Omni, automatically avoid rugs when mopping so as not to get them wet. Roborock's VibraRise technology goes a step further—when the robot detects carpet while mopping, it raises the mopping plate about 5mm, allowing it to mop your hard floors and vacuum your low- to medium-pile carpets in a single pass. And with a maximum 5,100 pascals (Pa), the S7 MaxV Ultra offers some of the best suction power we've seen.
Who It's For
If you're choosing between the two most premium robot vacuums money can buy, the S7 MaxV Ultra and the X1 Omni, go with the former if you have a lot of hard flooring and you're mainly concerned with mopping performance. Roborock's bot uses sonic vibration technology to scrub your floors 3,000 times per minute, while the X1 Omni's circular mopping pads spin at 180 revolutions per minute. Both robots left our test floors streak-free and shiny, but the S7 MaxV Ultra is slightly better at deep cleaning.
5. Ecovacs Deebot Ozmo T8 AIVI
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| + Automatically recognizes and avoids obstacles | - Expensive |
| + Exceptional battery life | - Mops with water; not cleaning solution |
| + Allows for remote home monitoring with built-in camera | - Moderate learning curve |
| + Supports virtual boundaries | - Auto-empty station is sold separately |
| + Alexa and Google Assistant supported |
Ecovacs Deebot Ozmo T8 AIVI
Why We Picked It
Before the X1 Omni hit the scene, the Ecovacs Deebot Ozmo T8 AIVI was the most advanced floor-cleaning robot we'd seen. This feature-rich hybrid vacuums and mops while using AI to successfully detect and avoid many obstacles other floor-cleaning robots would get stuck on. To put its obstacle-evasion technology to the test, we intentionally placed dog toys that have tripped up other robot vacuums in its path. Without fail, the Ozmo T8 AIVI detected the toys in its way and changed directions accordingly.
Moreover, this robot functions as a roving home security camera. From its companion app, you can move the robot around and view a live video stream of what’s happening inside your home. It also has the longest battery life of any robot vacuum we've tested, cleaning for up to 170 minutes on a charge. For even greater convenience, Ecovacs makes an Auto-Empty Station (sold separately) that allows the Deebot Ozmo T8 AIVI to empty its bin into a disposable dust bag without your help.
Who It's For
The Deebot Ozmo T8 AIVI was ahead of its time when it launched in 2020, so while it's a couple of years old at this point, Ecovacs' former flagship robot vacuum is still an excellent choice. Even better: You can now snag it for a discount. Its exceptional battery life and obstacle avoidance abilities make it a particularly compelling option for those with large homes and cluttered floors. If you can swing it, we highly suggest adding the Auto-Empty Station, which allows for a month of maintenance-free cleaning between dust bag replacements.
6. Roborock S7+
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| + Vaccums and mops | - Expensive |
| + Auto-empty base | - Only mops with water |
| + Strong suction power | - Loud when vaccuming carpets |
| + Rarely get stuck | |
| + Multiple mop scrubbing levels | |
| + Supports multi-level maps, schedules, virtual boundaries, and zone cleaning | |
| + Multi-stage HEPA air filtration |
Roborock S7+
Why We Picked It
The S7 MaxV Ultra stole the spotlight in 2022, but the year-old Roborock S7+ is still a strong choice. Like its more expensive sibling, the S7+ boasts Roborock's VibraRise technology, which allows it to both mop your hard floors and vacuum your carpeting in the same cleaning run. Whereas other hybrid cleaners avoid carpet completely while mopping, the S7+ automatically lifts its mop cloth out of the way and goes on vacuuming, allowing it to complete both tasks more efficiently.
It also features a self-emptying dustbin, good battery life, impressive obstacle avoidance, and strong vacuum suction power.
Who It's For
If the S7 MaxV Ultra is out of your price range, the S7+ is an excellent alternative. It can't refill its own water tank, clean its own mopping cloth, or function as a home security camera, but it offers all the other perks of the S7 MaxV Ultra for $400 less.
The S7+ works well on hard flooring and carpet, but is best for homes that have both. With four vacuum power levels—Quiet, Balanced (the default setting), Turbo, and Max, topping out at an impressive 2,500Pa of suction—it's an excellent option for homes with pets and carpeting.
7. Eufy RoboVac G30
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| + Compact, low-profile design | - Doesn't support strips or virtual boundaries |
| + Strong suction power for its size | - Battery life is on the short side |
| + Well-designed app | |
| + East to set up | |
| + Alexa and Google Assistant supported | |
| + Features smart navigation |
Eufy RoboVac G30
Why We Picked It
As robot vacuums get more technologically advanced, with laser navigation sensors and home security cameras, they're also getting bigger and taller. These days, it's hard to find a model that stands less than 3 inches. The Eufy RoboVac G30, on the other hand, stands out for its short stature. Measuring 12.8 inches in diameter and 2.85 inches tall, it's one of the smallest robot vacuums we’ve tested, meaning it can clean where a lot of other robot vacuums won’t fit, like under couches.
Its battery life is just okay, but the RoboVac G30 smartly navigates your home, cleaning in orderly lines instead of randomly ping-ponging from wall to wall like some other affordable models. The RoboVac G30 offers a lot of power for its size, and it automatically increases the suction when it moves over carpets and heavily soiled areas.
Who It's For
With app and voice control support, smart navigation, and strong suction power, the RoboVac G30 is a solid choice for anyone on a budget. Its compact design makes it especially appealing for small homes and apartments, especially if you have low-profile furniture. If your current robot vacuum can't get the dust bunnies under the couch, or constantly gets stuck between chair legs, the G30 is worth a look.
8. iLife A9 Robot Vaccum Cleaner
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| + Cleans efficiently | - Not the best on medium-pile carpet |
| + Quiet | - Max mode drains battery quickly |
| + Good battery life | - Missed some dog hair in testing |
| + Low-profile design | |
| + Supports app and voice control |
iLife A9 Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Why We Picked It
The iLife A9 robot vacuum is the most budget-friendly model on our list, but it offers lots of functionality and excellent performance for its low price. In testing, we were pleasantly surprised at how fast the A9 zipped around and the ease with which it moved between different flooring types. After one cleaning run in our roughly 1,000 square-foot test home, its dustbin was completely full with dust, debris, and dog hair. It left some remnants behind on medium-pile carpeting, but handled hard flooring and low-pile carpeting well. It's often discounted to less than $200, which is a steal for a robot vacuum with Wi-Fi connectivity, Amazon Alexa voice control support, home mapping, and smart navigation.
Who It's For
If you're new to the world of robot vacuums and want to try one without spending a ton of money, the iLife A9 is a wise choice. Since it comes with a physical remote control, a feature that's becoming less and less common these days, the iLife A9 is also a nice option for those who prioritize ease of use and don't want to go through the hassle of setting up app or voice control (though it does support those features as well). If you have medium-pile carpeting in your home, it’s not the best option, but if you have hard floors and low-pile carpeting, it’s one of the best robot vacuums you can get in its price range.
9. iRobot Roomba i3+ EVO
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| + Self-emptying dustbin | - Average battery life |
| + Alexa, Google Assistant and IFTTT supported | - Can be loud |
| + Supports scheduling | |
| + Detects and focuses on heavily soiled area |
iRobot Roomba i3+ EVO
Why We Picked It
iRobot is one of the most respected names in the robot vacuum market, and the Roomba i3+ EVO is its most affordable model with a self-emptying dustbin. It's hard to overstate the advantages of this feature. Beyond offering greater convenience than their more manual counterparts, self-emptying robot vacuums significantly limit your exposure to dust, a big plus if you suffer from allergies.
The i3+ EVO offers 10 times the suction power of the entry-level Roomba 600 series, and in testing did a good job of removing dirt from hard floors and carpet. When it finds an especially dirty area, it automatically goes into Dirt Detect mode and moves over the offending spot multiple times until it's sufficiently clean. iRobot recently updated this model with smart mapping capabilities, so you can send it right to specific rooms by phone or voice for targeted area cleanings.
Who It's For
The Roomba i3+ EVO is a top choice for anyone looking to upgrade from a standard robot vacuum to one with self-emptying abilities. If you're tired of manually emptying your current bot's bursting dustbin on the daily, the Roomba i3+ EVO will eliminate that chore. It's a particularly compelling option if you suffer from allergies, because it also uses a high-efficiency filter to capture allergens as it cleans.
One caveat is that the i3+ EVO's mapping capabilities are limited to a single floor. Its more expensive siblings, on the other hand, can remember multiple floors, which is useful if you have a multi-level home.
10. Proscenic M7 Pro
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| + Strong suction power | - Small water tank |
| + Vaccums and mops | - Doesn't automatically avoid carpet when mopping |
| + Supports app control and Alexa commands | - Automatic dust collector is sold separately |
Proscenic M7 Pro
Why We Picked It
Affordable robot vacuums often struggle to thoroughly remove pet hair and other debris from carpeting. With an impressive 2,600Pa of suction power, the midrange Proscenic M7 Pro excels at this task. It automatically increases its suction power to maximum when it detects carpet, a feature usually reserved for pricier models.
As a nice bonus, the M7 Pro is a hybrid floor cleaner that also doubles as a mop. It has a small water tank, but in testing left the tile in our test kitchen looking clean and smudge-free. The reasonably priced M7 Pro comes with a physical remote and offers an impressive set of smart features, including scheduling, area cleaning, virtual boundaries, and Alexa voice control. It also works with or without an automatic dirt disposal base (sold separately).
Who It's For
If you're looking to upgrade from a cheap robot vacuum to a more feature-rich hybrid, the M7 Pro is a nice option that's still relatively affordable. Its strong suction power makes it the best midrange model for pet hair and medium-pile carpet, which weaker robot vacuums often struggle to clean. At the time of this writing, you can purchase the M7 Pro with an automatic dirt disposal base for less than the self-emptying Roomba i3+ EVO, which doesn't double as a mop. The M7 Pro has no trouble mopping small spaces like kitchens and bathrooms, but if you have a large home with a lot of hard flooring, you'll want a model with a larger water tank.
Are Robot Vacuums Really Worth It?
A robot vacuum is usually higher in price than a traditional vacuum (though not always). The models listed here range from around $200 to well over $1,000. That's a pretty sizable investment, even on the lower end. Let's consider just what you get for the price.
Unless you really love to vacuum, the task itself is pretty mundane. Depending on the size of your house, a robot vacuum can save you anywhere from minutes to hours of your time every week by taking care of a pretty thankless chore. That alone is reason enough for some people to consider one.
Ecovacs Deebot X1 Omni
In addition, robot vacuums have reached the point where they're just as powerful and effective as regular vacuums. The robots rounded up here combine spinning brush rolls and side brushes to clean your home just as well as their upright equivalents. They're also fairly compact, so they won't take up much space. And they're able to travel underneath most couches and tables, so you don't have to rearrange furniture.
Wi-Fi-connected robot vacuums are much more affordable these days than they once were. What are the benefits of connectivity? Smart robot vacuums can be programmed and controlled remotely using your smartphone. Many can even be activated with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant voice commands.
Shark IQ Robot Self-Empty XL R101AE app
Connected bots also typically generate statistics and maps of the areas they've cleaned. Many even create personalized floor plans, allowing for targeted room cleanings and eliminating the need for you to use physical "virtual walls" to cordon off sections of your home.
Some of the most advanced robot vacuums, such as the iRobot Roomba j7+, feature a camera and artificial intelligence technology to automatically identify and avoid obstacles like shoes, toys, and even pet waste. Premium models may also function as a roving home security camera, letting you view live video of your home from wherever you are.
What Is the Best Self-Emptying Robot Vacuum?
One of the best innovations in the robot vacuum space in recent years has been the development of models that can empty their own dustbins. Beyond offering greater convenience than traditional models, they significantly limit your exposure to dust, a big plus if you suffer from allergies. As recently as a couple of years ago, you'd be hard-pressed to find a sub-$1,000 self-emptying robot vacuum, but the price on these models has been coming down. Several excellent options are now available for less than $600.
iRobot Roomba j7+
Most self-emptying models transfer the contents of their bin into a bag, which can hold around 60 days' worth of debris, depending on how often you vacuum and how dirty your home is. The nice thing about that is that you never have to come into contact with dust and debris. The downside is that you'll eventually have to buy more bags when you run out.
An exception is the Shark IQ Robot Self-Empty XL, which has two dustbins: one in the robot itself, and a larger one in the base station that holds up to a months' worth of debris. When it's full, you simply remove the dustbin, hold it over a trash can, then press the Empty button on the side. The bottom of the dustbin will open, and the contents will fall out into the trash. While allergy sufferers may prefer models that empty their contents into a bag, the IQ Robot XL is more convenient and wallet-friendly, since you don't have to worry about buying replacement bags.
The Shark IQ Robot Self-Empty XL's large dustbin
Self-emptying or not, most robot vacuums also come equipped with small HEPA filters that capture allergens as the robot vacuums your floors.
Which Robot Vacuum Is Best for Pet Hair? Hardwood?
Generally speaking, all the vacuums on this list can handle hardwood floors and pet hair without issue.
If you have both carpet and hard flooring throughout your home, you might want to consider a hybrid that can do double duty as a vacuum and a mop, such as the Deebot Ozmo T8 AIVI or the Bissell SpinWave Wet and Dry. Standalone robot mops aren't eligible for this list because they don't suck up dirt and debris, but they will get your hard floors nice and shiny.
To pick up pet hair, you'll want a robot vacuum with strong suction power. Most companies in this space advertise power in pascals (Pa), the metric unit of pressure, though iRobot doesn't always make this information easy to find. In general, the more power, the better, especially if you have carpet, but battery life and obstacle avoidance capabilities are also a factor.
For more, see our lists of the best robot vacuums for pet hair and the best robot mops.
The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner for Your Home
We test robot vacuums in our actual homes, with the following categories in mind: battery life, navigation, obstacle avoidance, the setup process, and suction power. If it supports Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, we also evaluate its app experience and other smart features.
Chances are you don't want to babysit your vacuum. That means you're looking for a robot that can traverse different floor types or maneuver around furniture without needing help. This is especially true if you have dark flooring, as infrared sensors might mistake a black carpet for a ledge, and refuse to pass over it. We test vacuums on hardwood, tile, and rugs to see how well they manage the transitions across various surfaces.
Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra
Battery life is also an important factor to consider based on the size of your home. In general, most robot vacuums can run for at least 60 to 70 minutes, which should be enough to tackle smaller homes and apartments. If you have a bigger living area, you'll want to look for a robot vacuum that can get at least 90 minutes of battery life so it can hit every room before requiring a recharge. To test this, we charge the battery to full, start a cleaning cycle, and time how long the robot runs before it needs to be docked. In some cases, it may take several complete cleaning cycles for a robot to run out of battery.
Another note on battery life: The number you see listed in the chart below is our tested result in normal mode. High-power modes often bring that number down a bit.
Most robot vacuums are reliable when it comes to getting rid of standard household detritus, so you don't have to worry about whether they can suck up lint, dirt, or hair. Since we test all the robot vacuums in the same home environment, we check how full the dustbins get and whether the robot picks up obvious debris like pet hair and dust bunnies.
Wyze Robot Vacuum app
We also note whether the robot cleans in a random or methodical pattern. Many of the latest models feature a Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) laser (the same technology used in self-driving cars) to map your home and plan an efficient cleaning route. But some affordable robot vacuums still haphazardly ping-pong from wall to wall, inefficiently crossing over the same space multiple times as they clean.
Finally, we test how easy it is to set up, program, and control the robot. Some only require an initial battery charge, while others ask you to install side brushes and batteries. For connected bots, app design and reliable Bluetooth or Wi-Fi are major factors that impact your experience.
We provide a detailed analysis of each of these vacuums in our reviews, and you can see our vacuum product guide for the latest models. When you find the right one for you, be sure to read up on our simple robot vacuum tips.