Best robot vacuum under 250

The list in brief 2.

Since I've tested dozens of robot vacuums, I'm often asked if these gadgets are "worth it" and I'd say the answer is yes. The biggest thing they offer is convenience: just turn on a robot vacuum and walk away. The machine will take care of the rest. If vacuuming is one of your least favorite chores, or you just want to spend less time keeping your home tidy, semi-autonomous robotic vacuum is a great investment. Those first two go hand in hand; robot vacuum cleaners are much smaller than upright vacuums, which leads to less powerful suction. They also hold less dirt because their built-in bins are a fraction of the size of a standard vacuum canister or bag.

Best robot vacuum under 250

Robot vacuums are feats of engineering. Even a basic bot can keep your floors tidy with little effort on your part, handling pet hair and dust adeptly. Top-tier models can map your home, schedule cleanings, take voice commands, and empty themselves. And even the fanciest models can drive you mad, getting tangled or trapped, or missing piles of dirt. In our most recent testing, we tried 13 models, from cheap, aimless bumblers to sophisticated machines that usually navigate with ease. This bot is a top-notch cleaner and a great navigator that avoids most obstacles while keeping on top of scattered debris. This is the Roborock Q5 packaged with a charging dock that sucks debris from its dustbin after it cleans. This solid, affordable robot vacuum has a large bin and excellent cleaning power. We checked how well each model performed around obstacles and took note of the user-friendliness of app-controlled bots. The Roborock Q5 was one of the most thorough cleaners we tested, picking up more debris than some costlier models. In our cleaning tests, the basic Eufy RoboVac 11S Max outperformed even robots with fancy navigation, sucking up more debris than most, including along baseboards and close to walls. Its low height allows it to effortlessly glide under furniture to pick up dust bunnies and missed kitty treats. Staff writer Sabine Heinlein has been a journalist for over two decades. She obsesses over how to remove fur from every corner of her home and hairballs from her heirloom rugs. We spent more than 80 hours examining the robot vacuums and testing the top contenders in a multi-pet, multistory, multi-surface home.

It would suit pet owners, too. Finally, we put all of these findings together to create a list of the best cheap robot vacuums that won't break the bank.

By Jennifer Pattison Tuohy , a smart home reporter who's been testing connected gadgets since If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement. Yes, some bots blow hot air on their bums mop pads and deftly navigate dog poop, but there are plenty of basic budget robot vacuums that just do a decent job cleaning your floor autonomously — as long as you tidy up first. While higher-priced, higher-powered robot vacuums clean better, budget bots do a perfectly good job, especially if you run them regularly. The biggest downside of cheaper models is they get stuck on cables, socks, shoelaces, and other paraphernalia you leave lying around.

The list in brief 2. Best overall 3. Best budget robot vacuum 4. Best robot vacuums with mopping 5. Best budget self-emptying vacuum 6.

Best robot vacuum under 250

Robot vacuums are feats of engineering. Even a basic bot can keep your floors tidy with little effort on your part, handling pet hair and dust adeptly. Top-tier models can map your home, schedule cleanings, take voice commands, and empty themselves.

Canine humanoid

Computer accessories. Share this story. Winter sports. The key to a clean floor with a robot vac is consistency. Big in America Push notifications. It lacks an app but has an old-fashioned remote control. Shake off the filter every few sessions. Two brushes are better than one, and a brush housing that has some flexibility — can move with the contours of the floor — is also more effective. Buy now. Combined, this means it requires multiple passes to get everything up. Best robot vacuum for carpets and pet hair.

Since I've tested dozens of robot vacuums, I'm often asked if these gadgets are "worth it" and I'd say the answer is yes. The biggest thing they offer is convenience: just turn on a robot vacuum and walk away.

You should also think about connectivity. Do robot vacuums need Wi-Fi? Weight: 13 pounds. Make even lighter work of your spring cleaning with these cordless vacuum cleaners. It mounted thick rugs with ease, too. Some will also send alerts to your phone if the bin needs emptying or the robot is stuck in a corner and needs your attention. Valentina Palladino. The only thing you need to do is change the water in the base station every seven days and swap out the dust bag every couple of months. The charging stations are big, noisy, and kind of ugly, but the system saves you from having to empty the dustbin on the robot every time you vacuum. Its big milliliter bin is good for a small apartment or as a second bot for upstairs.