6 affordable robot vacs that outperform the Roborock S7
Lab tested and reviewer approved
Credit:
Reviewed / Eufy / iRobot / Ecovacs
Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed's editors. Purchases made through the links below may earn us and our publishing partners a commission. Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.
Roborock makes some of the most popular robot vacuum cleaners for sale on Amazon. In fact, the Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra, a mop-vac combo, is flagged as Excellent and has a 4.5-star rating, as does the more basic model, Roborock S7.
We’ve tested a number of Roborock robot vacuum cleaners in the Reviewed labs, and while they typically perform well, we think they are vastly overpriced for what you get. The brand also tends to adopt technologies from other brands, rather than develop their own. Which is fine, but we’ve noticed.
When we tested and reviewed the Roborock S7 specifically, it impressed us with the sheer number of features it came with. Unfortunately, its cleaning prowess and navigation leaves a lot to be desired—especially given how expensive it is.
We know what we’re talking about given that we have tested hundreds of the best robot vacuums on the market over more than a decade.
We took a spin through Amazon, and a few of our favorite robot vacuums that perform better and cost less, and are therefore a much better value for your money.
1. iRobot Roomba i3+: A new-school classic
The iRobot Roomba i3+ is an excellent self-empty robot vacuum.
Everyone has heard of iRobot and the company’s vaunted Roomba series. The iRobot Roomba i3+ is the continuation of a tradition. During testing, the Roomba i3+ proved its cleaning capabilities, picking 11 grams of dirt per run, placing it in the top 10% of robot vacuums that we’ve ever tested. We talk more about this in our review of the Roomba i3+.
If you get the Plus Version, this model has an auto empty dock that will put the contents of the dirt bin into a sealed bag, meaning you never need to touch, see, or smell anything unpleasant.
The Roomba i3+ is also compatible with iRobot OS—allowing you to program your Roomba to start at certain times or target specific rooms.
When it comes to brand-name Roombas, the i3+ is the budget robot vacuum that doesn’t disappoint.
2. Eufy 11S: Excellent value
The Eufy 11S stands at just 2.85 inches tall, allowing it to get under furniture more easily.
The Eufy 11S Max is the epitome of big things coming in small packages. Standing at just 2.85 inches tall, the 11S specializes in cleaning under furniture. With a powerful 2,000pa of suction power, dust bunnies won’t be able to turn tail and hide.
When we tested the original Eufy 11S, it impressed us with its low-noise operation and low cost. These results got the Eufy 11S to top our best affordable robot vacuum ranks.
If you’re looking for a robot vacuum to help maintain your floors and one that doesn’t connect to the internet, the Eufy 11S Max is worth checking out.
3. iRobot Roomba j7+: For households with pets
The iRobot j7+ is great for people with pets.
The iRobot Roomba j7+ is our favorite robot vacuum cleaner to date. The Roomba j7+ is the whole package, it cleans well, self empties, and is easy to program.
But, there are two features that elevate it above the pack. First, we really like the attention to design. In our review of the Roomba j7+, we talk about how it blends in with the living room décor rather than sticking out.
Second, the Roomba j7+ also has excellent navigation. This Roomba has a front-facing camera that allows it to recognize obstacles via machine learning and go around them accordingly. So much so that the Roomba j7+ comes with the Pet Owners Official Promise—iRobot guarantees that the j7+ will not run over pet accidents. We even put this to the test in our labs and found this claim to be true.
4. Ecovacs 601: Highly affordable with a mop attachment
The Ecovacs 601 has a mop attachment that can easily deal with adhered dust.
If you just need a helping hand keeping your hardwood floors clean, then the Ecovacs 601 is worth looking into, and our review of it goes into detail.
When we put it through our robot obstacle course, the Ecovacs 601 impressed us with its ability to pick up dirt and deal with stuck-on dust with its mop pads and water tank. You can also start, stop, and schedule this unit from anywhere via phone.
For under $150, the 601 is affordable without being a cheap robot vacuum.
5. iRobot Roomba 694: Great for small apartments
The iRobot 694 is affordable and focuses on cleaning.
With no fancy features, the iRobot 694 is able to devote all of its battery life to cleaning.
When we tested the Roomba 694, this little robot vacuum showed that it could climb atop low and medium-pile carpet with ease. It picked up 11 grams of debris, on average, per run—good enough to compete with much more expensive models.
However, the 694 does have a few downsides, including being really noisy and rather aggressive. If you have sensitive areas around your home that wouldn’t take well to a robot vacuum ramming into everything, this one’s not for you.
6. This Ecovacs can empty itself and wash its mod pads
The Ecovacs X1 Omni can mop and vacuum all day long
The Ecovacs X1 Omni has all the bells and whistles, including a self-emptying dock, an automatic wash station for its mop pads, and tons of smart features.
The X1 Omni is one of the few examples of a jack-of-all-trades that has mastered them all, too. During testing, its mop feature was able to clean chocolate syrup off a tile floor and vacuum crumbs out of medium-pile carpet. Best of all, the Omni can empty its own dirt cup and wash its own mop pads so it can continue cleaning until your entire floor is spotless.
Related content
-
-
The Best Robot Vacuums of 2023
best-right-now
review
