Best Robot Vacuums with Self-Emptying Stations

The robot vacuum cleaner is in the mid-price range and suitable for both dry and wet cleaning. For mopping floors, it comes with a simple microfiber cloth that automatically receives water from a small 180 ml reservoir. You can manually adjust the wetting intensity using a switch on the nozzle. Unfortunately, this cannot be done via the mobile app. Dry debris collection is handled by a single side brush and a dual DuoRoller turbo brush, made of two rubber rollers rotating in opposite directions. This design prevents hair and pet fur from tangling, and if it does happen — removable side locks allow easy disassembly and cleaning of the rollers. However, on carpets, especially those with high piles, DuoRoller is less effective at collecting debris than a classic brush with bristles, although the suction power of 5500 Pa is sufficient.

Another inconvenience is that the vacuum cleaner doesn't recognize carpets and doesn't avoid them during wet cleaning: it confidently drags a wet cloth, leaving wet marks. Therefore, this model is better suited for apartments and homes without carpets or manually set restricted zones in the app where there are carpeted areas. However, the manufacturer added a spacious 770 ml dustbin, which occupies a large part of the internal space of the body. Still, it's worth noting there might be no need for it, as there's no need to manually empty the dustbin — this task is performed by a docking station with a self-cleaning function. It is equipped with a 2.5-liter bag, which provides up to 7 weeks of autonomous operation.

The robot uses the PreciSense LiDAR system for navigation—simply put, the usual 'tower' with a laser rangefinder. It performs its duties well: the vacuum accurately maps out the routes, selects the right pathways, doesn't leave missed areas behind, and doesn't bump into furniture and other obstacles. In the mobile app, you can set up a cleaning schedule, set virtual walls, designate individual cleaning zones, and adjust the suction power. In addition, the device understands voice commands thanks to the support of Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple Siri.

An undeniable advantage of the Roborock Q5 Pro+ is its autonomy: a 5200 mAh battery provides up to 240 minutes of continuous operation. According to the manufacturer, this is enough to clean an area up to 350 square meters.

In conclusion, the robot vacuum cleaner is a good option for large homes and apartments, including those with pets. But if you have many carpets, it's better to choose a model with a classic brush that detects carpeting.

The well-known Chinese manufacturer Xiaomi offers a versatile assistant for dry and wet cleaning of the house, featuring advanced capabilities and good features. Its main advantage is its multifunctional docking station, which completely services the device after cleaning. First of all, it empties the collected debris from the dustbin—thanks to a high suction power of 17000 Pa, this process takes only 10 seconds. The 2.5-liter replacement bags installed inside the station are designed for 60 dustbin cleanings, so even if you clean daily—you can forget about garbage for at least 2 months. Subsequently, the station washes the wet cleaning attachments with water and dries them with hot air for 2 hours to prevent mold and unpleasant smells. Additionally, the base is equipped with a large clean water container and refills the vacuum's reservoir. Of course, it also performs its initial function of charging the battery.

The model is responsible not only for self-cleaning but also for household cleaning. In terms of dry cleaning, Xiaomi hasn't devised anything new: the turbo brush thoroughly cleans hard floors and carpets, while the side brush sweeps debris from corners and along baseboards. Although the gadget's suction force is not the highest (4000 Pa), it handles various floor coverings and small and larger debris well. Wet cleaning is much more interesting: two discs with soft material attachments rotate 180 times per minute, mimicking manual scrubbing. Thanks to this, the vacuum removes surface dust and spilled liquids, although complex tasks still require the help of a regular mop.

It's convenient that the robot detects carpets and, when moving onto them, increases power and lifts the wet cleaning attachments by 7 mm. If carpets have a long pile, a special mode can be selected in the app to have the vacuum avoid them.

A smart camera complements the standard LiDAR, allowing the device to scan the surrounding space 360°, memorize the home's layout, create 3D maps, choose optimal movement routes, and recognize various items on the floor: cables, socks, shoes, furniture, etc. The camera is not intended for surveillance, and all images are encrypted and stored in the cloud to ensure confidentiality and data security.

Rowenta continues to explore the robot vacuum market, competing with popular brands like Xiaomi, Dreame, and Roborock. The model in question stands as a solid "average" without unnecessary bells and whistles that significantly affect the price, but with an advantage in the form of a self-cleaning station. After each cleaning cycle, the device returns to the station, where it not only charges but also autonomously unloads collected debris from the dustbin. This procedure takes only 20 seconds, but the equipment is quite noisy, so we do not recommend doing this at night or when someone is sleeping. Disposable bags are required for the self-cleaning station's operation—a few are included in the package, so you don't have to spend on consumables initially. One bag fills approximately within 60 days, so for a couple of months, you won't have to think about the collected debris at all.

The suction power of the model is modest—2700 Pa. Nevertheless, it cleans flat surfaces and carpet coverings well, handles fine dust, crumbs, and fur, making it a good option for pet owners. In addition to dry cleaning, the device performs floor mopping. Do not expect thorough wet cleaning and removal of dried stains: a microfiber wet cloth merely wipes the dust and helps maintain cleanliness, not eliminating the need for periodic general cleaning. There are 4 water feed intensity modes available depending on the floor type.

One battery charge lasts approximately 120 minutes of autonomous operation, which is enough to clean an area up to 120 square meters. Simply put, the robot can clean an apartment with multiple rooms or not too large a house in one go without stopping for a charge. The battery charges quite quickly—it takes 4 hours for a full energy recovery.

The Smart Exploration 8.0 laser navigation and various sensors allow the device to navigate rooms well, avoid obstacles, create accurate maps and routes. It maneuvers thoughtfully, does not miss areas, detects carpets, and can memorize maps of multiple floors. However, users complain about the mobile app. It is quite simple and understandable, but errors periodically occur in it, causing prepared maps to "disappear". Hopefully, the manufacturer will address these issues in the future.

As an alternative, you can use voice commands — the model supports work with virtual assistants Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa.

The ECOVACS robot vacuum cleaner approaches the question of cleaning efficiency very seriously. For dry cleaning, it uses a turbo brush that combines bristles and rubber "flaps" to collect fine dust, larger debris, hair, and pet fur. Additionally, two side brushes sweep debris from corners and hard-to-reach places. The OZMO Pro 2.0 technology is responsible for wet cleaning, including a module with a 180 ml tank and a microfiber cloth. This attachment doesn't just drag a wet cloth across the floor but vibrates at a rate of 480 times per minute. As a result, the robot scrubs dirt more thoroughly, though for stubborn, dried stains, a regular mop might still be necessary for manual work. The device can detect carpets and automatically increase power upon entering them. With the wet cleaning module connected, it avoids carpets to not leave wet spots. Overall, the vacuum performs its tasks well, cleaning smooth surfaces and carpet flooring, becoming a convenient helper for maintaining daily cleanliness in the home.

ECOVACS didn't stop at just dry and wet cleaning but added an air freshening function. A dedicated module holds a capsule with a freshener that disperses pleasant aromas during cleaning. This feature is particularly relevant for families with pets, who might be sources of unpleasant smells. One capsule lasts for about 60 days, so be prepared for additional expenses for the freshener. If desired, the air freshening function can be set for specific rooms or turned off entirely.

Moreover, the ECOVACS DeeBot Ozmo T9 Plus spares you from having to clean the dustbin after every cleaning. The vacuum services itself with a self-cleaning station that automatically unloads debris from the bin into a 2.5-liter bag. One bag lasts for about 30 days, though, of course, this depends on the housing size, pollution level, and cleaning frequency.

For navigation, the robot uses a combination of a laser rangefinder and an additional TrueDetect 3D 2.0 system with a camera that scans the room, recognizes furniture and obstacles, and prevents collisions. The TrueMapping 2.0 technology ensures quality cleaning at any time of the day, as the device accurately orients itself in space under any lighting, even in darkness. It can also create 2D and 3D maps of rooms, memorize maps of multiple floors, and display all this in the mobile app, where you can make adjustments, designate specific cleaning zones, and set virtual walls. Furthermore, voice commands can be used for control—the model is compatible with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa.

A 5200 mAh battery provides up to 175 minutes of autonomous operation, but it takes quite a bit of time to restore its "strengths"—around 6 hours. In any case, a depleted vacuum automatically returns to the base and resumes cleaning after recharging where it left off.

Dreame managed to create an advanced robot vacuum with an extended set of features, effective performance, and a fairly reasonable price for such capabilities. Navigation and spatial orientation are handled by a laser rangefinder. The robot accurately maps and avoids obstacles. This means you won't have to clear the floor of items before cleaning—the device recognizes clothing, children's toys, or "surprises" left by pets and avoids them. Additionally, it's equipped with a monitoring camera that can take photos and videos, streaming live to a smartphone the happenings in your home.

Primarily, control occurs through a mobile app, where you can set virtual walls, mark specific zones, adjust maps, and set cleaning schedules and parameters. The robot also understands voice commands and "communicates" with the owner thanks to the support of voice assistants Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, and Apple Siri.

Another useful feature of the model is the storage, charging, and self-cleaning station. It is relatively large and takes up considerable space but frees you from the need to clean the dustbin after each cleaning. A powerful air stream clears the dustbin and unloads collected debris into a 4-liter disposable bag. Users only need to change the bag approximately once every 65 days. Keep in mind additional expenses as the bags are disposable, so periodic repurchase is required.

The remaining features aren't as impressive but are at a considerably high level. The vacuum provides both dry and wet cleaning, equipped with a spacious dustbin (570 ml), a clean water tank (240 ml), an attachment with a microfiber cloth that automatically wets itself, a rubber turbo brush preventing hair and fur from tangling, and a side brush for sweeping debris from corners and along baseboards. The suction power is 5000 Pa, enabling thorough collection of debris of various sizes while cleaning hard floors and carpets. Thanks to a 5200 mAh battery, the robot operates up to 280 minutes on a single charge, enough for cleaning a large apartment or multiple floors in a house.