Best Self-Empting Robot Vacuums and Mops
The Eufy 11S is among the most affordable self-emptying robot vacuums that are available. In our tests, it was able to remove dry oats from hard floors and carpets with a low pile. Its dustbin is easy to open and empty -- easier than those of some other models in its price range.
It charges at its base and then resumes cleaning when it's done. However, its obstacle-avoidance technology gets tangled up in socks and cords and it's not able to go below low thresholds.
1. iRobot 11S
The 11S is one the cheapest self-emptying robots and lots of people seem to love it. It is good at getting under furniture and is a good choice for those who have hard floors or for daily cleaning. The suction might be less powerful than those of our top picks, but it gets the job done. It also has a large dirt bin and a battery that lasts for more than an hour. The app allows you to schedule your daily cleaning or select a particular room. It's also possible to create a map of your home, which will aid in avoiding areas that you don't want to visit.
The app is easy to use and has a clear layout. It's not a feature-rich app however it's easy to use and lets you check the status of your robot. It also has a helpful tutorial to help you understand the basics.
Bounce Navigation's cleaning pattern isn't always rational. Sometimes it follows straight lines and other times, it focuses on the edges of the space. But it is able to clean your entire floor. It's not the most adept at navigating obstacles, however - it was unable to climb over our piano pedals and pet food bowls, and ended up getting stuck in our 2.25-inch shag rug several times.
We believe there are better robot vacuums than the 11S. The iRobot Roomba is much easier to maintain, has lower recurring costs and charges faster. It also has a larger dustbin and performs better on all surfaces and can also climb over low-lying obstructions (like electrical cords) more easily.
The RoboVac 11S, which is eufy, is an excellent choice for regular vacuuming. It is a close design to our top choice and is great at picking up fine dust and larger debris from hard floors. It's a great choice on carpets with a medium or low pile. Similar to the iRobot Roomba, it has a huge dirt compartment and uses BoostIQ to automatically adjust suction power. It comes with a simple remote control, and it is possible to organize daily cleanings with the app. The battery can last for around an hour and the dustbin is able to be empty without taking it from the dock.
2. Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra
The Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra is a great robot vacuum cleaner and mop with a wide range of features for automation. It is available in three models that include the basic S7, the S7 MaxV Plus and the S7 MaxV Ultra. The S7 MaxV Ultra is the only model with an Empty Wash Fillet Dock (or an alternative Auto-Empty Dock). These docks allow the robot to return to its original location and empty the debris in a dust bag or reservoir, empty the dirty water tank and wash its mopping pads.
Sensors on the S7 collaborate to clean and avoid obstacles. It can identify flooring types and save a map for rooms and zones. It can even determine dirt levels. It's also capable of scheduling and running spot cleaning sessions. It did well in our tests, but it wasn't able to exactly match the Roomba j7+ during the carpet deep clean test.
You can program the S7 by using the companion app to run a cleaning routine in accordance with your schedule. You can choose the cleaning mode, such as eco or automatic, as well as a day, week, or time. You can also decide whether the robot will stop if it runs out of energy or encounters an obstacle.
self empty vacuum can still use the S7 even if you don't have a smartphone by connecting the charging dock to the remote control. The controls can be difficult at first however they are very effective after you've become accustomed to them. The power button functions as the general 'Clean' function and the 'Spot Clean' button directs the robot to clean small areas around itself. The "Spot Clean" button also triggers the child lock.
In addition to the new mapping capabilities, Roborock improved its mobile app by adding live view features that lets you check out what the S7 is up to at home. You can activate it by pressing a certain sequence of buttons on your S7, and then create an unlock pattern in the mobile app that you can use whenever you wish to see what the S7 is doing.
3. Shark IQ XL
Shark's robot vacuums aren't as popular as those made by iRobot or Roborock. However, our tests have shown that this model is among the most effective self-emptying vacuums available. It's easy to set up, comes with an enormous bin that's easy to empty (albeit somewhat loudly) into a trash can when it is full and is easily programmed to complete a home clean on a schedule or when required.
The IQ XL can connect to your home WiFi and allows you to monitor it through the Shark app and view its battery level as it cleans. The app allows you to set up a cleaning routine, receive push notifications regarding its condition in cleaning, pause it and then clean up, or set it to clean one specific area. It can also be controlled with voice commands through Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. The app will tell you which the current power mode is which is Eco, Maximum, Normal, but we found that none of these modes made any significant difference in the cleaning performance.
Once it finishes a cleaning cycle after which the IQ XL will automatically empty the bin into its base, which then automatically emptys itself. The bin can store up to 60 days of debris, so you don't need to empty it more than once, unless your pets have long hair. If you do have to empty it, all you need to do is untie the side bin, hold it over a trash container, and press a button that will let you eject its contents.
There isn't much to dislike about the Shark IQ XL, although it feels a bit less robust than the Roomba 694. It's good in cleaning carpeted floors but doesn't match the iRobot Roomba i7 in terms of bare floor performance. The i7 also feels more sturdy, is more durable and requires less maintenance. It has lower recurring costs, charges faster and has similar battery performance. It also comes with more advanced technology for automation, such as no-go zones and the ability to select the rooms that should be cleaned.
4. iRobot J7+
This robot vac/mop combo is a rarity because it can do both tasks exceptionally efficiently. iRobot Combo J7+ comes with all the features and smarts of its j7 equivalent, including LiDAR maps and self-emptying. It also comes with additional features for mopping and vacuuming.
The new acoustic sensors help the j7+ identify the types of flooring, so it can choose between vacuuming and mopping when it first enters an area. This information is also used to determine the best cleaning options for rooms with carpets and rug versus those with hard flooring.
The j7+ is quieter than most robotic vacuums when running, and even quieter when it's mopping. The maximum reading of 64db on our decibel meter is similar to office chatter.
You can easily set up an cleaning schedule and then change the way that dust is cleaned when the canister gets full. The j7+ can also be controlled by voice assistants (Alexa, Google Assistant, etc.) for a hands-free approach and the app allows you to create and view maps of your home.
The j7+ performed well in our tests on both carpeted and hard flooring, and was able to remove most of the dirt we tossed at it. It isn't the best at dealing with pet hair as well as large debris like sand, however it can clean these things with a little more effort. It has excellent navigational skills and two cliff sensors to stop it from falling down stairs or becoming stuck on furniture legs.
The J7+ has some minor flaws, for instance, it could get stuck on cords or rugs and it doesn't always turn off the mopping function once it's finished vacuuming. This is a fantastic model that ticks off all the boxes.
iRobot J7+ is one of the best auto-emptying systems we've ever tested. It spits out its 14oz / 0.4-liter dust container into the base station, where it automatically empties itself for you to. This helps reduce the amount of garbage you have to throw away and you'll only have to replace the dust disposal bag from the dock about every 60 days or so, based on how often you use the j7+.