Top Black Friday and Cyber Monday Robot Vacuum Deals
If you've ever wanted to get a robot vacuum, now is the time to get one. CNET's top models are on sale this Black Friday and Cyber Monday, with savings of up to 57%.
The Roborock Q7 Max offers strong pressure and smart mapping using app-based no-go zones, and its 180-minute runtime is impressive. It also automatically refills and self-empties its water tank.
1. Roomba j7+ iRobot from iRobot.
The Roomba J7+ is iRobot's most advanced robot vacuum to date. Its biggest innovation is a camera-based obstacle detection system that utilizes built-in AI to detect objects such as charging cords, shoes, and the pet waste that many other robots are unable to avoid (and often slough through). It's the first robot to provide you with pictures of the objects that it encounters, so you can instruct that it is safe to avoid it.
The Combo J7+ is the most effective mop-bot we've ever tested, removing dirt and spills with ease without leaving any trace that was there. It's easy to control through the iRobot Home app, which allows you to schedule cleaning times and create Keep Out Zones to ensure it doesn't sweep areas you do not want it to. It's compatible with Alexa or Google Assistant so you can start it and stop it by voice.
The design is also superior to the competition. It features a sleek, high-end piece that looks like an toy, not an obnoxious and loud robot. And the Clean Base Automatic Dirt Disposal System is self-emptying and is ideal to speed up cleaning.
In our tests, the j7+ was quick to pick up and remove dust, dirt and pet hair. The counter-rotating rubber brushes kept the debris in one spot rather than sending it scattering across the floor. It even was able to catch small gravel and sand which other robots aren't able to do. And it did all of this without getting caught in our pet's shedding hair.
The j7+, though not as intelligent as the Roomba S9, which costs $1,217+ Self-Emptying Vacuum from iRobot, and can't clean the stairs, is still a good option for those who want both a vacuum and a mop. It's not expensive and the iRobot App makes it simple to use.
While the iRobot Home app is very user-friendly, we've found it to be less reliable than other apps that use robotic cleaners. It can take a while to download updates and it can be difficult to tell if they are working until you see them in action.
2. Roborock Q5+
If you're looking for an automated vacuum cleaner that can do more than simply clean floors, the most effective option is likely to be one that is a hybrid. This type of robot typically has a built-in water tank that allows them to vacuum and mop your house at the same time. They also come with various additional features, including smart mapping, small object avoidance, and the possibility of washing and re-drying mopping pads. The negative is that they tend to be pricey at full retail price, but on Black Friday and Cyber Monday they often drop in price.
Roborock makes some of our top robot vacuums, and the Q5+ isn't an exception. It's their cheapest auto-empty model. While it lacks some of the features that are found on more expensive models (like no-go zones and multi-story memory) it's still an excellent option if you're willing to sacrifice a bit to save some hundred dollars.
The Q5+ is exceptionally gentle when it comes down to obstacles such as walls and table legs. This makes it an ideal option for homes with lots of furniture. It's also extremely thorough in cleaning dust bunnies. This is a area where most robot vacuums of lower quality aren't able to meet. The Q5+'s navigation is top-quality, with a few misses along walls and in corners.
The Q5+, as with other Roborock products, can be controlled by a few buttons on the device or through the Roborock App. The app allows you to start and stop cleaning. You can also set schedules, design virtual barriers and no-go areas or modify your home map or re-label the rooms.
If you opt for the Q5+, it comes with a brand new auto-empty dock specifically designed to make this robot simple to maintain. Installing it requires a screwdriver, but once it's installed, emptying the bin can be done with relative ease. It also comes with an impressive LCD display which is great to have when setting up schedules or altering settings. This feature isn't necessary for everyone, but it can help you easily keep track of the robot's maintenance schedules.
3. Narwal Freo X Ultra
The Freo X Ultra is a well-rounded robot mop and vacuum that's incredibly smart in both its vacuuming and mopping capabilities. Its design and functionality are among the top available however, it's also expensive.
The base station looks nice and hides it when not in use, and its size is quite compact. But the station's main selling point is how it automates many tasks and functions that other robots leave to you. It stores clean and dirty water, it electrolyzes and heats the water (which the majority of other robots require you to do) and empty the dust bin after vacuuming, and keeps your robot clean and charged.
And its vacuuming is impressive, too. It's the only robovac I've tried that does a good job picking up the dust from floors with no. And it's not as loud as the expensive Roomba 900 series or iRobot 980.
The Freo X Ultra is not without faults, particularly in the area of navigation. Its laser and LiDAR sensors aren't as reliable as some other robovacs, meaning it is sometimes stuck or confused in certain rooms or corners of the home. It's also unable to climb stairs like other competitors and doesn't come with a dock that can create a clean zone for plush carpets.
The Freo X Ultra robot vacuum and mop is an excellent choice for those who want a robot vacuum that does it all.
But if you want to save money, or just don't care about the limitations of this robotic there are many alternatives on the market with a wide range of eufy models that cost considerably less. The eufy Qrevo Curv, for example, is cheaper and offers a similar in-app experience with additional features such as the ability to climb stairs, a full-function dock, and a better overall vacuuming performance on bare floors as well as high- and low-pile carpets.
4. eufy RoboVac G30
Eufy is an Anker company with a long history of creating robot vacuums that have the right balance of features, performance, and price. The G30 Hybrid offers a powerful cleaning on hard and carpeted flooring, and mopping functions at a reasonable price. It's easy to set up, just snap on one of the side brush and then turn it on. Then best affordable robot vacuum in your charging dock. The app takes you through several steps to connect to your Wi-Fi and then the G30 is ready to go. The dock will need to be placed close to an outlet that has enough space to move.
The G30 is tiny, 2.85 inches tall to be exact, which means it can be tucked away under sofas and other furniture with low clearance. Its design is a little more modest than other models, with a sleek black finish and three buttons that are physical such as Auto Cleaning start/pause, Recharge and Spot Clean (which scrubs a space in spiral patterns for 2 minutes). You can also connect the G30 to Amazon Alexa or Google Home to do unscheduled cleaning with voice commands.
The way in which the G30 cleans is what differentiates it from its rivals. It uses a built-in mapping to create an image of the non-movable objects that are in its path and then keeps track of what it has already cleaned and where it can't access. If it requires a recharge, it returns to its base, and then resumes cleaning from where it began.
The elegant G30 has some flaws. The iRobot Roomba 675 is better constructed, has lower recurring costs, charges faster and has a similar battery life while offering superior performance on floors that are unfinished and carpets with a low pile. It comes with a larger dust bin, which doesn't require as much emptying. It also comes with border strips that block it from certain areas. The G30 is less expensive and easier to maintain. Its smaller size means that it doesn't need to be empty as often and it's less difficulty with bulky items like cereal.
