The Best Self-Empting Vacuums
Robot vacuums are excellent in keeping your floors spotless, but they often have small dust bins that require manual emptying after every cleaning session. High-end models come with self-emptying bases that eliminate this step for the hands-free experience.
The best self emptying vacuum has docking stations that hold up to 45 days of debris without intervention from you. These vacuums with smart sensors can track your home and avoid obstacles such as power cords.
1. Roomba iRobot s9+
iRobot was the first to introduce self-emptying robots with its Roomba i7. It has elevated the technology to a new level with the s9+. The flagship model is pricey but it also offers the highest performance of any robot vacuum we've tested. It also comes with improvements that other brands can only dream of.
It first sucks dirt into its Clean Base automatically. Then, it empties that into a large, dust bag, which you dispose of every 60 days. This makes it a good choice for those who want to take a hands-off approach to cleaning but are looking for the peace of head that comes with knowing their home is always free of germs and allergens.
The s9+ is equipped with improved corner cleaning capabilities that allow it to be closer to walls and perform better at cleaning up spots. If it determines that a certain area requires extra attention, the app will send it back there with an recurring schedule. If the area is really dirty, the s9 will return to it using stronger suction until the mess is gone.
The s9+ can be controlled by the included app or Amazon Alexa (the s9+ is compatible with both) that lets you give full voice commands including the ability of the ability to pause, stop and start. You can also set a time frame for the robot to start and end its work or you can let it decide when it's time to return to its dock.
The s9+ is great on carpets that are not bare. It is able to remove small debris such as rice, and larger objects like cereal. It's also pretty adept at tackling low-pile carpet and has a strong suction with an entire dirt compartment although it's not able to do better on carpets with more thickness.
2. Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra
Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra robot vacuum and mop is able to sweep clean rugs, detect rugs and even self-clean. It is among the hands-off robotic cleaners available. Its sophisticated mapping and navigation systems provide the best maneuverability, while its companion app provides access to a variety of cleaning configuration options. It also supports a wide range of third-party apps that allow you to watch your home as it is in motion.
The S7 MaxV Ultra, like its predecessor, is excellent in sweeping carpets and hard floors. It scored highly in our dirt pickup tests and excelled at tackling hard-to-clean tasks such as the sand embedding tests and the carpet deep clean test which we carry out by weighing the dust bin of the robot before and after a set amount of time. The S7 MaxV Ultra is also great at mopping, generating plenty of suction power to deal with the bulky and small debris as well as pet hair on floors that are not covered. It has a tougher time when it comes to carpets with low piles that are densely woven, but it still manages most of the hair.
This model is among the quietest we've tested with a maximum sound amount of 57.5 dBA when operating in low-power 'Quiet' mode. It's not as quiet in its highest-power setting, 'Max that produces more than 80 dBA.
The S7 MaxV Ultra is equipped with a dock that automatically refills the robot's water tank and emptying its trash bin. It's a bit more challenging to configure the X1 Omni but once you've set it up the robot will operate independently.
3. Shark IQ XL
The Shark IQ Robot XL has an impressive suction and plenty of clever features. It comes with a bagless self-emptying base and also maps your home while it cleans to ensure total coverage. You can control the SharkClean using the SharkClean App or by voice commands via Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. It also has physical boundary markers that you can use to restrict its access to specific areas.
It has a minimalist, all-black appearance and feel. It's easy to put together straight out of the box since it requires only just a few snaps to attach the side brushes and charging dock. The dirt compartment could be small, so you will need to empty it often.
IQ Robot XL performed well in tests and was responsive to the app controls. The app lets you select power modes, modify settings, and view the battery level of the robot while it's working. The app also has an Find Robot feature that will help you find the device in the event that it's lost.
The IQ Robot XL, like other Shark products has a powerful suction that is capable of handling dust bunnies and dog hair. Its self-cleaning brushroll stops hair from circling the machine as it brushes through debris as well. Its navigation module makes use of sensors that monitor the surrounding area as it moves, however it's not as thorough as those that employ LIDAR modules. It takes just a few clean cycles before the IQ Robot XL completely maps your space.
Comparing to the iRobot Roomba 690, the Shark IQ Robot XL is more durable, has lower recurring costs and offers better performance across multiple surface types. However, the iRobot is more durable, charges faster, and has similar battery performance, and has an advanced suite of automation capabilities that allow you to set up your home's coverage map with no-go zones.
4. Eufy 11S
The Eufy 11S is a great option for those who want an automated vacuum that can be cleaned on their schedule but do not require a smartphone or voice command. The slim model is easy to install and maintain, and can take out dirt and dust without much effort. It is recommended for cleaning light-duty daily tasks in order to keep your floors looking fantastic.
It's not as impressive as our other top picks but offers some benefits worth considering. Its small size allows it to be able to maneuver under furniture with low profile which other vacuums can't. It also has an efficient 'Quick Clean' mode that uses multiple passes to make your floors as clean as possible. Its 'Smart Pathing' feature isn't as effective however it's enough to ensure that you don't repeat the same cleaning routes over and over again.
This model isn't as good as the iRobot Roomba S9+ but it performs better than the Coredy R550 which is the same price as the bObsweep Bob Pro. The iRobot is better-built, incurs less recurring costs, has a bigger dirt compartment and lasts longer on charge, and can move more efficiently. It also gets rid of pet hair faster and is more effective on carpet and bare floors.
The Eufy 11S costs more than the iRobot Roomba, but also more than the Ecovacs N79S. The iRobot Roomba 614 is more costly, but it's also better built and has a longer battery life and can collect more dust and dirt. It's also more easy to maintain, has lower recurring costs, and has more automated features. The app that comes with it is better as well, providing more details about the status of the vacuum and its battery level.
5. Ecovacs Deebot N8 Pro+
The robot vacuum might appear like other models on the market but it has some neat tricks up its sleeves. my review here allows you to manage the power levels as well as mops and customize your preferences. Its impressive 2600Pa vacuum power and 67dB noise levels are considerably lower than other robots I've tested.
The Deebot N8 Pro+ is also able to avoid obstacles with its TrueDetect 3D laser. This technology uses structured light to scan a room and map out its contents, which means it can work around furniture, showpieces, shoes and charger cables. It is also more precise than other robots because it can detect tiny objects at a millimetre level and devises a strategy to stay clear of them.
Using the ECOVACS application, you can also monitor your robot's progress, plan cleaning sessions, and alter settings from wherever you are. It also allows you to set custom boundaries to allow you to better control where it cleans. This will keep it away from important family items, messy school projects, and laundry.
The app is simple to use and the instructions are clear. The entire setup process takes about an hour. Once it's mapped your house, you can let it run on its own or make a separate cleaning schedule for each room. It will return to its charging dock when the battery gets low, and will continue exactly where it left off when it's fully charged again. An automatic dustbin is provided with the ECOVACS Deebot N8 Pro+ and you won't need to handle its contents unless you need to change the dust bag.