The Eufy 11S is one the most affordable self-emptying robot vacuums that are available. In our tests it was able remove dry oats from hard floors as well as low pile carpeting. Its dust bin is open and empty easily, making it more convenient to use than some other models in the same price range.
It charges at its base, and then resumes cleaning as soon as it's clean. However, its obstacle-avoidance technology gets caught in cords and socks, and it can't go under low thresholds.
1. iRobot Roomba 11S
The 11S is one of the cheapest self-emptying robots, and a lot of people seem to love it. It is a great choice for getting under furniture and is a great choice for those who have hard floors or who do a lot of cleaning. The suction might be less powerful than the suction of our top picks, however it gets the job completed. It has a large dust bin and a durable battery. The app allows you to schedule your daily cleaning routine, or select a specific room. You can also map your home to help the device avoid areas that you don't wish it to visit.
The app is easy to use and has a clear layout. It doesn't come with any advanced features, but it's simple enough to use and allows you to track the status of your robot. It comes with a tutorial that will guide you through the basics.
The pattern of cleaning doesn't always appear logical - sometimes it is straight lines, and other times, it is able to find the edges of a room, however Bounce Navigation ensures your entire floor is cleaned. It's not the greatest at climbing over obstacles, though - it was unable to climb over our piano pedals as well as pet food bowls, and was stuck in our 2.25-inch shag rug multiple times.
We think that there are better robot vacuums available than the 11S. The iRobot Roomba is much easier to maintain and has lower costs for recurring maintenance and charges more quickly. It also has a bigger dustbin, and performs better on all surfaces, and it can overcome low-lying obstructions (like electrical cords) more easily.
The RoboVac 11S from Eufy is another good alternative for regular vacuuming. It's design is very similar to our top pick and it is great for picking up fine dirt and larger debris on hard flooring. It also does a decent job on medium and low-pile carpet. Similar to the Roomba from iRobot Roomba, it comes with a large dirt compartment, and it uses BoostIQ to automatically adjust suction power. It also comes with an adjustable remote that is easy to use and allows you to program daily cleanings using the app. The battery lasts about an hour and the dustbin can be easily empty by removing it from its dock.
2. Roborock S7 maxV Ultra
The Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra is a great robot vacuum cleaner and mop with a surprisingly wide array of automation options. The Roborock S7 MaxV is available in three different versions that include the basic S7 model as well as the S7 Plus model and the S7 Ultra. Only the latter has an Empty Wash Fill Dock (or an alternative Auto-Empty Dock). These docks allow the robot to return to its base following cleaning and empty the debris it has collected into a dust bag or reservoir, drain its dirty water tank, and clean its mopping pad.
Sensors on the S7 work in tandem to clean and avoid obstacles. It can identify flooring types and save maps of rooms and zones, and even detect dirt levels. It's also capable of scheduling and carrying out spot-cleaning sessions. It did well in our tests, but it didn't quite match the iRobot Roomba j7+ during the carpet deep clean test.
You can program the S7 with the companion app to run a cleansing cycle in accordance with your schedule. You can specify a time day, week, or even a day as well as choose from a variety of cleaning options, like automatic, eco and deep clean. You can also decide whether the robot will stop when its power runs out or in the event of an obstacle.
If you don't have a smartphone however, you can still utilize the S7 by connecting a remote to the dock that charges it. The controls are confusing at first but they're very efficient after you've become accustomed to them. The power button also functions as a 'Cleaning' button, and the Spot Clean button directs the robot to clean an area around it. robot vacuum self empty activates the child lock.
In addition to the new mapping features, Roborock improved its mobile application, including live view features that lets you see what the S7 is doing at home. You can activate this feature by pressing a particular sequence of buttons on the S7 and then creating an unlock pattern in the app to use whenever you want to see what the robot is doing.
3. Shark IQ Large
Shark isn't as well-known for robot vacuums as iRobot and Roborock however our hands-on testing of this model has proven it to be among the top self-emptying robot vacuums available on the market. It's simple to set up and has a large bin which can be easily emptied (albeit loudly) to a trashcan when full. It can also be programmed to sweep the entire home on a regular basis.
The IQ XL is able to connect to your WiFi at home which allows you to keep track of its progress on cleaning from the Shark app. The app lets you program a cleaning routine and also receive push notifications on its status as well as pause cleaning and then restart cleaning, or set it to clean only one area. You can also control it with voice commands using Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. The app can tell you what power mode it's currently in--Eco, Normal, or Max--but we didn't find that any of these modes made a huge difference to the cleaning performance.
When it's finished cleaning after which the IQ XL automatically empty the dust bin into its base, and it automatically emptys itself. The bin can hold up to 60 days' worth of waste It won't require emptying more frequently than that, unless you own several pets with hair that is long. If you do need to empty it, simply detach the side container and place it on top of your trash can and press the button.
The Shark IQ XL is a excellent vacuum cleaner. It does a great job cleaning floors that are not bare and it can maneuver itself well. However it's not the best choice for carpeted floors. Shark IQ XL feels a bit less sturdy than the Roomba 694. It removes a lot of debris on carpeted floors and does a good job of maneuvering itself however it isn't close to matching the iRobot Roomba i7 in regards to performance on carpeted floors. The i7 is also built better and feels more durable. It is robust, has lower maintenance requirements, is able to charge lower recurring costs, charges faster, while offering similar battery performance, and comes with much more advanced automation features, such as no-go zones and the capability to select specific rooms for a clean.
4. iRobot J7+
This robotic mop and vacuum combination is a rare machine that can perform both tasks efficiently. iRobot's Combo J7+ comes with all the smarts of its j7-based counterpart, including self-emptying and LiDAR mapping but with additional features for both mopping and vacuuming.
The new acoustic sensors aid the j7+ identify floor types, so it can decide between vacuuming and mopping on the first pass through a room. It also uses this info to prioritize cleaning rooms with carpets and rugs over those with hard floors.
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 comparable to general office chatter.
You can easily set up a cleaning schedule and change the way that dust is cleaned when the canister gets full. The j7+ can be controlled using voice assistants (Alexa, Google Assistant, etc.) The app allows you to create and view maps in your home.
The j7+ did 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, but it is able to remove these items with a little extra effort. It also has decent navigation abilities and a pair of cliff sensors to prevent it from plunging down the stairs or stumbling on furniture legs.
We did notice a couple of small niggles with the j7+. These include that it can get caught on cords and carpets, and it doesn't always turn off its mopping when it's done vacuuming. Otherwise, this is an excellent model that ticks all the right boxes.
The j7+ from iRobot also is one of the best self-emptying systems we've tested. It spits out its 14oz / 0.4-liter dust container into the base station, where it automatically emptys itself for you to. This reduces the amount of garbage you'll need to dispose of and you'll only need to change the reusable dust disposal bag from the dock about every 60 days or so, depending on how often you use the J7+.
