The Eufy 11S robotic vacuum is one of the cheapest self-emptying vacuums on the market. It ably sucked up dry Oats from hard floors as well as low-pile carpeting in our tests. The dust bin opens and empty quickly, making it much easier to use than other models in the same price range.
It recharges at the base and then resumes cleaning when ready. Its obstacle-avoidance tech gets tangled in cords and socks and it can't get under the thresholds of low.
1. iRobot 11S
The 11S is a cheaper self-emptying robotic vacuum cleaner that many people seem to like. It is good at scooting underneath furniture and is a good choice for those who have hard floors or daily cleaning. The suction might be a bit weaker than our top picks, however it gets the job accomplished. It has a large dust bin as well as a long-lasting battery. The app lets you schedule daily cleanings or choose a particular room. It's also possible to map out your home, which could aid in avoiding areas that you don't want to visit.
The app is simple 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 tutorial which will guide you through 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 a space. But it cleans the entire floor. It's not the best at climbing over obstacles though. It struggled to get under our piano pedals as well as pet food bowls, and got caught in our 2.25-inch shag rug a few times.
While it's a good alternative for cleaning up light chores We believe there are better robot vacuums that are better than the 11S. The iRobot Roomba 694 is better-built and is easier to maintain. It also has lower ongoing costs and is less time-consuming to charge. It also has a bigger dustbin, and performs better on all surface types, and it can climb over low-lying obstructions (like electrical cords) more easily.
The eufy RoboVac 11S is another option for regular vacuuming. It is a close design to our top pick and is excellent at picking up fine dust and larger debris from hard flooring. It is able to do a great job on carpets with medium or low pile. It comes with a large dirt bin and utilizes BoostIQ for automatic suction power adjustment. It comes with a simple remote control, and it is possible to schedule daily cleanings using the app. The battery can last for around an hour and the dustbin can be emptied without removing it from the dock.
2. Roborock S7 maxV Ultra
The Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra is a great robot vacuum and mop, with a wide range of automation options. It is available in three models, the basic S7, the S7 MaxV Plus, and the S7 MaxV Ultra. Only the latter comes with an Empty Wash Fill Dock (or an alternative Auto-Empty Dock). These docks let the robot return to its base following cleaning, empty the collected debris into a dust bag or reservoir, empty its dirty water tank, and wash its mopping pad.
Sensors on the S7 work together to clean and eliminate obstacles. It can recognize the types of floors and save a map of rooms and zones. It even detects dirt levels. It can also plan and execute spot cleaning sessions. It was able to perform well in our standard tests, but it wasn't able to exactly match the Roomba j7+ in our carpet deep clean test.
Utilizing the companion app, you can program the S7 to run a cleansing cycle according to your schedule. robot self emptying vacuum can choose a cleaning mode that is automatic or eco, and the day, week, or time. You can also decide whether the robot should stop if it is running out of energy or encounters an obstacle.
You can still use the S7 even if you don't own an iPhone by connecting the charging dock to the remote control. The remote controls can be a bit difficult to understand initially, but once you've got the hang of them, they function well. The power button doubles as the general 'Clean' function and the "Spot Clean" button instructs the robot to clean small areas around itself. The "Spot Clean" button activates the child lock.
In addition to the new mapping capabilities, Roborock improved its mobile app, adding a live view feature 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 code in the app that you can use any time you wish to check out what the robot is up to.
3. Shark IQ Large
Shark's robot vacuums aren't as a hit as those made by iRobot or Roborock. But our hands-on tests have shown that Shark's model is among the most effective self-emptying vacuums on the market. It is easy to set up and has a large bin that can be easily emptied (albeit loudly) into a trashcan once it's full. It can also be programmed to clean your 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 in cleaning using the Shark app. The app allows you to create a cleaning schedule and receive push notifications about its current status in cleaning, pause it and then resume cleaning or set it to clean a single area. You can also control it with voice commands with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. The app will tell you what the current power mode is - Eco Normal, Maximum, or Normal - however, we discovered that none of these settings made an obvious difference in cleaning performance.
Once it finishes cleaning, the IQ XL automatically empties the dustbin into its base, and it self-empties. The bin can hold up to 60 days of debris, meaning you won't have to empty it more than once, unless your pets have long hair. If you have to empty it, simply detach the side container and place it over your trash bin and push a button.
There isn't much to dislike about the Shark IQ XL, although it is a little less sturdy than the Roomba 694. It clears many messes on unfinished flooring and does a decent job at maneuvering itself however it's not as close to achieving the same performance as the iRobot Roomba i7 in terms of performance on carpeted surfaces. The i7 is also more robust and feels more durable. It is sturdy, has less maintenance requirements, incurs lower monthly costs, and charges faster, while offering similar battery performance, and comes with much more advanced automation features such as no-go zones and the capability to pick specific rooms to keep clean.
4. iRobot J7+
This robotic mop and vacuum combination is a rare find that can do both tasks well. iRobot Combo J7+ comes with all the features and smarts of its j7 counterpart, including LiDAR maps and self-emptying. It also comes with additional features for mopping and vacuuming.
The j7+ utilizes the new acoustic sensor to determine the type of floor which allows it to clean or mop the area in its first attempt. It also utilizes this information to prioritize cleaning rooms with carpet and rug flooring over rooms with hard floors.
The j7+ is quieter than the majority of robotic vacuums when it's in use and is even quieter when it's mopping. The maximum reading of 64db on our decibel meter is comparable to general office chatter.
It's simple to establish an appointment for cleaning and change the way that the j7+ operates when its dust canister is full. The j7+ can also be controlled using voice assistants (Alexa, Google Assistant, etc.) for a hands-free approach and the app lets you create and view maps of your home.
The j7+ did well in our tests on hard and carpeted floors, removing most of the dirt that we threw at it. It struggles a bit with pet hair and larger debris like sand, but it can clean these things with a little extra effort. It also has decent navigation capabilities, as well as a pair of cliff sensors to stop it from falling down the stairs or stumbling on furniture legs.
We did discover a couple of small niggles with the j7+, mainly that it can snag on rugs and cords and that it doesn't always turn off its mopping when done vacuuming. Overall, this is an excellent model that checks all the right boxes.
iRobot j7+ has also one of the most efficient auto-emptying systems that we've ever tested. It deposits its 14oz / 0.4-liter dust container into the base station, where it will automatically empty itself for you. This helps reduce the amount of garbage you have to throw away and you'll only have to replace the reusable dust bag that is on the dock every 60 days or so, based on how often you use the j7+.
