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The best self-emptying robot vacuums have one huge perk past the obvious act of vacuuming the floor for you. (Hint: It's in the name.)
When you outsource vacuuming to a robot, your floors get cleaned way more often. The only downside of this extra attention? More debris off the floor means a dust bin that fills up faster, and emptying a vacuum's dust bin by hand is arguably the worst part of the chore.
Enter self-emptying robot vacuums. These vacs do your vacuuming and emptying for you for a few weeks at a time, storing the debris the robot vacuum collects on each trip in a larger compartment that's located in the charging dock.
Are self-emptying robot vacuums worth it?
Not having to lift a finger when it comes to floor maintenance is well worth it for anyone who just doesn’t have the time — or the interest — in wrestling an upright vacuum out of the closet every few days. The next question is whether you want the true set-it-and-forget solution that only automatic emptying can provide, and if you're willing to pay more for it.
Automatic emptying quickly proves its worth in households where the layer of pet fur would otherwise have you dumping the vacuum's tiny dust bin after just a few rooms. The best self-emptying robot vacuum cleaners let you off the hook for months at a time. (Many brands claim to have capacities averaging between six to eight weeks, but almost every self-emptying dock I've experienced lasted much longer.) And when it actually is time to empty the bigger dust bin, most self-empty docks trap dust inside a disposable bag, meaning you won't have to see or touch the nasty stuff at all.
For people with allergies, auto-emptying also spares you from inhaling the inevitable puff of dust that emerges when dumping a dustbin into the trash.
Speaking of avoiding the grosser parts of the job, if you want a robot vacuum that mops, many self-emptying docks also take it upon themselves to deal with dirty mopping pads after the job is done. The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2024 ushered in a new wave of flagship robot vacuums that self-wash and self-dry the soggy mopping pads in the same dock where debris is held. Looking ahead into 2025 and beyond, we expect to see more models with self-dispensing detergent and front-loading water tanks, which free up the dock's surface to be used like a side table. Only a few currently have these features.
Is Black Friday a good time to buy a robot vacuum?
Yep, it is. Not only does every top robot vacuum go on sale for Black Friday, but those robot vacuums are incredibly likely to drop to new record-low pricing throughout November. The opportunity to shave a few hundred dollars off of a robot vacuum comes in particularly handy if you're set on a robot vacuum with a self-emptying dock, which are naturally more expensive than their standalone counterparts.
Black Friday robot vacuum sales also widen your options to score a nicer self-emptying robot vacuum without maxing out your budget. For example, if you've known for months that you didn't want to stray far from the $500 point, you'll have many more self-emptying options (maybe even with self-washing and drying mopping pads) near that price during Black Friday season than non-Black Friday season.
It's also worth noting that Black Friday falls less than two months before CES, where many robot vacuum brands debut their new flagship models for the year. Black Friday could be a brand's last big chance to get rid of some older models.
I've been testing the latest and greatest self-emptying robot vacuums released in 2024 against my old favorites from 2023 and 2022. Here are the best self-emptiers to consider for your home.
The Qrevo Master isn't Roborock's absolute most expensive vacuum, but it somehow packs almost every single fancy feature that the apex $1,799.99 Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra does for less money. For anyone capping their budget at $1,000, waiting for the Qrevo Master to drop to its frequent $999 sale price is the unequivocally smarter path.
Sticklers about what constitutes as "barefoot ready" might be particularly down to pay for the Qrevo Master's special extending edge brush and edge mop. If you've ever cringed watching a robot vacuum lazily attempt and fail to sweep up the ball of crumbs and pet hair that blew into the corner, this is the attention to detail you're craving. Speaking of pets, the Qrevo Master also sports the same livestream pet camera and pet-finding feature that the S8 MaxV Ultra does, making it my pick for a sidekick in homes with pets.
Why we picked this:
People also asked: Aside from the hefty price difference, how did the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra lose the crown to its cheaper sibling? The difference comes down to different mopping strengths. While the S8 MaxV Ultra's sonic vibrating mopping did perform well in my testing, it still used a single, flat mopping pad. The Qrevo Master, however, uses dual spinning mopping pads, including one that reaches outside of the radius of the botvac to scrub around corners and edges. As someone who will stay awake at night wondering if that one rogue soy sauce drop under the counter is still there, the Flexi-Arm mop is comforting. (The S8 MaxV Ultra does have automatic detergent dispensing whereas you manually have to add it to the water tank with Qrevo, but that's not a huge deal.)
The difference in cleaning performance on pet hair on rugs or dry debris on hard floors between the two wasn't major for me. Both have 10,000 Pa suction power, made it to the right rooms, avoided obstacles, and didn't miss much. The dustbin capacity in each dock lasted months in my apartment, even when regularly cleaning up after two cats — yet the Qrevo Master's dock is slightly more compact and slightly more chic, IMO.
The Good
Frequently on sale for under $1,000
Dual spinning mopping pads plus an extending side mop
Washes and dries its mopping pads
Self-emptying noise is quieter than that of Roombas
Dock dustbin capacity lasts forever
10,000 Pa suction power does well on carpet
Same livestream pet camera as the pricier Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra
The Bad
Price is still steep, even on sale
Might ruffle bath mats up
Room splitting and naming process in app is convoluted
Details
Auto-empty dust bin capacity: At least eight weeks
The Eufy X10 Pro Omni is a seriously clutch find for shoppers who prioritize a "set it and forget it" robot vacuum experience and are willing to pay more than $500 — but not toe the $1,000 mark — for that peace of mind. The hands-off experience here includes automatic avoidance of small obstacles like cords and a self-washing and drying mopping pad system. The fanciest-ever Eufy vac offers both these features for as low as $679.99 on sale.
Between the large water tank and a battery life that outruns (sometimes even doubles) many pricier competitors, the X10 Pro Omni is a smart choice for large homes with multiple stories. You can squeeze hours of cleaning out of the X10 Pro without it returning to the dock to refill or recharge. A substantial chunk of that square footage would ideally be hard floors, as this Eufy's dual pressurized mopping pad system doesn't deserve to collect dust (cleaning pun definitely intended).
Why we picked this:
This is the first time any Eufy robot vacuum's self-emptying dock can also self-refill the bot's water tank and self-wash and dry the mop pads. The self-washing and drying aspect especially is a bullet point that's rarely seen in the sub-$1,000 price range — the other robot vacuums that debuted at CES 2024 are evidence of that. Even iRobot's $1,399 Roomba Combo j9+ doesn't do that.
As impressive as the all-in-one station is, the X10 Pro Omni's cleaning proficiency is also noteworthy. In terms of suction power, 8,000 Pa is quite high not just in this price range, but in general. The power proved itself in my testing, successfully removing matted-down cat hair from a low-pile rug and spilled rice from a medium-pile rug and surrounding hardwood flooring, including against the wall. During mopping, the spinning mopping pads were able to wipe up spilled wine that had been drying for several hours, as well as visibly remove dusty cat paw prints near the litter box.
The presence of small obstacle avoidance seals the X10 Pro Omni's bang for your buck status. It's another feature rarely seen at this price point. I cherish this feature a little extra, as there's bound to be a phone charger, catnip mouse, or blanket tufts on my floor at any given moment. Aside from a blip involving a bath mat mistaken for a towel (and an annoying quirk in the Eufy app that doesn't let you dismiss an incorrectly-pinged obstacle), the X10 Pro Omni accurately identified and avoided most cords and socks in my home.
First and foremost, the Shark Matrix RV2300S is obviously the best contender for folks who aren't trying to go all out spending-wise on a robot vacuum. Though this Shark model does vacuum more meticulously than many other basic bots, it'd probably be best in a low-traffic home where light daily upkeep is all that's needed — whether that's a home with no pets (maybe one, if shedding is light), a home with low foot traffic, or a small apartment.
Speaking of small spaces, this is the most compact dock on the list, making it ideal for apartments or other tight squeezes that may not have much floor space for one of those bigger full-fledged docks.
Why we picked this:
I wouldn't back this model as hard at its full price of $499.99, but when Walmart halves that to $299.99, Shark's Matrix RV2300S defines "bang for your buck." It's rare to find LiDAR smart home mapping plus self-emptying at this price point, even if that self-emptying only lasts for 30 days versus the 45 or 60-day capacity on bigger docks. (Though in my experience, the RV23000S lasted much longer before I had to empty it.)
Shark even goes past the satisfactory-at-best clean that you typically get when opting for a brand's cheapest robot vacuum. Shark's signature Matrix spot cleaning mode tackles debris in a crosshatch pattern to grab anything that was missed on the original pass. I was impressed by how thoroughly this base tier Shark model kept up with my kitty litter-covered bathroom floor on a daily basis, even if it did miss some rogue pieces of debris along the walls.
The Good
Frequently on sale for under $300
Small self-empty dock doesn't take up much floor space
If you've confirmed that you definitely want a Roomba, the next question is obviously which one. Your budget will have the most convincing power, and those hoping to stay under or near the $500 mark have two options: the Combo i5+ and Combo j5+. The first is cheaper, but the latter has small obstacle avoidance technology. Whether it's kids' toys, pet toys, strewn laundry, cords, or any other small items that might be hanging out on the floor, the Combo j5+ is the better choice for homes that aren't 100% tidy all of the time.
Alternatively, the Combo j5+ isn't the most thorough Roomba and isn't the most thorough robot vacuum in its price range. To pick it over the Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 or the Eufy X9 Pro, you'd have to prioritize smooth navigation and staying in the iRobot ecosystem over deep cleaning of carpets or powerful scrubbing of hard floors.
Why we picked this:
Of the handful of self-emptying Roombas, the Combo j5+ is the best value (if you can find it at its relatively-frequent sale price of $449). Much of this is thanks to iRobot's near-perfect small obstacle avoidance, which is simply the best we've tested.
In my experience, the j Series Roombas have the least slip-ups. They accurately steer clear of various cords and other pesky items, as well as correctly differentiate between a bath rug that needs to be cleaned and a towel that should be avoided. So while the Combo j5+ does require babysitting in terms of manual attaching and detaching of the mopping pad (unlike the Combo j7+), it does eliminate the need for babysitting in terms of getting stuck.
Even though the Combo j5+'s mopping and suction power are a little basic, they're sufficient in most low-traffic homes. Plus, the presence of iRobot's best feature (small obstacle avoidance) and the same chic auto-empty dock as the pricier Combo j7+ make up for the middling cleaning. I also noticed that the Combo j5+'s auto-empty bin went much longer without needing to be dumped than the advertised two-ish months, at least with usage about every other day.
The Good
Frequently on sale for under $500
Better small obstacle detection than more expensive competitors
Dual rubber brush rolls are good at pinching long hair and large crumbs
Stylish, compact self-emptying dock
The Bad
Too expensive for what it's worth at full price
Automatic emptying is painfully loud
Suction isn't powerful enough for debris-heavy carpet or rugs
I suggest the Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 if your main concern with a robot mop is whether it actually scrubs (with more than water, at that) but also that its advanced mopping capabilities can be secured for a few hundred dollars.
One word of caution, though: The Matrix Plus 2-in-1 is best for homes that don't have a heavy rug situation, as the bot requires you to manually point out rugs or carpets in the app and can't vacuum while the water tank is attached.
Why we picked this:
For years, Shark was better known for its upright vacuums. That all changed when "Matrix" started popping up in the names of Shark robot vacuums in 2023. Though it's no longer the most decked-out of Shark's self-emptying vacuums (now that the PowerDetect 2-in-1 also washes the mop), the Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 is a tried and true contender that wowed me and Mashable contributor Timothy Beck Werth. Not only does this budget contender outperform many pricier Roombas, but it can also always be found on sale for less than $500.
Most budget hybrid vacuums are very disappointing when it's time to mop, but Matrix mode separates this Shark from those "meh" moppers. Activating Matrix cleaning while mopping triggers the mopping pad to vibrate 100 times per minute and goes over the desired scuffed or stained area multiple times. During dry vacuuming, Matrix mode also hits the designated area in a crosshatch pattern, upping the likelihood of picking up hair or debris that was missed on the first pass.
As a senior shopping reporter, I have been testing popular robot vacuums for Mashable in the various apartments I've lived in since 2019. My hands-on analyses span from budget models under $200 that just cover the basics to $1,500 (or more) premium models that are the market’s most advanced in the way they clean, navigate my home, and take care of their own recurring maintenance.
So far in 2024, I’ve had hands-on experience with the Roborock Qrevo Master, Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra, Eufy X10 Pro Omni, Shark Matrix RV2300, Shark Detect Pro, Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1, Roomba Combo j9+, Roomba Combo j5+, Narwal Freo X Ultra, Dyson 360 Vis Nav and Yeedi M12 Pro+. I am also currently working with the Roomba Combo 10 Max + AutoWash Dock and Shark PowerDetect 2-in-1 with neverTouch Pro Base.
My own personal three-bedroom apartment — not a lab — makes up the testing grounds for every robot vacuum, where a combination of hardwood floors, tile floors, and rugs of various piles are tackled. Over the course of at least four weeks, each robot vacuum is put through a series of standardized tests that flow into a scoring rubric that I’ve created to exemplify all factors of owning a robot vacuum and trusting it on a daily basis. That rubric is made up of four pillars:
Cleaning thoroughness: I’m pickier than average about what it takes for a floor to feel “clean,” and I’m trusting these robot vacuums in my own home — and pitting them against my trusty Dyson. To encapsulate the full spectrum of debris a robot vacuum might encounter, each robot vacuum and its suction power settings complete an obstacle course of standardized tests for multiple types of debris on both hard floors and rugs, an efficiency score being given to each. The robot vacuum and mop combos also complete three additional scrubbing tests on hardwood and tile. As for the actual “dirty” status of those floors being tackled, each robot vac is sent over both fresh messes (like crumbs, drinks, and sauces I spill purposefully) and more lived-in messes that build up over time (like dried or sticky splatters, shoe prints near the door, dust bunnies in corners, and matted-down cat hair on the rug).
Navigation: I consider a robot vacuum’s ability to maneuver to the right spot in the first place as a litmus test ahead of getting into any nitty gritty cleaning capabilities. In my testing, each vac’s navigational brainpower is analyzed by its smart mapping accuracy and ability to find specific rooms and zones for spot cleaning, as well as its ability to swerve safely around walls or between chair or table legs. Robot vacuums that can successfully detect phone chargers, pet waste, and laundry with small obstacle avoidance technology are given an extra star.
User-friendliness and politeness as a house guest: The ideal robot vacuum will be a relatively seamless addition to your household, and blend in nearly as easily as any other appliance used daily would. If a robot vacuum is loud, clunky, or generally a pain to use, you're not going to want it in your house at all — so things like noise level, battery life, size, aesthetic design, and the intuitiveness of using the app can make or break the experience.
Maintenance: Some robot vacuums are more automated than others when it comes to how they take care of themselves past the actual cleaning. If someone is already considering the robot vacuum route because of the hands-off cleaning experience, they might want that convenience to extend to dustbin emptying or mopping pad cleaning, too, which would get them off the hook from maintenance for days or weeks at a time.
Finally, I can't not consider the overall bang for your buck for each robot vacuum. Are its features on paper and actual cleaning competence worth the price tag, and how practical is that cost for the average household?
Frequently Asked Questions
Like a regular robot vacuum, the self-emptying ones navigate around your house tackling dust, dirt, hair, and crumbs, then return to charge without your involvement. But because robot vacuums typically aren't more than four inches tall, there's little real estate inside to house a roomy dust bin like upright Dysons do. A half-liter robot vacuum bin requires manual emptying after a few sweeping sessions, if not every single time. Though the fact that they're bagless is nice, you typically end up reaching inside to pull out stuck hairballs — and inhaling the inevitable puff of dust.
A self-emptying robot vacuum actually takes that job out of your hands. It automatically empties itself into a larger dust bin in its charging dock, which has the capacity to manage weeks or months of dirt without needing to be cleaned or emptied by hand. You can literally set it up and forget about it. You may need to clean the brush roll from time to time, but otherwise it's a hands-free cleaning experience.
Amazon actually didn't end up buying iRobot — the two ditched the acquisition at the beginning of 2024. While the dud of a deal does have people wondering if iRobot as a business is still sustainable for the long haul, it surely isn't affecting the attention Roombas get at Amazon: Amazon puts the top Roombas on sale for up to 50% off frequently throughout the year.
Leah Stodart
Senior Shopping Reporter
Leah Stodart is a Philadelphia-based Senior Shopping Reporter at Mashable where she covers essential home tech like vacuums and TVs as well as sustainable swaps and travel. Her ever-growing experience in these categories comes in clutch when making recommendations on how to spend your money during shopping holidays like Black Friday, which Leah has been covering for Mashable since 2017.
The robot vacuum beat in particular has cemented itself as Leah's main ~thing~ across the past few years. Since 2019, her expertise has been perpetually bolstered by the meticulous eye she keeps on robot vacuum deals and new releases, but more importantly, her hands-on experience with more than 25 robot vacuums tested in her own home. (This number has probably gone up by the time you're reading this.) That at-home testing is standardized through Mashable's robot testing guide — a granular scoring rubric for assessing all aspects of owning and using a robot vacuum on the daily — that Leah created herself.
Leah graduated from Penn State University in 2016 with dual degrees in Sociology and Media Studies. When she's not writing about shopping (or shopping online for herself), she's almost definitely watching a horror movie, "RuPaul's Drag Race," or "The Office." You can follow her on X at @notleah or email her at [email protected].
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