The 3 Best Budget Robot Vacuums - Fall 2024

The best budget robot vacuum we've tested is the Wyze Robot Vacuum. It has a LIDAR mapping sensor, allowing for quick and precise room mapping, even in the dark. It does a considerably better job than our other picks when making its way around obstacles like tables or chairs. It also has a long max battery life of over two hours, though recharging takes quite a while. You can use its companion app to set up virtual boundary lines and schedule cleaning sessions for specific rooms using the coverage map.

It delivers exceptional performance on bare floors and easily clears away pet hair on most surfaces. Unfortunately, its dirt compartment is also tiny and needs regular emptying, and it isn't compatible with a self-emptying dock. One feature it's missing compared to some pricier models, like the eufy L60 below, is an automatic suction power adjustment feature, so you'll need to adjust that manually on some surfaces. However, it won't be too big of a concern if you mostly have bare floors.

The Shark Matrix Robot RV2310 is a good sub-$250 option. While this vacuum can often be sold for $249, its price can fluctuate; it's best to wait if you see it available for more than this, as the price will certainly come down again. On the other hand, it occasionally receives a deep discount below $200, and it's a steal at that price point. Like our top pick, the Wyze Robot Vacuum, the Shark boasts a LIDAR mapping sensor, allowing for comprehensive overall capability. It stores a map of your home, which you can use to set up virtual boundary lines for areas you don't want it to enter or to send it to specific rooms within your home. It's worth noting that the SharkClean app isn't exactly the best; it has a clunky interface and slow input registration.

It also features a hazard recognition system, which allows it to react to hazards and maneuver around them in real-time, as long as they're 4.5 inches tall or higher, as it can only use its top-mounted LIDAR sensor to 'see' obstacles. Unfortunately, this system is prone to false positives, frequently identifying benign items like table or chair legs as hazards not to approach and leading to inconsistent room coverage. On the upside, the Shark outperforms most cheap robot vacuums on most surface types, delivering good overall debris pickup on hard floors and carpeting.

If you can stretch your budget a bit further, we recommend the eufy L60. A note on pricing: though this vacuum can occasionally go on sale for $200, it normally sells for around $279. It's a great value at either price point and has lots of great features. It also offers a fast LIDAR mapping sensor, and its companion app works great, allowing you to label and merge or divide rooms, set up no-go zones, and adjust the vacuum's cleaning behavior on the fly. As you'd expect from a eufy robot vacuum, it has a 'BoostIQ' function that automatically increases suction on carpeted floors. This actually makes it a better pick for homes with lots of carpets compared to the Wyze Robot Vacuum.

However, the Wyze does offer some advantages. It delivers better debris-pickup performance on hard floors and feels better built. Also, the Wyze tends to be cheaper, so it's the better choice if you are on a very tight budget. Nevertheless, both vacuums are great choices, and the right choice depends on your needs.