A robot vacuum only earns its spot if you keep using it, and the dock is a big part of that: does it empty its own dust and wash its own mop, or do you? Here are four top-selling robot vacuums, how they differ, and Health Canada’s advice for charging the lithium-ion battery inside.
Quick answer
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Decide on the dock first. A self-emptying dock handles the dust (and, on some models, the mop) for you. A basic robot with a small bin means you empty it yourself.
A simple place to start: the Roborock Qrevo 2 Pro, ranked #1 in Robotic Vacuums when we checked. If you only want a basic robot without a dock, look at the Lefant M210 Pro.
Prefer to watch? Here’s the video walkthrough of how to choose a robot vacuum.
Short version: what to know about the dock.
Four robot vacuums, by dock type
| Product | Best for | |
|---|---|---|
| Roborock Qrevo 2 Pro | Best overall. #1 in Robotic Vacuums when we checked. 20,000 Pa suction, 253 minutes of battery life, and a dock that empties the dust, refills the water, and washes and dries the mop. 1-year warranty. Skip it if you don’t want a dock. | See price |
| eufy C28 Omni | Best for mostly hard floors. #5 in Robotic Vacuums when we checked. 15,000 Pa suction, a roller mop that cleans itself as it goes, and a dock that empties the dust, washes the mop and dries it with hot air. 140 minutes of battery life, 12-month warranty. Skip it if you have thick carpet: the product page recommends it for hard floors, wood and short wool carpet. | See price |
| DREAME D20 Air Plus | Best for hands-off dust pickup. #6 in Robotic Vacuums when we checked. 20,000 Pa suction, LiDAR navigation, and a dock with a 4 L sealed dust bag the product page says holds up to 120 days of dust. 150 minutes of battery life, 2-year manufacturer warranty. Skip it if battery life matters most. | See price |
| Lefant M210 Pro | Best for a basic robot with no dock. #3 in Robotic Vacuums when we checked. 4,000 Pa suction, 200 minutes of runtime, app and Alexa control, a 0.5 L bin, and a body just 2.99 inches high. 1-year warranty. Skip it if you want it to empty itself: you’ll empty the bin. | See price |
Specs come from the retailer’s product pages. Suction figures are the brands’ own.
What to compare before you choose
- The dock. It can empty the dust, wash the mop and refill the water. The four here differ, and the Lefant has no dock.
- Your floors. Check the product page’s floor recommendation.
- Battery life. These four list 140 to 253 minutes.
- Wi-Fi. The Qrevo 2 Pro product page says it only supports 2.4G Wi-Fi.
- Warranty. These product pages give 1 to 2 years.
How do you charge a robot vacuum safely?
All four product pages give the battery type as lithium ion. Health Canada’s advice for lithium-ion devices:
- Follow the manufacturer’s charging instructions, and charge at room temperature where you can watch the device.
- Keep it off soft surfaces like a couch or bed, which can trap heat, and away from exit doors in case of fire.
- Use the charger that came with it. A replacement should carry a recognized Canadian certification mark, such as CSA, cUL or cETL.
- Stop using a battery that’s swollen, dented or damaged.
A dock on a hard floor, away from an exit door, follows that advice.
Before you buy
- Pick the spot for the dock first, then check that the product’s size fits it.
- Check your Wi-Fi band if you plan to use the app.
- Want cleaner air as well as clean floors? Our air purifier sizing guide covers how to match one to a room.
Sources: Health Canada, Battery safety: Lithium-ion batteries. Product details come from the product pages, so check the product page before you order.
Our top pick: Roborock Qrevo 2 Pro
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