Imagine a vacuum cleaner that requires less of your input or presence when it comes to clearing all the debris on the floor. That is what a robotic vacuum or robovac is designed and programmed to do. It is equipped with artificial intelligence that allows it to vacuum clean the house without any human involvement automatically.
Sounds expensive, right? Not exactly.
Our Recommended Robot Vacuums under 300 Dollars
iRobot Roomba 675
The Roomba 675 is iRobot’s least expensive robot vacuum that comes with Wi-Fi connectivity. Being connected to the internet lets users send voice commands via Alexa to the robot to start and stop and program schedules. Everything is done via the iRobot Home app, which you can download on your smartphone.
In terms of performance, the Roomba 675 does what you’d expect from such a pocket-friendly vacuum cleaner. The 675 also has adaptive navigation to effortlessly find its way around obstacles and avoid cliffs. It produces 600 Pa of suction power to lift and remove most types of surface debris. Plus, with an auto-adaptive floorhead, this tiny robot can clean both smooth floors and carpets with similar efficiency.
- Capacity volume - .6 liter. Works with Alexa for voice control (Alexa device sold...
- Clean and schedule from anywhere with the iRobot HOME App; compatible with Amazon Alexa...
Eufy BoostIQ RoboVac 11S Max Robot Vacuum
Tired of moving furniture before you vacuum? With the Eufy 11S Max, you don’t have to lift a finger. This robot vacuum stands a mere 2.85 inches tall, meaning it can fit where most other robotic vacuums cannot. It also boasts a self-docking function and a lengthy 100-minute runtime due to the inclusion of a 2,600 mAh lithium-ion battery.
Eufy implemented its proprietary BoostIQ technology, which automatically increases the 11S Max’s suction when vacuuming low and medium-pile carpets. Despite topping out at 2,000 pascals, the robotic vacuum never gets louder than 55 decibels. A double-helix brushroll and two side brushes complete the robot’s three-point cleaning configuration.
Whether it’s dust, dander or both that plagues your home, the RoboVac 11S Max’s filter can trap it. Due to the V-shaped pleats and unibody construction, the filter is quite efficient and easily cleanable. You’ll also appreciate the large 20-ounce dust box’s closed lid that prevents debris from falling out during trips to the trash can.
To ensure the robot doesn’t bump into objects or fall down the stairs, Eufy put more than ten infrared sensors into the 11S Max. This robotic vacuum also has a scratch-resistant top made of tempered glass. For seamless floor transitions, Eufy also added a pair of heavy duty wheels that navigate inclines up to 0.63 inches.
With the RoboVac 11S Max, the remote is the main control apparatus. You can use the remote to start an auto-clean session, spot clean small messes, edge clean along walls and quickly vacuum small rooms. Daily scheduling is also an option, and it’s easy to program thanks to the clear display screen on the remote.
- Compact and Quiet Operation: With a slim 2.85" profile, the eufy robot vacuum operates...
- Extended Cleaning Performance: Capable of running up to 100 minutes on hardwood floors,...
Roborock E4
If you’re on the hunt for a new robot vacuum cleaner on a tight budget, then the Roborock E4 is one of the best choices. This robot vacuum navigates around furniture legs and other obstacles with relative ease, cleaning a large portion of your floors on a single 200-minute-runtime charge.
The Roborock E4 offers excellent cleaning performance on both smooth and carpeted floors, removing most types of fine and mid-sized debris in a single pass. It’s missing many premium features like auto-resume, but its 2,000-Pa suction, Wi-Fi connectivity and app control (remote control also included) make it a worthy contender for the crown of the best robot vacuum under $300.
- 【Z-shape Route Navigation & Mapping】: Compared with other robot vacuums of the same...
- 【4 Cleaning Mode & Strong Suction】: Designed with 4 cleaning mode(Silent, Balanced,...
iRobot Roomba 692
The iRobot Roomba 692 —Amazon’s version of the 690— is an excellent option for those that want a Roomba on a budget. It features the same Wi-Fi connectivity as its more premium-grade cousins, which allow for scheduled cleanings and start/stop on (voice) command.
A single charge can provide up to 90 minutes of cleaning, after which it needs to rest in its dock for more than 3 hours to fully recharge. However, the bristle-style brush roll tends to clog up when it attempts to suction up pet hair. Its navigation is iffy at times, but with 600 Pa of suction delivery, it picks up nearly every crumb and speck of dust in just a single pass.
- CLEAN SMARTER - Sleek, premium design complements your home décor; The Roomba 692 is a...
- LOOSENS, LIFTS, AND SUCTIONS - The 3 Stage Cleaning system and Dual Multi-Surface brushes...
Buying Guide for Robot Vacuums under 300 Dollars
Ironically, as technology is getting smarter, it is also becoming cheaper and easily accessible. This is also true for robot vacuums. There are robotic vacuum cleaners that cost far much less than $300. Here are factors to consider when looking for the best robotic vacuum cleaner under $300.
Does it have navigation technology?
This technology allows the robot vacuum to map your room into different cleaning zones, which improves cleaning efficiency. With the navigation algorithm, the robotic vacuum intelligently navigates around the room, switching routes and avoiding obstacles.
The best feature about this technology is that it has a GPS memory that keeps track of all the cleaned and untouched areas. The GPS tracker prevents the robot vacuum from cleaning the same place twice.
Even if the cleaning process is interrupted when the machine goes to the docking station to recharge, it will still return to the place it left off and continue with the cleaning. Ensure the vacuum cleaner has navigation technology. Otherwise, you will just be buying a traditional robot vacuum that randomly wanders around with no particular cleaning plan.
Does it have schedule cleaning?
Also, ensure the robotic vacuum has schedule cleaning. With a $300 budget or less, you are sure to get a machine with most of these functions. Therefore, do not settle for less just because you are spending less. The schedule cleaning function allows you to set the time and place where the robot vacuum will clean.
It is an important feature, as it will enable you to program it to your needs and convenience. Robotic vacuums produce some or even a lot of noise, which may be irritating. With this function, you may program it to start cleaning when you leave for work.
Is it Wi-Fi enabled?
Most robot vacuums are remote controlled. However, with a $300 budget, you are sure to get a Wi-Fi enabled robotic vacuum cleaner. All you will need is an app on your phone that connects it with the robot vacuum, and your phone becomes an automatic controller of the machine.
This app allows you to schedule, spot clean, start, pause or stop the machine and even take photos of the house with the built-in camera. You will also get notifications from the robot vacuum while at work. Some even have Bluetooth connectivity, which is an added benefit just in case the Wi-Fi is not functioning.
Is it installed with sensor technology?
This is an important feature, as it will allow it to navigate through the room easily and avoid obstacles. The sensor technology enables the machine to sense obstacles like furniture, walls, edges, and stairs.
Most robot vacuums have multiple intelligent sensors that allow them to navigate freely and adapt easily to the surroundings. Some of these intelligent sensors include ultrasonic radar sensor, Gyro sensor, laser distance sensor, obstacle sensors, a collision sensor, and cliff and edge sensors.
Is a HEPA filter necessary?
If you have a cat, dog or any other pet in the house, then the HEPA filter is a necessary feature. The High-Efficiency Particulate Air Filter (abbreviated as HEPA filter) removes hairs, allergens and tiny dust particles from the air. Unfortunately, most robot vacuums in the $300 range do not have this function. Do not fret much about this function. However, because the primary function of the robot vacuums is to clean the floors and not the air.
Is the battery life a necessary requirement?
Battery life is not much of a factor. Most of them have a self-recharging feature that allows them to return to the docking station to recharge automatically.
Thanks to the navigation technology, the robot vacuum can go to the docking station to recharge and still come back and pick up from where it left from. However, there are cheaper models that have to be plugged in to charge. Avoid these models, as they cannot work without you being present to recharge them.
Which suction power is suitable for effective cleaning?
The suction power of the vacuum cleaner determines whether it is efficient or not. The higher the suction power, the better the cleaning performance.
Compared to normal vacuum cleaners, robot vacuum cleaners are relatively less efficient when it comes to cleaning. Therefore, ensure the suction power is higher to get value for your money.
Another factor to consider is whether it has a rolling brush or not. If it has a rolling brush, then a moderately high power is not bad, since the brush also grabs some of the dirt and deposits it to the air inlet. If it does not have a rolling brush, then it has to be very powerful to suck up all the dirt.
How many cleaning modes does it have?
There are three modes to look out for: automatic cleaning, spot cleaning, and edge cleaning. In automatic cleaning, the robot vacuum moves around the room and cleans by itself.
With this mode, it has to have the navigation feature. Otherwise, it will just be moving aimlessly, repeating and skipping dirty areas. In spot cleaning, the robovac is programmed to clean a particular spot only, usually in a spiral manner. In edge cleaning, it cleans along the edges of the wall. Most robotic vacuums lack this function and may avoid edges because of the sensors.
What about the dust capacity?
The dust capacity of a robot vacuum is much less than the standard vacuum cleaner. You should look for one that has a bigger capacity. Otherwise, you will just be emptying the dust compartment frequently, which can be tiring and irritating.
Sources
HouseholdMe: Best Robot Vacuums
Consumer Reports : Best Robotic Vacuums
Think Crucial: Should You Get a Robot Vacuum?
USA Today Tech: How many years do robot vacuums last?
Reader’s Digest: Where should I store my robot vacuum?
If you have any questions or comments, please add them below in the comment section. Similarly, please let us know if you spot any mistakes or omissions. Thanks!
Last Update: 2024-04-17 | Affiliate links/Images from Amazon Product Advertising API