According to NPR, Roomba was in the news recently with the recent acquisition of its parent company, iRobot, by Amazon. Though the retail giant doesn't need another way into the home appliance market with one of the most recognizable home aids, it still does not have a stranglehold over the remote vacuum market.
There are still plenty of options for the savvy shopper. These vacuums can range from more expensive options with greater capabilities to cheaper ones for the budget wary that still get the job done. The robot vacuum market is varied, so if someone is interested in stepping away from the flagship remote floor cleaner, there are substitutions available.
Neato D10
The Neato D10 is one of the few robot vacuum options that does not use the classic circular shape that the Roomba made famous. This mid-range vacuum has been one of Roomba's top competitors since its arrival.
Available on the Neato website for $599.99, this vacuum performs better than many vacuums of its cost. It lasts for an impressive 300 minutes, and its unique "D" shape allows it to clean those hard to reach corners.
Eufy RoboVac 25C
If a consumer is looking for a Roomba alternative on the more affordable side, the Eufy RoboVac 25C is a great choice, available at Walmart for $129.00. For the budget-conscience, this model holds up practically as well as more expensive options.
In particular, the vacuum works well on hardwood floors. For those living somewhere with little to no heavy carpeting, this option is a perfect choice to get the best qualities of the top of the line vacuums while still saving some money.
Roborock S7
One of the more pricey options available, the Roborock S7 is available for $649.99 on Amazon. The smart vacuum does everything a Roomba can do and has onboard wifi for those who would like to control it with their app using Siri or Alexa.
The Roborock S7 also has mopping capabilities, and for an upgrade, consumers can purchase a self-cleaning station. In an intelligent piece of design, the Roborock S7 lifts its mopping plate a few millimeters off the ground when it approaches rugs in order to decrease the risk of dampening carpets.
Thamtu G10 Robot Vacuum
The Thamtu G10 Robot Vacuum is a standout in the lower-tier robot vacuum market. Available for $159.99 at the time of writing, the Thamtu has all the anti-collision, anti-drop capabilities one would expect from their smart vacuum.
It can run for up to 120 minutes and the manufacturer's claim that vacuum is specialized for picking up pet hair off both hardwood and medium carpets. For pet-owners with a budget, the Thamtu can be a good choice.
Ecovacs Deebot N8 Pro+
In the mid-range robotic vacuum market, the Ecovacs Deebot N8 Pro+ available on Amazon for $419.99 offers a significant amount of features for its price. The vacuum can mop and clean and has an auto empty dustbin feature.
The Ecovacs Deebot N8 Pro+ also contains the Ecovacs TrueDetect 3D obstacle avoidance technology. This means the remote controlled robot can avoid obstacles much more easily than other cleaners of its price range. Even articles dropped in its way or the likes of shoes or clothes, they won't stop the vacuum from cleaning.
Shark Ion Robot Vacuum
Shark has developed a number of self-driving vacuums and one of its more affordable models is the Shark Ion Robot Vacuum, starting at $227.99 on Amazon. The vacuum can function with whatever voice assistant app is used by the household, Google or Amazon.
Its three-brush design allows for satisfactory clean up of dirt from every angle and can go over hardwood and carpets. Cliff sensors on the vacuum mean consumers can leave after turning the vacuum on and not worry about coming home to find the robot fallen on its side.
Yeedi Vac 2
The Yeedi Vac 2 is a mid-range vacuum from a company that many consumers may not have heard of. But the affordable mid-range Yeedi Vac 2 offers all the same features as its competitors and even performs better than them in certain areas.
This robotic vacuum can effectively suck up dirt and mop. It has an innovative oscillating mopping plate that actually scrubs dirt off floors, much like a manual mop, though that same mopping plate can occasionally run along carpets leaving damp marks.
DreameBot D10+
The DreamBot D10+ is one of the quickest mapping remote vacuums on the market for its mid-range price of $499.99. In only eight minutes, the vacuum can create a smart map of a home and then clean 300 square feet of space before having to return to its dock.
The vacuum also has mopping capabilities, though it has similar problems to other wet/dry vacs in that it will occasionally drag along carpets. Consumers can also program the vacuum to use more or less water and suction on certain rooms in order to target specific problem areas.
iLife A11
For consumers who won't settle on anything less than a 2-in-1 wet/dry vacuum, the iLife A11 has it covered with its $399.99 price tag. The budget-friendly vacuum has over 2 hours of vacuum time before needing to recharge, the high-end for the price range.
It is noticeably quiet as well for those in apartments where noise levels are an important consideration. But while the vacuum successfully cleans hard floors and carpets, it does tend to have a bit of trouble on thicker carpeted surfaces.
Samsung Jet Bot AI+
If price is no obstacle, then shoppers will want to take a look at the Samsung Jet Bot AI+ which retails at $749.99 on the Samsung website. The vacuum has the capabilities to scan whatever room it is in with its built-in camera and determine the most efficient cleaning route without running into obstacles.
It's one of the quieter vacuums on the market while still having a strong suction for over 90 minutes. And the self-empty station can hold weeks of dirt. This is a self-driving vacuum that a consumer can purchase and then almost forget its working.