The Best Self-Empting Robot Vacuum Bagless Cleaners

Shoppers who adore this self-emptying robot vac say it's powerful enough to take care of pet hair, dirt, dust and other floor types. It comes with three cleaning stages and can be scheduled through the mobile app or voice control using smart speakers.

This upgrade to the standard robot vacuum might be worth the cost for those who can afford it. It has a large bin that needs to be empty it every 30-60 days.

1. Roomba iRobot i3+ from iRobot EVO

The i3+ EVO comes with two rubber multi-surface brushes that are designed to remove most types of debris from bare floors. It works well on hard floors and is ideal for sweeping up dust and larger particles, however it is a little shaky with pet hair. It also has a tendency to blow particles such as Kitty litter or kosher salt out of its path and requires another sweep to remove.

The device features a Clean/Power button in the middle, and Home and Spot Cleaning buttons on either side. The light circle around the Clean/Power button is solid white when the battery is charged, it flashes red when the battery is depleted and turns blue when looking for its Clean Base in Dirt Detect mode (more on that below).

The robot will automatically empty its dustbin when it returns to its home base. You can also manually empty the bin when it's filled, but that takes a while and will require you to take the bin off and clean its filter.

This robot performed well on both carpet and hard floors in our tests. Its smart mapping system is superior to other models and can store multiple maps and offering a variety of functions such as the ability to schedule and customize cleaning. It doesn't allow you to create Keep-Out Zones, or clean specific rooms, which is essential for homes with more than one floor. If you want to use this feature, you might want to consider the Roborock Q5+ instead, which has a superior smart-mapping system and provides more customization options in its user-friendly app.

2. Shark Matrix

Shark, the robot vacuum division of SharkNinja (a conglomerate of home appliances) is a relative novice in this area. The company has gained popularity quickly by offering a large selection of robots at a reasonable price that are built to a high standard. Their flagship model called the Matrix is a mighty all-home cleaner that boasts incredible suction capabilities and smart features.

The Shark Matrix has a self-emptying base station that automatically empty after every clean, saving you the hassle of having to change out the bag. The Shark Matrix is, like all Shark robots, is able to run according to a schedule or be activated remotely with voice commands. It also has a the cliff sensor to prevent falling down the stairs and optical encoders to determine how much it has been cleaned.

The Matrix is a fantastic choice for anyone searching for a mid-range robot vacuum. It might not have the sophisticated vSLAM mapping of the Roomba S9 but it still offers a lot. Its cleaning path is efficient on carpeted surfaces, and it picks up dirt on all surfaces. It also has a stronger cleaning head than the S9 and comes with a self-cleaning brush roll that's ideal for pet hair.

Shark's app is extremely slow and unstable when used in conjunction with the robot. The iRobot HOME app is, on the other hand, is unequivocally more intuitive and reliable.

3. IRobot i3 Roomba

With its premium construction and impressive performance on bare floors, the Roomba i3 is one of our most loved robot vacuum bags. It is solidly constructed, maneuvers itself neatly around obstacles, and recharges quickly. It has a large trash bin which can be easily emptied.

This Roomba model doesn't come with top-mounted cameras that are able to recognize objects or look for distinctive features to keep in mind, like the more expensive models do. Instead, it employs downward-facing optical sensors to identify obstacles as they appear and creates an image of your floor plan when it goes through cleaning cycles, and is attentive to internal sensors such as gyroscopes and wheel odometers. iRobot's Genius update, which adds smart mapping to the robot, without costing more, allows you to direct it using the iRobot app or your voice assistant to clean certain areas.

The app or the docking station can trigger the Roomba to empty its internal dust bin and place it in the larger external bin. The docking station communicates with the robot through beacons, ensuring that they are in close proximity before it begins cleaning.

You can also use the iRobot app to schedule cleanings or use your voice assistant to conduct spot-cleaning of any area that needs quick fixes. The dual rubber brushrolls are designed to get rid of dirt, pet hair and other stubborn debris. With its reactive sensor technology you don't have to manually adjust head height or suction force. Look into the Shark iQ Plus and Roborock S6 maxV if you're looking for a more customizable experience.

4. iRobot Roomba i5

This vacuum cleaner is among the best in regards to self-emptying. It has a dirt container that automatically empties when full into the base of the robot. It also utilizes patented Dirt Detect technology to help it identify the most filthy areas in the room and then clean them more thoroughly. Its dual multi-surface rubber brush flexes to adapt to your floor's surface to loosen and remove dirt that is hard to remove. This is coupled with a suction system that draws up and holds dirt and dust, and mopping solution tank which releases liquid to effectively clean your floor.

It's a great option for floors that are unfinished and can be used in a small amount of low-pile carpet. However, it isn't able to remove pet hair as effectively as other models and may struggle with bulky debris like cereal as the dirt bin fills. It is also a bit sluggish in its movement and could get tangled with things like electrical cords or rug tassels. It has an adequate battery life and can be charged quickly.

The iRobot Combo i5 goes to the next step by adding mopping capabilities. The robot can be instantly transformed into a multi-surface bagless sleek vacuum and mop bagless robot vacuums by simply swapping the included Roomba Combo cleaner bin. It can be guided by the iRobot App or voice commands when linked with an bagless intelligent robot assistant device.

It's better at cleaning bare floors and carpets with low pile than iRobot Roomba E5 and has an allergen-trapping HEPA filter. It's not as smart as the Shark AI Robot, and it has more parts to clean regularly. It's more durable and has a long battery life, but costs more to run.

5. IRobot i7 Roomba

The Roomba i7 has one very distinctive feature that we don't find in other robot vacuums: an automated dirt disposal system built into its base. When it is docked, a pipe on the Clean Base automatically suctions debris from the bin of the robot into a bag that is exclusive to Smart Maps by iRobot. It's a smart, clean method of emptying your robot vacuum's bin and saves you the hassle of lifting the old bin and letting everything fly around (which usually leads to a minor dustsplosion). This top-rated model comes with a minimal operating cost. You'll need to purchase a new bag each time the old one is full. Even though they're fairly cheap however, you'll be resentful about throwing them to the trash.

You can start cleaning your space right away after pairing the i7+ with Clean Base, or you can instruct it to perform a few exploratory training runs without vacuuming first, to create an outline of your floor. Once you have a map of the space you can use iRobot's app to label rooms and build virtual barriers. You can also define the time for cleaning specific to certain rooms.

The i7+ is a top-of-the-line robot vacuum, and although it's extremely efficient and comes with all the features you'd need in an automation system for your home, it comes at an expense that is difficult to justify for the majority. The competition is cheaper and includes the likes of the Roborock S7, which feels more durable, has lower recurring costs, has a longer maximum runtime, and performs better on floors with no flooring than the i7+. We suggest that you consider a different option unless you're absolutely determined to have a map of your home that is always up-to date.