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A ton of Roombas are on sale, plus more robot vacuum deals this week

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Roomba j7+ on auto empty dock

UPDATE: Aug. 24, 2022, 1:00 p.m. EDT This story has been updated to include the best deals on robot vacuums from iRobot, Shark, Roborock, and more.

We’ve compiled the best deals on robot vacuums from brands like iRobot, Shark, and Ecovacs. Here are the ones to grab as of Aug. 24:

  • BEST BUDGET DEAL: The Ionvac SmartClean 2000 is a no-frills, efficient daily cleaner — $95 $179.98 (save $84.88)

  • BEST SELF-EMPTYING DEAL: The Roomba j7+ self empties and won’t eat your phone charger — $599 $799.99 (save $200.99)

  • BEST ROBOT VACUUM/MOP DEAL: The Roborock S6 Pure can sweep and scrub the whole house or specific zones — $359.99 $459.99 (save $100)

Only three things are certain in life: Death, taxes, and a few days each month when you need to vacuum but just don’t have time. Whether you detest the chore or get a little bummed when you can’t have that satisfying dance with your Dyson, a robot vacuum is a lifesaver. Shop models on sale below.

Robot vacuums under $200


Ionvac robot vacuum and smartphone on Tzumi screen

Credit: Tzumi


Our pick: Ionvac SmartClean 2000
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$95 at Walmart (save $84.88)



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Why we like it

Multiple robot vacuums under $100 exist — they’re just not necessary reliable. But Tzumi’s Ionvac SmartClean 2000 is an outlier. Tons of Walmart reviewers have used it, noting how though it’s not a deep-reaching carpet cleaner, it’s a clutch low-stakes purchase for daily upkeep of hard floors.

More robot vacuums under $200

Robot vacuums under $500


iRobot Roomba i3+ and smartphone with green iRobot screensaver

Credit: iRobot


Our pick: iRobot Roomba i3+ Evo
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$399 at Amazon (save $150.99)



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Why we like it

One of iRobot’s cheapest self emptiers is now equipped with Imprint Smart Map technology, which it uses to learn the layout of your home and conquer whichever rooms you select through the app. Its dock holds at least 60 days of debris at a time.

More robot vacuums under $500

Robot vacuums under $800


Roomba j7+ robot vacuum and smartphone on green iRobot screen

Credit: iRobot


Our pick: iRobot Roomba j7+
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$599 at Amazon (save $200.99)



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Why we like it

The Roomba j7+, iRobot’s most recent release, is the only Roomba to use Genius Technology and PrecisionVision Navigation to avoid obstacles that were previously problem-causers, like pet waste and cords. The j7+ also self-empties.

More robot vacuums under $800

Robot vacuum and mop hybrids and dedicated robot mops


Roborock S6 Pure robot vacuum and smartphone with map on screen

Credit: Roborock


Our pick: Roborock S6 Pure
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$359.99 at Amazon (save $100)



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Why we like it:

If your home has an even split of carpeting and hard floors, this hybrid from Roborock is a serious bang for your buck. The S6 Pure can sweep or scrub specific rooms and automatically boosts suction on carpet.

More hybrids and robot mops on sale

Are robot vacuums worth it?

The control of an upright vacuum comes with its own type of satisfaction. But if you’re not one to classify cleaning as cathartic, a robot vacuum could erase that huge, agonizing task from of your chore list. (And did we mention the joy of having “first day clean” floors all the time?)

But whether robot vacuums are worth it or not comes with a caveat: It can’t be just any robot vacuum. A cheap robot vac that doesn’t do the job right — scattering dust, bumping into walls, getting stuck on area rugs — might actually create more work for you.

What to consider when buying a robot vacuum

  • Suction power: A vacuum is the one purchase that you hope sucks a lot. Suction power is typically measured in Pascals (Pa), with most current vacs ranging between 1,500 Pa and 3,000 Pa. Stronger sucking will be needed to pick up heavier pieces of debris (be sure to set a no-go zone around Legos) and to pull matted-down pet hair from rugs.

  • Floor type: Carpeting and high pile rugs will probably require stronger suction than hard floors, as well as special features like an extra-wide or self-cleaning brush roll to prevent hair from wrapping and clogging. Folks in homes with multiple floor types might consider a bigger, sturdier robot vacuum that can hurl itself and its wheels over mats, rugs, and transitions from carpet to hard floors.

  • Automatic emptying: Because robot vacuums are typically under four inches tall, their onboard dust bins are also small — which means they frequently require emptying. (Dustbins fill up particularly quickly in homes with pets.) A self-emptying vacuum takes that job out of your hands, emptying itself into a larger dustbin in its charging dock. These larger bins can typically hold weeks of dirt without needing to be cleaned or dumped out.

  • Home layout: Every robot vacuum is equipped with sensors and drop detection. But if your home has lots of rooms, lots of turns, or lots of close-together furniture, you’ll have fewer navigation issues with an advanced model that uses intelligent mapping to remember exactly how your home is laid out, including labeling of specific rooms, mental notes of staircases, and ability to deploy zone cleaning.

  • Low-profile furniture: No one should have to be scared about what’s accumulated under their couch over the past year. A robot vacuum measuring three inches or less in height should be able to scoot under most low-hanging couches and beds.

  • Battery life and square footage: One of the main complaints people have about their robot vacuum is that it craps out in the middle of the floor. Larger spaces require more time to clean, and it all depends on how annoyed you’ll be if it only finishes a few rooms at a time. Average run times for the list below range between 90 and 200 minutes, which translate to about 500 and 2,800 square feet covered on one charge.

  • App control: WiFi-enabled robot vacuums can be synced with a smartphone app to control scheduling, manual start, cleaning settings, as well as telling your vac to make its rounds when you’re not home. Low-end models that don’t connect to WiFi will usually come with a separate remote. If you’re used to asking Alexa or Google to turn off the lights or tell you the weather, a model with voice integration will blend in nicely.