The best robot vacuums with mapping technology

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Who doesn’t love a good robot vacuum cleaner? Tailor-made for those who never rest and those who hate lugging around an upright vacuum cleaner, robotic vacuum cleaners use sensors and other algorithmic tools to move seamlessly through the many rooms of our homes, spending just the right amount of time in each space to keep carpets, hardwoods and the tiles were nice and clean. When it comes to navigation functions, a set of sensors does a decent job of moving your bot around, but nothing beats a vacuum cleaner equipped with mapping technology.

Whether in the form of advanced LiDAR laser scanning, built-in 3D cameras, brand-specific navigation tools, or a combination of all three, mapping robot vacuums bypass traditional infrared cues for interactive, real-time cleaning while avoiding objects. The results are quite stunning, and there are a number of folder-ready robot vacuums to choose from.

To help you choose the bot that’s best for your home, we’ve put together this roundup of the best robot vacuums with mapping technology, taking into account criteria like cleaning features, home security, and overall battery life.

Nick Mokey/Digital Trends

Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra

The best overall

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Self-emptying, self-cleaning
Simple installation
Quiet
Excellent wipe performance
Decent obstacle avoidance

Against

Picking up pale pet hair on the carpet
A large pier

Why you should buy it: You want a map-making robot to beat all map-making robots — plain and simple.

Who is it for: For those who expect the deepest and most effective cleaning from their robotic vacuum cleaner.

Why we chose Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra:

Roborock pulls no punches when it comes to designing some of the most powerful and reliable robot vacuums on the market, and the almighty S7 MaxV Ultra is a testament to the brand’s high-performance product line.

In terms of mapping technology, the MaxV Ultra is equipped with a Precision LiDAR navigation system to create a blueprint of your home’s floors and rooms that the vacuum uses to navigate, clean and avoid certain areas in the home. That’s on top of Roborock’s ReactiveAI 2.0 obstacle avoidance system.

Using a built-in RGB camera and structured 3D light scanning, ReactiveAI 2.0 enables MaxV Ultra to recognize and avoid common household objects, including things like furniture, sneakers, laptop charging cables and more.

The MaxV Ultra also provides up to 5100 Pa of suction power, ultrasonic carpet detection for automatic switching between vacuuming and mopping, and voice assistant compatibility with Alexa, Google Home and Siri shortcuts.

Yes, it’s one of the most expensive vacuums in this review, but in terms of performance, features, and durability, it’s also our favorite option.

Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra

The best overall

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Neato Botvac D10

Best for battery life

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Up to 300 minutes of work
Intuitive LaserSmart mapping technology
The D-shaped design is ideal for corners and crevices
Powerful HEPA filtration

Against

There is no camera
A little finicky during initial setup

Why you should buy it: The Neato Botvac D10 provides a card-based cleaning experience like no other and can run for up to 300 minutes.

For whom it is intended: owners of houses with large apartments, with several floors and many rooms.

Why we chose the Neato Botvac D10:

While it’s amazing to have a robotic vacuum cleaner that handles daily cleaning using algorithmic 3D blueprints of your home, the bot isn’t much use if it keeps returning to its charging station during scheduled cleanings. For the most domiciled of our readers, there’s the Neato Botvac D10, an impressive map-making bot that can clean for up to 300 minutes!

That’s up to 2,700 square feet of total cleaning on a single charge. Note that this number will vary depending on the vacuuming modes on the D10, but when you consider that most robot vacuums run for around 120 minutes on average, over double the typical metric isn’t too shabby.

In terms of mapping technology, the Botvac D10 uses Neat’s LaserSmart SLAM technology with LiDAR to create those laser-guided shots of your home.

These individual maps are also recorded in the MyNeato app, allowing you to customize the D10’s cleaning schedule, create cleaning zones and no-go areas, and monitor the remaining battery and current location of your conscientious D10.

Neato Botvac D10

Best for battery life

John Velasco / Digital trends

iRobot Roomba j7+

The best cleaning technique

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Good job avoiding wires
Low profile self-discharging base
Strong comprehensive cleaning
Effectively cleans in a zigzag pattern

Against

The deep cleaning effect of the carpet is missing
A bit loud during vacuuming

Why you should buy it: iRobot is a trusted name in the world of robotic vacuums, and the Roomba j7+ is one of the best when it comes to cleaning features.

Who it’s for: Roomba fans and households that need a robotic vacuum cleaner with intelligent and adaptive cleaning tools and long-lasting performance.

Why we chose the iRobot Roomba j7+:

Roomba robotic vacuum cleaners consistently top the charts in the world of vacuum cleaners, for a number of reasons. An established name in the robot vacuum sector, iRobot ensures that every Roomba is designed and engineered with a range of cleaning features, from powerful brushes and motors to adaptive object avoidance systems.

The Roomba j7+ provides some of the best cleaning features we’ve ever seen from iRobot. In terms of mapping, the j7+ uses Roomba Imprint Smart Mapping and PrecisionVision Navigation to create and store snapshots of all the rooms and floors of your home that the j7+ then uses to navigate its environment.

That’s in addition to Dirt Detect, which instructs the j7+ to more thoroughly clean the dirtier parts of your home, seasonal and personalized cleaning suggestions, two multi-surface brushes to tackle the toughest messes, and hands-on app controls for the most customizable cleaning experience.

iRobot Roomba j7+

The best cleaning technique

Image used with permission of the copyright holder

Eufy RoboVac X8 Hybrid

Best for pet hair

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Powerful suction technology with double turbine
Duration 180 minutes
Intuitive companion application
Hybrid vacuum cleaner

Against

There is no camera
Cleaning is mediocre

Why you should buy it: When it comes to dealing with pet hair and other messes, the Eufy RoboVac X8 Hybrid is equipped to deal with animal detritus quickly and efficiently.

Who’s it for: Pet owners with shedding four-legged friends tons.

Why we chose Eufy Robovac X8 Hybrid:

When it comes to any vacuuming job, one of the most difficult and abundant messes to deal with is pet hair – especially for homes with multiple cats and dogs. But with its dual-turbine vacuum technology, UltraPack dust compression for optimized debris storage, and 180-minute runtime, Eufy’s Robovac X8 Hybrid is one of the best robot vacuums for tackling any pet mess.

Listed as a hybrid model because it can switch between vacuuming and mopping mode in an instant, the X8 uses Eufy’s iPath laser navigation system to easily navigate your home, avoiding obstacles and stairs in the way. That’s on top of its built-in AI Map 2.0 technology, a mapping tool that the vacuum uses as it sweeps and mops your home.

And with all maps loaded into the Eufy app for customization, you’ll be able to assign cleaning duties, create ban boundaries and adjust vacuum settings on the go. There’s even built-in support for Alexa and Google Assistant, allowing you to launch the X8 using quick and easy voice commands.

Eufy RoboVac X8 Hybrid

Best for pet hair

John Velasco / Digital trends

Samsung Jet Bot AI+

Best for home security

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The home security patrol feature works well
More efficient cleaning performance
Good at avoiding obstacles
Minimal disposal with self-discharge system

Why you should buy it: Those who want the most advanced robot vacuum currently available.

Who it’s for: Large households that need an intelligent robot vacuum cleaner that can also provide some additional safety features.

Why we chose Samsung Jet Bot AI+:

Samsung may not be best known for its small line of robot vacuums, but in terms of mapping technology and home monitoring, the amazing Jet Bot AI+ is one of the best vacuums to buy if you want to keep an eye on the crib while I’m away for the weekend.

Behind the scenes, Samsung’s LiDAR mapping and Jet AI Object Recognition are the navigation add-ons that run the show. The first thoroughly scans your entire abode, storing maps of every room and floor in the Samsung SmartThings app to customize cleaning and vacuum control. The latter uses the Jet Bot’s built-in 3D camera to remove furniture, decor and many parts of your home that shouldn’t be vacuumed.

We also like that the 3D camera doubles as a security lens using Samsung’s Home Monitoring feature. With the SmartThings app, you’ll be able to watch footage from the camera in real time, giving you a good idea of how efficiently the vacuum cleaner is cleaning, while giving you peace of mind while you’re away from home.

On top of its mix of impressive cleaning and filtering features, the Jet Bot AI+ also comes with an automatic disposal system, which allows the vacuum to deposit debris into the HEPA-protected charging stand and dirt container when the vacuum’s internal dust container is full.