Buying guide
The best robot vacuums in 2026
Updated Aug 29, 2026 ยท prices dated per offer
Three things separate robot vacuums more than raw suction numbers: how they navigate (LiDAR mapping cleans in ordered rows, random bounce just wanders), what the dock does (a self-empty base means weeks between bin dumps, a plain charging dock means you empty it after runs), and what you keep paying for afterward. Every model here needs replacement filters and brushes eventually, and some docks add disposable bags on top.
We compared four current models: iRobot's entry-level LiDAR Roomba, Roborock's budget vacuum-and-mop combo, Shark's bagless self-emptying Matrix and eufy's long-running app-free 11S MAX. Suction and runtime figures below are the manufacturers' own ratings, and every price was checked on the date shown.
| Spec | iRobot Roomba 105 Vac | Roborock Q7 M5 | Shark Matrix Self-Empty Robot Vacuum RV2310AE | eufy RoboVac 11S MAX |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best price | $149.99 at Target | $229.99 at Roborock | $329.99 at Shark | $169.99 at Best Buy |
| Checked | ✓ AUG 28 | ✓ AUG 30 | ✓ AUG 30 | ✓ AUG 28 |
| Navigation | ClearView LiDAR mapping, cleans in neat rows | 360 degree LiDAR with multi-level mapping | 360 degree LiDAR mapping | Random bounce with infrared and drop sensors, no mapping |
| Suction | iRobot claims 70x the suction of its older 600 series | Roborock rates it at 10,000 Pa HyperForce in Max+ mode | - | eufy rates it at 2000 Pa with BoostIQ auto-boost |
| Dustbin Capacity | 380 mL | - | - | 0.6 L |
| Height | 4.1 in | - | - | 2.85 in |
| Runtime | - | - | Shark lists 90 minutes per charge | eufy claims up to 100 minutes on hard floors in standard mode |
| Controls | - | - | SharkClean app with scheduling and on-demand cleaning | Included remote control, no Wi-Fi or app |
| Suction Levels | 4 | - | - | - |
| Cleaning Path Width | 5.8 in | - | - | - |
| Dock | Self-charging dock (AutoEmpty dock sold as a separate bundle) | - | - | - |
| Battery | - | 3200 mAh lithium-ion | - | - |
| Mopping | - | Attachable mop module with three water flow levels | - | - |
| Anti-Tangle | - | Dual system, JawScrapers comb main brush plus anti-tangle side brush | - | - |
| Hair Pickup | - | Roborock claims a 95% hair pickup rate | - | - |
| App Features | - | Smart mapping, no-go zones, carpet auto boost, child lock | - | - |
| Cleaning Pattern | - | - | Matrix Clean precision grid with multiple passes over debris | - |
| Self-Empty Base | - | - | Bagless, Shark rates it at up to 45 days of dirt and debris | - |
| Brushroll | - | - | Self-cleaning brushroll designed to resist hair wrap | - |
| Noise | - | - | - | eufy claims around 55 dB in standard mode |
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Best overall
1. iRobot Roomba 105 Vac
The Roomba 105 Vac is the cheapest way into a current LiDAR-mapped Roomba. Its ClearView LiDAR builds a saved map and cleans in neat rows instead of bouncing around, the app handles scheduling and four suction levels, and iRobot claims 70x the suction of its older 600 series. It handles carpet and hard floors with a multi-surface brush plus an edge-sweeping brush.
The price is what makes it the pick: $149.99 at Target, verified 2026-08-28, which is half the $299.99 that Walmart was charging the same day. You empty the 380 mL bin yourself, since the AutoEmpty dock is a separate bundle, and filters, edge brushes and brushrolls are recurring costs.
Skip it if: you want hands-off dirt disposal or mopping, since this configuration ships with a plain self-charging dock and no mop.
Best for pet hair
2. Roborock Q7 M5
The Q7 M5 is built around hair: Roborock rates it at 10,000 Pa in Max+ mode and claims a 95% hair pickup rate from its dual anti-tangle system, a JawScrapers comb main brush plus an anti-tangle side brush. You also get full 360 degree LiDAR with multi-level maps, no-go zones and carpet auto boost, and an attachable mop module with three water flow levels.
It was $229.99 direct from Roborock's US store, verified 2026-08-28, down from a $299.99 list price. Know what you are getting at that price: there is no self-empty dock (that is the pricier Q7 M5+), the mop is a drag-along damp pad rather than a scrubber, and mop cloths, filters and brushes are recurring costs.
Skip it if: you want automatic emptying, which means stepping up to the Q7 M5+ and its auto-empty dock.
Best for hands-off emptying
3. Shark Matrix Self-Empty Robot Vacuum RV2310AE
The Shark Matrix is the only pick here with a self-empty base in the box, and it is bagless: the robot dumps into a base bin that Shark rates at up to 45 days of debris, and you tip that bin out instead of buying proprietary dock bags. Navigation is 360 degree LiDAR, and its Matrix Clean pattern makes multiple overlapping passes over an area rather than a single lap. The self-cleaning brushroll is designed to resist hair wrap.
It was $329.99 on Shark's own store, verified 2026-08-28, against a $499.99 list price, making it the most expensive pick in this guide. Shark lists 90 minutes per charge, so larger homes mean a mid-job recharge, and filters, side brushes and the brushroll still wear out as recurring costs.
Skip it if: you want mopping or have a large home, since this model is vacuum only and the 90 minute runtime splits big jobs in two.
Best for low furniture
4. eufy RoboVac 11S MAX
The 11S MAX is a decade-old design that survives for two reasons: at 2.85 inches tall it slides under sofas and beds that block taller robots, and it needs no Wi-Fi, no app and no account, just the included remote. eufy rates it at 2000 Pa with BoostIQ auto-boost, claims up to 100 minutes on hard floors in standard mode, and puts standard-mode noise around 55 dB. The 0.6 L dustbin is the largest in this roundup.
It was $169.99 at Best Buy, sold and shipped by AnkerDirect, verified 2026-08-28. Note that the Roomba 105 Vac cost less than this at Target's sale price the same day, so the case for the 11S MAX is the slim body and the simplicity, not the price. It navigates by random bounce with no mapping, and filters, side brushes and the brushroll are recurring costs.
Skip it if: you have a large or cluttered floor plan, where random bounce navigation with no mapping means uneven coverage.
Common questions
Is a self-empty dock worth it?
It removes the after-every-run bin dump, which is the chore people actually quit on. Only the Shark Matrix includes one here, and its base is bagless. The Roomba 105 Vac and Roborock Q7 M5 both sell self-empty versions as separate, pricier bundles (the AutoEmpty dock bundle and the Q7 M5+).
Which of these robot vacuums mop?
Only the Roborock Q7 M5, and its mop is a damp cloth dragged behind the robot with three water flow levels, a light wipe rather than a scrub. iRobot and Shark sell mopping variants of the other picks, the Roomba 105 Combo and Shark's Matrix Plus and PowerDetect 2-in-1 lines.
What do robot vacuums cost after you buy them?
All four picks list replacement filters, side brushes and brushrolls as recurring costs, and the Roborock adds mop cloths. The Shark's bagless base avoids the disposable dock bags some self-empty systems require. Budget for consumables when comparing sticker prices.