I test robot vacuums for a living — here’s 3 deals I recommend for Prime Day

Only a day to go until Prime Day, but early deals are already showing great discounts. One category, which I myself like to keep an eye on, is robot vacuums. Having tested the latest technology, I know how expensive the best robot vacuums can get — but, during Prime Day robot vacuums can drop to the lowest prices we’ve ever seen. 

Of course, you shouldn’t just buy a robot vacuum based on price alone. It’s a waste of money if it can’t perform at the end of the day. You need a robot vacuum which collects all traces of dirt, debris and hair in a single pass, and yet manages to navigate its way around your home without issue. It shouldn’t be crashing into the walls or delicate furniture as it follows its route, but it should reach well into the corners and against baseboards. If there’s a mop function available, it should leave streak-free results behind.

But, how can you tell you’re getting all that? The truth is you can’t — not without trying the product for yourself. That’s where we can help. We’ve tested a wide range of robot vacuums, from entry-level models all the way to premium designs to find those that deliver in every respect. And because it’s almost Prime Day, we’ve kept a close eye on the sales to see where you can get the best of both worlds. So if you want a great price as well as a robot vacuum you can rely on, these are the deals I’d recommend. 

If you still want to see what else is out there, check out our Prime Day robot vacuum deals page for more options. 

How do we test robot vacuums?  

Testing robot vacuums is by no means a straightforward process. Each model has to collect measured amounts of Cheerios, kitty litter and pet hair from both hard floors and carpet. This is so we can assess how it copes with various sizes of debris across different surfaces. We then let it work its way around our home, to check the overall coverage and accuracy of navigation, considering the noise as it goes. If there’s a self-emptying base included, we try this out as well — some of these can be as loud as a full-size vacuum. 

If no base is included, we empty and refit the dust bin to check for ease of use — we don’t want to see the majority dispensing into the atmosphere in the process. We take the design of the app into consideration too; it should be easy to navigate and straightforward to control the robot vacuum from. Finally, if a mop is included, we let it make the finishing touches to our floors, checking how well it picks up spills and stains and the quality of finish it leaves behind. Needless to say, our winners need to earn their positions in our buying guides. So if one does happen to go on sale, it’s worth your attention. That’s why we’ve highlighted the above Prime Day robot vacuum deals.