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The ABC has offered a humble apology following an erroneous accusation made by one of its reporters who falsely implicated two Nationals MPs for neglecting their constituencies during critical times when people are facing life-threatening situations. Claudia Long, the political correspondent for the national broadcaster, stated on "Insiders" last Sunday that National Party members of parliament were absent from their constituencies when the decision was made to dissolve the Coalition. "I believe another crucial aspect for regional areas is having a local representative present during times of crisis, such as floods where lives are lost—this situation occurred earlier this week," she explained to the show. Long particularly mentioned two individuals who perished in the flooding waters within Alison Penfold's potential electorate of Lyne on the Mid-North Coast. Additionally, he pointed out another fatality in Pat Conaghan’s constituency of Cowper, where...

Top Robot Vacuums of 2025: Real-World Tested and Approved

Robotic vacuums have become both more sophisticated and less expensive than before. What once was considered a quirky device has transformed into a crucial appliance for hectic households and those with pets, guaranteeing that your flooring remains free from debris sans manual intervention.

Ditch those outdated versions from yesteryear that used to meander about haphazardly, picking up whatever crossed their path. Modern iterations now have the capability to chart your living space, crafting smart cleaning routes and timetables. Certain units will automatically transition to a mopping function upon encountering hard floors, many can identify and steer clear of typical domestic impediments as well as animal spills, and some advanced ones can even manage their own dust disposal and replenish their water reserves autonomously.

Although Roomba used to be the go-to name for robotic vacuumes, the brand now competes fiercely with companies such as Eufy, Tapo, and Samsung. These competitors, similar to Roomba, provide cleaning solutions tailored to various budgets and household needs.

Regardless of the model you pick, most will work seamlessly with your smart home system. This allows you to control them using Alexa, Siri, or Google Assistant—whether setting timers or starting cleaning tasks—all from afar with just your voice.

Despite being state-of-the-art, even the robot vacuums we've reviewed aren't capable of tackling stairs and steps. Therefore, they work best in flats and apartments. If you continue reading, you'll discover which robot vacuum cleaner will be top dog in 2025.

How we tested

We put several robot vacuums through extensive trials lasting multiple months across various households, including those with pets. Throughout these experiments, we closely monitored their performance in unfamiliar environments. In addition to regular cleaning tasks, we also challenged them with tougher scenarios—such as scattering cornflour and rice—to assess their proficiency in handling varied debris.

As well as testing their hoovering skills, we rated each robot’s app and how easy they were to set up and maintain. We also considered the costs of any replacement parts – all robot vacuums wear out over time and require fresh filters, brushes, dust bags and rollers.

How we earn your confidence

IndyBest is The Independent’s Our expert-led shopping segment features items that undergo rigorous testing across various scenarios to ensure our evaluations are impartial and grounded in practical use. We curate a selection to fit different price points and exclusively endorse products we believe will meet your satisfaction.

Steve Hogarty is a technology journalist with more than a decade’s experience writing about everything from phones and laptops to the latest smart home gadgets. With help from friends and colleagues, who generously offer their floors up for testing, he’s able to measure each robovac’s true performance in different types of homes.

The best robot vacuum cleaners for 2025 are:

  • Best overall – Eufy X10 Pro Omni: £679 Amazon.co.uk
  • Best obstacle avoidance – iRobot roomba combo j7: £379, Amazon.co.uk
  • Best quiet cleaner – Tapo RV30 Plus: £249.99, Tapo.com

Eufy X10 pro omni robot vacuum cleaner

Eufy’s X10 robot vacuum is the company’s latest high-end model, and it’s the most hands-off machine we’ve tested yet. Not only does it vacuum and mop, but it’s clever enough to re-fill itself with water, as well as wash and dry its own mops. The only thing you need to do is change the water in the base station every seven days and swap out the dust bag every couple of months. Other than that, it cleans and mops for you.

The mopping feature works exceptionally well. Instead of simply moving a mop across the floor, it genuinely scrubbers the boards, effectively removing stubborn coffee spills. Additionally, the X10 model boasts Eufy’s top-tier obstacle detection technology, similar to systems used in autonomous vehicles. This system can identify more than 100 types of obstacles, such as wires, slippers, and socks, ensuring smooth navigation.

Although we’re not entirely smitten with Eufy’s application, it is intelligent enough to map out your space autonomously. You have control over the intensity of mopping, the depth of cleaning, and the strength of suction it applies. This compact vacuum requires minimal human intervention to function effectively.

Check out our comprehensive Eufy X10 Pro Omni review.

Buy now £679.00, Amazon.co.uk

iRobot roomba combo j7+

The iRobot j7 series represents one of their finest robotic vacuums, featuring an advanced automatic mopping capability that adjusts its mode seamlessly as it transitions between different floor types such as hard surfaces, rugs, and carpeted areas.

The Roomba boasts top-notch obstacle detection capable of identifying and steering clear of typical home dangers like loose wires, untied laces, discarded socks, playthings, and animal waste. This allows you to start cleaning without needing to do preliminary tidying, which is particularly useful in bustling households. Additionally, the device will send images of what it has sidestepped, enabling you to tidy up those areas before running it over once more (though, if you're feeling less than diligent—like many—we'll just ignore these alerts with plans to deal with them eventually).

We suggest opting for the model featuring a self-emptying charging station. Although it resembles a jet engine when emptying, this feature allows the bin to store several weeks' worth of debris, making the robotic vacuum nearly hands-off.

The mopping tank is small, so you’ll need to refill it with detergent fairly frequently if you use it routinely. The app lets you reduce the amount of water being used, to help extend the mopping function further between refills.

Read the full iRobot roomba combo j7+ review

Buy now £379.00, Irobot.co.uk

Tapo RV30 plus robot vacuum cleaner

This mopping, self-emptying robot vacuum comes from networking giant TP-Link – probably best known for its internet routers rather than its home appliances. The Tapo RV30 plus has the clean and fussless appearance of a wifi hub, but the performance and features of a top-end robot vacuum.

Lidar navigation powers some competent obstacle avoidance. During our tests, the RV30 could navigate without bumping mindlessly into furniture, building a detailed map of your floorplan as it goes, to help it clean more efficiently on future runs.

The mopping feature is quite simple. You have to switch out the attachment each time you wish to use it for mopping, and it might attempt to clean carpeted areas as well if not careful. However, the accompanying app allows you to effortlessly mark specific zones, making it easy to instruct the device to only mop spaces like the kitchen or bathroom.

The application introduces handy functions absent from the robotic vacuums we've included in our lineup. It allows you to schedule when the automatic dustbin empties, which comes in useful as this process tends to be noisy. Additionally, you have the option to deactivate the actual power button on the device, preventing curious children and agile animals from inadvertently turning it on.

The Tapo RV30 is notably quieter compared to many others, especially when using the lowest power setting. You won't have noise issues if you run your vacuum cleaner while away from home, however, a more subdued model like this would be advantageous for individuals spending considerable time indoors.

Buy now £249.99, Tapo.com

The Eufy Robovac X8 Pro robotic vacuum cleaner

We discovered that the app and mapping features of the Eufy robots were amongst the top-tier options available. The process is swift and precise; you have the ability to define restricted areas and specific cleaning spots—for instance, ensuring your kitchen floor gets tidied up post-dinner. Additionally, it provides live updates showing the robot's path as it cleans.

As you would hope, you can set up regular cleaning schedules to suit your life. However, we realised that if you want to do multi-floor cleaning with the X8, you need two docking stations, because the robot gets confused. You can buy additional docking stations, but with other RVCs, you don’t have to do this. However, this is the only real quibble we have about this vacuum.

Very quiet when operating, it adapts the suction levels automatically based on the flooring type it’s working with – you can also change this manually if you want. We found it fared better on hard flooring rather than carpets, but it still did a fair job on the latter. Corners, under radiators and all those awkward spaces didn’t seem to phase the X8, and it even picked up tiny bits of dirt. It also swerved all the obstacles we left in its way.

This model is discontinued and is now only available as the X8 Pro (£499, Amazon.co.uk ), which adds a mopping function.

Buy now £159.00, Amazon.co.uk

Samsung jet bot AI robot vacuum cleaner

We were intrigued to see how the Samsung robot vacuum would fare, because it’s designed slightly differently from all the other models. It’s chunkier, for a start, and has a flat front and no spinning brushes at the side. It also has the most powerful suction of any robot vacuum we tried, which did mean it picked up plenty of dirt and debris around the home.

After it has finished its cleaning cycle, the jet bot returns to the clean station dock, which then sucks the dirt out of the robot and stores it in a tower. You’ll need some dedicated space for this tower because it does take up a fair amount of room. But this means you have to empty it a lot less often, and it traps dust particles in the system rather than releasing them back into the air – great for allergy sufferers.

The gadget is controlled via the Samsung SmartThings app, and, once set up, our vacuum got to work scanning and mapping the house with a good degree of accuracy. The object-recognition function meant it successfully avoided toys, piles of laundry and whatever else was left out on the floor. It mounted thick rugs with ease, too.

You can also use the app to access the camera on the vacuum and see where it is in real-time – handy if it has got stuck or you want to check up on your pet (you can guide it remotely, too). We were impressed with how clear this image was.

The jetbot detects the type of surface being cleaned and adjusts its suction power accordingly. It performed exceptionally well on both hardwood and carpets, picking up almost everything except for a couple of small debris.

Buy now £257.99, Amazon.co.uk

Dyson 360 vis nav

While many robotic vacuums begin as basic robots and then incorporate suction technology, Dyson appears to take an alternative approach. Essentially, they've taken their robust, full-sized vacuum cleaner model and downsized it into a compact robotic version.

This implies you benefit from enhanced suction and cleaning due to the robust, full-width roller brushes, along with the distinctive "cyclone" debris collection system. The device features an eye-catching shade of blue which might polarise opinions; personally, I find it appealing, particularly because of the futuristic, 360-degree 'eye' positioned at the top of the robotic structure.

This isn't Dyson's initial foray into robotic vacuums, yet due to the company being relatively new to this sector, it trails behind competitors with a premium price point, reduced functionality, and inferior navigational capabilities.

It lacks features such as a mopping attachment, cable avoidance, and an automatic emptying bin—elements provided by the less expensive iRobot Roomba Combo J7+. However, this model has some distinctive benefits. For instance, it includes an extended side brush designed to clean alongside baseboards. Although its high-performance boost mode only runs for about 12 minutes before requiring a charge, it is still useful when you're out for much of the day. According to Dyson, their 360 Viz Nav boasts six times greater suction power compared to any other robotic vacuums available; our testing at home corroborates these assertions.

If you definitely require a complete set of Dyson equipment for your house or truly need additional suction power, the Dyson 360 vis nav is sufficiently capable as a robotic vacuum cleaner. However, for those not committed to the Dyson brand, we would suggest choosing a more budget-friendly option from this selection instead.

Buy now £1199.99, Currys.co.uk

The verdict: Robot vacuum cleaners

For homes with both carpets and hard flooring, we recommend the Eufy X10 pro omni robot vacuum cleaner . It’s remarkably good value for a self-emptying and self-refilling model, and its mopping action applies pressure to a pair of rotating brush heads to actually scrub the floor, rather than dragging a wet pad across it. The results are fantastic.

Make even lighter work of your spring cleaning, with these cordless vacuum cleaners

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