The 4 best cheap robot vacuums to buy on Black Friday, tested
Read my full review of the 3i G10+ robot vacuum.
There are several situations in which the 3i G10+ would excel, most of which are often too tricky for a low-end robot vacuum to handle gracefully. It has by far the strongest suction power on the list, making it the best option for dealing with pet hair. The 3i G10+ is the incredibly rare budget option with a little obstacle avoidance that can avoid cords or socks, as well as pet droppings – a lifesaver if there’s a good chance your floors will get randomly cluttered at any given time.
3i has packed so many advanced skills into this robot vacuum that it almost seems unfair to pit it against the other budget choices. This is the first robot vacuum I’ve tested from 3i, and I already know it’s going to be one of my most recommended robot vacuums of the year, whether specifically as best cheap robot vacuum cleaneror for a robot vacuum cleaner at all costs.
Like the Roomba 205 DustCompactor I just tested, the 3i G10+ reduces the clouds of dust it collects instead of throwing them into a large dock. It can be stored under an existing piece of furniture such as a TV cabinet while saving you from having to use a manual trash can for more than two months. This part is cool, but the 3i G10+ is SO much more than a space-saving hack.
Before the cleaning even began, I was impressed by the level of accuracy and detail of the initial map of my apartment provided by the G10+. He recognized the beds, chests and toilets on his own, and also noted the location of the rugs. The app’s perception of my house only became more impressive when the G10+ started deciphering obstacles like socks and makeshift pet waste (brown sugar). But small obstacle avoidance isn’t the only high-end feature you get on the cheap here: There’s also a live pet camera. It was firmly a robot vacuum feature over $1,000 so far.
All this intelligence isn’t just fluff either. The G10+ is a cleaning beast. Its 18,000 Pa suction power is very high for this price range, and I appreciated seeing the robot work more slowly when it detected carpet. Yes, it cleans too, and the little rotating corner mop is a nice touch that cheap robotic mops usually don’t think about.
