ROBOVERDICT

Independent rankings

Best self-emptying robot vacuums

Robot vacuums whose docks empty the bin, wash the mop and dry it, so the machine is something you refill rather than something you service.

A robot vacuum without a self-emptying dock is a chore on a schedule: a 300 ml bin holds about two rooms. The dock is what turns the machine from a device you operate into one you top up every few weeks. Weighted heaviest on what the dock actually does, and mop drying counts — a dock that washes but does not dry is one that smells by Wednesday.

4 / 4 models evaluated

Weighted for this ranking

Automation
40%
Cleaning
16%
Navigation
14%
Mopping
12%
Obstacle Avoidance
8%
Ease of Use
5%
Reliability
5%
How we score →
  1. Best Overall
    #1
    Roborock Saros 20Roborock press image
    Roborock

    Saros 20

    Roborock's flagship: 36,000 Pa, twin spinning mops the dock washes at 100 °C, and a solid-state 3D sensor instead of a LiDAR turret.

    Cleaning
    93
    Navigation
    92
    Mopping
    90
    Obstacle Avoidance
    95
    3D ToF + Vision36,000 PaSpinning mopSelf-emptying
    $1,600Check price
  2. #2
    Roborock Saros Z70Roborock press image
    Roborock

    Saros Z70

    The robot vacuum with an arm: 22,000 Pa, solid-state 3D sensing and a five-axis gripper that moves socks and slippers out of its own way.

    Cleaning
    93
    Navigation
    87
    Mopping
    90
    Obstacle Avoidance
    95
    3D ToF + Vision22,000 PaSpinning mopSelf-emptying
    $1,700Check price
  3. #3
    Roborock QV 35ARoborock press image
    Roborock

    QV 35A

    The cheapest way into a self-maintaining dock: 8,000 Pa, LiDAR mapping, twin spinning mops that lift, and a station that empties, washes, dries and refills.

    Cleaning
    69
    Navigation
    70
    Mopping
    66
    Obstacle Avoidance
    58
    LiDAR8,000 PaSpinning mopSelf-emptying
    $400Check price
  4. #4
    Roborock Qrevo Curv S5XRoborock press image
    Roborock

    Qrevo Curv S5X

    The sensible Roborock: 18,500 Pa, LiDAR mapping, spinning mops that lift for carpet and a dock that washes, dries and empties — for well under half the flagship price.

    Cleaning
    93
    Navigation
    73
    Mopping
    81
    Obstacle Avoidance
    58
    LiDAR18,500 PaSpinning mopSelf-emptying
    $650Check price

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