UPDATE: Jan. 18, 2024, 12:45 p.m. EST This story has been updated to include the latest pricing for robot vacuums on sale this week, including almost every Roomba dropping very close to holiday pricing.
Shark Matrix RV2300
(save $100.99)
Shark Matrix RV2300S
(save $200.99)
iRobot Roomba Combo j5+
(save $301.01)
Only three things are certain in life: Death, taxes, and a few days each month when you need to vacuum but just don’t have time. Whether you detest the chore or hope to make your home upkeep a bit breezier, a robot vacuum is a lifesaver.
Robot vacuums under $200
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Why we like it
For a solid cheap Shark option, skip the outdated $139 Shark ION and opt for the Matrix instead. For less than $200, you’re securing LiDAR-powered smart home mapping and virtual boundaries, plus Matrix technology, which attacks debris from multiple angles in a crosshatch pattern to grab anything that was missed on the original pass. On top of the thorough spot cleaning, Shark claims that the Matrix packs 50% more suction power than the Roomba i3. (Though Walmart isn’t marking this as a sale price anymore, note that this vacuum did originally retail for $299.99.)
Spot cleans in a thorough grid pattern
120-minute battery life
Schedule cleanings in the app
More robot vacuums on sale for under $200
Ionvac SmartClean 2000 — $69 $129 (save $60)
iHome AutoVac Juno — $85 $199 (save $114.99)
Eufy RoboVac LR20 — $149 $399 (save $250)
iRobot Roomba 694 — $159.97 $274.99 (save $115.02)
TCL Sweeva 6500 with auto-empty station — $184 $499.99 (save $315.99)
Robot vacuums deals under $500
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Why we like it
The self-emptying version of the standalone gray model listed above is on sale at Walmart for less than $300 — $30 less than a near-identical model we saw on sale at Best Buy last week, which is now back to full price.
Home mapping and virtual boundaries guided by 360-degree LiDAR are present here, plus Shark’s newest claim to fame that we just mentioned: its Matrix cleaning technique that vacuums in a crosshatch pattern to grab any debris missed from the first angle.
HEPA filter
120-minute battery life
Self-emptying dock holds at least 30 days’ worth of debris
More robot vacuums on sale for under $500
Shark Matrix with self-empty station — $399.99 $499.99 (save $100)
Eufy Clean X8 Pro — $449.99 $649.99 (save $200)
Robot vacuum and mop hybrids
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Why we like it
There is one self-emptying, mopping Roomba that’s on sale for less than the Combo j5+, and that’s the Combo i5+ for $349.99. But before you automatically opt for the cheaper one, consider the main difference between the i5 and j5: The j5 Series are the cheapest Roombas with obstacle avoidance tech that can steer clear of phone chargers, socks, and pet waste. This capability, which we first experienced when testing the Combo j7+, will be huge if your previous gripe with robot vacuums was that you had to clean up before they could clean.
Four-stage cleaning system with more thorough cleaning on dirtier areas
Swap and Mop system avoids designated carpets during mopping mode
Self-emptying dock holds at least 60 days’ worth of debris
More hybrids and robot mops on sale
Yeedi Vac 2 Pro — $159.99 $399.99 (save $240 with on-page coupon)
iRobot Roomba Combo i5 — $229.99 $349.99 (save $200)
iRobot Roomba Combo j5 — $299 $599.99 (save $300.99)
Shark Matrix 2-in-1 — $299.99 $449.40 (save $149.41 with code ROBOT150)
Yeedi Vac Station — $299.98 $499.99 (save $200.01)
Roborock Q5 Pro — $319.97 $429.99 (save $110.02)
iRobot Roomba Combo i5+ — $349.99 $549.99 (save $200)
Ecovacs Deebot N10+ — $399.98 $649.99 (save $250.01)
Roborock Q8 Max — $459.99 $599.99 (save $140 with on-page coupon)
Shark Matrix 2-in-1 with XL self-empty station — $499.60 $699.60 (save $200 with code ROBOT200)
Roborock Q5 Pro+ — $479.97 $699.99 (save $220.02)
Roborock Q8 Max+ — $649.99 $819.99 (save $170)
Ecovacs Cube Pro — $599.99 $799.99 (save $200)
Roborock S8 — $599.99 $749.99 (save $150 with on-page coupon)
Ecovacs Deebot T20 Omni — $699 $1,099.99 (save $400.99)
iRobot Roomba Combo j7+ — $699 $1,099.99 (save $400.99)
Dreametech L10s Ultra — $749.99 $899.99 (save $150 with on-page coupon)
Roborock S8+ — $799.99 $999.99 (save $200)
iRobot Roomba Combo j9+ — $984.46 $1,399 (save $414.54)
Ecovacs Deebot X2 Omni — $1,149.99 $1,499.99 (save $350)
Roborock S8 Pro Ultra — $1,199.99 $1,599.99 (save $400)
Mashable Read More
Get a self-emptying, mopping Roomba with obstacle avoidance for under $500 or take your pick of a 2023 Roborock model on sale now that new models have dropped at CES.
