The popularity of robot vacuums, also known as robo-vacuums, has skyrocketed in recent years.
Once a luxury product that only the wealthy could afford, there are now many options at different price points to appeal to a wider market.
In this article, we look at some of the best robot vacuums in South Africa and how they perform according to online feedback.
Read the full article or click on a link below to navigate to your specific area of interest:
Is it worth buying a robot vacuum?
Do robot vacuums live up to the hype? Like any “gimmicky” appliance, there are pros and cons to consider before you make the commitment.
Pros of robot vacuums
The top benefit of a robot vacuum is that it vacuums, and sometimes even mops, automatically. This means your house can be cleaned even when you’re not there.
Robot vacuums can reach places regular vacuums can’t, such as under beds and sofas. Many models have programmable features to make scheduling the vacuuming time and route easy.
Daily automatic vacuuming is a good way to effortlessly keep on top of dust and pet hair, making a robot vacuum a good choice for allergy sufferers.
Cons of robot vacuums
The main con is their efficiency. A small vacuum is never going to match the power of a large one. Many people find them too weak.
Even with more models on the market, robot vacuums are still expensive compared to traditional vacuum cleaners. For many people, they’re still a luxury.
Despite their charm, robot vacuums are machines and they can get stuck and lost. An automatic vacuum cleaner isn’t any good if it falls down the stairs on a regular basis.
Newest, advanced features of robot vacuums in 2025
The most advanced robot vacuums in 2025 are fully automated machines.
They feature self-emptying bins, self-cleaning mop and brush heads, and larger water tanks and base station dustbins that only have to be emptied every 30 to 45 days.
Extended battery lives and the use of LiDAR sensors and camera-based technology enable robo-vacs to move seamlessly and near silently around the house, implementing cleaning routines according to customised schedules.
AI and machine learning algorithms allow the machines to ‘memorise’ the layout of homes and avoid obstacles and virtual no-go zones. They are paired with apps that display room maps, and even provide data on the level of dirt, dust and soil on a room-by-room basis.
Next generation robot vacuums are smart, connected and voice activated. They are high-tech home cleaning bots that offer unparalleled cleaning performance for their size!
What features to consider when choosing a robot vacuum
To get the best results from a robot vacuum, find one that has all the features you need.
You might get away with a smaller, cheaper model if you have a small apartment, for example.
Look for these features when deciding which robot vacuum to buy.
Suction power
Consider the suction power of the vacuum you’re interested in. You’ll need more suction power if you have pets or carpets. A suction power of between 2,000 Pa to 6,000 Pa is considered adequate enough to provide routine cleaning of the home.
Battery life
Ideally, find a robot vacuum that can clean the entire house on a single charge. If your home is large, choose a robot vacuum with the best battery life.
A decent battery life is around 180 minutes to 2 hours but the amount of dirt, hair and debris, density of the carpets and selected cleaning mode all have a direct impact on battery life.
Filters and dust bags
If you suffer from allergies or have pets, invest in a robot vacuum with good filters and dust bag. Without them, the vacuum will put a lot of dust in the air because it runs so frequently.
HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filters are effective at capturing the smallest particles, while bacteriostatic dust bags contain antibacterial agents that eliminate bad odours and prevent the growth of bacteria and mould.
Floor sensors
Floor sensors tell the vacuum what type of surface it’s on. If you have a combination of carpets, tiles and wooden floors, you’ll need a robot vacuum that can tell the difference.
Robo-vacs that use LiDAR (light detection and ranging technology) sensors are capable of navigating the home with pin-point accuracy. They offer enhanced floor coverage without damaging the furniture, missing out spots or constantly getting stuck in corners.
Brushes
The robot vacuum’s brushes guide the dirt underneath the vacuum so it can be suctioned up. Look for a robot that has the right brushes to effectively clean into corners and along skirting boards.
The best brushes are large surface rubber roller brushes that can flex and easily adapt to uneven surfaces. These types of brushes are effective at picking up a wide range of dirt, hair and debris.
Mop feature
If you want an all-in-one cleaning robot, consider a robot vacuum that has an optional mop feature. Look for mop heads with self-cleaning capabilities, and ones that operate at high revs per minute.
Top-rated robot vacuums in South Africa
These are some of the top-rated* robot vacuums available in South Africa in 2025.
- Best overall
- Best budget
- Best automatic
- Best for allergies
- Best battery life
- Best AI-powered
- Best app & voice integration
Best overall robot vacuum: Karcher RCV 3 Smart Robot Vacuum and Mop
The Karcher RCV 3 is a smart, fully autonomous robot vacuum with wipe functionality on hard surface floors.
It is particularly effective at cleaning low-pile carpets, and features hard-wearing rotating brushes and side brushes for efficient edge cleaning.
Image: Yuppiechef
Rated one of the best robot vacuums on Takealot and Yuppiechef, the Karcher RCV 3 is equipped with a LiDAR navigation system and extra sensors to prevent falls and collisions.
It is app-activated and controlled, can operate according to customised cleaning schedules and, when in a jam, lets you know via voice output.
Best features:
- Accurate LiDAR navigation
- Damp mopping functionality
- 3-stage cleaning system
- Extra sensors to prevent falls
- smart mapping
- 2,500 PA suction.
|
Price |
Customer rating |
|
R8,359 |
“Quality speaks for itself. It does what it needs and more. App is very user friendly and I couldn’t be happier.” Craig on Takealot, Jan 2024.
|
Available from Takealot and YuppieChef.
Best budget robot vacuum: Milex 3-in-1 Intellivac Robot Vacuum
A versatile all-in-one sweeper, vacuum and mop, the Milex Intellivac punches well above its weight – and at an affordable price.
It is equipped with accurate gyro technology and 16 sets of sensors to enable effortless navigation and complete cleaning coverage of floor areas.
Image: Yuppiechef
The value-for-money robot vacuum is remote controlled and equipped with a HEPA filter, roller brushes and side brushes.
Connectivity is via the Smart Life app, the average battery life is around 160 minutes, and when it runs low on juice, it returns to the station to self-charge.
Best features:
- 2,600 lithium-ion battery
- 5 cleaning modes
- Smart Life app control
- HEPA filter
- cyclone cleaning technology
- anti-collision sensors.
|
Price |
Customer rating |
|
R3,299.95 to R5,400 |
“I’m impressed! Does a fantastic cleaning job. Well worth it.” Simmi on Milex website, Jan 2024.
|
Available at Milex, Yuppiechef, Takealot and Clicks.
Best automatic robot vacuum: Ecovacs T30 OMNI
The Ecovacs Deebot T30 OMNI offers truly hands-free cleaning.
It has vacuuming and mopping functions with automatic emptying of the dust bin and mop water. It refills with clean water and even washes and dries the mop pads.
Image: Yuppiechef.
Advanced mapping, together with 3D contour and depth recognition capabilities, supports precision cleaning, excellent coverage and intelligent obstacle avoidance.
The smart automated robo-vac has a spot cleaning setting, high traction drive wheels to enable seamless manoeuvrability, and dynamically adjustable parameters for a customised hands-off cleaning experience.
Best features:
- automatic emptying, refilling and mop head cleaning
- Bluetooth quick pairing
- Apple Watch support
- LiDAR mapping
- 11,000 PA suction
- 290-minute run-time.
|
Price |
Customer rating |
|
R17,999 to R19,000 |
“Between the super high 11k Pa suction power and true edge tech, it’s a no brainer. Nothing comes close to it.” Mish on Takealot, Aug 2024.
|
Available from YuppieChef, Takealot and Ecovacs.
Best robot vacuum for allergies: Miele RX3 Scout Robot Vacuum Cleaner
The Miele RX3 is a low profile robo-vac that can get to all the hard to reach places in the home.
Multiple brushes, a power-packed turbo mode, and 4-stage cleaning system provide a maximised cleaning performance on all floor surfaces.
Image: YuppieChef
The RX3 features an AirClean Plus filter that efficiently removes all dust, pet hair and other allergens to keep the air in your home fresh and odour-free.
An onboard camera, compatibility with Amazon Alexa and a spot cleaning mode are added features behind the trendy machine’s positive ratings and reviews.
Best features:
- AirClean Plus filter
- efficient dust pickup with Quattro Cleaning Power
- powerful suction
- four-stage cleaning system
- five operating modes
- 120-minute running time.
|
Price |
Customer rating |
|
R24,999 to R26,999 |
“This robot vacuum cleaner is impressive. […] Its cleaning ability is excellent; the long side brushes enable it to clean well into corners and along edges.”
|
Available from Miele and YuppieChef.
Best battery-life robot vacuum: Ecovacs Deebot T8 AIVI Robot Vacuum
The Dreame X40 Ultra is equipped with an extra-large 6,400 mAh battery capable of whole-of-house cleaning on a single charge.
That, together with 12,000 Pa of suction power and a host of high tech features, ensures the elegantly designed, low profile robo-vac gets the 5-star recognition it deserves.
Image: Just Electric.
Dirt detection capabilities, coupled with all-rubber extendable and liftable side brushes, are behind the X40’s proficiency at tackling dirt, pet hair and grime, even in tight spaces.
The detachable mop auto-lifts to protect rugs and carpets from any moisture. Once the mopping is done, the mop head and washboard are automatically cleaned.
The Dreame X40 Ultra is a fast mapping high-tech machine that uses smart recognition and 3D structured light to get the job done quickly, intelligently and efficiently.
Best features:
- 260-minute run time
- RoboSwing technology
- Dirt detection sensors
- Flexible extendable side brush
- Vacuum, sweep and mop features
- Precision cleaning strategy
- Hands-free base station
|
Price |
Customer rating |
|
R25,799 to R25,999 |
“In my opinion, this is hands down the best robot vacuum currently available. It’s packed with features that make cleaning a breeze, and the technology is simply unmatched.” Collin L. on Just Electric, Sept 2024.
|
Available from Just Electric and Takealot.
Best robot vacuum with AI-powered navigation: Xiaomi X10 Smart Robot Vacuum
In the X10, Xiaomi has developed a smart, intuitive machine that provides advanced automated cleaning of all floor surfaces.
Image: Makro
It uses AI to effectively identify and safely navigate around obstacles, and builds basic 3D maps of floor areas to expedite performance.
The Xiaomi X10 is a fully automated Wi-Fi connected robot vacuum with four suction levels, 180 rpm mop pads and a 2-hour battery life.
Users can customise and schedule cleaning sessions, deploy the deep cleaning setting for more soiled surfaces, and connect the robot to Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa.
Best features:
- AI & 3D obstacle avoidance
- LDS navigation system
- advanced carpet detection
- all-in-one station combo
- auto-lifting mop pads
- smart home compatible.
|
Price |
Customer rating |
|
R17,499 |
“Mapping is quick and easy, and the unit is efficient and much quieter than a conventional vacuum. We have a 120 sqm floor space downstairs and the little life-saver vacuums and mops this in 2 hours.” Raymond H on Yuppiechef, Sept 2024.
|
Available from Yuppiechef and Makro.
Best robot robot vacuum with app and voice integration: Eufy RoboVac X8 Pro Hybrid+ Robot Robot Vacuum
For quick and responsive voice-activated mapping and cleaning, the X8 Pro Hybrid+ is in a league of its own.
It uses Precise iPath laser navigation and advanced suction and roller brush technology to maximise performance on all floor surfaces.
Image: Builders
After each cleaning session, the Eufy Security app shows where the vacuum has cleaned, and provides up-to-date statistics on the state of the rooms prior to the makeover.
The X8 is particularly efficient at lifting pet hair and has an active detangling roller brush to keep the brush head clean and fully functional.
Amazon and Google Assistant compatibility, an average run time of 180 minutes and a 2,5 l bacteriostatic dust bag that locks in the dirt and dust make cleaning a breeze.
Best features:
- customisable AI Map 2.0 technology
- Powerful 4,000 Pa twin-turbine suction
- voice control
- vacuum and mop features
- smart home compatible.
|
Price |
Customer rating |
|
R10,999 |
“This vacuum is amazing! We have 4 cats and it picks up 99% of the hair & dirt. Really hassle free, quick to map the home and clean the rooms.” Michael on Takealot, Dec 2024.
|
Available from Yuppiechef and Takealot.
*These ratings are based on online reviews and customer feedback, not independent testing by Chelsea Cleaning. Prices subject to change.
When you need more than a routine vacuum
Regular vacuuming will keep your carpets mostly clean and looking good but periodic deep cleaning will eliminate deeply ingrained dirt and allergens. This not only helps keep your home free of dust and pollen, but it also gives your carpets longevity.
At Chelsea Cleaning, we offer hot water extraction cleaning, a method that is highly effective without the need for harsh chemicals. We recommend deep cleaning your carpets every six months to a year, depending on where you live and whether you have pets.
To get a free quote on professional carpet cleaning, contact us on 021 761 1162. We have decades of experience cleaning carpets in the home with minimal disruption. We service the greater Cape Town area, including the Helderberg, West Coast and the Southern Peninsula.
