Skip to main content
Life

Lots of self-emptying robot vacuums are on sale for under $500 just in time for spring cleaning

Gift yourself a shorter to-do list.
Leah Stodart
By Leah Stodart 
Lots of self-emptying robot vacuums are on sale for under $500 just in time for spring cleaning Credit: Roborock
> House & Home

UPDATE: Jan. 24, 2024, 12:15 PM 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.

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

Our pick: Shark Matrix RV2300

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For a solid cheap Shark option, skip the outdated $139 Shark ION and opt for the Matrix instead.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

Robot vacuums deals under $500

Our pick: Shark Matrix RV2300S

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

Robot vacuum and mop hybrids

Our pick: iRobot Roomba Combo j5+

$499 at Amazon (save $300.99)
Buy On Amazon↗

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

Topics: Robot Vacuums, Life, House & Home

Recommended For You

Trending on Mashable