Should I buy a cheap robot vacuum in the Black Friday sales? Here's my take, as a professional reviewer

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Should I buy a cheap robot vacuum in the Black Friday sales? Here's my take, as a professional reviewer Features By Ruth Hamilton published 28 November 2025

Big bargain or false economy? Here's what you need to know

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A robot vacuum can be a major effort saver – and especially welcome during the hectic festive season. Prices vary hugely, with the cheapest bots coming in at around the $100 / £100 mark and ranging right up to a couple of grand. It can be tricky to know how much to spend – and with the Black Friday sales delivering all kinds of discounts, things can be even more confusing.

I'm here to help. I manage TechRadar's best robot vacuum guide and have tested bots from a range of brands at all different price points. Here's my take: cheap robot vacuums are still worth considering, provided you stick to a few golden rules.

Read to learn exactly what those rules are – and if you decide it's time to invest in an automated home helper, hop to the bottom of the article for my pick of the best deals in the current sales.

1. Stick to a good brand

The most important thing, for me, is to go for a good brand. That way, you can be confident you'll at least get the basics: decent cleaning, reliable navigation, and an easy-to-use app. These are the three essentials; if you don't have them, the bot isn't worth buying (at any price). It probably goes without saying, but avoid all those weird, no-name brands on Amazon, no matter the low price.

My favorite brands are Roborock and Dreame – their robovacs consistently earn high review scores, regardless of how expensive they are. I've personally tested a budget Roborock and a budget Dreame robot vacuum, and was very impressed with both. In fact, the Dreame is still installed in my parents' house, where it takes care of cleaning the bedrooms.

(Image credit: Future)

I'm sorry to say that I'd also avoid buying a Roomba this year, even though on the surface of things, the deals look good. The brand recently replaced its entire fleet of robot vacuums, and the updated options have failed to impress (here's our Roomba 205 DustCompactor Combo review, as an example). Parent company iRobot is in serious financial trouble, and it looks like it might not be sticking around much longer, which has knock-on implications for aftercare, too.

2. Make sure you can handle the maintenance

One major difference between cheaper and more expensive robot vacuums is in the things the dock can do – and as a result, the maintenance tasks that you'll need to take on yourself. The cheapest robovacs will have a dock that just charges the bot up and nothing else. Make sure you aren't making a rod for your own back by picking a robovac that requires too much from you.

For example, if you have shedding pets, I would recommend shelling out a bit more for a bot with an auto-empty dock. The bin onboard the robot itself is tiny, and you'll end up having to empty it with annoying regularity if the bot is trying to stay on top of the pet fuzz.

(Image credit: Future)

If you have lots of vinyl or tile flooring and want your robot vacuum to do a fair bit of mopping, consider the mop setup. The cheapest models require you to fill the water tank and attach the mop pad manually before every use (then remove it afterwards). Spending a bit more could get you a bot that can lift its mop pads when traversing carpet and has a dock that can refill the onboard water tank. You could even invest in one that has a dock that can wash the mop pads, although that might be a decent step up in price.

3. Price-check some fancier alternatives

Before you hit the buy button, I'd check out some fancier alternatives, because in some cases, a bit more cash can get you a much better bot. The robot vacuum market is competitive, with brands releasing new models very regularly, and as a result, it's common to see big discounts on 'older' options that are still extremely capable. I've spotted some especially strong deals in the Black Friday sales – I've included them below so you can see what you can get for a bit more money.

The best cheap robot vacuum deals in the US

Save US$120Roborock Q7 L5 robot vacuum and mop: was US$249.99 now US$129.99 at Amazon

I tested an older, lower-specced version of this bot (the Roborock Q7 M5) and was very impressed with the reliability, cleaning, and ease of use. This upgraded version is at a new, lowest-ever price for Black Friday, and extremely strong value for money.

View DealSave US$30Dreame D9 Max Gen 2: was US$179.99 now US$149.99 at Amazon

There's a further $30 off this already-cheap Dreame bot, taking it to very nearly its cheapest ever price. This is the robot vacuum that lives at my parents' house. It's reliable, effective, and straightforward to use. You'll have to take care of the maintenance tasks yourself, because the dock is the charge-only kind.

View DealSave US$400Dreame L40 Ultra: was US$799.99 now US$399.99 at Amazon

There's a huge discount on this advanced Dreame robovac. In our Dreame L40 Ultra review, my tester was extremely impressed with the powerful vacuuming (it can even handle pet hair), accurate navigation and effective mopping. Although large, the dock can handle all kinds of maintenance tasks for you, too.

View DealSave US$350Eufy X10 Pro Omni: was US$799.99 now US$449.99 at Best Buy

There's $350 off this advanced Eufy robot vacuum in the Black Friday sales. My tester called this robovac "almost perfect" in our Eufy X10 Pro Omni review, praising the excellent mopping and intuitive app in particular. The dock will empty dust, refill the bot's water tanks, and wash its mop pads.

View Deal

The best cheap robot vacuum deals in the UK

UK dealSave £80Dreame D9 Max Gen 2: was £199 now £119 at Amazon

With £80 off, this affordable Dreame bot is down to a new, cheapest-ever price, and incredibly good value. It's simple but effective, with reliable navigation and an easy-to-use app, plus efficient cleaning. You'll need to attach the mop pad and water tank yourself, and the dock just charges the bot; it won't do things like empty the dust. It could still be a major effort-saver, though.

View DealSave £90Roborock Q7 M5 robot vacuum and mop: was £239.99 now £149.99 at Amazon

This Roborock bot is simple but effective, and with £90 off, it's at a new lowest-ever price for Black Friday. In my Roborock Q7 M5 review, I was very impressed with its reliability, effective cleaning, and user-friendly app.If you have shedding pets, consider upgrading to the Roborock Q7 L5+ for £189.99 (was £349.99) – it comes with an auto-empty dock, which means you won't be emptying the onboard bin every hour.

View DealSave £320Roborock Qrevo Series QV35S: was £699.99 now £379.99 at Amazon

The Qrevo Series has 46% off for Black Friday, which is a new, cheapest-ever price on this model. This one has a dock that can auto-empty dust, refill the onboard water tanks, and wash and dry the mop pads.

View DealMore of today's best robot vacuum deals SG$359View DealWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox

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Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. TOPICS Dreame Black Friday CATEGORIES Seasonal Sales Ruth HamiltonSocial Links NavigationHomes Editor

Ruth is TechRadar's Homes Editor specializing in air (vacuum cleaners, fans, air purifiers), and hair (hair dryers, straighteners and stylers). She has been in consumer journalism since 2020, reviewing and writing about everything from outdoor kit to mattresses and wellness gadgets, with stints on Tom's Guide and T3.

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