Looking for a very good robot vacuum? Get the Ecovacs Deebot X1 Omni! 🍒

Reviewing the top 6 robot vacuums with self-emptying base (2024)

Robot vacuums with a self-emptying base

Last updated: 31.12.2023 Reading time: 16 Min.

A robot vacuum takes off a huge burden from your shoulders when it comes to household cleaning. However, you still have to empty the mobile dust bin almost every day.

With a robot vacuum with a self-emptying base, you won’t have to worry about that "strenuous" and, above all, repetitive task anymore.

But which model works best?

We want to make that choice easier for you and tested numerous robot vacuums with auto-empty dust bin.

This article will review the best models, and we also give some great tips on how to save money on your robot vacuum with a self-emptying base.

Let’s dive into it?.

Two vacuum robots with self-emptying bases stand on the floor.

Advantages:

  • It saves a lot of time and effort
  • The emptying process runs entirely automatically - You won’t have to raise a finger
  • Perfectly suitable for allergy sufferers
  • Perfect for large and heavily soiled households (with children and pets)

Disadvantages:

  • Follow-up costs due to additional purchase of dust bags (Our tip helps to save money here)
  • The emptying process is quite loud
  • Disposable dust bags aren’t eco-friendly

What you’ll see in this review:

  • Best robot vacuums with a self-emptying dustbin in comparison: Our top 4 models
  • Advantages of a robot vacuum with self-emptying function
  • Where do the self-emptying robot vacuums still have room for improvement?
  • How a robot vacuum with an auto-empty dock works
  • Tips on saving follow-up costs
  • Our conclusion

The best robot vacuums with self-empty base in the UK in 2021:

  • Best overall 🏆
    L10s Ultra
    Price from £ 549
    This robot vacuum-mop combo has everything you need from a little household helper!
    "Very good price-performance ratio compared to similar competitor products."
    L10s Ultra
    This robot vacuum-mop combo has everything you need from a little household helper!
    "Very good price-performance ratio compared to similar competitor products."
    Price from £ 549
  • Premium robot vacuum
    S8 Pro Ultra
    Price from £ 1,349.77 £ (1,430.55 )
    Experience top-tier cleaning with the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra, boasting the standout Ultra Station.
    S8 Pro Ultra
    Experience top-tier cleaning with the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra, boasting the standout Ultra Station.
    Price from £ 1,349.77 (£ 1,430.55 )
  • Stylish design
    Deebot X1 OMNI
    Price from £ 599 £ (699 )
    Luxury Robot Vacuum-Mop Hybrid (designed by Jacob Jensen)
    "Impressive battery life and quiet operation, though it's priced in the higher range."
    Deebot X1 OMNI
    Luxury Robot Vacuum-Mop Hybrid (designed by Jacob Jensen)
    "Impressive battery life and quiet operation, though it's priced in the higher range."
    Price from £ 599 (£ 699 )
  • Best value for money
    Q7 Max
    Price from £ 570.40 £ (688.24 )
    Roborock quality at an affordable price point.
    Q7 Max
    Roborock quality at an affordable price point.
    Price from £ 570.40 (£ 688.24 )
  • Best for multi-storey homes
    Roomba i7+
    Price from £ 1,199 £ (1,299 )
    The self-emptying station is the highlight of the Roomba i7+.
    Roomba i7+
    The self-emptying station is the highlight of the Roomba i7+.
    Price from £ 1,199 (£ 1,299 )

Best alternatives

  • Deebot T20 Omni
    Price from £ 699 £ (799 )
    A robotic vacuum and mop with advanced features and automated functionality.
    Deebot T20 Omni
    A robotic vacuum and mop with advanced features and automated functionality.
    Price from £ 699 (£ 799 )

Find out more about our favorites now

Best overall 🏆

Dreame L10s Ultra

This robot vacuum-mop combo has everything you need from a little household helper!

The base station can: Wash & dry mops, refill the water tank, add cleaning solution and empty the mobile dust container.

No need for the Dreame L10s Ultra to shy away from comparison with the top dogs in the industry. 💪

The base station is particularly noteworthy. It performs the following tasks:

  • (1) Adding cleaning solution
  • (2) Self-cleaning of the mops (incl. extraction of dirty water) (cleaning station)
  • (3) Emptying of the dust container (emptying station)
  • (4) Drying the mop pads 
  • (5) Filling water tank

Functions of the base station

As you can see, daily floor cleaning is automated to a large extent. 🤖

Dreametech avoids flashy extras and focuses exclusively on providing a high-quality, intelligent cleaning solution.

You’ll particularly like this Dreamebot if the mopping ability is a top priority for you. 🤩

The mopping test result on laminate floor can be seen.
Laminate
The mopping test result on the PVC floor can be seen.
PVC

Conclusion: You get plenty of features for the price. ⚖️ 

Check Amazon*

Advantages:

Fair price

Excellent mopping ability

Mops are cleaned during the cleaning session

Mop can be lifted 7 mm to avoid carpets

Strong suction power, especially on carpets

Good climbing performance (approx. 2.1 cm) 

Mop cleaning intervals adjustable to m²

Dries mop pads

Detection of flat obstacles

Home monitoring via camera

Automatic emptying of the mobile dust container

Quiet operation

Base station is easy to clean

Detergent is automatically administered during mopping 

Quick mapping

Battery power

Disadvantages:

Corner cleaning not optimal

Approx. 6 cm remains unmopped along skirting boards (vacuuming does reach, though)

Disposable dust bag in the base station 

Limited voice control

Design and quality of workmanship could be better

Premium robot vacuum

Roborock S8 Pro Ultra

Experience top-tier cleaning with the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra, boasting the standout Ultra Station.

Enhanced automation and quality set this model apart from its predecessor, the S7 series.

The Roborock S8 Pro Ultra makes a bold promise: "Forget cleaning - really!" and it does a good job living up to that.

This robot cleaner is packed with top-notch features, with the Ultra Station being the star. ⭐️

This handy station does four things for you:

  • Cleans the mop
  • Dries the mop
  • Empties the mobile dust tank
  • Refills the water tank

functions of the ultra station

Essentially, it makes daily cleaning mostly hands-off. ✋🏻

It's evident that the makers have taken the best parts of their older models and added some neat improvements.

Highlights include a new way to dry the mop, an improved brush system, better obstacle detection, and two mop settings for a thorough clean.

This model feels more like a polished version of the previous ones rather than a brand-new invention.

During our tests, its wiping function worked extremely well. 🧽

wiping function of the Roborock S8 pro Ultra
© Smart Home Fox
wiping test of the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra
© Smart Home Fox

Its strong suction was commendable too.

suction test of the Roborock S8 pro ultra
© Smart Home Fox
Suction test of the Roborock S8 pro ultra
© Smart Home Fox

The device also showcased good navigation skills, especially in obstacle detection.

map building through laser navigation
© Smart Home Fox
obstacle detection of the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra
© Smart Home Fox

On the downside, its side brush could be better on carpets and edges, and the use of throwaway dust bags seems a bit old-fashioned.

Plus, it's on the pricier side. 🤑

So, if you're after the latest in robot cleaning and don't mind the cost, this is a great pick.

But if you're looking to save a bit, considering the slightly older S7 series might be a good idea.

Check Amazon*

Advantages

Powerful battery for extended cleaning sessions

Quick battery charging

Energy-efficient with "off-peak" charging times

High Suction Power (6000 Pa.) for optimal cleaning results

Ultra Station handles multiple tasks: extraction, mop head washing & drying, water tank filling

Efficient brush system with two rubber brushes

Can store up to 4 cards

Enhanced object recognition

User-friendly mobile app

Superior data handling with no built-in camera

High-quality build

Disadvantages

High price point

Ultra Station occupies substantial space

Ultra Station doesn’t automatically add cleaning fluid to the mobile water tank

Uses disposable dust bags in the extraction station

Three-arm side brush has difficulty manoeuvring corners and performing on carpets

No spare parts are provided

Underdeveloped voice control

Non-removable wiping module

Stylish design

Ecovacs Deebot X1 OMNI

Luxury Robot Vacuum-Mop Hybrid (designed by Jacob Jensen)

Numerous premium features leave nothing to be desired with this Ecovacs model. 🎉

At first glance, you immediately notice the robot’s unique and attractive design. 👀 

And this is no coincidence because Jacob Jensen (famous Danish industrial design studio) is responsible for its look.

Top features of the Deebot X1 OMNI

But it's not just the look of the premium vacuum mopping robot that is impressive. The Ecovacs Deebot X1 OMNI is packed with top features:

  • Emptying station
  • Rotating mopping pads
  • Washing station for the mop cloths 
  • Obstacle detection
  • Integrated voice assistant ("Ok Yiko")
  • …and more!

However, the numerous functions come at a price: this luxury robot is certainly not for bargain hunters... 💸

Mopping ability

The Ecovacs Deebot X1 Omni has many highlights. One of them is its mopping capabilities. 💧

Let’s have a look at the role the station plays in the cleaning process.

After a predetermined interval (10, 15 or 25 minutes), the two mopping pads are wrung out and rinsed at the station.

The Ecovacs Deebot X1 OMNI clean and dirty water tanks are held up.

The benefit here is that your floors are always cleaned with freshly rinsed mops. The collected dirt ends up in the dirty water tank (and not on your floors).

Furthermore, the mobile water tank is refilled at the multifunction station.

So you are spared this (annoying) task as well.

The two mopping pads rotate in opposite directions, creating a "scrubbing effect". This results in a more thorough cleaning of your home. 🧼

And don't forget: when the job is done, the two pads are blown dry at the station (with hot air). 🍃

The two Ecovacs Deebot X1 OMNI mopping pads are seen from below.

All these functions together mean that the wet floor cleaning process runs almost completely independently, so you can sit back and relax. 🏖️

And the mopping performance also impressed us. 👇 

(Even if stubborn, dried-in stains take a bit more effort).

The combination of an impressive mopping ability and a huge range of other premium features makes the Deebot X1 a compelling option.

Although that’s only if you have the necessary funds: because the price will set you back a bit... 💸

Check Amazon*

Advantages:

Greatly improved mopping ability

Mopping pads are automatically wrung out, rinsed and dried at the station

Water tank is refilled automatically

Auto-empty station

Elegant design by Jacob Jensen

Gently skirts furniture (hardly any collisions)

Obstacle detection (also of flat objects)

Can detect objects even in poor lighting conditions

Floor cleaning (vacuuming and mopping) is mostly automatic

Integrated voice assistant ("Ok Yiko")

Quick mapping

Security features (surveillance camera)

2-way video calls possible

Quiet

Mobile phone app with many functions

Disadvantages:

Very expensive

Emptying station uses disposable bags

Station is beautifully designed, but quite large (not everyone's cup of tea)

AIVI 3D obstacle detection sometimes causes difficulties with navigation

Individual features are sometimes not perfectly coordinated

App has minor bugs

Best value for money

Roborock Q7 Max

Roborock quality at an affordable price point.

Mid-range series of Roborock.

The most impressive thing about the Robrock Q7 Max+ is the value for money.

Unnecessary “bells and whistles” and some premium functions have deliberately been dispensed with to keep the purchase price low.

Some weaknesses, like the mopping capabilities, are clearly made up for by its many strengths (suction power, emptying station, navigation, app).

This robot vacuum offers the usual "Roborock quality". At the same time, sensible selective cutbacks ensure a very attractive price. 💰

For all Roborock fans who are looking for an absolutely reliable and at the same time affordable robot vacuum (with emptying station), the Q7 Max+ is a good choice. 💃 

Check Amazon*

Best for multi-storey homes

iRobot Roomba i7+

The self-emptying station is the highlight of the Roomba i7+.

Best-selling robot vacuum cleaner from iRobot.

This robot is a real pioneer. 🦸‍♂️

With the iRobot Roomba i7+, the US manufacturer launched the first vacuum robot with a self-emptying dock and revolutionised the industry.

Arrows on the Roomba Clean Base explain how the self-emptying process works.
© iRobot

And the model has not lost much of its shine since launch. Our tests have revealed that this robot vacuum cleaner still plays in the big leagues in many categories.

Want Roomba quality but don't want to fork out the high price for the latest flagship model? 💰 

Then the i7+ is a good choice.

Check Amazon*

Advantages

Save up to 10 maps (suitable for multi-storey homes)

User-friendly app

High quality design

Impressive voice control

Self-empty station

Disadvantages

Navigation system not "state of the art"

Quite high price

Rather weak battery

Best alternatives

Ecovacs
Deebot T20 Omni
Price from   £ 699 £ (799 )

Ecovacs Deebot T20 Omni

A robotic vacuum and mop with advanced features and automated functionality.

The Ecovacs Deebot t20 omni features innovative technologies like hot water mop washing and automatic mop lifting.

The Ecovacs Deebot T20 Omni stands out with its innovative features. 

A key feature is its hot water mop washing technology, which cleans the mops at 55 degrees. 🌡️

The mops of the Ecovacs Deebot T20 Omni being washed with hot water.

This effectively removes stubborn stains and improves your mopping result.

It has also introduced an auto-mop lifting function, allowing carpets and hard floors to be cleaned in one go.

The robot vacuum has a powerful 6000 Pascal suction, delivering excellent cleaning results on hard floors and carpets.

Hard floor cleaning

Suction result of Ecovacs Deebot T20 Omni on hard floors
© Smart Home Fox

Carpet cleaning

Carpet cleaning by the Ecovacs Deebot T20 Omni
© Smart Home Fox

The "YIKO" voice assistant further enhances user experience with easy-to-use voice commands. 

Additionally, the all-in-one OMNI cleaning station automates many tasks, contributing to a high level of convenience. 🏝️

Despite its strengths, the Deebot T20 Omni has a few drawbacks: the size of the OMNI station is quite large, and the mobile dust bin is relatively small. 

Small mobile dust conatiner of the Ecovacs Deebot T20 Omni
Small mobile container on the Ecovacs Deebot T20 Omni. Image © Smart Home Fox

Also, its higher price range may not be suitable for all budgets.

Overall, the Ecovacs Deebot T20 Omni offers a comprehensive and advanced cleaning package, although it might be a significant investment for some.

Check Amazon*

Advantages

Effective mopping with 6000 Pa suction power

Mops lift for efficient obstacle navigation

Low-maintenance rubber brush

Quiet operation

Mops cleaned with hot water

Mops dried with hot air

Integrated YIKO voice assistant

Durable rechargeable battery

Includes a suction station

Disadvantages

Limited capacity of mobile dust container

Lacks a built-in mobile water tank

Higher water usage

App experiences minor glitches

Is there a Roborock robot vacuum cleaner with a self-empty base?

The secret is out: Roborock gave a lot of information about their new robot vacuum at CES 2021.

They will launch the new Roborock S7 in the UK in mid-2021.

It will have numerous highlights such as a liftable water tank (for carpets) and a vibrating mop plate...

...and also an auto-empty dust bin!

Roborock S7 standing at an auto-empty dust bin

All Roborock fans have something to celebrate here.

But there’s a minor drawback: The self-emptying base won’t be available in the UK until the end of 2021.

Big advantage: The self-empty base can be used with disposable bags or with a reusable container.

Advantages of a robot vacuum with an emptying station

Saves a lot of time and effort

A conventional robot vacuum cleaner (without self-emptying function) already takes a lot of work off your hands.

Nevertheless, you still have to empty the mobile dust container almost every day (depending on the degree of soiling).

The mobile dust bin is usually relatively small and quickly fill up with dirt.

And that’s where a robot vacuum with an auto-empty station comes in. It empties the mobile dust bin automatically. You won’t have to raise a finger anymore.

It takes care of the last remaining task at floor cleaning (emptying the mobile dust container).

Cleaning is almost entirely automated

A conventional robotic vacuum WITHOUT a self-emptying function stops cleaning as soon as the dust container is full.

You have to empty the mobile dust bin, so it can resume its cleaning trip.

Thus, you have to empty it at regular intervals.

We can think of better ways to spend our time.

A robovac with an auto-empty dock does all the work for you.

As soon as the robotic vacuum cleaner comes to the docking station for charging, the automatic self-emptying function simultaneously empties the mobile dust container.

A self-emptying dust bin, emptying the mobile dust container while charging the battery.

It keeps the entire contents of the mobile dust container in a separate dust bag in the auto-empty station.

That fully automates the cleaning process without interruption.

Now you only have to change the dust bag in the self-empty dust bin every few months.

Replacing the dust bag in the self-empty dust bin.

Allergens don’t stand a chance!

Fine house dust is a massive burden for allergy sufferers.

A robot vacuum already provides a massive relieve. You won’t have to clean the flat by yourself anymore - just let your robot vac vacuum your home several times a day if necessary.

It will remove dust and dirt more thoroughly from your flat.

But one problem remains: emptying the mobile dust bin.

Emptying the mobile dust container over the dustbin.

It’s almost impossible to avoid contact with aggressive house dust (and allergens).

But there’s a solution to this problem: a self-empty base.

It vacuums the mobile dust container automatically with every battery charge.

This way, you can avoid contact with the contents of the dust bag altogether.

That’s a huge advantage, especially for people with severe allergies!

Read more about the best robot vacuums for allergies in our detailed review.

Suitable for pet owners

As much as we love our four-legged friends - it’s a fact that pets make a lot of mess?.

You can find pet hair and other dirt from outside all around the flat.

The mobile dust canister quickly fills up with all that dirt (e.g. with pet hair). Your robot vacuum can only continue its work once you have emptied the dust bin by hand.

Mobile dust bin of a robotic vacuum cleaner filled to the brim with pet hair.

A robot vacuum with an emptying station will take care of that, too. It empties the mobile dust container whenever it docks at the station for charging.

That makes the floor cleaning fully automated, and you won’t have to do anything manually for months.

We have compared the robot vacuum models that work best for households with pets here: Robot vacuums for pet hair.

Where do the robovacs with self-emptying base still have room for improvement?

Follow-up costs

You have to use disposable dust bags for the auto-empty base.

Inserting a disposable dust bag into the auto-empty dustbin.

They do have quite a large capacity. But you still have to replace the bags after 2 - 3 months, depending on the degree of soiling.

That results in follow-up costs due to the additional purchase of dust bags.

A reusable dust bag would have been much more practical at this point.

But as we all know, what’s not there can still come true ?. We’re optimistic that there will be a “bagless” self-empty base soon.

Environmental impact of the disposable dust bags

Unfortunately, the dust bag in the emptying station is disposable.

You have to insert a disposable dust bag into the self-emptying base.

You have to throw it into the trash can as soon as it’s filled with dirt.

That’s not what we’d call environmental friendliness.

A better and environmentally friendly solution would be to use a recyclable plastic dirt container in the clean base.

The clean base is very loud

It takes a lot of power (strong suction) to put the dirt from the robot vacuum’s mobile dust container into the clean base dust bag.

Therefore, the emptying process is quite loud (80-90 dB).

Volume scale Illustration of the emptying process of a self-emptying robot vacuum.

Since the suction process takes a maximum of 10 seconds, it’s not a big deal.

Nevertheless, it’s not exactly pleasant to be in the direct vicinity during the pick-up.

You shouldn’t use the auto-empty base at night either unless you want to start a fight with your neighbours ?‍♂️.

Size of the self-empty doch vs charging station

We don't want to beat about the bush.

The emptying station is much larger than a conventional charging station.

A conventional charging station and an emptying station stand side by side

That’s not a big surprise, though.

After all, it has to clean up the dirt from the mobile dust container and store it in a large bag in the emptying station.

We don't think that size is a disadvantage.

In contrast to an ordinary charging station, the clean base is a real eye-catcher in your home ?. Curious looks and questions are guaranteed.

Automatic dirt disposal Process

The automatic dirt disposal process is simple and, at the same time, super ingenious.

A common robot vacuum has a relatively small (~ 400 ml) mobile dirt container.

It fills up with dirt quickly, depending on the housing situation and the degree of soiling.

The robot vacuum has to stop its cleaning cycle as soon as the dust container is full. That interrupts the cleaning process.

It can only resume cleaning sessions when you empty the dust bag by hand.

Emptying the mobile dust bag by hand over the dustbin.

The self-emptying base takes care of that annoying - and above all, repetitive - work.

Every time the robot vacuum moves to the charging station, it empties the mobile dust container, too.

It collects the dirt in a large container in the emptying station.

Illustration of how the automatic emptying station works.

The dust bag in the clean base is quite large and can hold up to 30 loads of the mobile dust container.

A robot vacuum with a self-emptying function makes household cleaning much more straightforward and is a significant step towards fully automated floor cleaning.

All that’s left to do is change the dust bag in the auto-empty dock every 2 - 3 months.

But be warned: once you get used to a robot hoover with an auto-empty station, you won’t want to do without it anymore. We speak from our own experience, as we have an iRobot Roomba i7+ and an iRobot Roomba i3+ ourselves ?.

Want to find out about the best Roomba models (with self-emptying bases)? Check out our review!

Tips on saving money

Empty the dust bag in the clean base with a conventional floor vacuum

If you want to save some money, we have a trick at hand.

You can suck out the dust bag in the emptying station with a conventional vacuum cleaner.

Clean up the dust bag in the emptying station with a floor vacuum.

The solution may seem a little cumbersome at first (which it is).

But this way, you won’t have to buy new disposable dust bags for the auto-empty base and thus, save follow-up costs.

It’s also much better for the environment. It’s not eco-friendly if you buy disposable dust bags all the time.

Use a recyclable dust bag

Another way to save some money: Use a "reusable bag" (available* on Amazon UK).

You can empty it manually (and reuse it afterwards).

That’s a bit cumbersome, too, but it works.

Just give it a try ?.

Our review of the best self-emptying robot vacuums

Of course, we also put the best self-emptying robot vacuum cleaners through the wringer.

They scored ratings from 5 stars (excellent) to 0.5 stars (very disappointing).

You can find an overview of the ratings in the table below.

Deebot OZMO T8 AIVI Deebot OZMO T8+ iRobot Roomba i7+ Proscenic M7 Pro
Suction and cleaning performance
Wiping performance -
Volume
Navigation and driving
Battery runtime
App and functions
Design, dimensions and quality
Delivery scope
Price-performance ratio
Our Review T8 AIVI Review T8+ review Roomba i7+ review Proscenic M7 Pro review
Offer Offer* Offer* Offer* Offer*

We linked the detailed reviews in the overview:

Best Robot Vacuums with Self-Emptying Base in the UK: Our Review & Conclusion

A robot vacuum with a self-emptying base takes care of the last remaining task (emptying the mobile dust container). This way, floor cleaning is almost entirely automated, so you won’t have to raise a finger.

A lot of dirt accumulates over time, especially in larger households. The mobile dust container of a robot vacuum quickly reaches its limits.

You’d have to intervene and empty the mobile dust bag almost every day. That’s not what we’d call automated household cleaning.

A robot vacuum with a self-emptying base takes a massive burden off your shoulders in daily cleaning.

Emptying the mobile dust container by hand is a thing of the past.

All you have to do is change the dust bag in the auto-empty station every few months.

That's all.

The robot vacuum with an auto-empty dust bin is a further step towards fully automated household cleaning.

P.S.: We love our robotic vacuum cleaners with the clean base (iRobot Roomba i7+ and iRobot Roomba i3+) and don't want to miss them anymore ?.

Read more

  • Is there a Eufy robot vacuum with an auto-empty dust bin?


    There’s no Eufy vacuum cleaner with an emptying station on the market yet (as of 2021).

  • Is there a Neato robot vacuum with a self-empty base?


    There’s no Neto robovac (Neabot) cleaner with an emptying station on the market yet.

  • Can you buy robot vacuums with self-emptying base on Amazon in the UK?


    There is an enormous assortment of robot vacuums with self-emptying base that you can buy on Amazon in the UK.

Ilia

Robot vacuum cleaners are my passion. These little helpers make cleaning our homes so much easier. That's why it's my personal concern to recommend only the most outstanding products and the best tips and tricks to you. Then you can devote your valuable time to the finer things in life - and as a rule, floor cleaning is not one of them.

Why trust us?

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