Want a new robot vacuum but not sure which one to buy? I don’t blame you – there are just so many models out there that even I’m overwhelmed… and I test robovacs for a living! The newest models are often so similar to each other that it truly is difficult to tell which one deserves your hard-earned money.

Now, I can understand that it might be tempting to go down the affordable route, but if your budget is just a couple of hundred bucks, I’d be hard pressed to recommend a worthwhile option. That’s because cheap isn’t always the best: you won’t get enough suction and if it isn’t versatile, it’s not good value for money.

With prices from just AU$429, I’m only recommending models that will do most of the hard work for you – meaning, they’ll vacuum, mop and then clean themselves too. All you have to do is regularly empty the dirty-water tank so it doesn’t grow its own ecosystem, and refill the clean water. Oh, and once every couple of months, just replace the dust bag.

One thing to remember with each of these robot vacuums is that there will be some ongoing costs to take into consideration.

The most common of these will be the dust bag that will need replacing every month or two, depending on which model you choose to buy, also on how often you vacuum and whether you have pets.

If you’re opting for one of the cheaper models listed here, you’ll also need to look into replacing the mop pads after six to eight months (again, depending on use), but the Deebot X8 Pro Omni and Aqua10 Ultra use rollers that should last you a lot longer.

Some robovacs can use detergents, but not all, so please check if the model you buy can take some soap. If so, it will generally need to be proprietary, as not all detergents will suit the mechanism inside the base stations and using the wrong type can void your warranty.

While she’s happiest with a camera in her hand, Sharmishta’s main priority is being TechRadar’s APAC Managing Editor, looking after the day-to-day functioning of the Australian, New Zealand and Singapore editions of the site, steering everything from news and reviews to ecommerce content like deals and coupon codes. While she loves reviewing cameras and lenses when she can, she’s also an avid reader and has become quite the expert on ereaders and E Ink writing tablets, having appeared on Singaporean radio to talk about these underrated devices. Other than her duties at TechRadar, she’s also the Managing Editor of the Australian edition of Digital Camera World, and writes for Tom’s Guide and T3.