Are cheap robot vacuums worth it? I've tested bots at all price points, and here's my take

Knowing how much to spend on a robot vacuum can be difficult. You can find bots for close to $100 / £100, ranging right up to well over a grand. So are cheap bots a false economy? Will you regret not spending a bit more?

I manage TechRadar's best robot vacuum guide and have tested models at every price point, and here's my take. Cheap robot vacuums can be well worth it, provided you're willing to take on some maintenance tasks yourself, and you stick to known, trusted brands.

Right now is an especially good time to shop, because the Amazon Prime Day sales are in full swing, with lots of affordable robovacs discounted even further (my pick of the bunch in the Dreame D9 Max Gen 2, now $149.99 (was $279.99) in the US and £139 (was £199) in the UK, and incredible value for that price – hop down the page for more info.)

Pick the right brand, and your budget bot will still offer strong cleaning, reliable navigation, and an easy-to-use app (these are non-negotiables for me). However, it likely won't come with an auto-empty dock, which means you'll have to commit to emptying the small onboard bin yourself. If it has a mop function, it'll probably be basic – you'll need to attach and pre-dampen the mop pad before mopping, and wash it afterwards. If those are acceptable compromises, you'll have plenty of great cheap robot vacuum options to choose from.

A quick note on brands. Roborock and Dreame are probably my favorites, and – as you might expect – I'd steer well clear of weird, no-name brands on Amazon. I personally would also avoid iRobot Roomba – the cheap bot I tested from this brand was a bit of a nightmare when it came to navigation.

Which budget robot vacuum should I buy?

Many cheap robot vacuums are much of a muchness, and the deciding factor will be price at the time you want to buy. Here's the best option I've found today:

US deal

Dreame D9 Max Gen 2: was $279.99 now $149.99 at Amazon

There's a massive $130 off the MSRP of this robot vacuum in the Prime Day sales, taking it down to under $150. For that price, it's ridiculously good value for money. It's simple but effective, with an easy-to-use app, strong cleaning and reliable navigation.

View Deal

UK deal

Dreame D9 Max Gen 2: was £199 now £139 at Amazon

With £60 off list price, this budget robovac is very nearly at its lowest-ever price for Prime Day (it once, briefly, fell to £135, but it's generally at least £160). For that price, it's seriously good value – it's simple but effective, reliable and easy to use, and has the potential to save you a ton of effort.

View Deal

I tested this model in my own flat, where it performed well in all my cleaning and navigation tests (read my full Dreame D9 Max Gen 2 review). After that, it got rehomed to my parents' house, where it lives under a bed on the first floor, and helps my Mum stay on top of dust buildup in the carpeted bedrooms. It's been sent out two or three times a week for the past seven months, and we've never had any issues or complaints with the performance.

• Shop Amazon's full Prime Day US sale / Prime Day UK sale

Who should pick a fancier model?

For some people, it'll be worth investing in a fancier, pricier robot vacuum. Docks that can auto-empty dust from the small onboard bin will be worth the extra spend for many people – they don't tend to come with a massive price bump, and they just make everything that much more hands-off.

Shift higher up the mid-range bracket and into premium, and you'll gain access to advanced features like docks that can refill the bot's water tanks, dispense detergent, clean and dry the mop pads and even clean and dry themselves. You'll also unlock higher suction levels. 6,000Pa and above will be fine for most people's needs, but if you have loads of carpet or pets, perhaps a suckier bot will be worth the extra investment.