Why the best-value robot vacuum right now isn’t made by iRobot or Shark

I test a lot of robot vacuums, but there’s no doubt that these devices have gotten exceedingly expensive with time. Robot vacuums have gotten a lot of new features that have added to their price, so seeing a premium model for under $1,000 is a rarity. 

Also: This robot vacuum broke the industry mold. Here’s my verdict after months of testing

The Mova P50 Pro Ultra is a robot vacuum and mop available for $799, yet it boasts some of the best features that are available on models twice its price. This robot vacuum has a whopping 19,000Pa of suction power, automatic mop pad removal, and built-in voice control.

This robot vacuum and mop is a hands-free solution to floor care. It has a self-emptying dustbin and autonomous mop washing and drying. All you have to do is empty the dirty water tank every few cleanings, refill the clean water tank when empty, and swap the dustbag every 75 days or so. 

The anti-tangle Clean Chop Brush on the robot itself is one of the best features to tackle hair I’ve ever tested. Built-in blades cut the hair as it rolls over the brush roller, so you never have to deal with removing hair that’s been wrapped around the brush as the vacuum cleans. 

Also: I put this buzzworthy 2-in-1 robot vacuum to work in my house – here’s how it fared

This is a common issue for all types of vacuums, especially if you have pets or someone with long hair in your home. Truthfully, this Mova isn’t the first one to make this type of brush, but it does perform flawlessly each time. 

Because of its anti-tangle brush claims and the Clean Chop Brush, I set up the P50 Pro Ultra in my home office, which doubles as my dog’s bedroom. With medium-length hair and many high-shedding breeds in his DNA, my dog sheds hair like it’s his job, especially if we forget to brush him for a few days. 

Of all the robot vacuums I’ve tested in my home and in this room, the Mova P50 Pro Ultra has been the one to best handle pet hair. The roller brush delivers on its anti-tangle promise, which isn’t common with these devices, and successfully cuts the hair as it rolls. After testing the P50 Pro Ultra for weeks in the hairiest room in my home, I haven’t had to detangle hair from it once.  

Also: 10 ways to maximize your robot vacuum’s cleaning efficiency and battery life

Its obstacle avoidance is also very good, even rivaling some robot vacuums that are twice as expensive as the P50 Pro Ultra. The only issue I’ve had with it is that it can get caught on cables that lie flat on the floor, but this doesn’t happen every time it runs, and I’ve tested many flagship robots that also do the same. 

I’ve found that if a robot vacuum’s obstacle avoidance is too good, it can miss some debris, like the clumps of dog hair I use to test these devices. Successful obstacle avoidance is obviously a challenge for robot vacuum manufacturers, but I really like that this Mova is able to avoid most cables and obstacles on the floor while still sweeping up clumps of hair without issue.

ZDNET’s buying advice

The Mova P50 Pro Ultra is one of the most reliable robot vacuums and mops on the market, and definitely the best value for money available right now. You can feel confident in every penny you spend on this robot, which is rare in the current market. 

Also: I tested the viral Roborock vacuum with a mechanical arm for a month – here’s my verdict

For $799, you get a hands-free robot vacuum and mop with premium features, like some of the strongest suction on the market, a truly anti-tangle brush roller, autonomous cleaning, and the best robot vacuum for pet hair money can buy right now.