eufy E20 robot vacuum review: An all in one robot, handheld and cordless cleaner

When I first heard about the eufy E20 robot vacuum, I was intrigued by the idea of a vacuum cleaner that could handle vacuuming on its own while I got on with my day. For those who aren’t familiar, the eufy E20 is a smart robot vacuum that not only cleans your floors autonomously but also comes with a self-emptying base, app control, and voice assistant compatibility. It’s designed to map out your home, avoid obstacles, and adapt its cleaning power depending on the surface it’s on, all with minimal input from you. In theory, it promises to take one more household chore off your plate, and after using it regularly for a couple of months, I’ve got plenty to say about how it holds up in practice.

I’ve been testing the eufy E20 robot vacuum cleaner in my own home for the last few months, putting it through its paces in a real-life setting. I’ve let it roam my downstairs space, complete with rugs, furniture, and a dog who’s not entirely convinced by its presence. I’ve experimented with different suction levels, used the handheld and stick vacuum options, connected it to Siri on my iPhone, and scheduled cleans while I worked upstairs or relaxed in bed. From setup frustrations to smart features that genuinely make life easier, I’ve had a full experience with this vacuum and its various capabilities.

If you’ve ever wondered whether a robot vacuum is really worth it or if the eufy E20 lives up to its claims, keep reading. I’ll break down everything from build quality and performance to daily usability and the little details that make a big difference. Whether you're looking for a cleaning companion that works while you chill or just want to vacuum less often, this review will help you decide if the eufy E20 robot vacuum cleaner is the right fit for your home.

eufy E20 robot vacuum cleaner review

Build

After using the eufy E20 robot vacuum for a couple of months in my home, I’ve come to really appreciate the design choices eufy made with this machine. At first glance, it’s sleek and modern-looking, a circular disc that’s low enough to glide under most furniture like sofas and cabinets. It gives off a high-tech but unobtrusive vibe, which fits nicely into the home without being an eyesore.

The robot itself comes with side brushes that spin as it moves. These are essential for pulling in dust and dirt from edges and corners. I was skeptical at first about how much they could do, but they actually make a noticeable difference in those tricky areas where a traditional vacuum often misses.

What’s clever is that this isn’t just a robot vacuum. It can be used as both a handheld vacuum and a cordless stick vacuum, which I’ve found really handy. You can pop the dustbin out of the robot and attach it to the handheld or stick unit. That means you can tackle staircases, upholstery, or smaller messes where the robot can’t go. I regularly use the stick vacuum upstairs and then insert the dustbin back into the base downstairs to self-empty. I imagine usually any home with a robot vacuum cleaner would also need to have another vacuum to be able to clean all the nooks and crannies missed by the robot cleaner (after all, they're convenient but not 100 per cent perfect) whereas this eufy E20 3-in-1 robot vacuum cleaner eliminates the need to buy another one as it can be used as a different type of vac itself.

The self-emptying base is another key feature. When the robot finishes its run, it returns to the base and empties its contents into a bag. eufy says the bag needs to be changed every 75 days or so, which has held true for me so far. This design makes vacuuming feel almost entirely hands-off. The base also stores the nozzle for the handheld part neatly, though I do wish the stick extension could also be stored in the base. As it stands, the stick just leans awkwardly next to the unit, and that’s not ideal for a tidy setup. You also have to be careful not to place the stick part too close to the base, as it can trigger an “obstruction” warning, which prevents the robot from docking properly.

Performance

Performance-wise, the eufy E20 has been surprisingly powerful and thoughtful in how it cleans. This robot genuinely learns and adapts to your space.

The very first time I set it loose, it did a sort of scouting mission of my downstairs. It mapped the area, locating furniture like the sofa and dining table, and used that information to plan future routes. That initial mapping made a big difference in how efficiently it now moves around. I rarely see it bumping into things randomly or getting lost in a corner. You can see on the app the floorplan of your house and name each room and also set no-go zones if you want it to avoid certain bits. You can also let the robot clean the whole floor plan or set it to work in just your kitchen or living room if you've got an area that's more full of mess than another.

One of my favorite features is how it automatically adjusts suction when it detects different floor types. I have a rug in the living room, and I noticed it kicks up the suction when it transitions from hardwood to the rug. This seems to help pull up pet hair and dust that gets embedded in the thicker fibres. That feature alone makes me feel like it’s doing more than just a surface clean.

Through the app, you can also manually set the suction level. I always go for turbo mode and set it to clean twice through an area. It’s great for a deeper clean, especially on days when I know the floors are dirtier than usual. The ability to customise this kind of cleaning run is hugely valuable, especially for pet owners or families with kids.

Speaking of pets, I have a dog, Gina, and while she’s not afraid of the vacuum, she definitely doesn’t love the noise. I’ll be honest: The robot is fairly loud. It’s not unbearable, but you can definitely hear it chugging away downstairs if you’re working upstairs. The dust-emptying process is the noisiest part and it roars for a good few seconds when transferring debris to the base. Because of this, I wouldn’t recommend running it at night or during calls if you’re trying to focus. That said, it’s no louder than a traditional vacuum overall, just a little jarring when it auto-empties.

The robot hasn’t gotten stuck very often, which I appreciate. The only time it struggled was when Gina’s food mat curled up while the robot was cleaning near it, causing a minor confusion. One hiccup in two months is very manageable.

So, while it’s not whisper-quiet and doesn’t completely replace manual vacuuming in every nook and cranny, it gets impressively close. I’d say it handles 75-80 per cent of my vacuuming needs with ease in the robot mode before I need to switch to the stick or handheld to finish off.

Usability

Once the robot is up and running, it’s a joy to use. But let me start with the one part that wasn’t smooth: initial setup.

Connecting the robot to my Wi-Fi and pairing it with the app was a bit of a headache. It kept getting stuck in a loop of failed connections before it finally connected on the fourth try. It was frustrating, especially for a product that’s meant to be convenient from the get-go. However, once that hurdle was cleared, it’s been incredibly user-friendly.

The eufy app is well-designed, offering lots of custom options. You can set cleaning schedules for specific times and days, choose cleaning modes, and monitor where the robot has cleaned. I especially love the scheduling feature. Being able to set a clean for 8am while I’m in bed upstairs is such a small joy that ends up saving me time and effort every single day. I also love that you can see exactly where the robot has been on the app.

Beyond the app, the robot also integrates with Amazon Alexa and Apple’s Siri. I set mine up with Siri, and now I can just say, “Hey Siri, let Robovac start cleaning,” and off it goes. It feels a bit futuristic and adds a layer of convenience that genuinely fits into a modern smart home.

The only real usability trade-off is that you’ll still occasionally need to vacuum certain areas manually. That’s where the convertible handheld/stick function comes into play, and it feels like a very thoughtful inclusion. You’re not left reaching for a second vacuum or hauling a clunky upright out and downstairs as it's the same vacuum already built-in that you can convert with just a few clicks.

This combination of app, voice control, and modular use is what makes the E20 more than just a gimmicky robot. It’s a practical, intelligent cleaning assistant that fits into real routines.

Final verdict

After a couple of months with the eufy E20, I can confidently say this little robot has changed the way I clean my home for the better. What I love most is the free time it gives back. I can be working at my desk, watching a show, or even reading in bed while the robot quietly (well, sometimes not-so-quietly) handles the cleaning. It's taken a chore I used to dread and made it something that happens in the background.

The smart features like adjustable suction, auto-detection of rugs/carpet, mapping, and voice/app control make this device even more convenient for me. The self-emptying base is a huge win, reducing one more task from my mental load. And the ability to convert the robot into a stick or handheld vacuum means I’m not missing out on deep cleans or those hard-to-reach areas.

Sure, it’s not perfect. The setup was frustrating as I just couldn't see the reason why it wouldn't connect to my Wi-Fi, but it eventually solved itself. It’s also a little too noisy to run at night as it would definitely wake you up. I can often hear Gina growling away to herself upstairs while the eufy cleans downstairs, as she can also hear it very clearly.

In short, if you’re someone who wants a cleaner home with less effort and more time to enjoy other things, the eufy E20 is absolutely worth considering. The fact it can be used as both a handheld vacuum and a stick cordless vacuum too makes it so much more versatile than a regular robot vacuum cleaner and should eliminate the need to have an additional vacuum to go over the areas that a robovac just can't reach.

Rosie Floyd is a Senior Home & Pets Product Writer for Yours, specialising in home appliances, décor and furnishings, as well as all things dogs. After completing her Journalism & Media degree from Coventry University back in 2015, she started her career writing about must-visit holiday destinations, moving on to creating content around outdoor living and garden buildings, before joining the team at Bauer.