Top Rated Robot Vacuums
A robot vacuum can keep floors clean enough to decrease the frequency at which you'll need to manually vacuum. Pick a robot vacuum that is well-trained in navigation, can clean corners and stairs and has large bins that only needs to be emptying every so often.
There are models that mop and charge themselves, which is a feature essential for families with pets or children. Many of the top performers in our tests have good obstacle avoidance.
1. Roomba iRobot i3+ from iRobot EVO
The i3+ EVO is similar to its sibling the i3 EVO. They differ only in the fact that the i3+ has self-emptying capabilities. This makes the i3+ a great option for those who want an entirely automated, hands-free cleaning experience, but aren't afraid of manually emptying their robot's dustbin as it gets full.
Both robots do well picking up surface debris off hard floors and carpets, and they are very good at moving around furniture and other obstacles. iAdapt navigation software creates a smart maps of your home to help the i3+ navigate and clean up efficiently. However unlike the i7+ and other top-rated robots that we evaluated the i3+ doesn't have any obstacle-avoidance features which means it can get stuck on things such as socks or power cords and it may have trouble navigating across surface transitions like from hardwood to carpet.
iRobot recommends clearing areas in which the i3+ EVO will vacuum before you use it, and include clearing out any clutter or toys it might encounter. You should also keep the filters and dust bin clear to avoid becoming clogged. If the i3+'s internal bin is empty or the battery is depleted, it returns to the docking station and automatically takes the dirt out of the docking station's external dustbin. It then continues cleaning where it began. Battery life is about an hour and a half of constant usage. It takes 3 hours to fully charge.
2. iRobot i7+ Roomba
The iRobot i7+ is a top model from iRobot’s flagship line, and it comes with the most recent features. It's self-charging and self-navigating. the most crucial feature of all -- it comes with an auto-emptying dustbin, which eliminates one of the most important sources of maintenance for any robot vacuum.
The Roomba I7+ is able to make rooms more efficient maps using Imprint Smart Mapping. It also works with iRobot Home to schedule cleaning tasks, and it can direct your robot using the app or by voice.
automatic vacuum i7+ is more efficient and more agile in our tests than the eufy RoboVac G30. It also picked up large pet hair pieces from any surface, including carpeting. The main advantage it has over the Eufy is its self-emptying garbage bin which eliminates major sources of maintenance and reduces the cost of maintenance.
We were also impressed by the i7+'s compatibility Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant AI services, which we used to instruct the robot to start, stop or pause its cleaning routines and move around the room and vacuum an area. The iRobot Home App made it easy to connect the i7+ to these services. After being connected, to speak commands to the i7+ for example "Hey Alexa vacuum the master bedroom." The iRobot Home App also offers options for managing i7+ settings and monitoring the performance.
3. Dyson Cyclone V10
This tiny Dyson model is a sports car in a sea of cordless vacuums that feel like minivans and buses. It's got the power and features to replace a stand-up vacuum in many households, but it also fits in well next to a coffee table or on the bookshelf, where you can move it around like a magic wand.
The V10 is powered by a seven-cell, energy-dense lithium-ion battery which produces continuous, non-fading power for 60 minutes. The advanced whole-machine filtering system traps allergens, then releases cleaner air into your home. Its cleaning head is specially designed and drives bristles of nylon that are stiff and deep into carpet to suck up large crumbs and fine dust. It comes with three suction modes that can be adjusted to the task. It quickly converts from handheld to floor vacuum and back.
The model comes with a dock that can charge the Dyson to 100 percent within 3.5 hours. It also offers the ability to connect two attachments and a handheld. This is a big improvement over the older Dysons, that require a long charge and are difficult to store.
The main issue with the V10 is its limited run time. Its marketing claims that it can provide up to 60 minutes of run time are misleading as CR's tests have shown. This is a typical and not a remarkable time to run a battery-powered cordless vac. This is still enough to vacuum the majority of a typical-sized home however, it's not enough to cover every area (though an additional run-through often does the trick). This doesn't mean that this model isn't a good choice: It's lighter and maneuverable than older cordless Dysons, and its vacuuming efficiency is better on low-pile carpet.
4. iRobot Roomba 694
One of iRobot's most adored robot vacuums, the 694 is a basic model that's an excellent choice for people who don't want to invest too much money on a robot. It could pick up all kinds of debris and sizes in our testing and often went over the same area multiple times to ensure an extensive clean. Its flat front design allows it to reach the corners and edges of walls.
Its intelligent navigation system makes use of iAdapt technology to stay clear of obstacles and guide you through your home. It's not equipped with the mapping capabilities of more advanced models, such as our top picks, i3+EVO and j7+ Series. As a result, it may get stuck on things like phone cords or low furniture, and it often will run out of battery before returning to its base.
The Xiaomi Mi robot is superior in many ways to the Roomba 694 because it has less parts that require regular cleaning, is equipped with an allergen-trapping HEPA filtering system, has a lower recurring cost, is more sophisticated in its automation capabilities and can better maneuver itself. It also has a larger dustbin and charges faster.
The RoboVac X8 is a slick RoboVac X8 is superior to the Roomba 694 for a variety of purposes, as it has a longer battery life, the ability to change its suction power mode on its own and comes with physical boundary strips, and can be operated by your phone's voice assistant. It also feels better-built and has a stronger motor, and works better on both bare floors and low-pile carpet, while providing a greater variety of automation options.
5. Samsung Jet Bot AI+
Samsung is a name is found on all kinds of home electronics, so it comes as no surprise that they're one of the most reputable robot vacuum and mop manufacturers. Their Jet Bot AI+ is packed with cutting-edge onboard tech for navigation and obstacles avoidance.
The app offers a wide range of options to customize your robotic cleaner. These include virtual barriers, mopping levels and behavior modifications docking frequency settings, and much more. It's easy to comprehend and is user-friendly, which is the case with other Samsung devices.
In our tests, the Jet Bot AI+ performed well on hard floors, and removed 86% of dog hair (on carpet). However, it did not do particularly well in avoiding larger objects, like cords and socks which was a disappointment. It's also a bit more expensive than the other models we tested, which might be a problem for some shoppers.
The smart vacuum has an onboard camera that can be accessed through the app. You can also set up a live streaming from the robot's cleaning station. This feature allows you to monitor your pets or kids when you're away from home. The filter and the dustbin can be cleaned to ensure a quick, painless clean-up. The Jet Bot AI+ also comes with a clean and tidy station that's self-emptying and helps keep the robot's dustbin clean and optimizes suction power for each cleaning.
6. Black & Decker Robot Vacuum
In contrast to other robotic vacuums which are designed for both hard floors and carpets, Black and Decker robots are specifically designed for hard floors. They come with a wide cleaning path and a larger dustbin that holds twice as much debris than other models to keep the area clear for maximum runtime. Plus, they include two side sweepers that clean around edges and corners. The POWERSERIES Extreme model comes with AutoSense technology, which detects whether it's picking up surface litter or embedded dirt and automatically adjusts the power level. It also includes a smart application that lets you browse the virtual map and control the functions and schedules. You can also check the status of the vacuum and connect it to the dock for charging at the touch of a single button. The app also allows you to customize the LED lights on top of the vacuum using different colors so you can easily tell the areas where it's focused or where it's stuck.
The app allows you to steer the robot manually in the event of need. My living room rug for example, has a darkly-colored border that could cause trouble for other robots. The HRV 425BL, however continued to travel across the border, without notifying the edge. The ability to create a weekly cleaning schedule is a great time-saving convenience.