How to Find the Best Robot Vacuum
If you're able to live without the benefits of smart features like mapping, and aren't worried about emptying the dustbin every 60 days or then, a basic robot vacuum could be a good choice for you. Find a model that has a clean base and can work with voice assistants.
It excels at removing dirt, pet hair and cat litter on hardwood floors, tile and carpeting that is lower-pile better than any other vacuum we've tried. It can also map out and set virtual no-go zones in rooms or certain areas.
1. Powerful Suction
A robot vacuum will help you keep track of the pet fur, dust and dander that collects on your floor each day. It also can reduce the frequency you have to clean your floors, saving you time and effort. The best model has powerful suction that can clean up most mess and leave your home sparkling clean.
A robot vacuum that is also able to mop can help you get more space by using just one machine. This is especially beneficial in a larger home. Find models that have a water reservoir either built into its chassis or as a separate piece that you put in after the vacuuming is done. It will need to be empty and fill it up, however, so this is an additional task that requires a little extra work on your part.
In ideal world, you'd be able to clean your floors before you used your robot vacuum to prevent it from running into things. In vacuum mop combo robot of homes, however it's not feasible or desirable. The majority of models let you use an app that you can install on your phone to create virtual barriers that the robot will observe. Some include no-go zones, which you can use to flag areas you don't want the robot to access, such as children rooms or a pile of cords for your device in the corner.
This model is a good option for those looking for a basic robot cleaner that does not have all the bells and whistles. It's quiet, works well on hard floors and low-pile carpets and can be scheduled through the app to vacuum or mop at your convenience. It's got a long battery life that can last for up to 180 minutes before it needs to recharge.
2. Easy to Operate
Robot vacuums generally need only minimal effort from you. They use instruments for navigation, such as sensors, lasers, and cameras to move and collect pet hair, dust, and food crumbs from hard floors, tiles and hardwood. Many models have boundaries strips that help them remain in a room. More expensive models can be programmed to start up at a certain time and begin cleaning. Some models have fall detection technology to help them avoid falling down a flight of stairs or becoming tangled in cords.
Find models that can be controlled from your couch via voice assistants, such as Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also select Wi-Fi models that allow you to begin a cleaning session anywhere using an app. Depending on how big your home is, you may prefer an item with a long battery life and a large dust bin that doesn't require being regularly emptied.
Some robot vacuums double as mops and use reservoirs of water to clean your floors. This is helpful for normal mopping, but it won't be effective for messes that are more difficult to clean, like pet poop or other spills that get wet. You can pick hybrids with an adjustable microfiber mopping pad or a self-emptying model that lets you go for up to 60 days before emptying the base.
3. Smart Mapping
Some robots use advanced mapping technology to create an accurate map of your floorplan while they clean the floor, which makes it easier for them to avoid falling into furniture or falling over things such as cords or chairs. This feature is typically only available on more expensive models, but it's one of the best ways to ensure your robot has a full understanding of the layout of your house and can determine where to go when it's low on battery.
If you don't want your robot to venture into areas of your home you'd rather it stay away from (like your kids' toys or the tangled mess of device cords in the corner), most robots offer some method of creating virtual barriers, either with their app or physical boundary strips. You can block off areas that you don't wish your robot to enter to allow it to concentrate on rooms that require the most attention.
Many robots will also automatically change floors depending on the type of flooring they are cleaning. This can be accomplished by switching from carpet to hard flooring or by paying attention to certain areas of your home, such as corners and baseboards. In our tests this was a helpful feature that improved their performance in picking up hardwood and low-pile carpeting. It is essential to put away any loose cords or furniture before using your robot vacuum, so that it doesn't become caught.
4. Remote Control
The majority of robot vacuums are WiFi-enabled and can be controlled by Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri Shortcuts to allow you to control them using voice commands or through your smartphone. Many connect to smart home systems and build maps of your home after each cleaning session so they can "learn" your layout and devise more efficient routes for future trips. Some have built-in obstacle avoidance, which stops them from crashing into furniture and damaging it or getting stuck on things like charging cables that are loose or shoe laces, as well as hair from pets.
The majority of robots come with an remote control that can be used to guide them around your home. However, many can be controlled using an app on your mobile that comes with additional options. You can usually set multiple cleaning schedules, make a list of favorite rooms and even manually guide your robot around specific areas by using directional arrows on the screen.
Certain models have no-go zones. These are virtual barriers you can create within the app to block the robot from entering specific areas (like kid's toys or dishes for dogs and dog beds). Other apps let you create an outline of your home and provide the robot with precise information about your floors. The Roborock S7+ app has a number of useful features that will help you clean the house. However, its interface isn't quite as polished as that from iRobot or Shark.
5. Long Battery Life
Robotic vacuums that can sweep throughout the house without stopping to recharge or empty their bins of dust can save you time and energy. Some of them work with smart home devices like Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri Shortcuts to allow hands-free operation. They can also draw an outline of the space that allows you to program them to specific areas or rooms, and to stay clear of obstacles.
The majority of robot vacuums detect objects, but the iRobot j7 offers advanced features such as "home mapping" and obstacle avoidance. These features can make your life easier (although one of our test bots did "eat" a few socks). If you're looking to take your home maintenance even further consider a robot mop that has a tank of water that can be filled and then empty.
While no of the models we tested could match the ability to pick up dirt of a stand-up vacuum they did an excellent job of cleaning hard floors and low pile carpets. They excel at sweeping up fine dirt, food crumbs and tracked-in dirt. They can also tackle stray cat litter and metal screws and nuts. The top robot vacuums can effortlessly work around furniture, and they do a great job of cleaning edges and corners as well. Eufy 11S is a relatively affordable and basic model.
6. Convenient Self-Charging
A robot vacuum will help keep your home tidy and clean without you having to do much work. You can schedule cleanings through the app and set up no-go zones to ensure that your robot won't trample your plants or ruin your favorite chair. A majority of our top picks also automatically empty their trash bins and clean their docking stations for you.
The top robot vacuums are programmable to keep your floors clean for months or weeks at a stretch, which saves you the time and effort of manually sweeping or mopping your floors every week or even every day. This allows you to enjoy more time doing things you like and reduces the time needed to clean your floors manually.
During testing the Q Revo was able to grab small particles such as baking soda and oatmeal and heavier debris like nails and screws made of metal, and fluffy stuff like hair from pets. It lacks the advanced mapping and object-avoiding features of our top picks but is still a great choice for most families.
The most appealing aspect of the j7 robot is that it utilizes camera and processor-powered sensors to identify and avoid obstacles like power cords, shoes socks and pet waste. This means that you don't need to clean up after using your robot. However, rooms that are cluttered can cause your robot to get stuck and do a poor job.