10 Things Everybody Hates About Robot Vac

Top Rated Robot Vacuums

A robot vacuum will keep your floors tidy enough to cut down on the frequency of manual hoovering. Select a vacuum that is well-trained in navigation, has the ability to clean corners and stairs, and that has large bins that will need to be emptying every so often.

There are models that clean and charge themselves, a feature that may be important for people with children or pets. Many of the best performers in our tests have excellent obstacle avoidance.

1. iRobot Roomba i3+ EVO

The i3+ EVO is similar to its sibling, the i3 EVO. They differ only in that the i3+ comes with self-emptying capabilities. This makes the i3+ an excellent option for those who want an automated, hands-free cleaning experience, but don't mind manually emptying their robot's dustbin as it gets full.

Both robots do well picking up surface debris off carpets and hard floors, and they are very good in getting around furniture and other obstacles. iAdapt navigation software makes a smart maps of your home to assist the i3+ to navigate and clean efficiently. However unlike the i7+ or other top-rated robots we evaluated the i3+ does not have any obstacle-avoidance features and therefore it could be stuck on things like socks or power cords and it can have difficulty in navigating through transitions between surfaces like hardwood to carpet.

iRobot recommends you clear out areas that the i3+ EVO will vacuum prior to when you use it, including clearing out any clutter or toys it may encounter. Also, keep the dustbin and filter free of dirt to prevent them from becoming clogged. When the i3+ EVO’s internal bin is empty or the battery is depleted, it returns to the docking station and emptys the dirt into the docking station’s external dustbin. Then it continues cleaning from where it began. The i3+ EVO's battery can last for about an hour and a half continuous use, and takes around three hours to recharge.

2. Roomba from iRobot

The iRobot Roomba i7+ is the most powerful model of the flagship line from iRobot and is equipped with the most recent features. It's self-charging, self-navigating and -- the most important feature of all -- it comes with self-emptying bins that eliminate one of the most important sources of maintenance for any robot vacuum.

The Roomba I7+ can map rooms more efficiently with Imprint Smart Mapping. It also works with iRobot Home to schedule cleaning tasks, and you can control your robot via the app or by voice.

The i7+ is quicker and more agile in our tests than the eufy RoboVac G30. It also cleaned large pet hair pieces from any surface, including carpeting. The biggest benefit over the eufy it self-empties its dust bin, which removes a major source of maintenance and reduces recurring costs.

We were also amazed by the i7+'s compatibility with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant AI services, which we used to instruct the robot to begin, stop or pause its cleaning sessions, move itself around the room and vacuum a specific space. The iRobot Home App made it easy to connect the i7+ with these services. Once connected, we were able to communicate with the i7+ using voice commands, such as "Hey Alexa, vacuum the master bedroom." The iRobot Home app also provides options to manage the i7+'s settings and monitoring its performance.

3. Dyson Cyclone V10

This tiny Dyson model is a sports car in a sea of cordless vacuums robot that feel like minivans and buses. It is powerful enough to replace a stand-up vacuum in a majority of homes, yet it is also small enough to fit on a coffee table or bookcase.

The V10 is powered by a 7-cell energy-dense Lithium-ion battery, which produces power that is not fading for 60 minutes. Its advanced whole-machine filter system traps allergens and releases clean air back into your home. The specialized head uses rigid nylon bristles to penetrate into carpets and collect large particles or fine dust. It has three different suction modes that can be adjusted to the task. It can quickly change from floor vacuum to handheld vacuum and vice versa.

The model comes with a dock which charges the Dyson to 100 percent in 3.5 hours. It also provides easy access to 2 attachments as well as a handheld. This is a huge improvement over older Dysons, which require a lengthy charge and are difficult to store.

The V10's biggest drawback is its sluggish run time. Its marketing claims that it can last up to 60 minutes of running time are not true as CR's tests show. This is a standard battery-powered cordless vacuum's run time. That's still enough run time to vacuum the majority of a home that's average size however, it's not enough to get every single area (though a second run-through usually can be effective). This model has its own advantages however: it's light and more maneuverable than older Dysons cordless models and its ability to vacuum is noticeably superior for carpet floors with low pile.

4. iRobot Roomba 694

The 694 is a basic robot floor cleaner vacuum that's an excellent choice for those who don't have a lot of money to spend on an expensive robot. It's capable of sucking up most types of debris and sizes during our tests, and frequently goes over the same areas several times to give a thorough clean. The flat front of the unit allows it reach into corners and along the walls' edges which is a nice addition.

Its navigation system is smart and uses iAdapt to avoid obstacles and navigate your home, but it's not equipped with the mapping capabilities of more advanced models like our top selections and the i3+ EVO and the j7+ series. It may get stuck on phone cords or furniture and is often unable to supply power before returning to its home base.

The Xiaomi Mi robot vacuum is superior to the Roomba 694 in many ways because it has fewer components that need regular cleaning and is equipped with an allergen-trapping HEPA filter, has lower recurring costs, comes with more advanced automation capabilities and is more efficient in maneuvering itself. It also has a bigger dustbin and charges quicker.

The eufy RoboVac X8 has a superior battery longevity than the Roomba 694. It also comes with physical boundaries strips and can be controlled using your smartphone's voice assistant. It's also more robust, has a more powerful motor, and is more effective on low-pile and bare floors.

5. Samsung Jet Bot AI+

Samsung is a brand is found on all kinds of home electronics, so it comes as no surprise that they're one of the most popular robot vacuum and mop manufacturers. Jet Bot AI+ has the most advanced onboard technology to navigate and avoid obstacles.

The app gives you plenty of options to personalize your robotic vacuum cleaner on sale cleaner, such as virtual barriers, mopping water levels and behavior modification, docking frequency settings, and more. The app is easy to learn and use similar to other Samsung devices.

In our tests in our tests, the Jet Bot AI+ performed well on hard floors. It cleaned up 86 percent of dog hair (on carpet). However, it did not do particularly well at avoiding higher-up objects like cords or socks, which was disappointing. It's also more expensive than the other models that we tested, and this could be a deal breaker for some buyers.

The smart vacuum has an onboard camera that you can access via the app. You can also set up a live stream from the robot's cleaning station. This feature allows you to check in on pets or the kids if you're away from home. The dustbin and the filter can be cleaned to ensure a quick, painless clean-up. The Jet Bot AI+ also comes with a clean station that self-empties, which helps keep the robot's trash bin clean and optimizes suction power for each cleaning run.

6. Black & Decker Robot Vacuum

Black and Decker robots have been designed specifically for flooring made of hard wood. They have an extra-wide cleaning path, and dust bins that are 2X larger than the competition. This lets them clean the area for a longer period of time. Additionally, they come with two side sweepers that clean up around edges and in corners. The POWERSERIES Extreme model comes with AutoSense technology, which can tell if it's picking up dirt on surfaces or embedded dirt and then automatically adjusts the power level. It also comes with a smart app that lets you see the virtual map and manage functions and schedules. Additionally, you can track the battery's status and then return it to its dock for charging at the push of a button. The app lets you alter the LED lights on the top of the vacuum to discern where it is focusing or if it has gotten stuck.

The app also makes it easy to manually steer the robot in the event of need. My living room rug for instance has a dark-colored border which could cause a problem for other robots. However, the HRV 425BL continued to move across the border without registering it as an incline. Also, the ability to set up a weekly cleaning schedule is a great time-saving convenience.