20 Things You Should Know About Robot Vac

Top Rated Robot Vacuums

A robot vacuum is able to keep floors clean enough to reduce the frequency with which you need to manually vacuum. Pick a robot vacuum with good navigation, has the ability to clean stairs and corners and also has a large bin that only needs to be cleaned out every now and then.

There are models that mop and charge themselves, which is a feature important for families with children or pets. The top performers in our tests also have good obstacle avoidance.

1. Roomba iRobot i3+ from iRobot EVO

The i3+ EVO is identical to its sibling i3 EVO. They differ only in that the i3+ comes with self-emptying capabilities. This makes the i3+ a good option for those who want an automated cleaning, hands-free cleaning experience, but aren't afraid of taking the time to empty their robot's trash bin when it fills up.

Both robots are good in removing dirt and dust particles on hard floors and carpets and can maneuver around furniture and other obstacles. iAdapt navigation software creates intelligent maps of your home that help the i3+ EVO navigate and clean in a way that maximizes efficiency. However, unlike the i7+ or other top-rated robots that we evaluated, the i3+ doesn't have any obstacle-avoidance features and therefore it could be stuck on things like power cords or socks, and it can have difficulty traversing transitions across surfaces like from hardwood to rug.

iRobot recommends that you tidy the area around the i3+ EVO vacuums before using it. This includes getting rid of any toys or other clutter it might come across. It's also recommended to keep the dustbin and filter clean so they don't become clogged with dirt. If the i3+'s internal bin is empty or the battery is depleted, it returns to the docking station and takes the dirt out of the docking station's dust bin. It then continues cleaning from where it began. The battery's life span is approximately an hour and a half of constant use. It takes three hours to charge.

2. iRobot i7+ Roomba

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

The Roomba i7+ is able to remember up to 10 floor plans and their names thanks to Imprint Smart Mapping, an application that allows it to map rooms so it can clean them more efficiently. It also works with iRobot Home to schedule cleaning jobs, and you can control your robot through the app or via voice.

The i7+ is quicker and more agile in our tests than the eufy RoboVac G30. It also cleaned large pet hair pieces from all surfaces, including carpeting. The biggest advantage over the Eufy is the self-emptying bin which removes major maintenance sources and lowers the cost of recurring maintenance.

We were also awestruck 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 sessions, move itself around the room, and even vacuum an area. The iRobot Home App made it easy to connect the i7+ to these services. After connecting to these services, we were able give the i7+ voice commands, such as "Hey Alexa, vacuum the master bedroom." The iRobot Home App also offers options to manage i7+ settings and monitoring the performance.

3. Dyson Cyclone V10

In a world of vacuums with cords that feel like minivans or buses, this tiny Dyson model feels like a sports car. 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 bookcase or coffee table.

The V10 is powered by a 7-cell energy-dense lithium-ion battery that produces continuous, non-fading power for 60 minutes. Its sophisticated whole-machine filtration system captures allergens and expels clean air back into your home. The cleaning head is specially designed to drive bristles made of nylon that are stiff into carpet to collect large dust and crumbs. It has three suction modes that can be adjusted to suit the task. It is able to swiftly change from handheld to floor vacuum and vice versa.

This model also has docks that charge to 100% in about 3.5 hours, and gives users an easy access to two attachments and the Wand clip. This is a huge improvement over the older Dysons, which require a lengthy charge and are a pain to store.

The V10's main drawback is its limited running time. As CR's tests show, its advertising claims of up to 60 minutes are not true. This is a standard, not exceptional, battery-powered cordless vacuum's running time. It's enough time to clean the typical home but not enough to reach every area. (A second pass is usually sufficient). However, this model doesn't have its benefits It's lighter and more mobile than the older cordless Dysons and its vacuuming performance is significantly better on carpets with low pile.

4. iRobot Roomba 694

The 694 is a standard robot vacuum that's a great option for those who don't have lots of money to invest in a robot. It's capable of sucking up most kinds of debris in our testing, and it frequently goes over the same areas several times to give a thorough clean. Its flat front makes it possible to reach the corners and the edges of walls.

Its intelligent navigation system makes use of iAdapt technology to steer clear of obstacles and guide you through your home. It's not equipped with the mapping capabilities of more advanced models, like our Top Rated Robot Vacuum picks, i3+EVO and j7+ Series. It may get stuck on phone cords or low furniture and is often unable to supply power before returning to its base.

The Xiaomi Mi robot is superior in many ways to the Roomba 694 in that it has fewer parts that require regular cleaning, is equipped with an allergen-trapping HEPA filtration system, incurs lower recurring cost and has more advanced automation capabilities and is better able to move itself. It also has a larger dustbin and is charged faster.

The sleek RoboVac X8 has a superior battery life than the Roomba 694. It also has physical boundaries strips and can be controlled with your smartphone's voice assistance. It is also more durable, has a stronger motor, and performs better on floors with low pile and bare.

5. Samsung Jet Bot AI+

Samsung is a household name in home electronics. It's no surprise, then, that they are also among the top producers of robot vacuums and mop. Jet Bot AI+ has an advanced onboard technology that allows for navigation and obstacle avoidance.

The app gives you plenty of options to personalize your robotic hoovers cleaner, including virtual barriers mopping water levels, behavior modification docking frequency settings and much more. It's easy to comprehend and user-friendly, as is the case with other Samsung devices.

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

The app lets you access the camera onboard of the smart vacuum. You can also create live streaming from the robot's area of cleaning. This feature allows you to monitor your pets or kids when you're away from home. The filter and dustbin are washable to make cleanup quick and easy. The Jet Bot AI+ comes with an automatic vacuum clean station which helps to keep the bin clean and improves suction power.

6. Black & Decker Robot Vacuum

In contrast to other robotic vacuums that are specifically designed for hard floors and carpets, Black and Decker robots are specifically designed for hard floors. They feature an extra-wide cleaning path and an extra-large dustbin that holds twice as much debris than the competition to keep the cleaning area clean for the longest time. Additionally, they come with two side sweepers to clean up around edges and in corners. The POWERSERIES Extreme model comes with AutoSense technology, which senses the presence of surface litter or embedded dirt and then automatically adjusts its power level. It also includes a smart application that lets you see the virtual map and control functions and schedules. You can also check the status of the vacuum and then send it to the dock for charging with the touch of a single button. The app allows you to modify the LEDs on the top of the vacuum so that you can determine where it is focused or if it has gotten stuck.

The app allows you to steer the robot manually, if necessary. For example, my living room rug has a darkly-colored border that tends to trip up some of the other robots I've tried. The HRV 425BL however continued to travel across the border without registering the high point. The ability to program a cleaning schedule for each week is a time-saving benefit.