Now That You ve Purchased Robot Vac ... Now What

Top Rated Robot Vacuums

A robot vacuum can keep the floors clean enough to cut down on the frequency at which you need to manually vacuum. Pick a robot vacuum with good navigation, can clean stairs and corners, and that has a large bin that will need to be emptying every so often.

There are models that can mop and charge themselves This is an advantage that is essential for families with children or pets. Many of the best self cleaning vacuum performers in our tests have excellent obstacle avoidance.

1. Roomba iRobot i3+ from iRobot EVO

The i3+ EVO and its sibling, the i3 EVO, are identical robots, but they differ in that the i3+ has self-emptying capabilities. The i3+ is a great option for those who want an entirely automated, hands-free cleaning experience, but want to manually empty the robot's dustbin when it is full.

Both robots are adept at picking up surface dirt on hard floors and carpets, and they can easily maneuver around furniture and other obstacles. iAdapt navigation software creates a smart map of your home to help the i3+ navigate and clean up efficiently. The i3+ doesn't have the same obstacle avoidance capabilities as the i7+ or any other top-rated robots we have tested. It could get stuck on power cords and socks and have trouble moving between different surfaces like rug and hardwood.

iRobot suggests that you clean the area around the i3+ EVO vacuums before using it. This includes getting rid of any toys or other items it might come across. It's also recommended to keep the bin and filter clean so they do not become blocked by dirt. When the i3+ EVO's internal bin is full or the battery is depleted it will return to its docking station, automatically emptying its trash into the station's external dustbin and then resumes cleaning where it began. The i3+ EVO's battery can last for about an hour and a half of continuous use. It takes around three hours to fully recharge.

2. iRobot i7+ Roomba

The iRobot i7+ is an excellent model from iRobot's flagship line, and it comes with the latest technology. It's self-charging, self-navigating, and the most important feature of all -- it has self-emptying bins that eliminate one of the primary sources of maintenance for any best robot vacuum for the money vacuum.

The Roomba I7+ can better map rooms with Imprint Smart Mapping. It also works with the iRobot Home app to let you schedule cleaning tasks and control your robot vacuum cleaner with voice or via the app.

In our testing the i7+ was faster and more maneuverable than our top choice which was the eufy RoboVac G30, and it removed large chunks of pet hair from all surface kinds including carpeting. Its greatest advantage over the Eufy is its self-emptying bin, which eliminates the main sources of maintenance and reduces recurring cost.

We were also impressed with the i7+’s compatibility with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant AI services. We utilized these services to instruct the robot on how to begin or stop cleaning sessions as well as move around the room and to vacuum a particular area. Connecting the i7+ to these services was easy and straightforward using the iRobot Home app. Once connected, to speak commands to the i7+, such as "Hey Alexa vacuum the master bedroom." The iRobot Home app also provides options to manage the i7+'s preferences and monitoring its performance.

3. Dyson Cyclone V10

In a world of vacuums that are cordless and look like minivans or buses, this tiny Dyson model is a sports car. It is powerful enough to replace a traditional stand-up vacuum in the majority of homes, but also small enough to fit on a coffee table or bookcase.

The V10 is powered with a 7-cell energy-dense Lithium-ion battery that produces energy that lasts for 60 minutes. Its advanced whole-machine filtration system removes allergens, and then releases clean air back into your home. The specialized head uses rigid nylon bristles that penetrate deep into carpets, and then pick up large crumbs or fine dust. It has three suction modes that can be adjusted to suit the task. It can quickly change from handheld to floor vacuum and vice versa.

The model also comes with docks that charge to 100% in about 3.5 hours and provides an easy access to two attachments and an clip for a wand. This is a huge improvement over earlier Dysons that require a lengthy charge and are difficult to store.

The biggest issue with the V10 is its short run time. As CR's tests have shown, its claims to run up to 60 minutes are misleading. This is a typical and not a remarkable time for a battery-powered cordless vac. This is enough time to vacuum the typical home but not enough to get into every corner. (A second pass is usually sufficient). However, this model doesn't have its advantages It's lighter and more maneuverable than older cordless Dysons and its vacuuming performance is significantly better on low-pile carpet.

4. iRobot Roomba 694"

One of iRobot's most expensive robot vacuum popular robot vacuums, the 694 is a basic model that's an excellent choice for people who don't wish to spend too much on a robotic. It was able to remove all kinds of debris and sizes during our testing and often went over the same area many times for a thorough clean. Its flat front end helps to get into corners and along the walls' edges and walls, which is a nice feature.

Its smart navigation system uses iAdapt to avoid obstacles and navigate your home, but it isn't equipped with the mapping capability of more sophisticated models such as our top picks and the i3+ EVO and j7+ series. It may get stuck on phone cords or low furniture and will often run out of power before returning to its base.

The Xiaomi Mi robot is superior in many ways to the Roomba 694 because it has fewer components that require regular cleaning, is equipped with an allergen-trapping HEPA filtering system, has a lower cost of recurring costs, has more advanced automation capabilities and is better able to maneuver its own. It also has a bigger dustbin and is charged faster.

The eufy RoboVac X8 is superior to the Roomba 694 in most purposes, as it has a longer battery life, the ability to change its suction power mode on its own and has physical boundary strips, and is controlled by your smartphone's voice assistant. It is also more durable and has a more powerful motor, and works better on both bare floors and carpets with low pile, while providing a wider array of features for automation.

5. Samsung Jet Bot AI+

Samsung is a household name in home electronics. It's no surprise that they are also among the top producers of robot vacuums and mop. Their Jet Bot AI+ is packed with cutting-edge onboard technology for navigation and obstacle avoidance.

The app provides a range of customization options for your robotic cleaner. These include virtual barriers, mopping levels and behavior customizations docking frequency settings, and more. The app is easy to use and understand as are other Samsung devices.

In our testing our tests, the Jet Bot AI+ excelled on hard floors and dealt with dog hair (on carpet) quite well, cleaning up 86 percent of it. It didn't do very well in avoiding taller objects like cords or socks. This was disappointing. It's also more expensive than some of the other models we tried, which might be a deterrent for some shoppers.

The app lets you access the onboard camera of the smart vacuum. You can also create live streaming from the cheap robot vacuum cleaner's area of cleaning. This feature allows you to check in on your pets or children while you are away. The filter and dustbin can be washed to make cleanup quick and easy. The Jet Bot AI+ also comes with a clean station that self-empties, which helps keep the robot's dustbin clean and optimizes its suction power for each cleaning.

6. Black & Decker Robot Vacuum

Black and Decker robots have been designed specifically for hard flooring. They come with a wide cleaning path and an extra-large dust bin that can hold 2X more debris than other models to keep the cleaning area free of debris for the longest period of time. Plus, they include two side sweepers to clean around edges and corners. The POWERSERIES model includes AutoSense which adjusts the power level based on whether it is picking up dirt on the surface or embedded dirt. The vacuum also has an app that allows you to view a virtual map, control functions, and schedules. You can also monitor the vacuum's status and send it to its dock for charging with the click of a button. The app allows you to customize the LED lights on top of the vacuum with different colors so you can easily identify the areas where it's focused or where it's stuck.

The app allows you to manually steer the robot when needed. My living room rug, for instance is darkly colored which could cause a problem for other robots. The HRV 425BL, however, continued to move across the border without ever registering the edge. Also, the ability to program weekly cleaning schedules is a fantastic time-saving feature.