20 Things You Must Be Educated About Robot Vac
Top Rated Robot Vacuums
A robot vacuum bot can keep floors clean enough to decrease the frequency you'll need to manually vacuum. Choose a robot vacuum that has good navigation, has the ability to clean stairs and corners and has large bins that only needs to be emptying every so often.
You can also find models that mop and charge themselves which can be important for people with children or pets. Many of 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 the i3 EVO. They differ only in that the i3+ has self-emptying capabilities. The i3+ is an excellent alternative for those who want a a fully automated, hands-off cleaning experience, but want to manually empty the dustbin of the robot once it gets full.
Both robots are adept at cleaning up surface debris from carpets and hard floors, and they're very adept at getting 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. The i3+ isn't able to have obstacle avoidance capabilities like the i7+ or any other top-rated robots we have tested. It can get stuck on power cords or socks, and may have trouble navigating between different surfaces, like carpet and hardwood.
iRobot recommends clearing areas that the i3+ EVO will vacuum prior to when you use it, and include clearing out any clutter or toys it may come across. It is also recommended to keep the dustbin and filters clear to avoid getting blocked. If the i3+ EVO's internal bin is filled or the battery is empty it goes back to its docking station, automatically emptying its dirt into the station's external dustbin, and then continues cleaning where it started. The i3+ EVO's batteries last for approximately an hour and a half continuous use. It takes about three hours to fully recharge.
2. Roomba from iRobot
The iRobot i7+ is the top model in iRobot's flagship line and is packed with the latest features. It's self-charging, self-navigating, and the most crucial feature of all -- it has an auto-emptying dustbin, which eliminates one of the main sources of maintenance for any robot vacuum.
The Roomba i7+ can remember up to 10 floor plans and their names thanks to Imprint Smart Mapping, an application that allows it to identify rooms to clean them more efficiently. It also works with iRobot Home to schedule cleaning tasks, and it can control your robot through the app or via voice.
In our tests, the i7+ was more agile and faster than our top rated robot vacuum cleaner on sale vacuum (my website) choice, the eufy RoboVac G30, and it took large pieces of pet hair from all surfaces kinds, including carpeting. The main advantage it has over the Eufy is the self-emptying bin, which eliminates major sources of maintenance and reduces recurring cost.
We were also amazed by the i7+'s integration with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant AI services which we used to instruct the robot to start, stop or pause its cleaning session and to move around the room and vacuum the area. The process of connecting the i7+ to these services was simple and straightforward through the iRobot Home app. Once connected, to voice commands to the i7+, like "Hey Alexa vacuum the master bedroom." The iRobot Home App also offers options for managing i7+ settings and evaluating performance.
3. Dyson Cyclone V10
This tiny Dyson model is an athletic car that is amidst a sea of cordless vacuums that feel like minivans and buses. It's powerful and has features to replace a stand-up vacuum in many households and can fit nicely on the coffee table or the bookshelf, that you can spin around like the magic device.
The V10 is powered by a 7-cell, energy-dense lithium-ion battery that produces fade-free power for 60 minutes. The advanced whole-machine filtering system is able to trap allergens and then lets cleaner air into your home. The specialized head uses rigid nylon bristles that penetrate deep into carpets and collect large dust or crumbs. It has three suction modes to suit the task at hand. It can quickly change from floor vacuum to handheld vacuum, and vice versa.
This model also has a dock that charges to 100% in around 3.5 hours, and gives users easy access to two attachments as well as the clip for a wand. This is a major improvement over previous Dysons which require a long charge and are difficult to store.
The V10's biggest drawback is its limited run time. Its claims on the market that it can provide up to 60 minutes of run time are a bit misleading as CR's tests have shown. This is a typical, not an exceptional, time to run a battery-powered cordless vac. It's enough time to clean a typical-sized home, but not enough to get into every corner. (A second run is usually sufficient). That's not to say 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
One of iRobot's most adored robot vacuums, the 694 is an affordable model that's a great choice for people who don't want to invest too much on a robot vacuum hoover. It's capable of sucking up most debris types and sizes during our testing, and it often passes over the same areas several times to get a really thorough clean. Its flat front side helps it reach into corners and along the edges of walls which is a nice feature.
Its navigation system is smart and uses iAdapt to avoid obstacles and navigate around your home, but it's not equipped with the mapping capabilities of more advanced models like our top choices and the i3+ EVO and the j7+ series. This means that it can sometimes get stuck on things like phone cords or furniture that isn't as sturdy, and frequently is power-depleted before making it back to its home base.
The Xiaomi Mi robot vacuum is superior to the Roomba 694 in many ways in that it has fewer components that require regular cleaning, is fitted with an allergen-trapping HEPA filter, has lower recurring costs, comes with more advanced automation capabilities and is better at moving itself. It also has a bigger dustbin and can charge faster.
The eufy RoboVac X8 has a superior battery life than the Roomba. It also comes with physical boundaries strips that can be controlled with the voice assistant on your smartphone. It also feels more sturdy and has a stronger motor, and is able to perform better on floors that are bare and carpets with low pile, while offering a wider range of automation features.
5. Samsung Jet Bot AI+
Samsung is a name that is found on all kinds of home electronics So it's no surprise that they're also one of the most reputable mop and robot vacuum manufacturers. Their Jet Bot AI+ is loaded with cutting-edge onboard intelligence technology for navigation and obstacles avoidance.
The app offers a wide range of options for customizing your robotic cleaner. These include mopping levels, virtual barriers and behavior customizations docking frequency settings, and much more. The app is simple to use and understand, just like other Samsung devices.
In our testing, the Jet Bot AI+ excelled on hard floors and handled dog hair (on carpet) very well, picking up 86% of it. It was not as successful in avoiding taller objects like socks or cords. This was disappointing. It's priced higher than other models we've tested, and this could be a deal breaker for some shoppers.
The smart vacuum comes with an onboard camera that can be accessed via the app. You can also set up a live streaming from the robot's cleaning station. This feature allows you to check in on your children or pets while you're away. The filter and dustbin can be cleaned for quick, easy cleanup. The Jet Bot AI+ comes with self-emptying clean stations, which helps keep the bin clean and optimizes suction power.
6. Black & Decker Robot Vacuum
Black and Decker robots have been designed specifically for flooring made of hard wood. They have a wider cleaning path and a larger dustbin that holds twice as much debris than other models to keep the cleaning area clear for maximum runtime. They also come with two side sweepers to clean along edges and corners. The POWERSERIES model includes AutoSense, which automatically adjusts the power level depending on whether it's picking up surface dirt or embedded dirt. It also has a smart app that lets you browse the virtual map and manage the functions and schedules. You can also check the vacuum's status and send it to the 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 that you can easily tell the areas where it's focused or where it's stuck.
The app allows you to manually steer the robot in the event of need. For example my living room rug has a darkly-colored border that tends to cause confusion for other robots I've tested. The HRV 425BL however continued to travel across the border, without notifying the edge. And the ability to create weekly cleaning schedules is a great time-saving convenience.
