20 Fun Facts About Robot Vac

Top highest rated robot vacuum robot broom Vacuums

A robot vacuum can keep the floors clean enough to cut down on the frequency you'll need to manually vacuum. Select a vacuum that has good navigation, is able to clean stairs and corners, and that has large bins that only needs to be emptying every so often.

There are also models that can mop and charge themselves, a feature that may be beneficial for those with pets or children. The top performers in our tests also have good obstacle avoidance.

1. Roomba iRobot i3+ from iRobot EVO

The i3+ EVO and its sibling, the i3 EVO are the same robots, but they differ in that the i3+ has self-emptying features. That makes the i3+ a good choice for people who want an automated, hands-free cleaning experience, but don't mind having to empty their dust bin manually when it is full.

Both robots excel at picking up surface debris off carpets and hard floors and they're very adept at getting around furniture and other obstacles. iAdapt navigation software creates smart maps of your home that help the i3+ EVO navigate and clean in a manner that maximizes efficiency. However, unlike the i7+ or other top-rated robots that we test, the i3+ doesn't have any obstacle-avoidance features which means it can get stuck on things such as socks or power cords and it can have difficulty navigating across surface transitions like hardwood to rug.

iRobot suggests cleaning up the area where the i3+ EVO vacuums prior to using it. This includes getting rid of any toys or clutter it might encounter. It's also a good idea to keep the dust bin and filter clear so they don't become clogged with dirt. When the i3+ EVO's internal bin is empty or the battery is not fully charged, it returns to the docking station, and it automatically emptys the dirt into the docking station's external dustbin. It then continues cleaning from where it left off. Battery life is about an hour and a half of constant usage. It takes 3 hours to charge.

2. iRobot Roomba i7+

The iRobot Roomba i7+ is the Top Rated Robot Vacuum model in the iRobot flagship line and has the most up-to-date features. It's self-charging and self-navigating. -- the most important feature of all -- it comes with an auto-emptying dustbin, which eliminates one of the most important sources of maintenance for any best robot vacuum cleaner vacuum.

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

In our tests the i7+ performed faster and more maneuverable than our runner-up and the eufy RoboVac G30, and it took large pieces of pet hair from all surface kinds, including carpeting. Its greatest advantage over the Eufy is its self-emptying garbage bin that eliminates major sources of maintenance and reduces recurring cost.

We were also impressed 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 routines and to move around the room and vacuum a specific space. Connecting the i7+ to these services was easy and straightforward using the iRobot Home app. We were able, once connected, to voice commands to the i7+ like "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

This tiny Dyson model is an athletic car in a sea of vacuums with cords that feel like minivans and buses. It's powerful enough to replace a traditional stand-up vacuum in most homes, but it is also compact enough to fit on a bookcase or coffee table.

The V10 is powered with a Lithium-ion battery with 7 cells of energy that produces power without fading for 60 minutes. The advanced whole-machine filtering system is able to trap allergens and then lets cleaner air into your home. The specially designed head utilizes stiff nylon bristles that penetrate deep into carpets and collect large dust or crumbs. It has three suction modes to meet the task being performed. It is able to quickly switch from handheld to floor vacuum, and vice versa.

This model also has an accessory dock that can charge to 100% in about 3.5 hours and offers an easy access to two attachments and an wand clip. This is a significant improvement over earlier Dysons models, that require a long charge and are difficult to store.

The main issue with the V10 is its limited running time. The tests conducted by CR show that its marketing claims of up to 60 minutes are misleading. This is a typical battery-powered cordless best automatic vacuum's run time. That's still enough run time to get rid of the majority of a home that's average size but not long enough to get every single spot (though an additional run-through often does the trick). This model has its own advantages however: it's light and more maneuverable than older Dysons cordless models, and its vacuuming ability is noticeably superior on low-pile floor carpet.

4. iRobot Roomba 694"

One of iRobot's most popular robot vacuums, the 694 is an affordable model that's an excellent option for those who don't want to spend too much on a robotic. It could pick up the majority of types of debris and sizes in our tests, and frequently went over the same area multiple times to give a thorough clean. Its flat front allows it to reach corners and the edges of walls.

Its navigation system is smart and uses iAdapt to avoid obstacles and navigate around your home, but it lacks the mapping capabilities of more sophisticated models like our top picks and the i3+ EVO and the j7+ series. It is prone to getting stuck on phone cords or low furniture and often runs out of power before returning to its base.

The Xiaomi Mi robot is superior in many ways over the Roomba 694 because it has fewer components that require regular cleaning, comes with an allergen-trapping HEPA filtration system, incurs lower recurring cost and has more advanced automation capabilities and can better move 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 better battery life, the ability to change its suction power mode on its own and has physical boundary strips, and is operated by your phone's voice assistant. It is also more durable, has a stronger motor, and is more effective on low-pile and bare floors.

5. Samsung Jet Bot AI+

Samsung is a well-known brand in home electronics. It's no surprise, then, that they are also among the top manufacturers of robot vacuums and mop. Their Jet Bot AI+ is loaded with cutting-edge onboard intelligence technology for navigation and obstacles avoidance.

The app offers a variety of options to personalize your robotic cleaner, such as virtual barriers, mopping water levels and behavior customization docking frequency settings and much more. It's simple to comprehend and easy to use, just as is the case with other Samsung devices.

In our tests during our tests, the Jet Bot AI+ performed well on hard floors, and it removed 86 percent of dog hair (on carpet). It didn't do very well in avoiding taller items like cords or socks. This was disappointing. It's also more expensive than the other models we've tested, and this could be a deal breaker for certain shoppers.

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 check in on your pets or children while you are away. The filter and the dust bin can be cleaned for quick, easy cleanup. The Jet Bot AI+ also comes with a clean station that self-empties, which helps keep the robot's dustbin clear and optimizes its suction power for each cleaning.

6. Black & Decker Robot Vacuum

Black and Decker robots have been designed specifically for hard flooring. The robots have an extra wide cleaning path, and dust bins that are 2X larger than the competition. This allows them to keep the area clean for longer. In addition, they have two side sweepers that clean along edges and in corners. The POWERSERIES model comes with AutoSense which adjusts the power level based on whether it is cleaning up dirt that is on the surface or embedded. The vacuum also has an app that lets you to view an interactive map, control functions, and schedules. You can also track the status of the vacuum and then send it to the dock for charging with the touch of a single button. The app lets you alter the LED lights on the top of the vacuum to determine where it is focused or if it has gotten stuck.

The app also makes it easy to manually steer the robot should you need to. For example, my living room rug has a darkly colored border that can cause confusion for other robots I've tested. However, the HRV 425BL continued to move across the border, without registering it as a cliff. And the ability to program the weekly cleaning schedule is a great time-saving convenience.