14 Questions You Shouldn t Be Insecure To Ask About Robot Vac

Top Rated Robot Vacuums

A robot vacuum can keep your floors tidy enough to reduce the frequency of hoovering manually. Find one that has an easy navigation, can clean corners and stairs and has a huge dust bin that requires emptying only once in a while.

You can also find models that can mop and charge themselves which can be essential for those who have pets or children. Many of the best robot vacuum performers in our tests have great ability to overcome obstacles.

1. Roomba iRobot i3+ from iRobot EVO

The i3+ EVO and its i3 EVO sibling the i3 EVO, are identical robots that differ only in that the i3+ has self-emptying features. The i3+ is a great option for those looking for a a fully automated, hands-off cleaning experience, but are willing to manually empty the dustbin of the best cheap robot vacuum after it has filled up.

Both robots excel at picking up surface debris off hard floors and carpets, and they're excellent at moving around furniture and other obstacles. iAdapt navigation software creates intelligent maps of your home that aid the i3+ EVO to navigate and clean in a way that maximizes efficiency. The i3+ isn't able to have the same obstacle avoidance capabilities as the i7+ or any other top-rated robots we have tested. It may get stuck on power cords and socks and have trouble moving between surfaces, such as hardwood and rug.

iRobot suggests that you clear areas in which the i3+ EVO will vacuum before you use it, and include getting rid of any clutter or toys it may encounter. It's also a good idea to keep the dust bin 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 automatically takes the dirt out of the docking station's external dustbin. It then continues cleaning from where it began. The i3+ EVO's batteries last for about an hour and a half of continuous use, and it takes about three hours to fully recharge.

2. iRobot i7+ Roomba

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

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

In our tests, the i7+ was quicker and more maneuverable than our second-placed model which was the eufy RoboVac G30, and it removed large chunks of pet hair from all surface types including carpeting. Its biggest advantage over the eufy, though it self cleaning vacuum cleaner-empties its dust bin that eliminates a major source of maintenance and reduces the cost of maintenance.

We were also impressed by the i7+'s compatibility with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant AI services. We used these services to instruct the robot on how to begin or stop cleaning sessions and also to move around the room, and vacuum a particular area. The process of connecting the i7+ to these services was easy and straightforward through the iRobot Home app. 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 provides options for managing the i7+'s settings and monitoring its performance.

3. Dyson Cyclone V10

This tiny Dyson model is an all-sports 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 for most households, but it also fits perfectly next to the table for a coffee or the bookshelf, where you can move it around like the magic wand.

The V10 is powered with a Lithium-ion battery with 7 cells of energy that can provide energy that lasts for 60 minutes. Its advanced whole-machine filter system captures allergens and expels clean air back into your home. The specially designed head utilizes stiff nylon bristles that penetrate deep into carpets, and then pick up large dust or crumbs. It comes with three suction modes to match the task at hand. It quickly converts from handheld vacuum to floor vacuum and back.

This model also has a dock that charges to 100% in around 3.5 hours and provides an easy access to two attachments and the wand clip. This is a significant improvement over earlier Dysons that require a lengthy charge and are difficult to store.

The V10's biggest drawback is its short run time. As CR's tests have shown, its advertising claims of up to 60 minutes are a bit misleading. This is an average not an extraordinary time to run an electric cordless vacuum powered by batteries. That's still enough run time to clean most of a typical-sized home but not long enough to clean every area (though the second time around usually can be effective). This model has its own advantages, however: it's lighter and more maneuverable than earlier Dysons cordless models and its ability to vacuum is significantly better for carpet floors with low pile.

4. iRobot Roomba 694"

One of iRobot's most adored robot vacuums, the 694 is an affordable model that's an excellent option for those who don't want to spend too much money on a robot. It's capable of sucking up all types of debris and sizes during our tests, and it frequently goes over the same areas multiple times to get a really thorough clean. Its flat front end helps it to reach into corners and along the edges of walls which is a nice touch.

Its intelligent navigation system makes use of iAdapt to avoid obstacles and navigate your home, but it's not equipped with the ability to map that comes with more sophisticated models such as our top picks and the i3+ EVO and j7+ series. It may get stuck on phone cords or furniture and will often run out of power before returning to its original location.

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

The sleek RoboVac X8 has a superior battery longevity than the Roomba 694. It also comes with physical boundaries and can be controlled by the voice assistant on your smartphone. It's also more durable, has a stronger motor, and performs better on floors with bare or low-pile.

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 also one of the most popular mop and robot vacuum manufacturers. Their Jet Bot AI+ is loaded with cutting-edge onboard intelligence tech for navigation and obstacle avoidance.

The app provides plenty of options to personalize your robotic cleaner, such as virtual barriers, mopping water levels and behavior adjustments docking frequency settings and much more. The app is easy to navigate and use, just like other Samsung devices.

In our tests, the Jet Bot AI+ performed well on hard floors, and cleaned up 86% of dog hair (on carpet). However, it wasn't particularly well at avoiding larger objects, like cords and socks which was a disappointment. It's also more expensive than the other models we tested and could be a deal-breaker for certain shoppers.

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

6. Black & Decker Robot Vacuum

In contrast to other robotic vacuums which are designed for both hard floors and carpets, Black and Decker robots are designed specifically for hard floors. They come with a wide cleaning path as well as a large dust bin that can hold 2X more debris than other models to keep the area free of debris for the longest period of time. Plus, they include two side sweepers that clean around edges and corners. The POWERSERIES Extreme model also includes AutoSense technology, which senses the presence of dirt on surfaces or embedded dirt and automatically adjusts its power level. It also has a smart app that lets you see the virtual map and manage the functions and schedules. Plus, you can monitor the vacuum's battery status and send it back to its dock for charging at the touch of a button. The app also allows you to customize the lights on top of the vacuum by using different colors, so that you can clearly see what areas it's focusing on or where it's gotten stuck.

The app allows you to manually steer the robot when needed. For instance, my living room rug has a darkly colored border that tends to make it difficult for other robots I've tested. However the HRV 425BL kept moving across the border without registering it as a cliff. And the ability to create a weekly cleaning schedule is a fantastic time-saving feature.