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

Top Rated Robot Vacuums

A robot cleaner vacuum will keep your floors tidy enough to cut down on the frequency of hoovering manually. Look for one that offers an easy navigation, can clean corners and stairs and also has a large dust bin that requires emptying only every few times.

There are models that can mop and charge themselves This is an advantage important for families with children or pets. The top performers in our tests offer decent obstacle-avoiding capabilities.

1. Roomba iRobot i3+ from iRobot EVO

The i3+ EVO is similar to its sibling, the i3 EVO. They differ only in that the i3+ has self-emptying capabilities. The i3+ is a good option for those looking for a an automated, hands-free cleaning experience, but want to manually empty the robot's dustbin once it gets full.

Both robots are adept at removing surface dirt on hard floors and carpets and can navigate around furniture and other obstacles. iAdapt navigation software creates smart maps of your home that help the i3+ navigate and clean efficiently. The i3+ doesn't have the same obstacle avoidance capabilities as the i7+ or other top-rated robots we tested. It may be stuck on power cords and socks, and may have trouble navigating between different surfaces, like hardwood and rug.

iRobot suggests cleaning up the area where the i3+ EVO vacuums before using it. This includes getting rid of any toys or clutter it might come across. Also, keep the dustbin and filter clean to prevent them from becoming clogged. When the i3+ EVO’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 dust bin. Then it continues cleaning where it started. The i3+ EVO's battery lasts for about an hour and a half of continuous use. It takes about three hours to fully recharge.

2. iRobot Roomba i7+

The iRobot i7+ is a top model from iRobot’s flagship line and is packed with the latest features. It's self-charging, self-navigating and -- the most important feature of all -- it has self-emptying bins that eliminate one of the most important sources of maintenance for any robot vacuum.

The Roomba I7+ can make rooms more efficient maps using Imprint Smart Mapping. It also integrates with the iRobot Home app to let you schedule cleaning jobs and control your robot using voice or through the app.

The i7+ is quicker and more agile in our tests than the eufy RoboVac G30. It also cleaned large pet hair pieces from any surface including carpeting. The biggest benefit over the eufy it self-empties its dust bin which eliminates a major cause of maintenance and lowers recurring costs.

We were also impressed by the i7+'s integration with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant AI services that we used to instruct the robot to begin, stop or pause its cleaning sessions and move around the room, and even vacuum a specific space. Connecting the i7+ to these services was easy and straightforward through the iRobot Home app. When connected we were able to give the i7+ voice commands, such as "Hey Alexa, vacuum the master bedroom." The iRobot Home App also offers options for managing i7+ settings and monitoring performance.

3. Dyson Cyclone V10

This tiny Dyson model is an all-sports car in a world of vacuums with cords that feel like minivans and buses. It's powerful and has features to replace a stand-up vacuum for many households, but it also fits in well next to the coffee table or the bookshelf, that you can spin around like an enchanted tool.

The V10 is powered with a Lithium-ion battery with 7 cells of energy that can provide energy that lasts for 60 minutes. The sophisticated whole-machine filter system is able to trap allergens and then releases cleaner air into your home. Its specialized head uses stiff nylon bristles that penetrate deep into carpets, and then pick up large particles or fine dust. It comes with three suction settings to meet the task being performed. It quickly converts from best automatic floor cleaner vac to handheld vacuum and back again.

This model also has an accessory dock that can charge to 100% in around 3.5 hours and offers an easy access to two attachments and the Wand clip. This is a significant improvement over the older Dysons models, which take a long time to charge and are difficult to store.

The main drawback of the V10 is its limited run time. The claims of its marketing that it can provide up to 60 minutes of run time are misleading as CR's tests show. This is a typical, not exceptional, battery-powered cordless vacuum's running time. It's still enough time to clean most of an average-sized house, but not quite long enough to get every single area (though an additional run-through often does the trick). This doesn't mean that this model doesn't have its advantages It's lighter and more maneuverable than older cordless Dysons, and its vacuuming performance is significantly superior on carpets with a low pile.

4. iRobot Roomba 694"

The 694 is a basic robotic vacuum that's an excellent choice for those who don't have lots of money to spend on a robot. It was able to remove most types of debris and sizes during our testing and often went over the same area many times to ensure an efficient clean. Its flat front design allows it to reach corners and edges of walls.

Its intelligent navigation system makes use of iAdapt technology to avoid obstacles and navigate your home. It's not equipped with the ability to map that is found in more advanced models, including our top picks, the i3+EVO and J7+ Series. It can get stuck on phone cords or furniture and often runs out of power before returning to its base.

The Xiaomi Mi robot vacuum is superior to the Roomba 694 in many ways because it has fewer parts that need regular cleaning, is fitted with an allergen-trapping HEPA filter, incurs lower costs for recurring maintenance, has more advanced automation capabilities and is more efficient in maneuvering itself. It also has a larger dustbin and can charge faster.

The RoboVac X8 is a slick RoboVac X8 is superior to the Roomba 694 for a variety of purposes, because it has a longer battery life, the ability to change its suction power mode on its own and comes with physical boundary strips, and is operated by your phone's voice assistant. It's also more robust, has a larger motor, and performs better on low-pile and bare floors.

5. Samsung Jet Bot AI+

Samsung is a household name in the field of home electronics. It's not a 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 to aid in navigation and obstacles avoidance.

The app offers a wide range of options to customize your robotic cleaner. This includes mopping levels, virtual barriers and behavior modifications docking frequency settings, and many more. The app is easy to learn and use as are other Samsung devices.

In our tests of the Jet Bot AI+ excelled on hard floors and dealt with dog hair (on carpet) quite well, clearing up 86% 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 the other models that we tested, and this could be a problem for some 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 area. This feature lets you 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 best auto vacuum automatic floor cleaner (visit the website) clean station which helps keep the bin clean and maximizes suction power.

6. Black & Decker Robot Vacuum

Black and Decker robots have been designed specifically for flooring made of hard wood. The robots come with an extra wide cleaning path and dust bins that are 2 times larger than other models. This allows them to clean the area for a longer period of time. They also include two side sweepers that can be used to clean along edges and corners. The POWERSERIES model includes AutoSense which adjusts the power level depending on whether it's cleaning 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 battery's status and return it to its dock for charging at the touch of a button. The app allows you to customize the LED lights on the top of the vacuum to determine where it is focused or if it's stuck.

The app makes it possible to steer the robot manually when needed. My living room rug for example, has a darkly-colored border that can trip up some other robots. However the HRV 425BL continued to move across the border without registering it as an incline. The ability to create weekly cleaning schedules is a great time-saving convenience.