Top Rated Robot Vacuums
A robot vacuum can keep floors clean enough to decrease the frequency you need to manually vacuum. Select a vacuum that has good navigation, is able to clean stairs and corners and also has an enormous bin that will need to be cleaned out every now and then.
You can also find models that clean and charge on their own, a feature that may be essential for those who have pets or children. A lot of the top performers in our tests offer decent obstacle-avoiding capabilities.
1. iRobot Roomba i3+ EVO
The i3+ EVO is similar to its sibling the i3 EVO. They differ only in the fact that the i3+ has self-emptying capabilities. The i3+ is an excellent option for those looking for a an entirely automated, hands-free cleaning experience, but want to manually empty the dust bin when it is full.
Both robots do well picking up surface debris off hard floors and carpets, and they're excellent at getting around furniture and other obstacles. iAdapt navigation software creates smart maps of your home to aid the i3+ in its navigation and clean efficiently. The i3+ doesn't have the same obstacle avoidance capabilities as the i7+ or other top-rated robots we tested. It could get stuck on power cords or socks and have trouble moving between different surfaces like hardwood and rug.
iRobot suggests that you clear areas where the i3+ EVO will vacuum before you use it, and include getting rid of any toys or clutter it may encounter. It's also an excellent idea to keep the dust bin and filter clear so they do not become blocked by dirt. When robotic hoovers i3+ EVO’s internal bin is empty or the battery is low it returns to the docking station and automatically empties the dirt into the station’s external dustbin. It then continues cleaning from where it left off. The battery's lifespan is around an hour-and-a-half of continuous use. It takes three hours to fully charge.
2. iRobot Roomba i7+
The iRobot i7+ is an excellent model from iRobot's flagship line and is packed with the most recent features. It's self-charging and self-navigating. However, the most significant feature is the self-emptying bin. This will eliminate the need for routine maintenance.
The Roomba I7+ can map rooms more efficiently with Imprint Smart Mapping. It also integrates with iRobot Home to schedule cleaning jobs, and you can control your robot via the app or by voice.
In our testing, the i7+ was quicker and more maneuverable than our runner-up, the eufy RoboVac G30, and it removed large chunks of pet hair from all surfaces types 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 by the i7+’s compatibility with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant AI services. We utilized these services to instruct the robot to begin, stop, or pause cleaning sessions as well as move around the room and to vacuum a particular area. The iRobot Home App made it easy to connect the i7+ to these services. When connected to these services, we were able communicate with the i7+ using voice commands such as "Hey Alexa, vacuum the master bedroom." The iRobot Home App also offers options to manage i7+ settings and monitoring the performance.
3. Dyson Cyclone V10
In a world filled with cordless vacs that look like minivans or buses, this small Dyson model feels like an old-fashioned sports car. It is powerful enough to replace a stand-up vacuum in a majority of homes, but it is also compact enough to fit on a bookcase or coffee table.
The V10 is powered by a 7-cell energy-dense Lithium-ion battery that can provide energy that lasts for 60 minutes. The advanced whole-machine filtering system is able to trap allergens and then releases fresh air into your home. Its specialized head uses stiff nylon bristles that penetrate deep into carpets and pick up large particles or fine dust. It has three suction modes to meet the task at hand. It can quickly change from floor vacuum to handheld vacuum and vice versa.
The model also comes with an accessory dock that can charge to 100% in around 3.5 hours and provides an easy access to two attachments and the clip for a wand. This is a huge improvement over previous Dysons which require a long charge and are difficult to store.
The main drawback of the V10 is its limited running time. Its claims on the market that it has up to 60 minutes of running time are misleading as CR's tests show. This is a common, not exceptional, battery-powered cordless vacuum's running time. That's still enough run time to clean most of a typical-sized home however, it's not enough to get every single spot (though an additional run-through often can be effective). This model has its own advantages however: it's lighter and more mobile than previous Dysons cordless models, and its vacuuming ability is noticeably superior on carpets with 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 invest in an expensive robot. It was able to pick up most types of debris in our testing and often went over the same area several times to give an efficient clean. Its flat front allows it to reach corners and the edges of walls.
Its navigation system is smart and uses iAdapt technology to steer clear of obstacles and navigate your home. However, it lacks the mapping capabilities of more advanced models, including our top picks, i3+EVO and the j7+ Series. This means that it is sometimes stuck on things like phone cords and furniture that isn't in good condition, and frequently is power-depleted before returning to its base.
The Xiaomi Mi robot is superior in many ways to the Roomba 694 in that it has less parts that require regular cleaning, comes with an allergen-trapping HEPA filtering system, incurs lower cost of recurring costs, has more advanced automation abilities and is better able to move its own. It also has a larger dustbin and charges quicker.
The RoboVac X8 is a slick RoboVac X8 is superior to the Roomba 694 for most reasons, since it has a better battery life, can change its suction power mode manually and comes with physical boundary strips, and can be controlled by your smartphone's voice assistant. It also feels better-built and has a more powerful motor, and works better on both bare floors and low-pile carpet, while offering a wider range of features for automation.
5. Samsung Jet Bot AI+
Samsung is a brand is found on all kinds of electronic gadgets for your home It's no surprise that they're one of the most popular robotic vacuum and mop makers. Jet Bot AI+ has the most advanced onboard technology for navigation and obstacle avoidance.
The app gives you plenty of options to personalize your robotic cleaner, such as virtual barriers mopping water levels, behavior modification docking frequency settings and much more. It's easy to understand and user-friendly, as is the case with other Samsung devices.
In our testing our tests, the Jet Bot AI+ excelled on hard floors and handled dog hair (on carpet) quite well, cleaning up 86 percent of it. However, it wasn't particularly well at avoiding higher-up objects like cords or socks, which was disappointing. It's priced higher than other models we've tested and this could be a problem for some shoppers.
The app lets you access the camera onboard of the smart vacuum. You can also set up live streaming from the robot's cleaning zone. This feature allows you to check in on your children or pets while you are away. The dustbin and the filter can be cleaned for an easy, quick clean-up. The Jet Bot AI+ also comes with a clean and tidy station that's self-emptying, which helps keep the robot's dustbin clean and maximizes suction power for each cleaning run.
6. Black & Decker Robot Vacuum
Black and Decker robots have been developed specifically for flooring made of hard wood. The robots come with an extra-wide cleaning path, as well as a dustbin that is 2X larger than the competition. This lets them clean the area for longer. They also come with two side sweepers to clean around corners and edges. The POWERSERIES model also comes with AutoSense, which automatically adjusts the power level depending on whether it's picking up dirt that is on the surface or embedded. The vacuum also has an app that allows you to view the virtual map, manage functions, and create schedules. You can also monitor the vacuum's status and send it to the dock for charging with the click of a button. The app lets you customize the LED lights on the top of the vacuum to determine where it is focused or if it has gotten stuck.
The app makes it possible to steer the robot manually in the event of need. My living room rug, for example has a dark-colored border that could cause trouble for other robots. The HRV 425BL however continued to travel across the border without ever registering the high point. Also, the ability to set up a weekly cleaning schedule is a wonderful time-saving benefit.