Top Rated Robot Vacuums
A robot vacuum can keep your floors clean enough to cut down on the frequency of manual hoovering. Choose a robot vacuum that is well-trained in navigation, is able to clean corners and stairs and also has large bins that needs to be emptying every so often.
You can also find models that mop and charge on their own This feature could be beneficial for those with pets or kids. Many of the best performers in our tests have great obstacles to avoid.
1. IRobot Roomba i3+ EVO
The i3+ EVO is identical to its sibling, the i3 EVO. They differ only in the fact that the i3+ has self-emptying capabilities. That makes the i3+ an excellent option for those who want an automated, hands-free cleaning experience but don't mind manually emptying their robot's dustbin when it fills up.
Both robots do well picking up surface debris on carpets and hard floors, and they're excellent in maneuvering around furniture and other obstacles. iAdapt navigation software creates a smart map of your home to assist the i3+ to navigate and clean up efficiently. However unlike the i7+ or other top-rated robots we evaluated, the i3+ doesn't have a feature for avoiding obstacles and therefore it could be stuck on things like power cords or socks, and it can have difficulty navigating across surface transitions like hardwood to carpet.
iRobot suggests that you clean the area in which the i3+ EVO vacuums before using it. robotic vacuum cleaners includes getting rid of any toys or other items it might come across. Also, keep the dustbin and filter clear to avoid becoming clogged. If the i3+'s internal bin is empty or the battery is low it returns to the docking station, and it automatically takes the dirt out of the docking station’s external dustbin. Then it continues cleaning from where it left off. Battery life is about an hour-and-a-half of continuous usage. It takes about three hours to fully charge.
2. iRobot Roomba i7+
The iRobot i7+ is the top model in iRobot's flagship line and is packed with the most recent features. It has self-charging and self-navigating, but the most significant feature is the self-emptying bin. This eliminates the need for routine maintenance.
The Roomba I7+ is able to better map rooms with Imprint Smart Mapping. It also integrates with the iRobot Home app to let you schedule cleaning jobs and direct your robot by voice or through the app.
In our tests the i7+ performed more agile and faster than our second-placed model and the eufy RoboVac G30, and it removed large chunks of pet hair from all surface kinds including carpeting. Its greatest advantage over the Eufy is its self-emptying bin, which eliminates the main sources of maintenance and reduces the cost of maintenance.
We were also awestruck by the i7+'s compatibility Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant AI services, which we used to instruct the robot to begin, stop or pause its cleaning session and to move around the room, and even vacuum an area. The iRobot Home App made it easy to connect the i7+ to these services. We were able, once connected, to voice commands to the i7+, for example "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 powered by cordless that resemble minivans and buses. It's got the power and features to replace a stand-up vacuum in many households and can fit perfectly next to the coffee table or the bookshelf, where you can move it around like a magic device.
The V10 is powered by a 7-cell energy-dense lithium-ion battery which produces fade-free power for 60 minutes. The advanced whole-machine filter system is able to trap allergens and then lets cleaner air into your home. The specially designed head utilizes stiff nylon bristles to penetrate into carpets and pick up large crumbs or fine dust. It comes with three suction settings to meet the task that is being completed. It can quickly change from handheld to floor vacuum, and vice versa.
This model comes with an attached dock that charges the Dyson to 100% within 3.5 hours. It also gives easy access to 2 attachments as well as a handheld. This is a huge improvement over previous Dysons that require a long charge and are difficult to store.
The main issue with the V10 is its limited running time. Its claims on the market that it can provide up to 60 minutes of running time are a bit misleading as CR's tests show. This is a typical and not a remarkable time to run the battery-powered cordless vacuum. It's still enough time to vacuum the majority of an average-sized house but not long enough to get every single area (though a second run-through usually does the trick). This model has its own advantages however: it's light and more mobile than previous Dysons cordless models and its ability to vacuum is significantly better on carpets with low pile.
4. iRobot Roomba 694
The 694 is a basic robot vacuum that's a great option for those who don't have a lot of money to spend on a robot. It's capable of sucking up all kinds of debris in our tests, and it often passes over the same areas multiple times to give a thorough clean. Its flat front end helps it to reach into corners and along the edges of walls, which is a nice feature.
Its navigation system is smart and uses iAdapt technology to stay clear of obstacles and guide you through your home. However, it lacks the capabilities for mapping of more advanced models, such as our top picks, i3+EVO and J7+ Series. Because of this, it is sometimes stuck on things like phone cords and furniture that isn't in good condition, and frequently will run out of battery before returning to its base.
The Xiaomi Mi robot vacuum is superior to the Roomba 694 in all aspects in that it has fewer parts that require regular cleaning, is fitted with an allergen-trapping HEPA filter, incurs lower recurring costs, comes with more advanced automation capabilities and does a better job maneuvering itself. It also has a bigger dustbin and can charge faster.
The RoboVac X8 is a slick RoboVac X8 is superior to the Roomba 694 for most reasons, since it has a longer battery life, has the ability to alter its suction power mode on its own and comes with physical boundary strips, and can be operated by your phone's voice assistant. It also feels more sturdy, has a more powerful motor, and works better on bare floors and low-pile carpet, while providing a greater variety of automation options.
5. Samsung Jet Bot AI+
Samsung is a well-known brand in home electronics. It's not surprising, then, that they are one of the top makers of robot vacuums and mop. Their Jet Bot AI+ is packed with cutting-edge onboard tech for navigation and obstacle avoidance.
The app offers a variety of customization options for your robotic cleaner. These include mopping levels, virtual barriers and behavior adjustments, docking frequency settings and many more. The app is simple to navigate and use, just like other Samsung devices.
In our testing, the Jet Bot AI+ excelled on hard floors and dealt with dog hair (on carpet) very well, picking up 86 percent of it. However, it did not do particularly well at avoiding larger objects, like cords and socks which was disappointing. It's also more expensive than other models we've tested and this could be a deal breaker for some buyers.
The smart vacuum has an onboard camera that you can access via the app. You can also set up a live stream from the robot's cleaning station. This feature lets you to check in on your children or pets while you're away. The dustbin and the filter can be cleaned to ensure a quick, painless clean-up. The Jet Bot AI+ comes with an automatic clean station which helps keep the robot's bin clear and maximizes suction power.
6. Black & Decker Robot Vacuum
In contrast to other robotic vacuums that are made for carpets and hard floors, Black and Decker robots are specifically designed for hard floors. They come with a wide cleaning path and a larger dust bin that can hold 2X more debris than the competition to keep the cleaning area clean for the longest time. In addition, they have two side sweepers to clean up around edges and in corners. The POWERSERIES Extreme model also comes with AutoSense technology, which can tell if it's picking up dirt or debris on the surface and automatically adjusts its power level. It also includes a smart application that lets you see the virtual map and manage functions and schedules. You can also monitor the vacuum's battery status and send it back to its dock to charge at the touch of a button. The app allows you to customize the LED lights on the top of the vacuum to discern where it is focusing or if it has gotten stuck.
The application also allows you to manually steer the robot in the event of need. For example my living room rug has a darkly colored border that can trip up some of the other robots I've tested. The HRV 425BL however continued to travel across the border without ever registering the cliff. The ability to program a cleaning schedule for each week is a time-saving convenience.