Top Rated Robot Vacuums
A robot vacuum will keep your floors tidy enough to reduce the frequency of manual hoovering. Select a vacuum that has good navigation, can clean stairs and corners, and that has an enormous bin that needs to be cleaned out every now and then.
There are models that mop and charge themselves, which is a feature essential for families with children or pets. Many of the top performers in our tests also have good obstacle avoidance.
1. Roomba iRobot i3+ from iRobot 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. The i3+ is a great alternative for those who want a an automated, hands-free cleaning experience but are willing to manually empty the dust bin after it has filled up.
Both robots are good at picking up surface dirt on hard floors and carpets and can maneuver around furniture and other obstacles. iAdapt navigation software makes smart 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 obstacle avoidance capabilities like the i7+ or any other top-rated robots we test. It could be stuck on power cords and socks, and may have trouble navigating between different surfaces, like rug and hardwood.
iRobot suggests cleaning up the area where the i3+ EVO vacuums prior to using it. This includes putting away any toys or other clutter it might encounter. It's also recommended to keep the dustbin and filter clean so that 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 automatically takes the dirt out of the docking station's external dustbin. Then it continues cleaning where it began. The i3+ EVO's battery can last for approximately an hour and a half of continuous use, and takes about three hours to fully recharge.
2. Roomba by iRobot
The iRobot i7+ is a top model from iRobot’s flagship line and is packed with the most recent features. It's self-charging, self-navigating, and the most important feature of all -- it has a self-emptying dustbin that eliminates one of the most important sources of maintenance for any robot vacuum.
The Roomba i7+ is able to remember up to 10 floor plans and their names using Imprint Smart Mapping, a system that lets it create maps of rooms so that it can clean them more efficiently. It also integrates with iRobot Home to schedule cleaning tasks, and it can control your robot via the app or via voice.
In our tests the i7+ was faster and more maneuverable than our runner-up which was the eufy RoboVac G30, and it took large pieces of pet hair from all surface types, including carpeting. Its greatest advantage over the Eufy is the self-emptying bin that eliminates major sources of maintenance and reduces recurring cost.
We were also impressed with 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 iRobot Home App made it easy to connect the i7+ to these services. When connected, we were able to communicate with the i7+ using voice commands like "Hey Alexa, vacuum the master bedroom." The iRobot Home App also offers options for managing i7+ settings and evaluating the performance.
3. Dyson Cyclone V10
This tiny Dyson model is an all-sports car in a sea of cordless vacuums that feel like minivans and buses. It's powerful enough to replace a stand-up vacuum in the majority of homes, but it is also compact enough to fit on a bookcase or coffee table.
The V10 is powered with seven cells of energy-dense Lithium-ion batteries, which produces power without fading for 60 minutes. Its sophisticated whole-machine filtration system removes allergens, and then releases clean air back into your home. The specialized head uses rigid nylon bristles to drive deep into carpets and pick up large crumbs or fine dust. It has three different suction modes that can be adjusted to the task. It is able to quickly change between handheld and floor vacuum and vice versa.
This model comes with a dock which charges the Dyson to 100% within 3.5 hours. It also offers the ability to connect two attachments as well as a handheld. This is a significant improvement over older Dysons that require a lengthy charge and are difficult to store.
The main issue with the V10 is its limited run time. As CR's tests show, its marketing claims of up to 60 minutes are misleading. This is a typical, not exceptional, battery-powered vacuum's run time. That's still enough run time to get rid of the majority of a typical-sized home however, it's not enough to cover every area (though the second time around usually can be effective). That's not to say this model isn't a good choice It's lighter and more agile than older cordless Dysons, and its vacuuming efficiency is better on carpets with low pile.
4. iRobot Roomba 694
The 694 is a standard robot vacuum that's an excellent choice for those who don't have lots of money to spend on the latest model of robot. It's capable of sucking up a variety of debris types and sizes during our tests, and often passes over the same areas several times to get a really thorough clean. The flat front of the unit allows to get into corners and along the edges of walls which is a nice addition.
Its intelligent navigation system makes use of iAdapt technology to steer clear of obstacles and help you navigate your home. It's not equipped with the capabilities for mapping of more advanced models, including our top picks, the i3+EVO and j7+ Series. robotvacuummops may get stuck on phone cords or furniture and often runs out of power before returning to its original location.
The Xiaomi Mi robot vacuum is superior to the Roomba 694 in all aspects in that it has fewer components that require regular maintenance and is equipped with an allergen-trapping HEPA filter, incurs lower recurring costs, has more advanced automation capabilities and is better at maneuvering itself. It also has a bigger dustbin and can charge faster.
The elegant RoboVac X8 is superior to the Roomba 694 for most purposes, as it has a better battery life, can change the suction power mode by hand and comes with physical boundary strips, and can be controlled by your smartphone's voice assistant. It is also more durable and has a stronger motor, and is able to perform better on both bare floors and carpets with low pile, while providing a wider array of features for automation.
5. Samsung Jet Bot AI+
Samsung is a brand is seen on a variety of electronic gadgets for your home So it's no surprise that they're one of the most popular robotic vacuum and mop makers. Their Jet Bot AI+ is packed with cutting-edge onboard technology to aid in navigation and obstacles avoidance.
The app offers a variety of options to customize your robotic cleaner, such as virtual barriers, mopping water levels and behavior customization, docking frequency settings, and more. It's easy to understand and is user-friendly, which is the case with other Samsung devices.
In our tests our tests, the Jet Bot AI+ excelled on hard floors and handled dog hair (on carpet) very well, picking up 86% of it. It did not do well in avoiding taller items like socks or cords. This was disappointing. It's priced higher than other models we've tested and this could be a problem for some buyers.
The app lets you access the camera onboard of the smart vacuum. You can also create live streaming from the robot's cleaning zone. This feature allows you to monitor your pets or children while you are away. The filter and the dust bin are washable to make cleanup quick and easy. The Jet Bot AI+ also has a clean station that self-empties, which helps keep the robot's dustbin clear and optimizes suction power for each cleaning.
6. Black & Decker Robot Vacuum
Unlike other robotic vacuums, that are specifically designed for hard floors and carpets, Black and Decker robots are designed specifically for hard floors. They feature an extra-wide cleaning path and a larger dust bin that can hold 2X more debris than other models to keep the area clear for maximum runtime. They also have two side sweepers to clean along edges and corners. The POWERSERIES Extreme model also comes with AutoSense technology, which senses whether it's picking up dirt on surfaces or embedded dirt and automatically adjusts the power level. The vacuum also has an app that allows users to see the virtual map, manage functions, and schedules. You can also monitor the status of the vacuum and connect it to its dock for charging with the click of a button. The app allows you to personalize the LED lights on the top of the vacuum using different colors so you can easily identify what areas it's focusing on or where it's got stuck.
The application also allows you to steer the robot manually should you need to. For example, my living room rug has a darkly colored border that can trip up some of the other robots I've tried. However, the HRV 425BL kept moving across the border without registering it as an incline. Also, the ability to set up weekly cleaning schedules is a fantastic time-saving feature.