Top Rated Robot Vacuums
A robot vacuum is able to keep the floors clean enough to cut down on the frequency at which you'll need to manually vacuum. Pick a robot vacuum with good navigation, is able to clean corners and stairs and also has a large bin that needs to be emptying every so often.
There are also models that mop and charge themselves, a feature that may be beneficial for those with pets or children. The top performers in our tests also have good obstacle avoidance.
1. iRobot Roomba i3+ EVO
The i3+ EVO and its i3 EVO sibling the i3 EVO are the same robots that differ only in that the i3+ has self-emptying capabilities. 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 robot when it is full.
Both robots do well 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 help the i3+ EVO navigate and clean in a way that maximizes efficiency. However unlike the i7+ and other top-rated robots that we tested the i3+ doesn't have obstacle-avoidance capabilities and therefore it could get stuck on things like socks or power cords, and it may have trouble navigating across surface transitions like from hardwood to rug.
iRobot recommends clearing areas that the i3+ EVO will vacuum prior to when you use it, including putting away any clutter or toys it may come across. It's also recommended to keep the dustbin and filter clear so they aren't clogged by dirt. When the i3+ EVO's internal bin is filled or the battery is empty it goes back to its docking station, automatically emptying its debris into the station's dust bin and continues cleaning where it started. Battery life is about an hour-and-a-half of continuous usage. It takes three hours to fully charge.
2. IRobot Roomba i7+
The iRobot Roomba i7+ is the top model in the iRobot flagship line, and it has the most up-to-date features. It's self-charging, self-navigating, and the most important feature of all -- it comes with an auto-emptying dustbin, which eliminates one of the primary sources of maintenance for any robot vacuum.
The Roomba I7+ is able to map rooms more efficiently with Imprint Smart Mapping. It also integrates with the iRobot Home app to let you schedule cleaning tasks and control your robot using voice or via the app.
In our tests the i7+ was faster and more maneuverable than our runner-up which was the eufy RoboVac G30, and it picked up large pieces of pet hair from all surface types, including carpeting. The biggest advantage over the Eufy is the self-emptying bin, which eliminates major sources of maintenance and reduces recurring cost.
We were also amazed by the i7+'s compatibility Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant AI services that we used to instruct the robot to begin, stop or pause its cleaning routines, move itself around the room and sweep a specific space. The process of connecting the i7+ to these services was easy and easy with the iRobot Home app. Once connected to these services, we were able communicate with the i7+ using voice commands like "Hey Alexa, vacuum the master bedroom." The iRobot Home App also offers options to manage i7+ settings and evaluating performance.
3. Dyson Cyclone V10
In a world of vacuums that are cordless and feel like minivans or buses, this small Dyson model is an automobile. It is powerful enough to replace a traditional stand-up vacuum in a majority of homes, but also small enough to fit on a coffee table or bookcase.
The V10 is powered by a 7-cell energy-dense lithium-ion battery that produces fade-free power for 60 minutes. The advanced whole-machine filtering system is able to trap allergens and then releases cleaner air into your home. The cleaning head is specially designed to drive bristles made of nylon that are stiff into carpet to suck up large dust and crumbs. It has three suction modes to meet the task at hand. It is able to swiftly change between handheld and floor vacuum, and vice versa.
This model comes with an attached dock that charges the Dyson to 100% in 3.5 hours. It also gives an easy access to two attachments as well as an Wand. This is a huge improvement over older Dysons that require a long charge and are difficult to store.
The biggest issue with the V10 is its short run time. Its marketing claims that it can provide up to 60 minutes of run time are not true as CR's tests have shown. This is a typical and not a remarkable run time for an electric cordless vacuum powered by batteries. This is enough time to sweep the average-sized home however, it's not enough time to get into every corner. (A second run is usually sufficient). This model has its own advantages however: it's light and more mobile than previous Dysons cordless models and its ability to vacuum is noticeable superior for carpet floors with low pile.
4. iRobot Roomba 694"
One of the most well-known robot vacuums the 694 is a basic model that's an excellent option for those who don't wish to spend too much on a robot. It was able to remove the majority of types of debris and sizes during our tests, and frequently went over the same area multiple times for a thorough clean. The flat front of the unit allows to get into corners and along the walls' edges and walls, which is a nice feature.
Its intelligent navigation system makes use of iAdapt to avoid obstacles and navigate your home, but it isn't equipped with the mapping capability of more sophisticated models such as our top choices such as the i3+ EVO and the j7+ series. It may get stuck on phone cords or low furniture and will often run out of power before returning to its base.
The Xiaomi Mi robot is superior in many ways to the Roomba 694 because it has fewer parts that require regular cleaning, is equipped with an allergen-trapping HEPA filtering system, incurs lower cost of recurring costs, has more advanced automation capabilities and is able to better move itself. It also has a bigger dustbin and is charged faster.
The RoboVac X8 is a slick RoboVac X8 is superior to the Roomba 694 in most purposes, as it has a better battery life, the ability to change its suction power mode on its own and has physical boundary strips, and can be controlled by your smartphone's voice assistant. It also feels better-built and has a stronger motor, and works better on bare floors and carpets with a low pile, as well as providing a wider array of automation options.
5. Samsung Jet Bot AI+
Samsung is a household name in the field of home electronics. smart vacuum cleaner 's no surprise, then, that they are one of the top makers of robot vacuums and mop. Their Jet Bot AI+ is packed with cutting-edge onboard technology to aid in navigation and obstacles avoidance.
The app provides plenty of options to customize your robotic cleaner, such as virtual barriers, mopping water levels and behavior modification docking frequency settings and more. The app is simple to navigate and use, just like other Samsung devices.
In our tests in our tests, the Jet Bot AI+ performed well on hard floors, and removed 86 percent of dog hair (on carpet). However, it didn't do particularly well in avoiding larger objects, like cords and socks, which was disappointing. It's also more expensive than some of the other models we tried which could be a deterrent for some buyers.
The smart vacuum has an onboard camera that can be accessed through the app, and you can also set up a live stream from the robot's cleaning station. This feature lets you check in on pets or children when you're away from home. The filter and the dustbin can be washed for an easy, quick clean-up. The Jet Bot AI+ comes with an automatic clean station which helps keep the robot's bin clear and improves suction power.
6. Black & Decker Robot Vacuum
Unlike other robotic vacuums, that are made for carpets and hard floors, Black and Decker robots are specifically designed for hard floors. They feature an extra-wide cleaning path as well as a large dustbin that holds twice as much debris than competitors to keep the cleaning area clean for the longest time. They also have two side sweepers to clean around corners and edges. The POWERSERIES Extreme model comes with AutoSense technology, which detects if it's picking up dirt or debris on the surface and automatically adjusts the power level. It also has a smart app that lets you view the virtual map, and control functions and schedules. You can also monitor the status of the vacuum and connect it to the dock for charging at the click of a button. The app allows you to personalize the LED lights on the top of the vacuum with different colors, so that you can clearly see the areas where it's focused or where it's stuck.
The app allows you to manually steer the robot, if necessary. For instance, my living room rug has a darkly-colored border that can make it difficult for other robots I've tried. The HRV 425BL, however, continued to move across the border, without notifying the cliff. The ability to program a cleaning schedule for each week is a time-saving advantage.