The Robot Vac Success Story You'll Never Imagine
Top Rated Robot Vacuums
A robot vacuum will keep your floors tidy enough to cut down on the frequency of manual hoovering. Find one that has good navigation, can clean stairs and corners, and has a large dust bin that has to be emptied only every few times.
There are models that mop and charge on their own, a feature that may be beneficial for those with 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 and its i3 EVO sibling the i3 EVO are both identical robots, but they differ in that the i3+ has self-emptying features. The i3+ is a good alternative for those who want a an automated, hands-free cleaning experience, but are willing to manually empty the dustbin of the robot once it gets full.
Both robots are adept at cleaning up surface debris from hard floors and carpets, and they are very good at moving around furniture and other obstacles. iAdapt navigation software creates smart maps of your home, which help the i3+ EVO navigate and clean in a way that maximizes efficiency. However unlike the i7+ or other top-rated robots we tested the i3+ doesn't have any obstacle-avoidance features, so it may be stuck on things like socks or power cords and it can have difficulty traversing transitions across surfaces like hardwood to carpet.
iRobot suggests cleaning the area around the i3+ EVO vacuums before using it. This includes putting away any toys or clutter it might encounter. You should also keep the filters and dust bin clear to avoid getting blocked. If the i3+'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. It then continues cleaning where it began. Battery life is about an hour-and-a-half of continuous use. It takes about three hours to fully charge.
2. iRobot Roomba i7+
The iRobot Roomba i7+ is the most powerful model of the flagship line from iRobot and has the most up-to-date features. It's self-charging and self-navigating. the most crucial 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+ is able to better map rooms with Imprint Smart Mapping. It also integrates with iRobot Home to schedule cleaning jobs, and you can control your robot through the app or via voice.
In our testing the i7+ was quicker and more maneuverable than our top choice which was the eufy RoboVac G30, and it removed large chunks of pet hair from all surfaces kinds, including carpeting. The biggest advantage over the Eufy is its self-emptying bin, which eliminates major sources of maintenance and reduces recurring cost.
We were also amazed by the i7+'s integration with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant AI services, which we used to instruct the robot to start, stop or pause its cleaning sessions, move itself around the room, and even vacuum a specific space. The iRobot Home App made it easy to connect the i7+ with these services. After being connected, to speak commands to the i7+, such as "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 world of cordless vacuums that feel like minivans and buses. It's got the power and features to replace a stand-up vacuum for the majority of households, but it also fits perfectly next to a coffee table or on shelves where you can wave it around like an enchanted device.
The V10 is powered with a Lithium-ion battery with 7 cells of energy, which produces power that is not fading for 60 minutes. The advanced whole-machine filtering system traps allergens, then lets cleaner air into your home. Its specialized head uses stiff nylon bristles to drive deep into carpets, and then pick up large crumbs or fine dust. It has three suction modes that can be adapted to the specific task. It is able to quickly switch between handheld and floor vacuum, and vice versa.
The model comes with a dock that can charge the Dyson to 100 percent within 3.5 hours. It also offers an easy access to two attachments as well as the Wand. This is a huge improvement over older Dysons that require a lengthy charge and are difficult to store.
The V10's main drawback is its limited running time. As CR's tests have shown, its marketing claims of up to 60 minutes are a bit misleading. This is a standard battery-powered cordless vacuum's running time. This is enough time to vacuum a typical-sized home however, it's not enough time to reach every area. (A second pass is usually sufficient). That's not to say this model doesn't have its advantages: It's lighter and maneuverable than older cordless Dysons, and its vacuuming efficiency is better on low-pile carpet.
4. iRobot Roomba 694
The 694 is a basic robot vacuum that's a great option for those who don't have lots of money to spend on the latest model of robot. It's capable of sucking up most kinds of debris in our testing, and it frequently goes over the same areas multiple times to give a thorough clean. Its flat front side helps to get into corners and along the edges of walls, which is a nice addition.
Its smart navigation system uses iAdapt to avoid obstacles and navigate your home, but it isn't equipped with the mapping capabilities of more advanced models like our top picks and the i3+ EVO and the j7+ series. This means that it may get stuck on things like phone cords and furniture that isn't as sturdy, and frequently runs out of battery power before returning to its home base.
The Xiaomi Mi robot is superior in many ways to the Roomba 694 because it has less parts that require regular cleaning, comes with an allergen-trapping HEPA filtering system, incurs lower recurring cost, has more advanced automation capabilities and can better navigate its own. It also has a bigger dustbin and is charged faster.
robot vacuum cleaner on sale X8 is superior to the Roomba 694 for most purposes, as it has a better battery life, the ability to change the suction power mode by hand, comes with physical boundary strips, and can be controlled by your smartphone's voice assistant. It also feels more sturdy and has a stronger motor, and performs notably 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 well-known brand in the field of home electronics. It's not a surprise, then, that they are also among the top producers of robot vacuums and mop. Their Jet Bot AI+ is equipped with cutting-edge onboard technology for navigation and obstacles avoidance.
The app gives you plenty of options to customize your robotic cleaner, including virtual barriers, mopping water levels and behavior modification, docking frequency settings, and more. The app is easy to use and understand similar to other Samsung devices.
In our testing, the Jet Bot AI+ excelled on hard floors and dealt with dog hair (on carpet) quite well, cleaning up 86% of it. It didn't do very well in avoiding taller items like socks or cords. This was disappointing. It's also more expensive than some of the other models we've tested, which might be a deterrent for some buyers.
The app allows you to access the onboard camera of the smart vacuum. You can also set up live streaming from the robot's cleaning zone. This feature allows you to monitor your pets or children when you're away from home. The filter and dustbin can be cleaned for quick, easy cleanup. The Jet Bot AI+ also comes with a clean and tidy station that's self-emptying to keep the robot's trash bin clean and optimizes suction power for each cleaning.
6. Black & Decker Robot Vacuum
Black and Decker robots have been developed specifically for flooring made of hard wood. They have a wider cleaning path and a larger dustbin that holds 2X more debris than other models to keep the cleaning area clean for the longest time. Plus, they include two side sweepers to clean up around edges and in corners. The POWERSERIES Extreme model also comes with AutoSense technology, which can tell whether it's picking up surface litter or embedded dirt and then automatically adjusts the power level. It also includes a smart application that lets you browse the virtual map, and control functions and schedules. Plus, you can monitor the vacuum's battery status and return it to its dock for charging by pressing the button. The app allows you to alter the LED lights on the top of the vacuum so that you can discern where it is focusing or if it has gotten stuck.
The app also makes it easy to steer the robot manually in the event of need. My living room rug, for instance has a dark-colored border which could cause a problem for other robots. The HRV 425BL however was able to continue to move across the border without registering the edge. The ability to program a weekly cleaning schedule for each week is a time-saving advantage.