The Best Robot Vacuums
A good robot vacuum does the bulk of the work and removes pet hair, lint and dirt before it adheres to furniture or be sucked into carpets. Many also work with smart assistants such as Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant to give you the convenience of hands-free operation.
Many models include mapping capabilities, which allow them to draw a map of your home. This can help them avoid falling off ledges or navigating the cords of devices.
What to look for
Certain robots have advanced features that let you control them using apps and voice assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant. These include smart mapping spot and zone cleaning, and objects avoiding. They might also have longer battery life and larger dust collection bins.
Choose a model that has a wide brush to remove large particles, and is small enough to be able to fit under furniture. Make sure the robot vacuum is able to clean various types of floors without having to change suction settings or brushes. This could reduce its cleaning efficiency and shorten its lifespan.
The top robot vacuums have high-quality filters that catch fine particles and safeguard your home from damage. They also come with an ample easy-to-access collection bin so you can empty it often. Certain robot vacuums come with an additional side brush to clean pet hair or other debris in hard-to reach places, such as under and behind furniture. The bins are typically transparent, so you can see how much dirt is in the bin and when you should empty it.
You can also make use of the app to set limits around furniture and rooms that you don't want it entering. Certain models also recognize the kind of flooring and alter their brush and vacuum settings accordingly.
There are also robots that will recharge and continue cleaning right where they left off when their battery is low. There are some that have an inbuilt camera that lets you see your robot vacuum's route and even see what it's taken in.
Some robots can be controlled via voice commands but not all. Check that the model you choose is compatible with the voice assistant of your choice and then test it to see how the robot responds to various commands prior to purchasing. Some robots will even empty their dustbins and clean their docking stations, which can reduce your list of chores a bit. This feature is expensive as is a larger collection container and more rapid charging speeds.
Cleaning Performance
While robots can't replace a full-on vacuum or broom, they can provide an effective and efficient alternative to the everyday chore of cleaning your floors. The best robotic cleaners can pick up small debris like dust, pet hair, and crumbs, as well as larger items such as metal shavings or wood shavings. They can do this without damaging the floor or furniture.
Often, they will register what type of surface they're cleaning and adjust their suction or brush features in accordance with the type of surface to more thoroughly clean your floors. This is especially important if your home is made up of various types of flooring. A lot of models come with an array of options for setting virtual boundaries, which allows you to tell the robot to stay clear from certain areas of your home. This can be helpful in protecting your pets or children from getting into areas they shouldn't be, and also helps ensure that your entire house is cleaned at the end of every scheduled session.
It is also important to consider the level of autonomy you're comfortable with giving your robot. Certain models require your presence and attention while others work independently and can change cleaning modes and schedules via a mobile app or voice commands through an integrated smart assistant. Some will map and learn your home and allow you to create zones and instruct the robot to clean certain areas of your home on a weekly or daily basis.
In our tests, the iRobot j7+ was the top "set it and forget it" robot. It was more adept in mapping the virtual boundaries and avoiding obstacles than any of the other robots that we test. It also has the ability to empty itself, so you don't need to manually do it. And, the side brushes can help clean debris from edges and corners that a vacuum might not reach.
Its slim profile and infrared sensors also enable it to reach behind and under furniture to provide a deeper clean than most robots. Its advanced navigation system allows it to be more efficient in cleaning the entire area of your home in one charge than other devices we've tested. It's difficult to beat, especially at a reasonable price.
Battery Life
A quality robot vacuum will make keeping your floors clean feel less like a chore, and more like a luxury. The distinction between a clean home and one that is dirty is made by getting rid of dirt that has been tracked in, and crumbs, pet hair, and other messes. While a basic robot is able to handle the majority of cleaning tasks, those looking for a bit more of a hands-free experience should choose a model that doubles as a mop.
The Ecovacs Deebot T10 OMNI is one the best robot vacuum without mop models for both, as it is extremely efficient in both its mop and vacuuming modes and can easily handle dirt and pet hair, as well as debris and even cat litter. Its object avoidance function is remarkable. It allows it to steer away from objects and not get tangled on them.
It comes with a huge dustbin and a battery that lasts for a long time, so it can cover a large amount of space in one session. It also functions as a smart vacuum, which means that it can make maps of your home and work with apps, like those provided by Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant to allow you to use voice commands to control it.
The app that comes along with the robot lets you create schedules, define specific rooms for cleaning, or pause/resume sessions. It will alert you when its battery is depleted and will return to the docking station to recharge.
The robot is also able to distinguish between hard floors and carpets, and adjust its settings in accordance with the type of flooring. This helps to prevent the machine from becoming stuck on one type of floor and then accidentally tearing furniture. It's not able to detect seams or carpeting with high pile in rooms, which is why it is crucial to be aware when picking up large objects.
All robot vacuums require a level of maintenance, like removing hair from brushes and emptying (and occasionally rinsing) the bin of dust after each cleaning session. Also, wiping down sensors or cameras between use to keep them in good shape. The manufacturer will provide specific instructions for these steps and other steps, which may differ depending on the model.
Cost
The best robot vacuums aren't expensive, but they're less expensive than a professional carpet cleaner or an entire stand-up vacuum. They also need less maintenance than a traditional vacuum as they require that you empty (and sometimes wash) their bins of dust after each cleaning session and often cleaning their cameras or sensors.
Many robot vacuums come with clever features that make them more efficient for your home, for instance mapping technology which lets you instruct the vacuum to follow the layout of your space by using an app, so it knows not to run through the stairs or under the furniture, where there might be an issue. Other models can determine the flooring type they are working on, so they can adjust their suction or brush features to achieve the most effective results.
Some models feature objects avoidance. This uses sensors (or a camera) that detect toys and other items lying on the floor. The robot is directed to stay clear of them, rather than crashing into them. This can be a huge help if you have kids or pets that tend to throw toys around the home.
Voice control is another useful feature you might find useful. It allows you to control your robot with your voice instead of the on-board buttons. This can be helpful when you have children who aren't yet old enough to operate the controls or if you just want a hands-free option.
How often you should use your robot will be contingent on the amount of dirt or debris is on your floor. The majority of experts recommend using your robot vacuum at least every week to keep your floors clean and to get rid of pet hair, lint and dirt from the surface.
If you have limited areas of floor space and don't want to make use of your robot for other tasks, a budget model, such as our top pick the Eufy 11S, is a great option. It's user-friendly and affordable, and it does the job without making any noise when you're working or watching television.