How to Find the Best Robot Vacuum
If you don't need the most advanced features such as mapping and aren't worried about emptying your bin every 60 to 90 days, a basic robotic vacuum is probably for you. Look for a model that has a clean base and is compatible with voice assistants.
It is the best robo-vacuum we have tested at cleaning up pet hair from hardwood floors, tile, and low-pile carpeting. It can also map and set virtual no-go zones in rooms or areas.
- Powerful Suction
A robot vacuum can help you keep up with the dust, pet fur and dander that accumulates on your floor every day. It also can reduce how often you need to deep clean, saving your time and effort. The most effective models have powerful suction that can take on the most difficult messes and leave your home clean.
You can cover more area with a robot vacuum and mop, which is especially beneficial if you live in an extensive home. There are models with a tank for water either built into the chassis or as an additional piece that you can swap out after vacuuming. It'll need to be emptied and filled, so it's an extra chore.
In a perfect universe, you would clear your floors first before you use your robot vacuum to prevent it from crashing into anything. However, in the majority of homes, this isn't feasible or desirable. The majority of models let you use an app for your smartphone to build virtual barriers the robot can detect. Some models have no-go zones that you can mark areas that you don't want it to enter. For instance the child's room or a pile of cords in a corner.
This model is a good option if you're looking for a basic robot cleaner that does not have all the bells. It's quiet and works well on both hard floors and low-pile rugs. It can be scheduled via the app to vacuum or mop at your convenience. It comes with a battery life of up to 180 minutes.
- Simple to operate
Robot vacuums generally need only minimal effort from you. They utilize navigation tools like sensors and lasers to maneuver around obstacles and suck up dust, food crumbs and pet hair from hard flooring, tile carpets, and hardwood. Many models have boundaries strips that help them remain in a room. More expensive models can be programmed to get up at a particular time and start cleaning. Certain models come with fall detection technology to help users avoid falling down the stairs or getting caught in cords.
Look for models that you can control from your couch using voice assistants such as Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also pick Wi-Fi models that allow users to start cleaning anywhere you want using an app. Depending on how big your house is, you may prefer an item with a long-lasting battery and a spacious dust bin that doesn't need to be regularly emptied.
Some robot vacuums are also mopping machines. They make use of water reservoirs to wash the floor. This is great for regular mopping but won't work for extra-tough messes, like pet poop, or other wet spills. You can pick hybrids that have an able mopping pad made of microfiber, or a self-emptying version that allows you to go up to 60 days before emptying the base.
- Smart Mapping
Certain robots employ advanced mapping technology to create an accurate map of your floorplan while they clean the floor, which makes it easier for them to avoid bumping mindlessly into furniture or tripping over things like chair legs or cords. This feature is only available on higher-end models however it allows your robot to get a complete understanding of your home's layout and know where to move when the battery runs out.
Most robots let you create virtual barriers. This can be done via an application or even physical boundary strips. This lets you block off zones that you don't want your robot to explore, so that it can concentrate its attention on areas and rooms that require the most attention.
A lot of robots can also automatically change floors depending on the kind of flooring they are cleaning. This can be done by switching from carpet to hard flooring or by focusing on certain areas of your home like corners and baseboards. This feature was helpful in our tests and improved the performance of the vacuum on both hardwood flooring and carpeting for floors with low-pile. However, it's still important to tuck away furniture and cords that are loose prior to using your robot vacuum to ensure that it doesn't get caught or run into something it shouldn't.
- Remote Control
The majority of robot vacuums have WiFi capabilities and can be controlled with voice commands, Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa or Siri Shortcuts. Many connect to smart home systems and create an outline of your space after each cleaning session, to "learn" your layout and plan more efficient routes for future runs. Some also have built-in obstacle avoidance, which stops them from crashing into and damaging furniture or getting stuck on things like charging cables that are loose shoes, laces for shoes and hair from pets.
Most robots are equipped with a remote control that you can use to navigate them around your home. The majority of robots can be controlled via a mobile application which has more options. You can typically set multiple cleaning schedules, create the list of rooms you like and even manually guide your robot to certain areas using directional arrows on the screen.
Some models provide no-go zones These are virtual barriers that you can create in the app to stop the robot from entering certain areas (like toys for children or dog beds and bowls). Other apps allow you to set up a map of your home and give the robot detailed information about your floors. The Roborock S7+ app has a number of useful features that will assist you in cleaning your home. However its interface isn't as sleek as iRobot or Shark.
- Long Battery Life
Robot vacs that can work all over your home without stopping to recharge or empty their trash bins make it easier for you to save time and effort. Certain robot vacuums can work with smart home platforms like Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri Shortcuts to enable hands-free operation. They can also build a map of your home that allows you to program them to clean specific rooms or areas and beware of obstacles.
Most robot vacs have some degree of object detection and object detection, but more expensive models such as the iRobot J7 have advanced features such as "home mapping" and advanced obstacle avoidance, which can simplify your life (although our test bot did "eat" a pair of socks). If you want to take your home cleaning to the next level, look for a robotic mop that comes with a water tank that can be filled and then empty.
While none of the models we tested could compete with the dirt-picking power of a standup vacuum, they did a great job of cleaning hard floors and low pile carpets. They excel at sweeping up food crumbs and tracked-in dirt. They can also tackle pet litter that is stray and metal screws and nuts. The best vacuum plus mop robot robot vacuums can clean corners and edges and work around furniture. For a basic model that works on its own and is relatively inexpensive look into the Eufy 11S.
- Convenient Self-Charging
A robot vacuum can help keep your home clean and tidy without you having to do much work. You can schedule cleanings using the app, and create no-go zones to ensure that your robot does not step on your favorite chair or plants. A majority of our top picks will empty their trash bins for you and clean their docking station.
The top robot vacuums can be programmed to clean your floors on a regular basis for weeks or even months at a time, saving you from the time-consuming task of manually mopping and sweeping your floors on a weekly or daily basis. This lets you take more time doing the things you enjoy and reduces the time it takes to clean your floors manually.
During testing the Q Revo was able to grab small particles such as baking soda and oatmeal. It also picked up heavier particles such as nails and screws made of steel, as well as fluffy hair. It's not equipped with the sophisticated mapping and object avoidance features of our top picks, but it's sufficient for the majority of families.
The best thing about the j7 is its ability to detect and avoid obstacles such as power cords as well as socks and shoes, and pet waste. This means that you don't have to tidy up before using your robot. However, messy rooms can cause your robot to get stuck and do an inadequate job.