Top Rated Robot Vacuums
A robot vacuum can keep floors clean enough to reduce the frequency with which you have to manually vacuum. Choose one that has an easy navigation, can clean stairs and corners, and has a large dust bin that needs emptying only periodically.
There are models that mop and charge themselves This is an advantage essential for families with pets or children. A majority of the top performers in our tests have excellent ability to overcome obstacles.
1. IRobot Roomba i3+ EVO
The i3+ EVO and its i3 EVO sibling the i3 EVO are the same robots, but they differ in that the i3+ comes with self-emptying features. The i3+ is an excellent option for those who want an automated, hands-free cleaning experience but are willing to manually empty the dust bin when it is full.
Both robots are proficient in removing dirt and dust particles on floors and carpets and are able to navigate around furniture and other obstacles. iAdapt navigation software creates a smart maps of your home that aid the i3+ in its navigation and clean up efficiently. The i3+ doesn't feature obstacle avoidance features like the i7+ or any other top-rated robots that we tested. It may be stuck on power cords and socks, and may have trouble navigating between surfaces, such as rug and hardwood.
iRobot suggests that you clean the area in which the i3+ EVO vacuums prior to using it. This includes putting away any toys or other items it might encounter. It's also an excellent idea to keep the dust bin and filter clean so they aren't clogged by dirt. When the i3+ EVO's internal bin is empty or the battery is not fully charged, it returns to the docking station, and it automatically emptys the dirt into the docking station’s external dustbin. It then continues cleaning where it began. The battery's lifespan is around an hour-and-a-half of continuous usage. Full Record takes three hours to 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 crucial feature of all -- it has an auto-emptying dustbin, which eliminates one of the most important sources of maintenance for any robot vacuum.
The Roomba I7+ is able to make rooms more efficient maps using Imprint Smart Mapping. It also works with the iRobot Home app to let you schedule cleaning jobs and control your robot with voice or through the app.
In our testing the i7+ was quicker and more maneuverable than our top choice which was the eufy RoboVac G30, and it picked up large pieces of pet hair from all surface types, including carpeting. Its main advantage over the eufy, though, is its self-emptying dustbin, which eliminates a major source of maintenance and lowers the cost of maintenance.
We were also awestruck by the i7+’s compatibility with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant AI services. We used these services to instruct the robot to start 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. We were able, once connected, to speak commands to the i7+, such as "Hey Alexa vacuum the master bedroom." The iRobot Home App also offers options for managing i7+ settings and evaluating performance.
3. Dyson Cyclone V10
This tiny Dyson model is an athletic car in a world of vacuums with cords that feel like minivans and buses. It is powerful enough to replace a traditional stand-up vacuum in the majority of homes, but it is also compact enough to fit on the bookcase or coffee table.
The V10 is powered with a Lithium-ion battery with 7 cells of energy that can provide power that is not fading for 60 minutes. The advanced whole-machine filtering system is able to trap allergens and then releases fresh air into your home. Its specialized head uses stiff nylon bristles to drive deep into carpets and collect large dust or crumbs. It comes with three suction modes to suit the task at hand. It quickly converts from floor vac to handheld vacuum, and then back to floor.
The model also comes with a dock that charges to 100% in about 3.5 hours and offers an easy access to two attachments and the Wand clip. This is a major improvement over earlier Dysons that require a long charge and are difficult to store.
The V10's biggest drawback is its limited run time. The claims of its marketing that it can last up to 60 minutes of run time are a bit misleading as CR's tests have shown. This is an average, not an exceptional, time to run the battery-powered cordless vacuum. It's still enough time to get rid of the majority of a home that's average size but not long enough to clean every spot (though an additional run-through often does the trick). This model has its own advantages however: it's lighter and more maneuverable than earlier Dysons cordless models and its ability to vacuum is significantly better on carpets with low pile.
4. iRobot Roomba 694"
The 694 is a basic robotic vacuum that's an excellent choice for those who don't have a lot of money to invest in an expensive robot. It was able to pick up most types of debris and sizes in our tests, and frequently went over the same area many times to give a thorough clean. Its flat front allows it to reach corners and edges of walls.
Its smart navigation system uses iAdapt technology to stay clear of obstacles and guide you through your home. It's not equipped with the mapping capabilities of more advanced models, such as our top picks, the i3+EVO and the j7+ Series. It can get stuck on phone cords or furniture and often runs out of power before returning to its original location.
The Xiaomi Mi robot is superior in many ways to the Roomba 694 because it has less parts that require regular cleaning, is outfitted with an allergen-trapping HEPA filtration system, incurs lower cost of recurring costs, is more sophisticated in its automation capabilities and is able to better maneuver itself. It also has a larger dustbin and can charge faster.
The elegant RoboVac X8 is superior to the Roomba 694 for most reasons, since it has a better battery life, the ability to change its suction power mode manually, comes with physical boundary strips, and can be operated by your phone's voice assistant. It also feels more sturdy and has a more powerful motor, and performs notably better on bare floors and low-pile carpet, while offering a wider range of automation features.
5. Samsung Jet Bot AI+
Samsung is a well-known brand in the field of home electronics. It's not surprising that they are also among the top producers of robot vacuums and mop. Jet Bot AI+ has an advanced onboard technology that allows for navigation and obstacle avoidance.
The app provides a range of options for customizing your robotic cleaner. These include mopping levels, virtual barriers and behavior modifications docking frequency settings and much more. The app is simple to learn and use similar to other Samsung devices.
In our tests our tests, the Jet Bot AI+ excelled on hard floors, and also handled dog hair (on carpet) quite well, cleaning up 86 percent of it. It was not as successful in avoiding taller items such as socks or cords. This was disappointing. It's also more expensive than other models that we tested, and this could be a deal breaker for certain shoppers.
The app lets you access the onboard camera of the smart vacuum. You can also set up live streaming from the robot's cleaning zone. best budget robot vacuum allows you to check in on pets or the kids if you're away from home. The dustbin and the filter can be cleaned to ensure an easy, quick clean-up. The Jet Bot AI+ comes with self-emptying clean stations, which helps keep the robot's bin clear and maximizes suction power.
6. Black & Decker Robot Vacuum
Black and Decker robots have been designed specifically for hard flooring. They have an extra wide cleaning path, and a dustbin that is 2X larger than the competition. This allows them to clean the area for a longer period of time. Plus, they include two side sweepers that clean around edges and corners. The POWERSERIES Extreme model comes with AutoSense technology, which detects the presence of dirt on surfaces or embedded dirt and automatically adjusts the power level. It also includes a smart application that lets you view the virtual map, and control functions and schedules. You can also track the status of the vacuum and then send it to its dock for charging with the press of a single button. Full Record allows you to customize the LED lights on the top of the vacuum to discern where it is focusing or if it's stuck.
The app allows you to manually steer the robot when needed. My living room rug, for instance, has a darkly-colored border that could cause trouble for other robots. However, the HRV 425BL continued to move across the border, without registering it as a cliff. Also, the ability to program a weekly cleaning schedule is a fantastic time-saving feature.