14 Questions You Might Be Afraid To Ask About Robot Vac

Top Rated Robot Vacuums

A robot vacuum will keep floors clean enough to decrease the frequency with which you'll need to manually vacuum. Find one that has good navigation, can clean stairs and corners and also has a large dust bin that has to be emptied only once in a while.

There are models that can mop and charge themselves, which is a feature important for families with children or pets. Many of the top performers in our tests offer decent obstacle-avoiding capabilities.

1. iRobot Roomba i3+ EVO

The i3+ EVO and its sibling, the i3 EVO are both identical robots that differ only in that the i3+ has self-emptying capabilities. That makes the i3+ a good choice for people who want an automated, hands-free cleaning experience, but aren't afraid of having to empty their dust bin manually when it fills up.

Both robots are adept at removing surface dirt on carpets and hard floors and can move around furniture and other obstacles. iAdapt navigation software makes smart maps of your home that aid the i3+ EVO to navigate and clean in a way that maximizes efficiency. However, unlike the i7+ and other top-rated robots we test the i3+ does not have obstacle-avoidance capabilities which means it can get stuck on things like power cords or socks, and may have issues traversing transitions across surfaces like hardwood to rug.

iRobot recommends that you tidy the area in which the i3+ EVO vacuums before using it. This includes putting away any toys or other clutter it might encounter. It's also a good idea to keep the dustbin and filter clean so they do not become blocked by dirt. If the i3+'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. Then it continues cleaning from where it started. The i3+ EVO's battery can last for approximately an hour and a half continuous use, and it takes about three hours to recharge.

2. IRobot Roomba i7+

The iRobot i7+ is a Top rated Robot vacuum model from iRobot’s flagship line and comes with the latest features. It's self-charging, self-navigating and the most crucial feature of all -- it has a self-emptying dustbin that eliminates one of the primary sources of maintenance for any robot vacuum.

The Roomba I7+ can make rooms more efficient maps using Imprint Smart Mapping. It also integrates with the iRobot Home app to let you schedule cleaning jobs and control your robot using voice or through the app.

In our testing, the i7+ was more agile and faster than our second-placed model, the eufy RoboVac G30, and it picked up large pieces of pet hair from all surfaces kinds including carpeting. The biggest benefit over the eufy, though it self-empties its dust bin which eliminates a major cause of maintenance and reduces the amount of time spent cleaning.

We were also impressed by the i7+'s compatibility with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant AI services. We utilized these services to instruct the robot to begin, stop, or pause cleaning sessions and also to move around the room and to 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+, like "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

In a world filled with vacuums that are cordless and look like minivans or buses, this small Dyson model is an old-fashioned sports car. It's powerful and has features to replace a stand-up vacuum for the majority of households, but it also fits in well next to the table for a coffee or a bookshelf where you can wave it around like an enchanted device.

The V10 is powered by a seven-cell, energy-dense lithium-ion battery that produces fade-free power for 60 minutes. Its advanced whole-machine filtration system removes allergens, and then releases cleaner air back into your home. The cleaning head is specially designed to drive bristles made of nylon that are stiff into carpet to collect large dust and crumbs. It has three different suction modes that can be adjusted to the specific task. It is able to quickly switch between handheld and floor vacuum, and vice versa.

The model also comes with docks that charge to 100% in 3.5 hours and provides easy access to two attachments as well as a wand clip. This is a huge improvement over older Dysons that require a lengthy charge and are difficult to store.

The V10's biggest drawback is its limited run time. As CR's tests show, its advertising claims of up to 60 minutes are not true. This is a typical and not a remarkable time to run a battery-powered cordless vac. It's still enough time to vacuum the majority of a typical-sized home, but not quite long enough to clean every spot (though the second time around usually does the trick). However, this model doesn't have its benefits: It's lighter and agile than older cordless Dysons and its vacuuming efficiency is better on low-pile carpet.

4. iRobot Roomba 694

One of iRobot's most adored robot vacuums the 694 is a basic model that's an excellent choice for people who don't want to spend too much on a best robot vacuum for large house. It was able to remove most types of debris and sizes during our tests and would often go over the same area several times to ensure an extensive clean. Its flat front allows it to reach the corners and edges of walls.

Its navigation system is smart and uses iAdapt to avoid obstacles and navigate around your home, but it lacks the mapping capability of more advanced models like our top selections and the i3+ EVO and j7+ series. This means that it is sometimes stuck on things like phone cords and low furniture, and it frequently is power-depleted before returning to its original location.

The Xiaomi Mi robot is superior in many ways to the Roomba 694 in that it has fewer parts that require regular cleaning, is outfitted with an allergen-trapping HEPA filtration system, incurs lower recurring cost, is more sophisticated in its automation capabilities and is better able to maneuver its own. It also has a larger dustbin and is charged faster.

The sleek RoboVac X8 has a superior battery life than the Roomba 694. It also comes with physical boundaries strips and can be controlled by your smartphone's voice assistant. It is also more durable and has a stronger motor, and is able to perform better on bare floors and carpets with a low pile, as well as providing a wider array of features for automation.

5. Samsung Jet Bot AI+

Samsung is a name is found on all kinds of home electronics, so it comes as no surprise that they're also one of the top robotic vacuum and mop makers. Their Jet Bot AI+ is loaded with cutting-edge onboard intelligence tech for navigation and obstacles avoidance.

The app offers a variety of options to customize your robotic cleaner. This includes virtual barriers, mopping levels and behavior customizations docking frequency settings, and more. The app is simple to navigate and use similar to other Samsung devices.

In our testing of the Jet Bot AI+ excelled on hard floors and handled dog hair (on carpet) very well, picking up 86% of it. However, it wasn't particularly well with higher-up objects like cords or socks which was disappointing. It's priced higher than other models we've tested, and this could be a problem for some shoppers.

The app lets you access the camera onboard of the smart vacuum. You can also set up live streaming from the cheap robot vacuum cleaner's cleaning zone. This feature allows you to check in on your children or pets when you're away. The dustbin and the filter can be washed for an easy, quick clean-up. The Jet Bot AI+ comes with an automatic vacuum clean station which helps keep the robot's bin clear and improves suction power.

6. Black & Decker Robot Vacuum

Black and Decker robots have been developed specifically for hard flooring. The robots have an extra wide cleaning path, and a dustbin that is 2X bigger than the competitors. This allows them to clean the area for a longer period of time. They also come with two side sweepers for cleaning around corners and edges. The POWERSERIES Extreme model also comes with AutoSense technology, which detects the presence of dirt or debris on the surface and automatically adjusts its power level. The vacuum also comes with an app that allows you to view an interactive map, control functions, and set schedules. Plus, you can monitor the vacuum's battery status and then return it to its dock to charge at the push of one button. The app lets you modify the LEDs on the top of the vacuum so that you can discern where it is focusing or if it's stuck.

The application also allows you to steer the robot manually should you need to. For example my living room rug has a darkly colored border that can cause confusion for other robots I've tried. The HRV 425BL, however, continued to move across the border without ever registering the high point. And the ability to create weekly cleaning schedules is a fantastic time-saving feature.