How to Find the Best Robot Vacuum

If you're willing to live without advanced features such as mapping, and aren't worried about cleaning the trash bin every 60 days or then, a basic robot vacuum will probably work for you. Choose a model with a clean base that works with voice assistants.

It excels at picking up dirt, pet hair and cat litter on hardwood floors, tile and carpeting with less pile than any other robo vacuum we've tested. It can also plan out and set virtual no-go zones in rooms or areas.

1. Powerful Suction

A robot vacuum can keep up with the pet hair, dust and dander that build up on your floors on a daily basis. It can also decrease the frequency of deep cleaning, saving you both time and effort. The best robot vacuum for dog hair models come with powerful suction, which will tackle most messes with ease and leave your home clean.

Choosing a shark robot vacuum and mop vacuum that can also mop will help you achieve more coverage using one machine, which could be especially helpful in a larger home. Choose models that have a water reservoir either built into its chassis or as a separate piece that you put in after the vacuuming is done. It will have to be emptied and filled in order to complete the task to complete.

In a perfect world you would clean your floors before using your robot vacuum to stop it from crashing into anything. But in most homes, this isn't feasible or desirable. Thankfully, many models allow you to use a smartphone to create virtual barriers that the robot will detect and avoid. Some include no-go zones, which can be used to mark areas you don't want it enter, such as kids' rooms or a pile of cords for your device in the corner.

This model is a good option for those looking for a basic robot cleaner that does not have all the bells. It's quiet, it is able to work on hard floors and shark vacuum mop robot carpets with low pile and can be programmed via the app to vacuum and mop at your leisure. It's got a long battery life that can last up to 180 minutes.

2. Easy to Operate

Robot vacuums typically require only minimal effort from you. They utilize navigation tools like sensors and lasers to navigate around obstacles and remove food particles, dust and pet hair from flooring, tile carpets, hardwood floors and low-pile carpets. Many have boundary strips that aid in staying within the walls of a room, while higher-end models can be set to automatically wake up and start cleaning at a set time. Some even come with fall detection technology that can help them avoid falling down stairs or becoming tangled in electrical cords.

Find models that you can control from your couch using voice assistants such as Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also select Wi-Fi models that allow users to start cleaning anywhere you want using an app. You may prefer an option with a long-lasting battery, as well as an enormous dust bin, based on the size of your home.

Some robot vacuums double as mops and use reservoirs of water to clean your floors. This is helpful for normal mopping, but it won't work for extra-tough messes, like pet poop, or other spills that are wet. There are hybrids that have a removable microfiber pad that can be used for mopping, or you can choose self-emptying models that let you go 30 to 60 days without needing to empty the base.

3. Smart Mapping

Some robots utilize advanced mapping technologies to build a detailed map of your floorplan as they clean and tidy, allowing them to avoid bumping mindlessly into furniture or tripping over things like cords or chair legs. This feature is usually only available on more expensive models, but it's one of the most effective ways to ensure your robot has a full understanding of the layout of your home and can determine where to go when it runs out of battery.

If you don't want your robot to venture into areas of your house that you'd prefer to keep it away from (like your children's toys or the tangled mess of gadget cords in the corner) Most robots provide some way to create virtual barriers, either with their app or a set of physical boundary strips. You can block off areas that you don't wish your robot to go into in order to focus on the rooms that require the most attention.

Many robots also automatically change floors based on the flooring they are cleaning. This can be accomplished by changing from carpet to hard flooring, or by focussing on certain areas of your home, such as corners and baseboards. This feature was useful in our tests and improved the vacuum's performance on both hardwood flooring and carpet flooring with low pile. But, it's still essential to put away furniture and cords before running your robot vacuum so that it doesn't get caught or get into something it shouldn't.

4. Remote Control

Most robot vacuums have WiFi capabilities and can be controlled using voice commands, Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa or Siri Shortcuts. Many connect to smart home systems and build maps of your home after each cleaning session so they can "learn" your layout and design more efficient routes for future runs. Some come with obstacle avoidance built in that prevents them from damaging furniture and getting stuck on things like loose charging cables or pet hair.

Most robots have the ability to control them with a remote that you can use to move them around your home. However, most can also be controlled using an app for mobile devices that offers more options. You can set up multiple cleaning schedules, and create a list with your favorite rooms. You can also manually direct the robot with the directional the arrows.

Certain models have zones that are not allowed. These are virtual barriers can be created within the app to block the robot from accessing certain areas (like kid's toys or dog beds and dishes). Some apps let you draw a map of your house and provide detailed information on the floors. The app we ranked as our top choice, the Roborock S7+, has many useful options to help you tidy your home, but its interface isn't as polished as the ones from iRobot and Shark vacuum mop robot.

5. Long Battery Life

Robotic vacs that can clean all over your home without stopping to recharge or empty their dust bins make it easier for you to save time and effort. Some work with smart home devices like Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri Shortcuts for hands-free operation. They can also make an outline of the space that allows you to program them for specific areas or rooms and to stay clear of obstacles.

The majority of robot vacuums detect objects, however the iRobot j7 offers advanced features, such as "home mapping" and obstacle avoidance. These features can make your life much easier (although one of our test robots did "eat" a few socks). If you're looking to push your home maintenance to the next level consider a robot mop that has an water tank that you fill and empty yourself.

While none of the models that we tested could match the ability to pick up dirt of a stand-up vacuum, they did a great job of cleaning hard floors and carpets with a low pile. They excel at picking up food crumbs and dirt that has been tracked in. They are also able to handle screws and nuts made of metal, as well as cats' litter. The best robot vacs can effortlessly work around furniture and excel at cleaning corners and edges as well. For a basic model that functions on its own and is reasonably priced take a look at the Eufy 11S.

6. Convenient Self-Charging

A robot vacuum will help keep your home tidy and clean without doing much work. It is possible to schedule cleanings with the app, and set up no-go areas so that your robot doesn't step on your favorite chair or plants. Many of our top picks will also empty their dustbins for you and clean their docking station.

The most effective robot vacuums can be programmed to clean your floors regularly for months or even weeks at a time, removing you from the tedious chore of manually mopping and sweeping your floors on a weekly or daily basis. This helps you spend more time on things you love and decreases the amount of time your floors need to be cleaned manually.

In the course of testing the Q Revo was able to capture tiny particles such as oatmeal and baking soda as well as heavier debris such metal screws and nails, and fluffy stuff such as hair from pets. It's not equipped with the advanced mapping and shark vacuum mop robot object avoidance features of our top picks, however it's adequate for most families.

The greatest thing about the j7 is that it makes use of cameras and processor-powered sensors to identify and avoid obstacles like power cords, shoes, socks, and pet waste. This means that you don't need to clean up before you can run your robot, but clutter in your home can mean the robot may become stuck and not perform the job as well.