How to Find the Best Robot Vacuum

If you don't need advanced features such as mapping and aren't worried about emptying your bin every 60 to 90 days A basic robot vacuum could be the best eufy robot vacuum choice for you. Choose one with a clean base and works with voice assistants.

It is a pro at picking up dirt, clumps of pet hair and cat litter on tile floors, hardwood floors and low-pile carpeting better than any other robo vacuum we've tested. It also maps and best eufy robot vacuum set virtual no-go zones for rooms and areas.

1. Powerful Suction

A robot vacuum will stay on top of the pet hair, dust and dander that build up on your floors on a daily basis. It can also reduce the frequency of deep cleaning, saving your time and effort. The best roborock vacuum models have powerful suction, which can tackle most messes with ease and leave your house cleaner.

You can cover more area by using a robot vacuum and mop, which is especially beneficial if you live in a large home. There are models with a tank for water either integrated into the chassis or as an extra piece that you can remove after vacuuming. You'll have to empty it and refill it, however it's an additional task that will require some extra effort on your part.

In a perfect world, you'd be able to clean your floors prior to using your robot vacuum to keep it from running into things. But in most homes, this isn't feasible or desirable. Thankfully, many models allow you to use your smartphone app to set up virtual barriers that the robot can detect and avoid. Some models have no-go zones which you can use to mark areas you don't want the robot to access, such as children rooms or best Eufy Robot Vacuum a pile of device cords in the corner.

If you're looking for a basic robot vacuum that doesn't have all the bells and whistles, this model from networking company TP-Link is a great option. It's quiet, it is able to work on hard floors as well as low-pile carpets and can be programmed through the app to vacuum and mop at your leisure. It's got a long battery life, and can last for up to 180 minutes before it needs to recharge.

2. Simple to operate

Robot vacuums typically require only minimal effort from you. They make use of navigation tools such as sensors and lasers to move through obstacles and collect food particles, dust and pet hair from hard floors, tiles, hardwood and low-pile carpets. Many have boundary strips that help them stay within the walls of a room while higher-end models can be set to automatically wake up and begin cleaning at a predetermined time. Some even come with fall detection technology that helps them avoid tumbling down stairs or getting caught in electrical cords.

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

Certain robot vacuums are also mops. They use water reservoirs to wash the floor. This is helpful for normal mopping, but it won't work for tough messes such as pet poop or other spills that are wet. You can find hybrids with a removable microfiber pad that can be used for mopping, or choose self-emptying models that let you use the device for 30 to 60 days without having to empty the base.

3. Smart Mapping

Certain robots utilize advanced mapping technology to build a detailed map while they clean. This makes it easier to avoid crashing into furniture and getting caught on cords or legs of chairs. This feature is only available on higher-end models however, it allows your robot to have a thorough understanding of your home's layout and knows where to go when the battery runs out.

If you do not want your robot to go into areas of your house that you'd prefer to keep it away from (like your kids' toys or the mess of device cords in the corner) Most robots provide the possibility of creating virtual barriers, either through their apps or physical boundary strips. This allows you to block off zones that you do not want your robot to venture into, so it can focus its attention on the areas and rooms that require the most attention.

Many robots will also automatically change floors based on the flooring they are cleaning. This can be achieved by switching from carpet to hard flooring or by paying attention to particular areas of your home like corners and baseboards. In our tests, this was a useful feature that improved their performance in picking up carpeting made of low-pile or hardwood. However, it's still important to secure furniture and cords that are loose prior to running your robot vacuum so that it doesn't get caught or come into contact with something it shouldn't.

4. Remote Control

Most robot vacuums come with WiFi capabilities and can be controlled via voice commands, Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa or Siri Shortcuts. Many connect to smart home systems that create a map of your space after each cleaning session, so that they can "learn" your layout and plan more efficient routes for future trips. Some come with obstacle avoidance built in that prevents them from causing damage to furniture and getting stuck on objects like loose charging cables or pet hair.

Most robots come with a remote you can use to steer them around your home. Most robots are controlled via a mobile application that comes with more features. You can create multiple cleaning schedules and create an agenda of your most-loved rooms. You can also guide the robot with the directional arrows.

Some models have zones that are not allowed. These are virtual barriers you can create within the app to block the robot from entering certain areas (like kid's toys or dishes for dogs and dog beds). Other apps allow you to set up a map of your home and provide the robot with precise information about your floors. The Roborock S7+ app has a number of useful features that will help you clean the house. However the interface isn't as polished as iRobot or Shark.

5. Long Battery Life

Robotic vacuums that can sweep all over your home without stopping to recharge or empty their bins of dust can save you time and energy. Some of them work with smart home platforms like Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri Shortcuts for hands-free operation. They can also draw maps of the area to allow you to program them for specific areas or rooms, and to avoid obstacles.

Most robot vacs have some degree of detection of objects however, higher-end models such as the iRobot J7 have advanced features like "home mapping" and advanced obstacle avoidance that can really make your life easier (although our test bot did "eat" a pair of socks). If you're looking to improve your home maintenance, consider the use of a robot mop and an water container that can be filled and then empty.

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 cleaning hard floors and low pile carpets. They are great in sweeping up dust and debris, food particles, dirt tracked in and pet hair. They are also able to handle nuts and screws made of metal and cats' litter. The top robot vacuums can effortlessly work through furniture, and they excel at cleaning edges and corners as well. For an affordable model that can work by itself and is reasonably priced, check out the Eufy 11S.

6. Convenient Self-Charging

A robot vacuum will help keep your home tidy and clean without you having to do lots of work. You can schedule cleanings through the app and set up no-go zones so that your robot won't trample your plants or your favorite chair. Many of our top picks will also empty their dustbins and clean their docking stations.

The top robot vacuums can be programmed to keep your floors clean for weeks or months at a stretch, which saves you the time and effort of manually mopping or sweeping your floors each week or day. This lets you have more time to do the things you enjoy and cuts down on 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 baking soda and oatmeal, heavier debris such as metal screws and nails as well as fluffy things like hair of pets. It's not equipped with the advanced mapping and object avoidance features of our top picks, however it works well enough for most families.

The most impressive feature of the j7 is its ability to recognize and avoid obstacles like power cords and socks, shoes, and pet waste. This means that you don't have to tidy up before using your robot. However, cluttered rooms can cause your robot to become stuck and perform a poor job.