How to Find the Best Robot Vacuum

If you don't require advanced features like mapping and you don't mind emptying your dustbin every 60 to 90 days A basic robot vacuum is probably for you. Choose a model with clean and tidy base that is compatible with voice assistants.

It is a pro at picking up dirt, clumps of cat litter and pet hair on tile floors, hardwood floors and carpeting that is lower-pile better than any other vacuum we've tested. It can also plan out and create virtual no-go zones in rooms or certain areas.

1. Powerful Suction

A robot vacuum will stay on top of the pet hair, dust and dander that collects 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 pets model has powerful suction that can tackle most messes and leave your home cleaner.

Selecting a vacuum that is also able to mop can help you get more space using one machine, which can be particularly beneficial in a larger home. There are models with a tank for water either in the chassis itself or as an additional piece that you can remove after vacuuming. It will need to be empty and refill it, though, so this is an additional task that requires a little extra work on your part.

In a perfect universe you would clean your floors first before you use your robot vacuum to prevent it from crashing into anything. In the majority of homes this isn't possible or desirable. Fortunately, the majority of models allow you to use a smartphone app to set up virtual barriers that the robot can be aware of and avoid. Some have no-go zones which you can use to mark areas that you don't want the robot to be in, like kids rooms or a stack of cords for your device in the corner.

If you're looking to buy robot vacuum a basic robot vacuum that doesn't have all the bells and bells, this model from the networking company TP-Link is a great choice. It's quiet and works well on hard floors as well as low-pile rugs and can be scheduled using the app to mop or vacuum at any time. It comes with a battery life that can last up to 180 minutes.

2. Easy to Operate

In general, robot vacuums require very little input from you. They use navigation tools like sensors lasers, cameras and sensors to move around obstacles and remove food particles, dust and pet hair from flooring, tile, hardwood and low-pile carpets. A lot of them have boundary strips that aid in staying within the walls of a room while pricier models can be set to automatically wake up and begin cleaning at a set time. Some models have fall detection technology that helps users avoid falling down the stairs or becoming tangled in cords.

If you want to control your robot vacuum from the comfort of a couch, look for models that integrate voice assistants such as Alexa and Google Assistant. You can also select Wi-Fi models that permit you to begin a cleaning session anywhere using an app. You may prefer one with a long-lasting battery and a large dustbin, depending on the size of your house.

Some robot vacuums can also be mopping. They make use of water reservoirs to wash the floor. This is helpful for normal mopping, but it won't be effective for messes that are more difficult to clean, such as pet poop or other wet spills. You can find hybrids with a removable microfiber pad for mopping, or you can choose self-emptying models that let you go for 30 to 60 days without needing to empty the base.

3. Smart Mapping

Some robots employ advanced mapping technology to build a detailed map as they clean. This allows them to avoid bumping into furniture and tripping on cords or chair legs. This feature is only available on the top models, but it allows your robot to have a thorough understanding of your home's layout and know where to move when the battery runs out.

If you don't want your robot to venture into areas of your home 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 offer the possibility of creating virtual barriers, either through their apps or a set of physical boundary strips. This lets you block off zones that you don't want your robot venture into, so it can concentrate its attention on the rooms and spaces that need the most cleaning.

A lot of robots are able to automatically navigate to different flooring types depending on the surface they're cleaning, whether they're switching between hard and carpet or focusing on particular areas of your home, like corners and baseboards. This feature proved effective in our tests and enhanced the performance of the vacuum on hardwood flooring and low-pile floor carpeting. It is important to secure any furniture or cords that are loose prior to using your robot vacuum, so that it doesn't become caught.

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 robot vacuums connect to smart home systems and can create a map of the area they clean after each cleaning session. This lets them "learn" how your home is laid out and to plan more efficient routes in future cleaning sessions. Some have built-in obstacle avoidance that prevents them from crashing into furniture and causing damage or getting stuck on things like charging cables that are loose or shoe laces, as well as pet hair.

Most robots are equipped with the ability to control them with a remote that can be used to guide them around your house. The majority of robots can be controlled via a mobile application, which offers more features. You can set up a variety of cleaning schedules and create a list with your favorite rooms. You can also manually guide the robot with the directional arrows.

Some models provide no-go zones These are virtual barriers that you can create within the app to prevent the robot from entering certain areas (like toys for children or dog beds and bowls). Other apps allow you to make the map of your house and give the robot detailed information about your floors. The app on our top pick one, the Roborock S7+, has a lot of useful options to help you clean your home, but its interface isn't as polished as the ones from iRobot and Shark.

5. Long Battery Life

Robot vacuums that can sweep your entire house without stopping to recharge or emptying their trash bins save time and effort. Some robot vacuums are compatible with smart home platforms such as Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri Shortcuts to allow hands-free operation. They can also create an outline of the space that allows you to program them to specific areas or rooms and to avoid obstacles.

The majority of Robot vacuum and mop self empty vacuums can detect objects, but the iRobot j7 comes with advanced features like "home mapping" and obstacle avoidance. These can make your life easier (although one of our test robots did "eat" a couple of socks). If you're looking to take your home maintenance to the next level consider a robot mop that comes with a water tank that you fill and empty yourself.

While none of the models we tested could compete with the dirt-picking power of a stand-up vacuum, they were able to do a fantastic job cleaning hard floors and carpets with low pile. They are great in sweeping up dust and food crumbs, tracked-in dirt and pet hair. They can even tackle some stray cat litter and metal screws and nuts. The best robot vacs can easily work their way around furniture, and they excel at cleaning corners and edges as well. For a basic model that functions by itself and is comparatively inexpensive take a look at the Eufy 11S.

6. Convenient Self-Charging

With the right configuration, a robot vacuum can help you keep your home looking and feeling cleaner regularly, with minimal effort. You can schedule cleanings using the app, and create no-go zones so that the robot won't get in the way of your favorite chair or plants. A majority of our top picks also automatically empty their bins and clean their docking stations for you.

The best 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 cleaning your floors on a daily or weekly basis. This lets you have more time to do the things you love and cuts down on the amount of time your floors have to be cleaned manually.

During tests the Q Revo was able to capture fine particles such as baking soda and oatmeal. It also snatched up heavier debris like metal screws and nails and fluffy things like pet hair. It does not have the smart mapping and object-avoiding features found in our top picks but is still a great option for most families.

The greatest aspect of the j7 robot is that it utilizes camera and processor-powered sensors to identify and avoid obstacles such as shoes, power cords, socks and pet waste. This means that you don't need to tidy up before using your robot. However, rooms that are cluttered can cause your robot to become stuck and do a poor robot Vacuum And mop self empty job.