Top Rated Robot Vacuums

A robot vacuum will keep the floors clean enough to cut down on the frequency at which you'll need to manually vacuum. Look for one that offers excellent navigation, is able to clean corners and stairs and also has a large dust bin that has to be emptied only periodically.

There are models that mop and charge themselves, which is a feature that is essential for families with pets or children. A majority of the top performers in our tests have excellent obstacle avoidance.

1. IRobot Roomba i3+ EVO

The i3+ EVO and its sibling, the i3 EVO are the same robots, but they differ in that the i3+ has self-emptying capabilities. That makes the i3+ a great option for those who want an automated, hands-free cleaning experience, but aren't afraid of taking the time to empty their robot's trash bin as it gets full.

Both robots excel at picking up surface debris off carpets and hard floors, and they're excellent at getting around furniture and other obstacles. iAdapt navigation software creates smart robot vacuums maps of your home that help the i3+ navigate and clean efficiently. The i3+ isn't able to feature obstacle avoidance features like the i7+ or any other top-rated robots we test. It may get stuck on power cords and socks and have trouble moving between different surfaces, like carpet and hardwood.

iRobot suggests that you clear areas in which the i3+ EVO will vacuum prior to when you use it, including putting away any toys or clutter it may encounter. It's also a good idea to keep the bin and filter clean so that they don't become clogged with dirt. When the i3+ EVO's internal bin is full or the battery is low it goes back to its docking station, automatically emptying its trash into the station's dust bin, and then continues cleaning the area where it left off. The i3+ EVO's batteries last for approximately an hour and a half continuous use. It takes around three hours to fully recharge.

2. Roomba by iRobot

The iRobot i7+ is a top model from iRobot’s flagship line and comes with the latest features. It's self-charging and self-navigating, but the most significant feature is its auto-emptying bin. This eliminates the need for routine maintenance.

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

The i7+ is quicker and more agile in our tests than the eufy RoboVac G30. It also removed large pet hair pieces from all surfaces, including carpeting. Its main advantage over the eufy the dust bin is self-emptying that eliminates a major cause of maintenance and cuts down on the amount of time spent cleaning.

We were also impressed by the i7+’s compatibility with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant AI services. We used these services to instruct the robot on how to start, stop, or pause cleaning sessions as well as move around the room and to vacuum a particular area. The iRobot Home App made it easy to connect the i7+ with these services. Once connected, to give voice 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

This tiny Dyson model is an all-sports car that is amidst a sea of vacuums powered by cordless that resemble minivans and buses. It has the power and features to replace a stand-up vacuum in many households however, it can also fit nicely on the coffee table or the bookshelf, where you can wave it around like an enchanted wand.

The V10 is powered by a seven-cell, energy-dense lithium-ion battery which produces energy that is not faded for 60 minutes. Its advanced whole-machine filtration system removes allergens, and then releases clean air back into your home. Its cleaning head is specially designed and drives bristles of nylon that are stiff and deep into carpet to collect large particles and fine dust. It comes with three suction modes to suit the task at hand. It swiftly switches from handheld vacuum to floor vacuum and back.

The model comes with an attached dock that charges the Dyson to 100 percent within 3.5 hours. It also provides easy access to 2 attachments and a wand. This is a big improvement over the older Dysons, which require a lengthy charge and are a pain to store.

The main issue with the V10 is its limited running time. The claims of its marketing that it can last up to 60 minutes of run time are not true as CR's tests have shown. This is an average not an extraordinary run time for a battery-powered cordless vac. This is still enough to vacuum the majority of an average-sized house however, it's not enough to get every single spot (though a second run-through usually does the trick). This model has its own advantages however: it's lighter and more mobile than previous Dysons cordless models, and its vacuuming ability is noticeably superior on carpets with low pile.

4. iRobot Roomba 694

The 694 is a standard robot vacuum that's a great option for those who don't have lots of money to invest in an expensive robot. It was able to pick up most types of debris and sizes during our tests and would often go over the same area many times to give an efficient clean. Its flat front end helps it reach into corners and along the walls' edges and walls, which is a nice touch.

Its intelligent navigation system makes use of iAdapt to avoid obstacles and navigate your home, but it isn't equipped with the ability to map that comes with more sophisticated models like our top picks such as the i3+ EVO and the j7+ series. It is prone to getting stuck on phone cords or furniture and will often run out of power before returning to its home base.

The Xiaomi Mi robot is superior in many ways over the Roomba 694, as it has less parts that require regular cleaning, is equipped with an allergen-trapping HEPA filtering system, has a lower recurring cost and has more advanced automation capabilities and is better able to maneuver its own. It also has a larger dustbin and can charge faster.

The eufy RoboVac X8 has a superior battery life than the Roomba. It also has physical boundaries strips that can be controlled using your smartphone's voice assistant. It also feels better-built and has a more powerful motor, and is able to perform better on bare floors and low-pile carpet, while offering a wider range of automation features.

5. Samsung Jet Bot AI+

Samsung is a household name in the field of home electronics. It's no surprise, then, that they are also among the top producers of robot vacuums and mop. Their Jet Bot AI+ is packed with cutting-edge onboard technology to aid in navigation and obstacle avoidance.

The app provides plenty of options to personalize your robotic floor vacuums cleaner, including virtual barriers, mopping water levels and behavior customization, docking frequency settings, and more. The app is simple to use and understand as are other Samsung devices.

In our tests, the Jet Bot AI+ excelled on hard floors and handled dog hair (on carpet) quite well, cleaning up 86% of it. It was not as successful in avoiding taller objects like socks or cords. This was disappointing. It's also a bit more expensive than some of the other models we tried which could be a deal-breaker for some buyers.

The app lets you access the camera onboard of the smart vacuum. You can also create live streaming from the robot's cleaning robots for home area. This feature lets you keep track of your pets or the kids if you're away from home. The dustbin and the filter can be cleaned for an easy, quick clean-up. The Jet Bot AI+ comes with an automatic vacuum clean station which helps to keep the bin clean and improves suction power.

6. Black & Decker Robot Vacuum

Unlike other robotic vacuum cleaner on sale vacuums, which are designed for both hard floors and carpets, Black and Decker robots are specifically designed for hard floors. They come with a wide cleaning path as well as a large dust bin that can hold 2X more debris than competitors to keep the area clean for the longest time. They also come with two side sweepers that can be used to clean along edges and corners. The POWERSERIES model comes with AutoSense which adjusts the power level according to whether it's cleaning up dirt that is on the surface or embedded. It also has a smart app that lets you browse the virtual map and control functions and schedules. You can also monitor the status of the vacuum and connect it to the dock for charging at the press of a single button. The app also allows you to customize the LED lights on top of the vacuum by using different colors, so that you can easily identify the areas where it's focused or where it's gotten stuck.

The app also makes it simple to steer the robot manually if needed. For instance my living room rug has a darkly colored border that tends to make it difficult for other robots I've tried. However the HRV 425BL kept moving across the border, but it didn't register it as a cliff. The ability to create a weekly cleaning schedule is a great time-saving convenience.