How to Find the best robot vacuums 2022 Robot Vacuum

If you don't require advanced features such as mapping and don't mind emptying your dustbin every 60 to 90 days A basic robot vacuum is probably the best choice for you. Pick a model that has an uncluttered base that can work 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 vacuum we've tested. It can also map and create virtual no-go zones for rooms or 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 day-to-day basis. It also can reduce the frequency of deep cleaning, saving you time and effort. The most effective model comes with powerful suction that is able to take on the most difficult messes and leave your home cleaner.

You can cover a larger area with a robot vacuum and mop, which is particularly beneficial if you live in an extensive home. Choose one that has water reservoirs either built into its chassis or as a separate piece that you swap in when the vacuuming is done. You'll need to empty and fill it up, however, so this is an additional task that will require a little extra work on your part.

In a perfect world you would clean your floors first before using your robot vacuum to stop it from running into anything. However, in the majority of homes, this isn't possible or desirable. Thankfully, many models allow you to use your smartphone to create virtual barriers that the robot can be aware of and avoid. Certain models have no-go zones, which you can flag areas you don't want the robot to enter. For example the child's room or a pile of cords in a corner.

This model is a great option for those looking for an easy robot cleaner that doesn't have all the bells. It's quiet and works on both hard floors and carpets with low pile and can be programmed using the app to vacuum and mop at your convenience. 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 use instruments for navigation, such as sensors lasers, cameras, and sensors to move around and collect pet hair, dust and food crumbs off hard floors, tile and hardwood. A lot of them have boundary strips that allow them to stay within the walls of a room, while pricier models can be programmed to automatically wake up and start cleaning at a scheduled time. Some models even have fall detection technology that can help them avoid falling down stairs or becoming caught in electrical cords.

If you'd like to control your robot vacuum from the comfort of your couch, look for models that integrate voice assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant. Also, look for models with Wi-Fi connectivity that allow you to begin a cleaning session from anywhere using an app. Depending on the size of your home is, you might prefer a model that has a long battery life and a spacious dust bin that doesn't have to be emptied frequently.

Some robot vacuums double as mops, utilizing water reservoirs to clean your floor. This is great for mopping, but not for tough messes like pet poop and other wet spills. You can pick hybrids with an adjustable microfiber mopping pad or a self-emptying model that lets you go for up to 60 days without emptying the base.

3. Smart Mapping

Certain robots employ advanced mapping technology to create an accurate map of your floorplan while they clean the floor, which makes it easier for them to avoid falling into furniture or tripping over things like chair legs or cords. This feature is only available on the top models, but it allows your robot to be aware of your home's layout and to know where it should go when the battery is out.

If you don't want your robot navigating into areas of your house that you'd rather it stay away from (like your kids' toys or the tangled mess of device cords in the corner) Most robots provide some method of creating virtual barriers, either with their app or a set of physical boundary strips. You can block off areas you don't wish your robot to enter, so that it can focus on the areas that require the most attention.

Many robots also automatically change floors depending on the kind of flooring they are cleaning. This can be done by changing from carpet to hard flooring or by paying attention to particular areas of your home, such as corners and baseboards. In our tests, clean this was a useful feature that improved their scores on picking up carpeting that is low-pile and hardwood. It's important to tuck away any loose cords or furniture before using your robot vacuum, so that it doesn't become caught.

4. Remote Control

Most robot vacuums are WiFi-connected and work with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri Shortcuts, which allow users to control them with voice commands or through your smartphone. Many robot vacuums connect to smart home systems and generate a map of the area they clean after each session. This allows them to "learn" the way your home is laid out, and then plan more efficient routes in future cleaning sessions. Some have obstacle avoidance built in that prevents them from causing damage to furniture or getting stuck on objects like loose charging cables or pet hair.

Most robots are equipped with the ability to control them with a remote that you can use to move them around your home. Most robots are controlled via a mobile application, which offers more features. It is possible to create multiple cleaning schedules, make a list of favorite rooms and even manually guide your robot to certain areas by using directions on the screen.

Some models offer no-go zones These are virtual barriers that you can set up in the app to stop the robot from entering certain areas (like toys for kids or dog beds and bowls). Other apps let you set up a map of your home and give the robot detailed information about your floors. The app on our top choice Roborock S7+, the Roborock S7+, has numerous options to help you tidy your home, but its interface isn't as polished as the ones from iRobot and Shark.

5. Long Battery Life

Robot vacuums that clean your entire home without stopping to recharge or emptying their trash bins save time and effort. Some are compatible with smart home platforms such as Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri Shortcuts to allow hands-free operation. They can also make a map of the space for you to program them for certain areas or rooms, and to stay clear of obstacles.

Most robot vacs have some degree of detection of objects and object detection, but more expensive models such as the iRobot J7 have advanced features like "home mapping" and advanced obstacle avoidance that will make your life easier (although our test bot did "eat" a pair of socks). If you want to take your home maintenance even further consider a robot mop that has a tank of water that can be filled and then empty.

While no of the models we tested could match the dirt-picking ability of a stand-up vacuum they were able to do a fantastic job cleaning hard floors and low pile carpets. They excel at sweeping up food crumbs, and dirt that has been tracked in. They are also able to handle nuts and screws made of metal, as well as the stray cat litter. The most effective robot vacuums can remove dirt from edges and corners and can even work around furniture. Eufy 11S is a relatively affordable and basic model.

6. Convenient Self-Charging

With the right configuration with the right setup, a robot vacuum will help you keep your home looking and feeling cleaner regularly, without much work from you. You can schedule cleanings through the app, and set up no-go areas so that your robot doesn't get in the way of your plants or sit on your favorite chair. Many of our top picks automatically empty their trash bins and clean their docking stations for you.

The top robot vacuums can be programmed to clean your floors regularly for weeks or even months at a stretch, freeing you from the tedious chore of manually sweeping and mopping your floors on a weekly or daily basis. This lets you spend more time doing things you enjoy and cuts down on the amount of time your floors have to be cleaned manually.

During tests, Q Revo was able to grab small particles such as baking soda and oatmeal. It also picked up larger particles like nails and screws made of steel, as well as fluffy hair. It doesn't have the smart mapping and object avoidance features of our top picks, however it's adequate for the majority of families.

The j7's best robot vacuum and mop combo feature is its ability to spot and avoid obstacles like power cords and socks, shoes as well as pet waste. This means that you don't need to tidy the room prior to running your robot, although messy rooms can mean that your bot may get stuck and not do as well.