How to Find the Best Robot Vacuum

If you don't need advanced features like mapping, and do not mind cleaning your trash bin every 60 to 90 days, a basic robotic vacuum could be for you. Look for one with a clean base and works with voice assistants.

It is the best robo-vacuum we have tested in cleaning up pet hair on hardwood floors, tile, and carpets with low pile. It can also map out and set virtual no go zones for rooms or certain areas.

1. Powerful Suction

A robot vacuum will stay up with the pet hair, dust and dander that accumulates on your floors on a daily basis. It can also reduce the frequency you have to deep clean, saving you time and effort. The best model has powerful suction that can tackle most messes and leave your home sparkling clean.

Choosing a robot vacuum that can also mop will help you cover more ground by using just one machine. This is especially beneficial for homes with a large area. You can find a model with a tank for water either integrated into the chassis or as an extra piece that you can take out after vacuuming. It will need to be empty and refill it, though, mops so this is an additional chore that requires a little extra work on your part.

In a perfect universe, you would clear your floors first before you use your robot vacuum to stop it from crashing into anything. However, in the majority of homes, this isn't feasible or desirable. Fortunately, the majority of models let you 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 flag areas you don't wish it to access. For instance the child's room or a pile of cords in the corner.

This model is a good option for those looking for a simple robot cleaner without all the bells. It is quiet, can be used on hard floors as well as low-pile carpets and can be programmed using the app to vacuum and mop at your convenience. It has a long battery life that can last up to 180 minutes.

2. Easy to operate

In general robot vacuums require little input from you. They make use of navigation tools such as sensors lasers, cameras and sensors to navigate around obstacles and remove food particles, dust and pet hair from hard floors, tiles carpets, hardwood floors and low-pile carpets. A lot of them 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 begin cleaning at a set time. Some models have fall detection technology to help them avoid falling down stairs or getting caught in cords.

Look for models that you can control from your couch via voice assistants such as Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also select Wi-Fi models that allow you to begin cleaning from anywhere with an app. You may want to select a model that has a long-lasting battery and a large dustbin, depending on the size of your home.

Some robot vacuums can double as mops, utilizing water reservoirs to clean your floor. This is useful for everyday mopping, but will not be effective for messes that are more difficult to clean, such as pet poop or other spills that are wet. You can find hybrids with an ejectable microfiber pad for mopping, or opt for an auto-emptying model that lets you go 30 to 60 days without needing to empty the base.

3. Smart Mapping

Some robots employ advanced mapping technology to create a detailed map while they clean. This allows them to avoid bumping into furniture and getting caught on cords or legs of chairs. This feature is only available on higher-end models, but it lets your robot be aware of your home's layout and to know where it should go when the battery runs out.

Most robots let you create virtual barriers. This can be done via an app or physically-based boundary strips. You can block off areas you don't want your robot vacuum that vacuums and mops to enter in order to concentrate on areas that require the most attention.

A lot of robots are able to automatically navigate to different flooring types depending on the floor they're cleaning, whether they're switching between hard and carpet or focusing on particular areas of your home, like baseboards and corners. In our tests this was a helpful feature that improved their scores on picking up hardwood and low-pile carpeting. It's nevertheless important to tuck away furniture and cords before running your robot vacuum so that it doesn't get stuck or run into something it shouldn't.

4. Remote Control

Most robot vacuums come with WiFi capabilities and can be controlled using voice commands, Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa or Siri Shortcuts. Many robot vacuums connect to smart home systems and create a map of the area they clean after each cleaning session. This allows them to "learn" the way your home is laid out and plan more efficient routes for future cleaning sessions. There are also built-in obstacles avoidance that stops them from hitting furniture and causing damage or getting stuck on things like loose charging cables shoes, laces for shoes and pet hair.

Most robots are equipped with the ability to control them with a remote that you can use to move them around your house. However, the majority of them can be controlled via an app on your mobile, which gives you more features. You can set up a variety of cleaning schedules and create a list with your favorite rooms. You can also manually direct the robot with directional arrows.

Certain models have zones that are not allowed. These are virtual barriers that can be created within the app to block the robot from entering specific areas (like toys for children or dishes and dog beds). Other apps let you make an outline 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 clean your home, but its interface isn't as polished and elegant as those from iRobot and Shark.

5. Long Battery Life

Robot vacuums that clean your entire house without stopping for a 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 make maps of the area to allow you to program them for mops specific rooms or areas and to stay clear of obstacles.

The majority of robot vacuums detect objects, but the iRobot J7 has advanced features like "home mapping" and obstacle avoidance. These features can make your life easier (although one of our test bots did "eat" two socks). If you're looking to push your home maintenance even further opt for a robotic mop with a water tank that can be filled and then empty.

While no of the models we tested could match the ability to pick up dirt of a stand-up vacuum they did a great job cleaning hard floors and carpets with low pile. They excel in sweeping up dust and debris, food dust, tracked-in dirt, and pet hair. They can also handle metal screws and nuts as well as cats' litter. The most effective robot vacuums are able to easily work their way around furniture and are great at cleaning edges and corners as well. For a basic model that works by itself and is comparatively inexpensive take a look at the Eufy 11S.

6. Convenient Self-Charging

A robot vacuum can help keep your home clean and tidy without having to do lots of work. You can schedule cleanings through the app, and set up no-go areas so that the cheap robot vacuum cleaner won't step on your plants or 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 clean your floors on a regular basis for months or even weeks at a stretch, freeing you from the tedious chore of manually mopping and sweeping your floors on a daily or weekly basis. This lets you spend more time doing things you enjoy and decreases the amount of time that your floors require to be cleaned manually.

During testing during testing, Q Revo was able to grab small particles like baking soda and oatmeal. It also picked up larger particles like nails and screws made of metal, as well as fluffy stuff like pet hair. It does not have the intelligent mapping and objects-avoiding features of our top picks but is still a great option for most families.

The most appealing thing about the j7 is that it makes use of cameras and processor-powered sensors to identify and avoid obstacles like shoes, power cords, socks and pet waste. This means that you don't need to tidy up before running your robot, although messy rooms can mean that the robot may become stuck and not be able to do as well.