How to Find the Best Robot Vacuum

If you don't need 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 an option with a clean base and top robot vacuum works with voice assistants.

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

1. Powerful Suction

A robot vacuum is able to stay clean of the pet hair, dust and dander that accumulates on your floors on a day-to-day basis. It can also reduce the frequency of deep cleaning, which will save your time and effort. The best robotic mop and vacuum models have powerful suction, which can tackle most messes with ease and leave your house cleaner.

You can cover a larger area by using a robot vacuum and mop, which is especially beneficial if you live in an extensive home. You can find a model with a tank for water either in the chassis itself or as an extra piece that you can remove after vacuuming. It will need to be filled and empty and refilled, which is an additional chore.

In a perfect world it would be ideal to clean your floors before using your robot vacuum to stop it from running into anything. In the majority of homes, however, this is not possible or desirable. Fortunately, the majority of models allow you to use your smartphone app to set up virtual barriers that the robot is able to see and avoid. Certain models have no-go zones that you can mark areas you don't wish it to enter. For example an area for children's play or a pile of cords in the corner.

This model is a good choice if you want a simple robot cleaner without all the bells and whistles. It is quiet, works on both hard floors and carpets with low pile and can be programmed through the app to vacuum and mop at your leisure. It has a long battery life that can last up to 180 minutes before it requires to recharge.

2. Simple to operate

In general, robot vacuums require very little input from you. They make use of instruments for navigation, such as sensors, lasers, and cameras to move around and collect pet hair, dust, and food crumbs from hard floors, tile and hardwood. Many models have boundary strips that allow them to remain in a room. The more expensive models can be programmed to start up at a certain time and start cleaning. Certain models come with fall detection technology that helps them avoid falling down stairs or becoming tangled in cords.

Find models that you can control from your couch via voice assistants like Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also pick Wi-Fi models that permit users to start cleaning from anywhere with an app. Depending on how big your home is, you might prefer one with a long-lasting battery and a large dust bin that doesn't have to be emptied frequently.

Certain robot vacuums are also mops. They make use of water reservoirs to clean the floor. This is helpful for normal mopping, but it won't work for extra-tough messes, like pet poop or other spills that are wet. You can choose hybrids that have an adjustable microfiber mopping pad or a self-emptying option that allows you to stay for up to 60 days without emptying the base.

3. Smart Mapping

Some robots employ advanced mapping technology to create a detailed map as they clean. This makes it easier to avoid hitting furniture and getting caught on cords or chairs. This feature is only available on the top models however, it allows your robot to get a complete understanding of your home's layout and knows where to go when the battery runs out.

The majority of robots allow you to create virtual barriers. This can be done through an app or physically-based boundary strips. You can block off areas you don't wish your robot to access in order to focus on the areas that require the most attention.

Many robots also have the ability to automatically navigate to different flooring types according to the type of surface they're cleaning, whether that's switching between hard flooring and carpet or focusing on certain areas of your home, such as baseboards and corners. In our tests this was a helpful feature that improved their pick-up scores for both carpeting made of low-pile or hardwood. It's important to tuck away any loose cords or furniture before using your robot vacuum so it doesn't get caught.

4. Remote Control

Most robot vacuums come with WiFi capabilities and can be controlled with voice commands, Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa or Siri Shortcuts. Many connect to smart home systems and build maps of your home after each cleaning session to "learn" your layout and devise 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 things such as loose charging cables or pet hair.

Most robots come with a remote that you can use to pilot them around your home. Most 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 using directional Arrows.

Certain models have no-go zones. These are virtual barriers that can be created in the app to prevent the robot from entering specific areas (like toys for children or dog beds and dishes). Certain apps let you create a map of your house and provide more detailed information about the floors. The app on our top choice Roborock S7+, the Roborock S7+, has many useful options to help you clean your home, however its interface isn't as polished as those from iRobot and Shark.

5. Long Battery Life

Robotic vacuums that can sweep all over your home without stopping to recharge or empty their trash bins can save you time and energy. Some work with smart home platforms like Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri Shortcuts for hands-free operation. They can also create an outline of your space that allows you to program them to clean certain areas or rooms and stay clear of obstacles.

Most robot vacs have some level of object detection, but higher-end models like the iRobot j7 offer sophisticated features such as "home mapping" and advanced obstacle avoidance, which can simplify your life (although our test bot did once "eat" a pair of socks). If you want to take your home cleaning to the next level opt for a robotic mop that has a tank of water 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 standup vacuum, they did a great job of cleaning hard floors and low pile carpets. They excel in sweeping up dust and food crumbs, tracked-in dirt and pet hair. They are also able to handle metal screws and nuts, as well as stray cat litter. The best bissell robot vacuum vacs can easily work their way through furniture, top robot vacuum and they are great at cleaning edges and corners as well. Eufy 11S is a relatively affordable and basic model.

6. Convenient Self-Charging

A robot vacuum can help keep your home tidy and clean without having to do lots of work. You can schedule cleanings using the app, and create no-go zones so that your robot doesn't walk on your plants or sit on your favorite chair. The majority of our Top Robot Vacuum picks automatically empty their dustbins and clean their docking stations for you.

The top robot vacuums can be programmed to keep your floors clean for weeks or months at a stretch, saving you the time and effort of manually mopping or sweeping your floors every single week or even every day. This helps you spend more time on things you enjoy and decreases the amount of time your floors need to be cleaned manually.

In our tests during testing, Q Revo was able to grab small particles like baking soda and oatmeal. It also grabbed 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 object-avoiding features of our top picks but is still a great option for most families.

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