Top Rated Robot Vacuums

A robot vacuum is able to keep floors clean enough to reduce the frequency at which you'll need to manually vacuum. Choose one that has good navigation, can clean stairs and corners, and has a large dust bin that requires emptying only periodically.

There are models that clean and charge on their own which can be important for people with children or pets. Many of the top performers in our tests also have good obstacle avoidance.

1. Roomba iRobot i3+ from iRobot EVO

The i3+ EVO and its i3 EVO sibling the i3 EVO, are identical robots that differ only in that the i3+ has self-emptying capabilities. That makes the i3+ a great option for those who want a hands-off, fully automated vacuum cleaner cleaning experience but don't mind manually emptying their robot's dustbin when it fills up.

Both robots are adept at picking up surface debris on carpets and hard floors, and they're excellent in getting around furniture and other obstacles. iAdapt navigation software creates a smart maps of your home that assist the i3+ to navigate and clean efficiently. However unlike the i7+ and other top-rated robots that we tested the i3+ doesn't have obstacle-avoidance capabilities which means it can get stuck on things such as socks or power cords, top rated robot vacuum and it can have difficulty traversing transitions across surfaces like hardwood to rug.

iRobot recommends clearing areas in which the i3+ EVO will vacuum before you use it, including putting away any toys or clutter it might encounter. Also, keep the filters and dust bin free of dirt to prevent them from becoming clogged. When the i3+ EVO’s internal bin is empty or the battery is depleted, it returns to the docking station and automatically emptys the dirt into the docking station's dust bin. It then continues cleaning from where it began. The battery's lifespan is around an hour and a half of constant use. It takes 3 hours to charge.

2. Roomba by iRobot

The iRobot i7+ is the top rated robot vacuum model in iRobot's flagship line and is packed with the most recent features. It's self-charging, self-navigating and the most crucial feature of all -- it comes with a self cleaning vacuum cleaner-emptying dustbin that eliminates one of the most important sources of maintenance for any robot vacuum.

The Roomba i7+ can remember up to 10 floor plans and their names with Imprint Smart Mapping, which lets it map rooms so it can clean them more efficiently. It also integrates with iRobot Home to schedule cleaning jobs, and you can control your robot through the app or by voice.

The i7+ is faster and more maneuverable in our tests than the eufy RoboVac G30. It also removed large pet hair pieces from any surface including carpeting. Its greatest advantage over the Eufy is its self-emptying garbage bin which eliminates major sources of maintenance and lowers the cost of recurring maintenance.

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 to move around the room, and to vacuum a particular area. Connecting the i7+ to these services was simple and straightforward through the iRobot Home app. Once connected, to speak commands to the i7+ such as "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

In a world of vacuums that are cordless and feel like minivans or buses, this tiny Dyson model feels like an old-fashioned sports car. It's powerful enough to replace a stand-up vacuum in most homes, but it is also compact enough to fit on a coffee table or bookcase.

The V10 is powered by a 7-cell, high-energy lithium-ion battery that can provide energy that is not faded for 60 minutes. Its sophisticated whole-machine filtration system captures allergens and expels clean air back into your home. Its specialized cleaning head drives bristles made of nylon that are stiff into carpet to suck up large particles and fine dust. It has three suction modes to meet the task at hand. It is able to swiftly switch from floor intelligent vacuum cleaner to handheld vacuum and vice versa.

This model also has an accessory dock that can charge to 100% in around 3.5 hours and provides an easy access to two attachments as well as a wand clip. This is a significant improvement over older Dysons, that require a long charge and are a pain to store.

The V10's biggest drawback is its sluggish run time. The tests conducted by CR show that its claims to run up to 60 minutes are not true. This is a typical and not a remarkable time to run an electric cordless vacuum powered by batteries. This is still enough to clean most of an average-sized house however, it's not enough to cover every spot (though a second run-through usually will suffice). This model has its own advantages however: it's light and more maneuverable than earlier Dysons cordless models and its ability to vacuum is significantly better on carpets with low pile.

4. iRobot Roomba 694

The 694 is a basic robot vacuum that's a great choice for those who don't have lots of money to spend on a robot. It's capable of sucking up all kinds of debris in our testing, and it often passes over the same areas multiple times to give a thorough clean. The flat front of the unit allows it reach into corners and along the edges of walls, which is a nice addition.

Its navigation system is smart and uses iAdapt to avoid obstacles and navigate around your home, but it isn't equipped with the ability to map that comes with more advanced models like our top selections, the i3+ EVO and j7+ series. As a result, it can sometimes get stuck on things like phone cords and furniture that isn't in good condition, and frequently is power-depleted before making it back to its base.

The Xiaomi Mi robot is superior in many ways to the Roomba 694 in that it has fewer components that require regular cleaning, comes with an allergen-trapping HEPA filtration system, incurs lower recurring cost and has more advanced automation capabilities and is better able to navigate its own. It also has a larger dustbin and charges faster.

The eufy RoboVac X8 has a superior battery longevity than the Roomba 694. It also comes with physical boundaries strips that can be controlled by your smartphone's voice assistant. It is also more durable, has a stronger motor, and performs better on low-pile and bare floors.

5. Samsung Jet Bot AI+

Samsung is a brand you see on all sorts of electronic gadgets for your home, so it comes as no surprise that they're one of the top robotic vacuum and mop makers. Their Jet Bot AI+ is loaded with cutting-edge onboard intelligence technology for navigation and obstacle avoidance.

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

In our tests in our tests, the Jet Bot AI+ performed well on hard floors. It removed 86% of dog hair (on carpet). However, it wasn't particularly well at avoiding larger objects, like cords and socks which was a disappointment. It's also more expensive than the other models that we tested, and this could be a problem for some shoppers.

The smart vacuum comes with an onboard camera that you can access through the app. You can also set up a live stream from the robot's cleaning station. This feature lets you check in on pets or kids when you're away from home. The dustbin and the filter can be washed for the quick and easy cleaning. The Jet Bot AI+ comes with a self-emptying clean station, which helps to keep the bin clean and optimizes suction power.

6. Black & Decker Robot Vacuum

Black and Decker robots have been developed specifically for hard flooring. They feature an extra-wide cleaning path as well as a large dustbin that holds 2X more debris than the competition to keep the cleaning area free of debris for the longest period of time. Additionally, they come with two side sweepers to clean up around edges and in corners. The POWERSERIES model also comes with AutoSense which adjusts the power level according to whether it's collecting dirt on the surface or embedded dirt. The vacuum also has an app that allows users to see an interactive map, control functions, and set schedules. Plus, you can monitor the status of the vacuum's battery and then return it to its dock to charge at the push of one button. The app allows you to customize the LED lights on top of the vacuum with different colors, so that you can easily tell which areas it's focused on or where it's stuck.

The app makes it possible to manually steer the best value robot vacuum when needed. My living room rug for instance, has a darkly-colored border which could cause a problem for other robots. However the HRV 425BL kept moving across the border, but it didn't register it as a cliff. The ability to program a weekly cleaning schedule for each week is a time-saving benefit.