How to Find the Best Robot Vacuum

If you don't need the most advanced features like mapping, and don't mind emptying your dustbin every 60 to 90 days A basic robot vacuum is probably suitable for you. Find a model that has a clean base and is compatible with voice assistants.

It excels at picking up dirt, pet hair and cat litter on hardwood floors, tile and low-pile carpeting better than any other robo vacuum we've tested. It also maps and create virtual no-go zones for rooms and areas.

1. Powerful Suction

A robot vacuum can help you keep up with the pet fur, dust and dander that settles on your floors every day. It also can reduce the frequency of deep cleaning, which will save your time and effort. The best models have powerful suction that can clean up most mess with ease and leave your home clean.

You can cover a larger area by using a robot automatic vacuum cleaner robot as well as a mop, which is especially useful if you have a large home. There are models with a water tank either built into the chassis or as an additional piece that you can swap out after vacuuming. You'll have to empty it and refill it, however it's an additional task that will require a little extra work on your part.

In a perfect world, you'd clear your floors before you used your robot vac to keep it from running into things. In most homes, however this isn't possible or desirable. Fortunately, the majority of models allow you to use a smartphone app to set up virtual barriers that the robot will be aware of and avoid. Some include no-go zones, which you can use to mark areas you don't want the robot to be in, like kids rooms or a stack of cords for your device in the corner.

This model is a good option for those looking for an easy robot vacuum and mop self empty cleaner that doesn't have all the bells and whistles. It is quiet, can be used on hard floors as well as low-pile carpets and can be programmed via the app to mop and vacuum at your leisure. It has a good battery life, and can last for up to 180 minutes before it requires to recharge.

2. Easy to operate

In general robot vacuums require little input from you. They utilize instruments for navigation, such as sensors lasers, cameras, and sensors to move around and collect pet hair, dust and food crumbs from hard floors, tiles and hardwood. A lot of models come with boundary strips to help them stay inside a room. Higher-end models can be programmed to start up at a certain time and start cleaning. Some even come with fall detection technology that can help them avoid falling down stairs or becoming tangled in electrical cords.

Find models that you can control from your couch via voice assistants like Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also select Wi-Fi models that allow you to begin cleaning anywhere you want using an app. You might want to choose one with a long-lasting battery, as well as an enormous dust bin, based on the size of your house.

Certain robot vacuums are also mopping machines. They use water reservoirs to clean the floor. This is great for everyday mopping, but will not work for extra-tough messes, like pet poop, or other spills that get wet. There are hybrids that come with a removable microfiber pad for mopping, or you can choose an auto-emptying model that lets you use the device for 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 crashing into furniture and tripping on cords or chair legs. This feature is typically only available on higher-end models, but it's one of the most effective ways to ensure your robot has a complete understanding of the layout of your house and can determine where to go when it's low on battery.

If you don't want your robot navigating into areas of your house that you'd prefer it to stay clear from (like your kids' toys or the mess of device cords in the corner) The majority of robots offer some method of creating virtual barriers, either via their apps or physical boundary strips. This allows you to create zones that you do not want your robot to enter, so that it can concentrate its attention on the areas that require the most cleaning.

A lot of robots can also automatically change floors based on the floor they are cleaning. This can be done by changing from carpet to hard flooring, or by focusing on particular areas of your home, such as corners and baseboards. This feature proved to be effective in our tests and enhanced the performance of the vacuum on hardwood flooring and low-pile floor carpeting. However, it's still important to secure loose cords and furniture before running your robot vacuum so that it doesn't become stuck or get into something it shouldn't.

4. Remote Control

Most robot vacuums have WiFi capabilities and can be controlled using voice commands, Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa or Siri Shortcuts. Many connect to smart home systems and build an outline of your space after each cleaning session, so they can "learn" your layout and plan more efficient routes for future runs. Some also have built-in obstacle avoidance, which stops them from bumping into and damaging furniture or getting stuck on things like charging cables that are loose or shoe laces, as well as pet hair.

The majority of robots come with an remote control that can be used to guide them around your house. However, many can be controlled via a mobile app that comes with additional options. You can set up multiple cleaning schedules and make an inventory of your preferred rooms. You can also manually direct the robot by using the directional the arrows.

Certain models have no-go zones. These are virtual barriers that you can create in the app to prevent the robot from entering certain areas (like toys for children or dishes for dogs and dog beds). Other apps let you set up a map of your home and give the robot detailed information about your floors. The Roborock S7+ app has several useful features to assist you in cleaning your home. However its interface isn't as polished as that from iRobot or Shark.

5. Long Battery Life

Robot vacs that can work all over your home without stopping to recharge or empty their trash bins make it easier for you to save time and effort. Some of them work with smart home platforms like Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri Shortcuts to allow hands-free operation. They can also build an image of your home that allows you to program them to clean specific areas or rooms and stay clear of obstacles.

The majority of robot vacuums detect objects, but the irobot mopping and vacuum J7 has advanced features like "home mapping" and obstacle avoidance. These can make your life much easier (although one of our test bots did "eat" two socks). If you're seeking to improve your home maintenance, you should consider the use of a robot mop and water containers that you can fill and empty.

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

6. Convenient Self-Charging

A robot vacuum can keep your home tidy and clean without doing lots of work. It is possible to schedule cleanings with the app, and you can set up no-go areas so that the robot won't walk on your plants or favorite chair. The majority of our top picks will also empty their dustbins for you and clean their docking station.

The most effective robot vacuums can be programmed to clean your floors regularly for months or even weeks at a time, saving you from the arduous task of manually mopping and sweeping your floors on a weekly or daily basis. This lets you spend more time doing things you enjoy and reduces the time it takes to clean your floors manually.

In the course of testing, the Q Revo was able to capture small particles such as baking soda and oatmeal and heavier debris like metal screws and nails and even fluffy matter such as hair of pets. It isn't equipped with the advanced mapping and object-avoiding features found in our top picks, but is still a great option for most families.

The most appealing thing about the j7 is that it uses camera and processor-powered sensors to identify and avoid obstacles like power cords, shoes, socks and pet waste. This means that you don't need to spend time tidying the room prior to running your robot, but messy rooms can mean that the robot may become stuck and not perform as well.