How to Find the Best Robot Vacuum

If you can live without advanced features such as mapping, and you don't mind cleaning the trash bin every 60 days or so, a basic robot vacuum is likely to work for you. Find a model with a clean base and can work with voice assistants.

It is the best robo-vacuum we have tested at getting rid of dirt and pet hair on tile floors, hardwood floors and low-pile carpeting. It can also map out and create virtual no-go zones for rooms or areas.

1. Powerful Suction

A robot vacuum can keep on top of the pet hair, dust and dander that build up on your floors on a day-to-day basis. It also can reduce the frequency of deep cleaning, which will save your time and effort. The best models come with powerful suction, which can take on the majority of messes and leave your home cleaner.

A robot vacuum that is also able to mop can help you cover more ground by using just one machine. This can be particularly beneficial in a larger home. Choose one that has a water reservoir either integrated into the chassis or as a separate item that you put in after the vacuuming is finished. It'll need to be emptied and filled in order to complete the task.

In the ideal world, you'd clear your floors before you used your robot vac to keep it from running into things. In most homes, however, this is not possible or desirable. Most models allow you to use an app that you can install on your phone to create virtual barriers that the robot can detect. Some include no-go zones, which you can use to flag areas you don't want it enter, such as kids rooms or a stack of device cords in the corner.

This model is a good choice if you want an easy robot cleaner that doesn't have all the bells. It is quiet, can be used on hard floors and carpets with low pile and can be programmed using the app to mop and vacuum at your own convenience. It has a long battery life of around 180 minutes.

2. Easy to operate

Robot vacuums typically require very little effort from you. They use navigation tools like sensors, lasers and cameras to maneuver around obstacles and suck up dust, food crumbs and pet hair from flooring, tile, Robot Vacuum Mops hardwood and low-pile carpets. Many have boundary strips that allow them to stay within the walls of a room while higher-end models can be programmed to automatically wake up and begin cleaning at a scheduled time. Some models even have fall detection technology that helps them avoid falling down the stairs or getting tangled in electrical cords.

If you want to control your robot vacuum from the comfort of your couch, you should look for models that integrate voice assistants such as Alexa and Google Assistant. You can also search for Wi-Fi-connected models that let you start a cleaning session from anywhere through an app. Depending on the size of your house is, you may want an item with a long-lasting battery and a large dust bin that doesn't have to be emptied frequently.

Some robot vacuums can also be mops. They utilize water reservoirs to wash the floor. This is great for everyday mopping, but will not be effective for messes that are more difficult to clean, like pet poop, or other spills that are wet. There are hybrids that come with a removable microfiber pad that can be used for mopping, or choose an auto-emptying model that lets you use the device for 30 to 60 days without having to empty the base.

3. Smart Mapping

Some robots use advanced mapping technologies to build a detailed map of your floorplan as they clean and tidy, allowing them to avoid bumping mindlessly into furniture or falling over things like chair legs or cords. This feature is usually only available on more expensive models, but it's one of the most effective ways to ensure your robot has a full understanding of the layout of your house and is aware of where to go when it's running out of battery.

If you don't want your robot to venture into areas of your house that you'd prefer to keep it away from (like your children's toys or the mess of device cords in the corner) Most robots provide some method of creating virtual barriers, either through their apps or physical boundary strips. You can block off areas that you don't wish your robot to go into to allow it to focus on the rooms that need the most attention.

Many robots will also automatically switch floors based on the type of floor they are cleaning. This can be accomplished by switching from carpet to hard flooring, or by focussing on certain areas of your home, such as corners and baseboards. In our tests, this was a useful feature that helped improve their pick-up scores for both carpeting made of low-pile or hardwood. However, it's still important to put away loose cords and furniture before using your robot vacuum to ensure that it doesn't get stuck or get into something it shouldn't.

4. Remote Control

Almost all robot vacuums are WiFi-connected and can be controlled by Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri Shortcuts that enable users to control them with voice commands or through your smartphone. Many connect to smart home systems and build an outline of your space after each cleaning session so they can "learn" your layout and devise more efficient routes for future trips. Some have built-in obstacle avoidance that prevents them from bumping into furniture and causing damage or getting stuck on things like charging cables that are loose or shoe laces, as well as hair from pets.

Most robots are equipped with an remote control that can be used to guide them around your home. However, the majority of them can be controlled with an app for mobile devices that comes with additional features. You can usually create multiple cleaning schedules, make an inventory of your favorite rooms and even manually guide your robot around specific areas using directional arrows that appear on the screen.

Certain models have zones that are not allowed. These are virtual barriers that you can create in the app to stop the robot from accessing certain areas (like kid's toys or dishes and dog beds). Some apps allow you to draw a map of your house and provide detailed information on the floors. The Roborock S7+ app has many useful features that will aid in cleaning the house. However the 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 bins of dust 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 for hands-free operation. They can also create a map of the space to allow you to program them for specific rooms or areas and to avoid obstacles.

The majority of robot vacuums detect objects, however the iRobot J7 has advanced features such as "home mapping" and obstacle avoidance. These features can make your life much easier (although one of our test bots did "eat" a few socks). If you want to take your home maintenance to the next level, look for a robotic mop that has an water tank that you fill and empty yourself.

While none of the models that we tested could match the dirt-picking ability of a standup vacuum, they were able to do a fantastic job cleaning hard floors as well as carpets with low pile. They are excellent at sweeping up fine dirt, food crumbs and dirt that has been tracked into. They can also tackle scattered cat litter, as well as metal screws and nuts. The best robot vacs can easily maneuver around furniture, and they excel at cleaning corners and edges as well. For an affordable model that can work by itself and is reasonably priced look into the Eufy 11S.

6. Convenient Self-Charging

With the right setup, a robot vacuum mops vacuum can aid in keeping your home looking and feeling cleaner on a regular basis with minimal effort. You can schedule cleanings in the app and create zones that are not allowed to enter so that your robot doesn't damage your plants or ruin your favorite chair. A majority of our top picks automatically empty their trash bins and clean their docking stations for you.

The best robot vacuums can be programmed to clean your floors regularly for months or weeks at a stretch, saving you the time and effort of manually mopping or sweeping your floors every week or every day. This lets you take more time doing the things you enjoy, and decreases the amount of time required to clean your floors manually.

During testing the Q Revo was able to grab small particles such as baking soda and oatmeal. It also picked up heavier debris like metal screws and nails and fluffy hair. It's not equipped with the sophisticated mapping and objects avoidance features of our top picks, but it's sufficient for the majority of families.

The most impressive feature of the j7 is its ability to recognize and avoid obstacles such as power cords, shoes and socks, and pet waste. This means you don't have to clean the room prior to running your robot, but cluttered rooms will mean that your robot could get stuck and not be able to do the job as well.