How to Find the Best Robot Vacuum

If you don't need the most advanced features like mapping and you don't mind emptying your dustbin every 60 to 90 days A basic robot vacuum with docking Station vacuum is probably for you. Find an option with a clean base and works with voice assistants.

It is the most effective robo-vacuum we have tested for picking up dirt and pet hair on tile floors, hardwood floors and carpets with low pile. It can also map and create virtual no-go zones in rooms or areas.

1. Powerful Suction

A robot vacuum can assist you in keeping up with the pet fur, dust and dander that accumulates on your floors every day. It can also reduce the frequency you have to deep clean which will save you time and effort. The best robot vacuum for thick carpet and pet hair model has powerful suction that can tackle most messes and leave your home clean.

You can take care of more space by using a robot vacuum and mop, which is especially beneficial if you live in a large house. Look for models that have water reservoirs either integrated into the chassis or as a separate piece that you put in after the vacuuming is done. It'll need to be emptied and filled, so it's an extra chore.

In a perfect universe you would clean your floors before you use your robot vacuum to prevent it from crashing into anything. But in most homes, this isn't feasible or desirable. Most models allow you to use an app that you can install on your phone to create virtual barriers the robot can detect. Some models include no-go areas that you can mark areas you don't wish it to enter. For instance, a child's room or a pile cords in an area.

This model is a great option for those looking for an easy robot cleaner that doesn't have all the bells. It's quiet, and it works on hard floors as well as low-pile rugs and can be scheduled using the app to mop or vacuum at your own convenience. It has a long battery life that can last for up to 180 minutes before it requires to recharge.

2. Easy to Operate

Robot vacuums generally require very little effort from you. They utilize sensors cameras, lasers, and sensors to maneuver and collect pet hair, dust, and food crumbs from tiles, hard floors and hardwood. Many have boundary strips that allow them to stay within the walls of a room while more expensive models can be programmed to automatically wake up and start cleaning at a scheduled time. Some even come with fall detection technology that can help them avoid falling down the stairs or getting caught in electrical cords.

Look for models that you can control from your couch using voice assistants like Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also pick Wi-Fi models that allow you to start cleaning anywhere you want using an app. You may want to select one with an extremely long-lasting battery as well as a large dust bin, depending on the size of your home.

Certain robot vacuums are also mopping machines. They make use of water reservoirs to wash the floor. This is great for normal mopping, but it won't work for tough messes like pet poop, or other spills that get wet. You can choose hybrids that have a removable microfiber mopping pad or a self-emptying model that allows you to go 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 bumping into furniture and tripping on cords or legs of chairs. This feature is only available on top-of-the-line models however it allows your robot to get a complete understanding of your home's layout and know where to go when the battery runs out.

If you don't want your robot to venture into areas of your home you'd rather it stay away from (like your kids' toys or the tangled mess of gadget cords in the corner) The majority of robots offer some way to create virtual barriers, either through their apps or physical boundary strips. This allows you to block off zones that you don't want your robot explore, so that it can focus its attention on the rooms and spaces that need the most attention.

A lot of robots can also automatically change floors depending on the type of floor they are cleaning. This can be achieved by changing from carpet to hard flooring or by focussing on particular areas of your home, such as corners and baseboards. This feature proved to be helpful in our tests and improved the performance of the vacuum on hardwood flooring and low-pile floor carpeting. It is essential to put away any loose cords or furniture before using your robot vacuum to ensure that 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 robot vacuums connect to smart home systems, and create a map of the area they clean after each cleaning session. This lets them "learn" how your home is laid out, and then plan more efficient routes in future cleaning sessions. Some 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 a remote control that you can use to navigate them around your house. The majority of robots can be operated by mobile applications that comes with more features. You can typically create multiple cleaning schedules, create the list of rooms you like and even manually guide your robot to certain areas using directions on the screen.

Some models have no-go zones. These are virtual barriers that you can set up in the app to stop the robot from entering specific areas (like toys for kids or dishes and dog beds). Other apps let you create the map of your house and give the robot detailed information about your floors. The app on our top pick one, the Roborock S7+, has many useful options to help you tidy your home, however its interface isn't as polished as the ones from iRobot and Shark.

5. Long Battery Life

Robotic vacs that can clean a whole house without stopping to recharge or empty their dust bins can save you time and energy. Some robot vacuums are compatible with smart home platforms like Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri Shortcuts to enable hands-free operation. They can also build an image of your living space and allow you to program them to clean certain areas or rooms, and to stay clear of obstacles.

The majority of robot vacuums detect objects, but the iRobot j7 offers advanced features like "home mapping" and obstacle avoidance. These can make your life much easier (although one of our test robots did "eat" two socks). If you're looking to push your home maintenance to the next level, look for a robotic mop that has an water tank that can be filled and then empty.

While none of the models we tested match the dirt-picking power of a stand-up vacuum the majority of them do an excellent job at cleaning carpets and hard floors. They excel in sweeping up dust and food crumbs, tracked-in dirt and pet hair. They are also able to handle nuts and screws made of metal as well as cats' litter. The best robot vacs can effortlessly work around furniture, and they are great at cleaning edges and corners as well. Eufy 11S is a relatively basic and affordable model.

6. Convenient Self-Charging

A robot vacuum can keep your home clean and robot vacuum with docking station tidy without doing many tasks. It is possible to schedule cleanings with the app, and set up no-go areas so that the robot won't step on your plants or favorite chair. A majority of our top picks automatically empty their bins and clean their docking stations for you.

The top robot vacuums can be programmed to clean your floors regularly for weeks or even months at a stretch, freeing you from the arduous task of manually sweeping and mopping your floors on a weekly or daily basis. This helps you spend more time on things you like and decreases the amount of time your floors need to be cleaned manually.

During testing the Q Revo was able to grab small particles such as 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 doesn't have the smart mapping and object avoidance features found in our top picks, however it's sufficient for most families.

The best aspect of the j7 robot is that it makes use of cameras 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 clean up before using your robot. However, messy rooms may cause your bot to become stuck and perform an inadequate job.