The Best Robot Vacuums

A good robot vacuum does the bulk of the work and removes pet hair, lint and dirt before it can cling to furniture or get ground into carpets. Some also integrate with smart assistants such as Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant to offer an unrestricted experience.

Many models include mapping capabilities, which allow them to create maps of your home. This allows them to avoid falling off ledges or moving around clusters of devices if cords are.

What to look for

Certain robots come with advanced features, which allow users to control them with voice assistants, such as Alexa or Google Assistant. These include smart mapping spot and zone cleaning and the ability to avoid objects. These machines might also have larger dust bins as well as longer-lasting batteries.

Select a model that has broad brushes that can clean up large debris and that is slim enough to fit under furniture. Find out if the vacuum can clean different kinds of floors without having to change suction settings or brushes. This can reduce its effectiveness in cleaning and decrease its lifespan.

The most effective robot vacuums feature high-quality filters that trap small particles to guard the inside of your home and an easy-to-access collection bin that you can clear it frequently. Some robot vacuums come with an additional side brush to clean pet hair or other debris in difficult-to-access places like under or behind furniture. The bins are typically transparent, which means you can see how much dirt is in the bin and when to empty it.

In addition to scheduling your robot vacuum to run at times when you're most likely to be at home, you can also use the app to create a boundary around your furniture and the rooms that you'd like it avoid. Certain models can also detect the kind of floor they're cleaning and automatically adjust their brush and suction settings to match.

There are robotics that recharge and continue cleaning the area they left when their battery runs out. There are some that have an inbuilt camera that lets you track the route of your robot vacuum and view what it's taken in.

Certain robots can be controlled via voice commands but not all. Make sure the model you choose is compatible with the voice assistant you prefer and test it out to see how the robot responds to various commands before you purchase. Some robots will even empty their trash bins and clean their docking stations, reducing the chores you have to do a more. But this feature comes with an expense, as does an extra bin for collection and faster charging speed.

Cleaning Performance

Robots are not a replacement for a vacuum or broom. However, they can be incredibly efficient and effective in keeping your floors spotless. The best robotic cleaners can pick up small debris like pet hair, dust and crumbs, or larger items like metal shavings and wood shavings. They do this without harming the flooring or furniture.

In most cases, they'll be able to detect the type of surface they're cleaning and adjust their suction or brush features in accordance with the type of surface so that they can more effectively clean your floors. This is particularly important if you have various flooring types in your home. Many models offer the option to set up virtual boundaries. This lets you tell your robot cleaner to stay out of certain areas of your home. This is helpful for preventing your kids or pets from getting into areas they shouldn't be in, Small and it can help ensure that your home gets cleaned in every scheduled session.

You should also consider the level of autonomy you're comfortable with giving your robot. Some models require you to be present and attentive, while others can work independently. They can change cleaning schedules and cleaning modes using an app on mobile devices or by voice commands via an integrated smart assistant. Certain models map and understand your home's space, and let you define zones and instruct the robot only to clean specific areas of your home on a daily or weekly basis.

In our tests, the iRobot J7+ proved to be the most effective robot to "set it and leave it". It was better at mapping virtual boundaries, making virtual borders and eliminating obstacles than any of the other robots that we test. It also has the ability to empty itself, so you don't need to manually do it. Additionally, the side brushes can help clean debris from edges and corners that a vacuum cannot reach.

Its slim profile and infrared sensors also allow it to get behind and under furniture for more thorough cleaning than other robots, and its advanced navigation system is more efficient in cleaning the entire level of your home on a single charge than other models we've tried. It's hard to beat, even at a reasonable price.

Battery Life

A good robot vacuum can make cleaning your floors seem less like a chore and more like a treat. The difference between a clean house and a dirty one can be made by removing tracked-in dirt as well as crumbs, pet hair, and other debris. While a basic robot can keep up with most cleaning tasks, those seeking a bit more of a hands-free experience should choose one that doubles as a mop.

The Ecovacs Deebot T10 OMNI is one the top models for both as it delivers excellent performance in both vacuuming and mop modes, and is able to handle dirt debris, pet hair and even cat litter. Its object avoidance feature is particularly impressive, enabling it to steer clear of objects and avoid getting stuck on them.

It also has a long battery lifespan and a huge dust bin which allows it to cover a decent amount of space in a single session. It's also a smart cleaner, which means that it can be able to map your home and works with apps such as those provided by Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant to let you control the vacuum with voice commands.

The software that comes with the robot is simple and easy to use, allowing you to set schedules, designate rooms for small cleaning, or pause and resume sessions. It will alert you when its battery is depleted and will return to the docking station for recharging.

The robot is also able to distinguish between hard floors and carpets and adjust its settings in accordance with the type of flooring. This will prevent the machine from getting stuck on one type of surface and then accidentally tearing furniture. It's not able detect high-pile carpeting or seams in rooms, so it is important to be cautious when grabbing large objects.

To ensure that robot vacuums are in top condition they require regular maintenance. This includes cleaning brushes of hair and emptying the trash bin (and sometimes washing it) after every cleaning session. Cameras and sensors must also be cleaned between uses. The manufacturer will offer specific recommendations for these and other steps to maintain that may differ based on the particular model.

Cost

The best robot vacuums might not be inexpensive, but they're much less expensive than professional carpet cleaning machines or even a stand-up vacuum. They require less maintenance than traditional vacuums, since they require that you empty and sometimes rinse their dust bins following each cleaning session.

Many robot vacuums come with intelligent features that make them more efficient within your home. For instance, mapping technology allows you to tell the vacuum where to go via an app, so it doesn't go through stairs or under furniture, where there could be the possibility of a mess. Other models can determine the flooring type they are working on, and they can adjust their suction and brush features to get the best results.

Certain models have object avoidance. The system uses sensors (or a camera) that can detect toys and other items lying on the floor. The robot is then directed to stay clear of them instead of running into them. This is a great option for families with pets or children who tend to leave toys around the home.

Voice control is another useful feature you may find useful. It allows you to operate your robot using your voice, instead of the on-board buttons. This is useful when your children aren't old enough yet to operate the robot, or when it's convenient for you.

The frequency at which you should use your robot will depend on how much dirt and debris is normally found on your floors. Most experts recommend using your robot vacuum at least once a week to keep your floors spotless and to get rid of pet hair, lint and dirt on the surface.

If you're limited with floor surfaces and don't plan to utilize your robot for other tasks, a low-cost model such as our top pick, the Eufy 11S, is a good choice. It's easy to use cost-effective, and can do the job without making any noise when you're working or watching TV.