The Best Robot Vacuums

A quality robot vacuum does the majority of the work for you and removes pet hair, lint, and surface dirt before it can stick to furniture or be sucked into carpets. Many robot vacuums work with smart assistants such as Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant to provide a hands-free cleaning experience.

Many models have mapping capabilities that allow them to create an interactive map of your house. This can help them avoid falling off ledges and navigating around the cords of devices.

What to look for

Certain robots have advanced features that allow you to control them using apps and voice assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant. Smart mapping, zone cleaning, and object avoidance are a few of the features. These machines might also come with larger dust bins and longer-lasting batteries.

Find a model that has a an extended brush that can clean up large pieces of debris and one that's slim enough to be able to fit under furniture. Also, check if the vacuum can be used on multiple floor types without having to change brushes or alter suction settings, which could decrease the effectiveness of cleaning and reduce its lifespan.

The top robot vacuums come with high-quality filters that sift out fine particles to protect the interior of your home and an ample, accessible collection bin that lets you empty it often. Some models come with an additional side brush for sweeping up pet hair and debris in difficult-to-access areas under and behind furniture. The dustbins are usually transparent, so you can observe the amount of dirt in the bin, and when to empty it.

In addition to scheduling your robot vacuum to run at times when you're likely to be at home, you can use the app to draw a boundary around your furniture and rooms that you want it to avoid. Some models are also able to detect the kind of flooring and adjust their vacuum and brush settings accordingly.

There are robots that can recharge and continue cleaning where they left off when their battery is exhausted. Some also have a built-in camera that lets you track the route of your robot vacuum and see what it has taken in.

Many robots also let you control them with your voice, however they may not do so as well as others. Make sure the model you pick is compatible with the voice assistant you prefer and then test it to see how well the bob robot vacuum responds to different commands prior to purchasing. Some robots are able to automatically empty their trash bins and clean their docking stations, reducing the chores you have to do a bit more. This feature is costly as is a larger storage container and a faster charging speed.

Cleaning Performance

While robots cannot replace a full-on vacuum or broom, they provide an effective and efficient alternative to the daily chore of keeping floors clean. The most effective robotic cleaners remove small particles such as pet hair, dust and crumbs, or bigger items like metal shavings and wood shavings. They do this without harming the flooring or furniture.

They often detect the type of floor they are cleaning and adjust their suction/brush settings according to the type of floor you have. This allows them to clean it more thoroughly. This is particularly important when you have various flooring types throughout your home. A lot of models come with a wide range of options for setting virtual boundaries, allowing you to instruct the robot to stay away from certain areas of your home. This is useful in protecting your pets or children from getting into areas they shouldn't be, and also helps ensure that your entire home is cleaned at the end of every scheduled session.

Think about the amount of autonomy your robot can enjoy. Certain models require you to be active and attentive, while others work on their own. They can change cleaning modes and schedules via the mobile app or via voice commands via an integrated smart assistant. Certain models map and learn your home's space, and allow you to define zones and instruct the robot to clean certain areas in your home on a weekly or daily basis.

In our tests, the iRobot J7+ proved to be the top robot to "set it and leave it". It was the best in mapping, creating virtual boundaries and getting around obstacles better than the other robots we tested. It can also empty itself so that you don't need to do it manually. And, the side brushes help sweep debris off edges and corners which a vacuum can't reach.

Its slim profile and infrared sensors also permit it to go behind and under furniture for a deeper clean than most robots. Its advanced navigation system makes it more capable of cleaning the entire floor of your home in a single charge as compared to other devices we've tried. With its low cost, you'll find it tough to beat for everyday use.

Battery Life

A robot vacuum can make cleaning your floors feel less of a chore and more like an indulgence. Promptly nabbing tracked-in dirt, crumbs, and shed pet hair can make all the difference in how clean your home feels on a daily basis. While a simple robot can handle most cleaning tasks, those seeking an extra hands-free experience should consider models that double as mop robot vacuum.

Ecovacs Deebot T10 ONI provides excellent performance in both mopping and vacuuming modes. It can handle dirt, pet hair, and even cat litter. Its ability to avoid objects is remarkable. It allows it to steer away from objects and not get caught on them.

It also has a long battery life and a large dust bin which allows it to cover a large amount of space in just one session. It also functions as smart vacuum, which means that it can create maps of your home and work with apps, robot vacuums like the ones offered by Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, to let you control it with voice commands.

The application that comes with the robot is simple and easy to use, robot vacuums allowing you to set schedules, define rooms to be cleaned, or stop and resume sessions. It will notify you when its battery is running low and will return to the docking station for recharging.

The robot is also able to distinguish between carpets and hard floors and adjust its settings according to the type of floor. This helps to prevent the machine from squeezing on one type of floor and then accidentally tearing furniture. But, it's not yet able to recognize high pile carpeting or seams in rooms, so you'll still have to be careful about picking up large items.

All robot vacuums require a level of maintenance, such as brush hair removal and emptying (and sometimes rinsing) the bin of dust after each cleaning session. Also, wiping down sensors or cameras between uses to ensure they are in good shape. The manufacturer will provide specific instructions for these steps and other procedures, which will vary according to the model.

Cost

The top robot vacuums don't come expensive, but they're less expensive than a professional carpet cleaner, or even an all-in-one stand-up vac. They require less maintenance than traditional vacuums, as most only require that you empty and rinse their dust bins following every cleaning session.

Many robot vacuums come with clever features which make them more efficient within your home. For instance mapping technology allows you to inform the vacuum of where to go through an app, ensuring it doesn't get stuck in staircase or under furniture, where there could be a mess. Others can tell what floor type they're working on, and they can adjust their suction or brush functions to get the most effective results.

Some models feature object avoidance, which uses sensors (or even cameras) to spot toys and other items on the floor and coach the robot to move around them rather than run over them. This is a great benefit for families with children or pets who tend to scatter toys all over the home.

Voice control is a different feature you may consider useful. It lets you control your robot with your voice, instead of the on-board buttons. This can be helpful when you have children who aren't quite old enough to use the controls or if you are looking for a hands-free option.

How often you should use your robot will be contingent on the amount of dirt or debris is on your floor. Most experts recommend using your robot vacuum at least once per week to keep your floors clean and to remove pet hair, lint and dirt on the surface.

If you're only working with a limited amount of space on your floor and do not plan to make use of the robot for other tasks, then an affordable model like our top choice Eufy 11S is a great choice. It's user-friendly, affordable, and does the job without making any noise when you work or watching TV.