How to Find the Best Robot Vacuum

If you don't require advanced features like mapping, and don't mind emptying your dustbin every 60 to 90 days, a basic robotic vacuum is probably the best buy robot vacuum choice for you. Select a model with a clean base that works with voice assistants.

It excels at removing dirt, pet hair and cat litter on hardwood floors, tile and carpeting with less pile than any other vacuum we've tested. It can also map out and set virtual no go zones for rooms or certain areas.

1. Powerful Suction

A robot vacuum cleaner can help you keep track of the dust, pet fur and dander that accumulates on your floor each day. It can also reduce the frequency of deep cleaning, which will save your time and effort. The most effective models feature powerful suction, which can clean up most mess with ease and leave your home clean.

A robot vacuum that also mop can help you cover more ground with one machine, which can be particularly beneficial in larger homes. Choose models that have water reservoirs either built into its chassis or as a separate item that you can swap out when the vacuuming is done. It will need to be filled and empty and refilled, which is an additional task to complete.

In a perfect world, you would clear your floors before you use your robot vacuum to prevent it from running into anything. But in most homes, this isn't feasible or desirable. Thankfully, most models allow you to use a smartphone app to set up virtual barriers that the robot will be aware of and avoid. Some models include no-go areas, which you can flag areas you don't want the robot to be allowed to enter. For instance, a child's room or a pile of cords in a corner.

If you're looking for a simple robot vacuum with no bells and bells, this model from the company that makes networking TP-Link is a good choice. It is quiet, works on both hard floors as well as carpets with low pile and can be programmed through the app to mop and vacuum at your leisure. It's got a long battery life, and can last for up to 180 minutes before it needs to recharge.

2. Simple to operate

Robot vacuums typically require only minimal effort from you. They make use of navigation tools such as sensors, lasers and cameras to move around obstacles and remove dust, food crumbs and pet hair from floors, tiles carpets, and hardwood. Many models have boundaries strips that help them stay inside a room. The more expensive models can be programmed to start up at a certain time and begin cleaning. Some even have fall-detection technology that can help them avoid falling down the stairs or getting caught in electrical cords.

If you want to control your robot vacuum from the comfort of a couch, you should look for models that work with voice assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant. You can also search for Wi-Fi-connected models that allow you to start a cleaning session from anywhere using an app. You might want to choose one with an extremely long-lasting battery as well as a large dust bin, depending on the size of your house.

Some robot vacuums are also mopping. They utilize water reservoirs to wash the floor. This is helpful for normal mopping, but it won't work for tough messes like pet poop or other spills that are wet. There are hybrids that come with an ejectable microfiber pad for mopping, or choose an auto-emptying model that lets you go 30 to 60 days without needing to empty the base.

3. Smart Mapping

Some robots use advanced mapping technology to create a precise map as they clean. This makes it easier to avoid hitting furniture and getting caught on cords or legs of chairs. This feature is usually only available on higher-end models, but it's one of the most effective ways to ensure that your robot has an accurate understanding of the layout of your home and is aware of where to go when it runs out of battery.

Most robots let you create virtual barriers. This can be done via an application or even physical boundary strips. You can block off areas you don't want your robot vacuum for Carpet to access to allow it to focus on the areas that require the most attention.

A lot of robots can also automatically switch floors based on the kind of floor they are cleaning. This can be accomplished by switching from carpet to hard flooring or by focusing on specific areas of your house, such as corners and baseboards. In our tests, this was a useful feature that improved their pick-up scores for both hardwood and low-pile carpeting. It's nevertheless important to put away furniture and cords before using your robot vacuum to ensure that it doesn't become stuck or get into something it shouldn't.

4. Remote Control

Most mini robot vacuum vacuums have WiFi capabilities and can be controlled with voice commands, Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa or Siri Shortcuts. Many connect to smart home systems and create maps of your home after each cleaning session, so that they can "learn" your layout and plan more efficient routes for future trips. Some have built-in obstacle avoidance that stops them from bumping into furniture and causing damage or getting stuck on things like loose charging cables shoes, laces for shoes and pet hair.

Most robots have an remote control that you can use to move them around your home. The majority of robots can be controlled via a mobile application that comes with more features. You can typically create multiple cleaning schedules, create a list of favorite rooms and even manually guide your robot around specific areas by using directional arrows on the screen.

Some models offer no-go zones, which are virtual barriers you can configure in the app to stop the robot from entering certain areas (like toys for children or dog bowls and beds). Other apps let you make the map of your house and give the robot detailed information about your floors. The app we ranked as our top pick, the Roborock S7+, has many useful options to help you clean your home, however its interface isn't as polished and elegant as those from iRobot and Shark.

5. Long Battery Life

Robot vacuums that clean your entire house without stopping for [empty] a recharge or to empty their dustbins save time and effort. Some robot vacuums are compatible with smart home platforms such as Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri Shortcuts to enable hands-free operation. They can also draw an outline of the space to allow you to program them for specific areas or rooms, and to stay clear of obstacles.

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

While none of the models we tested could beat the dirt-picking power of a stand-up model, the majority of them do an excellent job at cleaning carpets with low pile and hard floors. They are great in sweeping up dust and debris, food crumbs, tracked-in dirt and pet hair. They can even tackle some stray cat litter and metal screws and nuts. The most effective robot vacuums are able to easily maneuver through furniture, and they are great at cleaning edges and corners as well. For a basic model that functions on its own and is reasonably priced look into the Eufy 11S.

6. Convenient Self-Charging

A robot vacuum will help keep your home tidy and clean without having to do many tasks. You can schedule cleanings through the app, and you can designate no-go areas to ensure that your robot does not step on your favorite chair or plants. The majority of our top picks empty their trash bins for you and clean their docking stations.

The best robot vacuums are programmable to keep your floors clean for weeks or even months at a stretch, saving you the time and effort of manually mopping or sweeping your floors each week or every day. This allows you to spend more time on things you love and decreases the amount of time your floors need to be cleaned manually.

During tests the Q Revo was able to grab small particles such as baking soda and oatmeal. It also snatched up larger particles like nails and screws made of steel, as well as fluffy things like pet hair. It lacks the intelligent mapping and object-avoiding features found in our top picks but is still a good choice for most families.

The best feature of the j7 is that it makes use of cameras and processor-powered smarts to recognize and avoid obstacles like power cords, shoes, socks, and pet waste. This means you don't have to spend time tidying up before you can run your robot, although clutter in your home can mean your bot may get stuck and not be able to do as well.