10 Things People Hate About Robot Vac

Top Rated Robot Vacuums

A robot vacuum robot can keep floors clean enough to reduce the frequency at which you need to manually vacuum. Look for one that offers good navigation, can clean stairs and corners, and has a large dust bin that needs emptying only periodically.

There are models that can mop and charge themselves, which is a feature essential for families with children or pets. Many of the best performers in our tests have great ability to overcome obstacles.

1. Roomba iRobot i3+ from iRobot EVO

The i3+ EVO and its i3 EVO sibling, the i3 EVO, are identical robots, but they differ in that the i3+ has self-emptying features. The i3+ is a good option for those looking for a a fully automated, hands-off cleaning experience, but are willing to manually empty the dust bin after it has filled up.

Both robots are good at removing surface dirt on hard floors and carpets, and they can easily navigate around furniture and other obstacles. iAdapt navigation software makes smart maps of your home, which help the i3+ EVO to navigate and clean in a manner that maximizes efficiency. However, unlike the i7+ or other top 10 robot vacuum cleaner rated robots we tested the i3+ doesn't have a feature for avoiding obstacles, so it may get stuck on things like socks or power cords and it may have trouble traversing transitions across surfaces like from hardwood to carpet.

iRobot suggests cleaning the area in which the i3+ EVO vacuums before using it. This includes putting away any toys or other clutter it may encounter. It is also recommended to keep the filters and dust bin clear to avoid becoming clogged. When the i3+'s internal bin is full or its battery is low it will return to its docking station and automatically empties its trash into the station's external dustbin and continues cleaning the area where it left off. The i3+ EVO's battery can last for approximately an hour and a half of continuous use, and it takes around three hours to recharge.

2. Roomba by iRobot

The iRobot i7+ is an excellent model from iRobot's flagship line and comes with the most recent features. It has self-charging and self-navigating. But the most significant feature is the self-emptying bin. This will eliminate the need for routine maintenance.

The Roomba I7+ can map rooms more efficiently with Imprint Smart Mapping. It also integrates with the iRobot Home app to let you schedule cleaning tasks and direct your robot by voice or through the app.

The i7+ is more efficient and more agile in our tests than the eufy RoboVac G30. It also picked up large pet hair pieces from all surfaces, including carpeting. Its greatest advantage over the Eufy is its self-emptying bin that eliminates the main sources of maintenance and lowers the cost of recurring maintenance.

We were also amazed by the i7+'s integration with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant AI services, which we used to instruct the robot to start, stop or pause its cleaning session and move around the room and vacuum the area. The iRobot Home App made it easy to connect the i7+ with these services. Once connected, to give voice commands to the i7+, for example "Hey Alexa vacuum the master bedroom." The iRobot Home app also provides options to manage the i7+'s settings and monitoring its performance.

3. Dyson Cyclone V10

This tiny Dyson model is an athletic car in a sea of cordless vacuums that feel like minivans and buses. It's powerful enough to replace a traditional stand-up vacuum in most homes, but it is also compact enough to fit on a bookcase or coffee table.

The V10 is powered by a seven-cell, high-energy lithium-ion battery that can provide energy that is not faded for 60 minutes. Its advanced whole-machine filter system captures allergens and expels cleaner air back into your home. The cleaning head is specially designed to drive bristles made of nylon that are stiff into carpets to trap large dust and crumbs. It comes with three suction modes that can be adapted to the specific task. It quickly converts from floor vac to handheld vacuum and back.

The model also comes with an accessory dock that can charge to 100% in around 3.5 hours, and gives users easy access to two attachments and an Wand clip. This is a big improvement over older Dysons models, that require a long charge and are difficult to store.

The biggest issue with the V10 is its limited run time. As CR's tests have shown, its marketing claims of up to 60 minutes are not true. This is an average and not a remarkable run time for an electric cordless vacuum powered by batteries. This is still enough to clean most of a home that's average size however, it's not enough to cover every area (though an additional run-through often can be effective). However, this model isn't a good choice: It's lighter and agile than older cordless Dysons and its vacuuming performance is noticeably better on low-pile carpet.

4. iRobot Roomba 694

The 694 is a basic robot vacuum that's a great choice for those who don't have a lot of money to spend on an expensive robot cleaning machine. It's capable of sucking up a variety of types of debris and sizes during our tests, and it often goes over the same areas many times to ensure a thorough clean. Its flat front design allows it to reach the corners and the edges of walls.

Its navigation system is smart and uses iAdapt technology to avoid obstacles and help you navigate your home. However, it isn't equipped with the capabilities for mapping of more advanced models, like our top rated robot vacuum picks, the i3+EVO and the j7+ Series. As a result, it may get stuck on things like phone cords and furniture that isn't as sturdy, and frequently will run out of battery before returning to its original location.

The Xiaomi Mi robot is superior in many ways over the Roomba 694, as it has fewer parts that require regular cleaning, is equipped with an allergen-trapping HEPA filtration system, incurs lower cost of recurring costs, is more sophisticated in its automation capabilities and is able to better maneuver itself. It also has a bigger dustbin and is charged faster.

The eufy RoboVac X8 has a superior battery life than the Roomba. It also has physical boundaries strips that can be controlled by your smartphone's voice assistant. It's also more durable, has a stronger motor, and can perform better on floors with low pile and bare.

5. Samsung Jet Bot AI+

Samsung is a brand you see on all sorts of electronic gadgets for your home So it's no surprise that they're also one of the most reputable mop and robot vacuum manufacturers. Their Jet Bot AI+ is equipped with cutting-edge onboard technology for navigation and obstacle avoidance.

The app provides a range of options for customizing your robotic cleaner. These include mopping levels, virtual barriers and behavior customizations, docking frequency settings and more. The app is simple to navigate and use as are other Samsung devices.

In our tests in our tests, the Jet Bot AI+ performed well on hard floors, and it cleaned up 86% of dog hair (on carpet). However, it did not do particularly well at avoiding taller objects like cords and socks which was disappointing. It's also more expensive than other models that we tested, and this could be a deterrent for certain shoppers.

The app lets you access the onboard camera of the smart vacuum. You can also create live streaming from the robot's area of cleaning. This feature lets you check in on pets or kids when you're away from home. The filter and the dustbin can be washed for an easy, quick clean-up. The Jet Bot AI+ also has a clean station that self-empties and helps keep the robot's dustbin clear and optimizes suction power for each cleaning run.

6. Black & Decker Robot Vacuum

Contrary to other robotic hoovers vacuums which are designed for both hard floors and carpets, Black and Decker robots are designed specifically for hard floors. They have a wider cleaning path as well as a large dustbin that holds twice as much debris than competitors to keep the area clear for maximum runtime. They also include two side sweepers that can be used to clean around corners and edges. The POWERSERIES Extreme model comes with AutoSense technology, which can tell whether it's picking up surface litter or embedded dirt and automatically adjusts the power level. It also includes a smart application that lets you see the virtual map and manage functions and schedules. Plus, you can monitor the battery's status and return it to its dock to charge at the touch of the button. The app allows you to personalize the lights on top of the vacuum with different colors, so that you can easily identify what areas it's focusing on or where it's got stuck.

The app allows you to manually steer the robot when needed. My living room rug for example, has a darkly-colored border which could cause a problem for other robots. The HRV 425BL however, continued to move across the border, without notifying the cliff. The ability to program a weekly cleaning schedule for each week is a time-saving convenience.