15 Surprising Facts About Robot Vac

top 10 robot vacuum cleaner Rated Robot Vacuums

A robot vacuum can keep your floors tidy enough to reduce the frequency of hoovering manually. Find one that has good navigation, can sweep corners and stairs and also has a large dust bin that needs emptying only periodically.

There are models that mop and charge themselves This is an advantage that is essential for families with pets or children. The top performers in our tests offer decent obstacle-avoiding capabilities.

1. Roomba iRobot i3+ from iRobot EVO

The i3+ EVO and its i3 EVO sibling, the i3 EVO are both identical robots that differ only in that the i3+ has self-emptying capabilities. The i3+ is a good option for those who want an automated, hands-free cleaning experience, but want to manually empty the dustbin of the robot once it gets full.

Both robots are good in removing dirt and dust particles on carpets and hard floors, and they can easily maneuver around furniture and other obstacles. iAdapt navigation software creates smart maps of your home that aid the i3+ EVO navigate and clean in a way that maximizes efficiency. However, unlike the i7+ or other Top 10 Robot vacuum cleaner rated robots we tested, the i3+ doesn't have obstacle-avoidance capabilities which means it can get stuck on things such as power cords or socks, and it can have difficulty navigating across surface transitions like from hardwood to rug.

iRobot recommends clearing areas in which the i3+ EVO will vacuum prior to when you use it, including clearing out any toys or clutter it might encounter. Also, keep the dustbin and filter clear to avoid getting blocked. When the i3+'s internal bin is full or the battery is low it goes back to its docking station, automatically emptying its debris into the station's dust bin and continues cleaning the area where it started. The i3+ EVO's batteries last for approximately an hour and a half of continuous use, and takes around three hours to recharge.

2. IRobot Roomba i7+

The iRobot Roomba i7+ is the top model in the iRobot flagship line and has the most up-to-date features. It's self-charging, self-navigating, and the most important feature of all -- it comes with self-emptying bins that eliminate one of the most important sources of maintenance for any robot vacuum.

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

The i7+ is faster and more maneuverable in our tests compared to the eufy RoboVac G30. It also picked up large pet hair pieces from any surface, including carpeting. The main advantage it has over the Eufy is its self-emptying garbage bin which removes major maintenance sources and lowers the cost of recurring maintenance.

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

3. Dyson Cyclone V10

This tiny Dyson model is an athletic car in a world of vacuums powered by cordless that resemble minivans and buses. It's powerful enough to replace a traditional stand-up vacuum in a majority of homes, yet it is also small enough to fit on a bookcase or coffee table.

The V10 is powered by a 7-cell, energy-dense lithium-ion battery that produces continuous, non-fading power for 60 minutes. Its advanced whole-machine filter system captures allergens and expels cleaner air back into your home. The specialized head uses rigid nylon bristles to penetrate into carpets and collect large particles or fine dust. It has three suction modes to suit the task that is being completed. It swiftly switches from automatic floor cleaner vac to handheld vacuum and back.

This model also has an accessory dock that can charge to 100% in 3.5 hours and offers easy access to two attachments and a Wand clip. This is a big improvement over the older Dysons, which require a lengthy charge and are a pain to store.

The main drawback of the V10 is its short run time. As CR's tests show, its claims to run up to 60 minutes are misleading. This is a common battery-powered cordless vacuum's running time. That's still enough run time to vacuum the majority of an average-sized house, but not quite long enough to get every single area (though a second run-through usually can be effective). That's not to say this model isn't a good choice: It's lighter and mobile than the older cordless Dysons, and its vacuuming performance is noticeably superior on carpets with a low pile.

4. iRobot Roomba 694

One of the most well-known robot vacuums the 694 is a basic model that's an excellent choice for people who don't want to invest too much money on a robot. It's capable of sucking up all kinds of debris in our tests, and often goes over the same areas multiple times to get a really thorough clean. Its flat front design allows it to reach the corners and the edges of walls.

Its intelligent navigation system makes use of iAdapt technology to steer clear of obstacles and help you navigate your home. However, it lacks the capabilities for mapping of more advanced models, such as our top picks, i3+EVO and J7+ Series. Because of this, it can sometimes get stuck on things like phone cords and low furniture, and it often is power-depleted before returning to its home base.

The Xiaomi Mi robot is superior in many ways to the Roomba 694, as it has fewer components that require regular cleaning, comes with an allergen-trapping HEPA filtering system, has a lower costs for recurring expenses, has more advanced automation abilities and can better maneuver its own. It also has a bigger dustbin and is charged faster.

The eufy RoboVac X8 is superior to the Roomba 694 for a variety of reasons, since it has a better battery life, the ability to change the suction power mode by hand and has physical boundary strips, and can be operated by your phone's voice assistant. It also feels better-built, has a more powerful motor, and performs notably better on bare floors and carpets with a low pile, as well as providing a greater variety of automation features.

5. Samsung Jet Bot AI+

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

The app gives you plenty of options to personalize your robotic cleaner, such as virtual barriers mopping water levels, behavior modification docking frequency settings and more. The app is easy to learn and use, just like other Samsung devices.

In our testing our tests, the Jet Bot AI+ excelled on hard floors and dealt with dog hair (on carpet) quite well, cleaning up 86 percent of it. It didn't do very well in avoiding taller objects like socks or cords. This was disappointing. It's also a bit more expensive than the other models we've tested and could be a deal-breaker for some buyers.

The app allows you to access the camera onboard of the smart vacuum. You can also set up live streaming from the robot's cleaning area. This feature lets you keep track of your pets or kids when you're away from home. The dustbin and the filter can be cleaned to ensure a quick, painless clean-up. The Jet Bot AI+ also comes with a clean station that's self-emptying to keep the floor robot's trash bin clean and optimizes its suction power for each cleaning run.

6. Black & Decker Robot Vacuum

In contrast to other robotic vacuums that are specifically designed for hard floors and carpets, Black and Decker robots are specifically designed for hard floors. They have an extra-wide cleaning path and dust bins that are 2X bigger than the competitors. This lets them clean the area for longer. They also come with two side sweepers for cleaning along edges and corners. The POWERSERIES Extreme model also includes AutoSense technology, which senses if it's picking up dirt or debris on the surface and then automatically adjusts its power level. It also has a smart app that lets you browse the virtual map and control the functions and schedules. You can also monitor the vacuum's battery status and then return it to its dock to charge by pressing the button. The app also allows you to customize the LED lights on the top of the vacuum with different colors, so that you can clearly see the areas where it's focused or where it's gotten stuck.

The application also allows you to steer the robot manually should you need to. For instance my living room rug has a darkly colored border that can cause confusion for other robots I've tried. The HRV 425BL however was able to continue to move across the border without ever registering the cliff. Also, the ability to program weekly cleaning schedules is a fantastic time-saving feature.