14 Common Misconceptions About Robot Vac

Top Rated Robot Vacuums

A robot vacuum can keep floors clean enough to reduce the frequency at which you have to manually vacuum. Choose one that has good navigation, can clean stairs and corners, and has a large dust bin that requires emptying only once in a while.

There are models that clean and charge themselves which can be beneficial for those with children or pets. Many of the top performers in our tests also have decent obstacle avoidance.

1. Roomba iRobot i3+ from iRobot EVO

The i3+ EVO and its i3 EVO sibling the i3 EVO are both identical robots, but they differ in that the i3+ comes with self-emptying features. The i3+ is a good option for those who want a fully automated, hands-off cleaning experience but are willing to manually empty the robot's dustbin once it gets full.

Both robots are good at picking up surface dirt on carpets and hard floors and are able to maneuver around furniture and other obstacles. iAdapt navigation software creates intelligent maps of your home that help the i3+ EVO to navigate and clean in a manner that maximizes efficiency. However, unlike the i7+ and other top rated robots we test the i3+ doesn't have a feature for avoiding obstacles which means it can get stuck on things like power cords or socks, and may have issues traversing transitions across surfaces like from hardwood to rug.

iRobot recommends you clear out areas where the i3+ EVO will vacuum prior to when you use it, which includes getting rid of any toys or clutter it may encounter. It is also recommended to keep the filters and dust bin clear to avoid becoming clogged. When the i3+ EVO’s internal bin is empty or the battery is low it returns to the docking station and emptys the dirt into the docking station's dust bin. Then it continues cleaning where it started. The i3+ EVO's batteries last for approximately an hour and a half of continuous use, and it takes about three hours to recharge.

2. IRobot Roomba i7+

The iRobot i7+ is the top model in iRobot's flagship line and is packed with the most recent features. It has self-charging and best self cleaning vacuum-navigating, but the most significant feature is its self-emptying bin. This eliminates the need for routine maintenance.

The Roomba i7+ can keep up to 10 floor plans and their names using Imprint Smart Mapping, which allows it to create maps of rooms so that it can clean them more efficiently. It also integrates with iRobot Home to schedule cleaning tasks, and it can remote control vacuum cleaner your robot via the app or by voice.

The i7+ is faster and more maneuverable in our tests than the eufy RoboVac G30. It also picked up large pet hair pieces from any surface, including carpeting. Its main advantage over the eufy, though, is its self-emptying dustbin which eliminates a major source of maintenance and cuts down on recurring costs.

We were also awestruck by the i7+'s compatibility Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant AI services. We utilized these services to instruct the robot to begin or stop cleaning sessions and also to move around the room, and vacuum a particular area. The process of connecting the i7+ to these services was easy and easy with the iRobot Home app. After connecting to these services, we were able give the i7+ voice commands, such as "Hey Alexa, vacuum the master bedroom." The iRobot Home App also offers options for managing i7+ settings and monitoring performance.

3. Dyson Cyclone V10

This tiny Dyson model is a sports car that is amidst a sea of best vacuums with cords that feel like minivans and buses. It's powerful and has features to replace a stand-up vacuum in the majority of households however, it can also fit perfectly next to the table for a coffee or the bookshelf, where you can move it around like the magic device.

The V10 is powered by a Lithium-ion battery with 7 cells of energy that can provide energy that lasts for 60 minutes. The advanced whole-machine filter system traps allergens, then releases cleaner air into your home. Its specialized cleaning head drives stiff nylon bristles deep into carpet to collect large dust and crumbs. It has three different suction modes that can be adapted to the task. It is able to quickly switch from floor vacuum to handheld vacuum, and vice versa.

The model also comes with docks that charge to 100% in about 3.5 hours and provides easy access to two attachments as well as an Wand clip. This is a huge improvement over older Dysons which require a long charge and are difficult to store.

The main drawback of the V10 is its limited run time. As CR's tests show, its advertising claims of up to 60 minutes are a bit misleading. This is a typical, not an exceptional, run time for a battery-powered cordless vac. This is still enough to vacuum the majority of a home that's average size, but not quite long enough to get every single spot (though an additional run-through often does the trick). This model has its own advantages however: it's lighter and more maneuverable than older Dysons cordless models and its ability to vacuum is noticeable superior on low-pile floor carpet.

4. iRobot Roomba 694"

The 694 is a basic robot vacuum that's an excellent choice for those who don't have a lot of money to invest in the latest model of robot. It was able to pick up all kinds of debris and sizes in our tests and would often go over the same area many times to give an extensive clean. Its flat front design allows it to reach the corners and edges of walls.

Its intelligent vacuum cleaner navigation system makes use of iAdapt technology to stay clear of obstacles and navigate your home. However, it lacks the mapping capabilities of more advanced models, including our top picks, i3+EVO and J7+ Series. This means that it is sometimes stuck on things like phone cords or low furniture, and it frequently is power-depleted before returning to its home base.

The Xiaomi Mi robot Vacuum sale vacuum is superior to the Roomba 694 in all aspects in that it has fewer parts that need regular cleaning and is equipped with an allergen-trapping HEPA filter, incurs lower recurring costs, has more advanced automation capabilities and is better at moving itself. It also has a larger dustbin and is charged faster.

The eufy RoboVac X8 is superior to the Roomba 694 for most reasons, since it has a better battery life, can change its suction power mode on its own and has physical boundary strips, and can be controlled by your smartphone's voice assistant. It's also more robust, has a more powerful motor, and performs better on low-pile and bare floors.

5. Samsung Jet Bot AI+

Samsung is a brand is seen on a variety of home electronics, so it comes as no surprise that they're also one of the most popular robotic vacuum and mop makers. Their Jet Bot AI+ is loaded with cutting-edge onboard intelligence tech for navigation and obstacles avoidance.

The app offers a variety of options to personalize your robotic cleaner, such as virtual barriers, mopping water levels and behavior adjustments, docking frequency settings, and much more. It's easy to comprehend and user-friendly, as is the case with other Samsung devices.

In our testing of the Jet Bot AI+ excelled on hard floors and handled dog hair (on carpet) very well, picking up 86% of it. It did not do well in avoiding taller items such as socks or cords. This was disappointing. It's also more expensive than the other models we've tested and this could be a deal breaker for some shoppers.

The smart vacuum comes with an onboard camera that can be accessed through the app, and you can also set up a live streaming from the robot's cleaning station. 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 comes with a clean and tidy station that self-empties to keep the best robot floor cleaner's dustbin clear and maximizes suction power for each cleaning.

6. Black & Decker Robot Vacuum

Contrary to other robotic vacuums that are made 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 larger than the competition. This lets them keep the area clean for longer. They also come with two side sweepers that can be used to clean along edges and corners. The POWERSERIES model also comes with AutoSense, which automatically adjusts the power level according to whether it's picking up dirt that is on the surface or embedded. It also comes with a smart app that lets you view the virtual map and control the functions and schedules. You can also monitor the status of the vacuum and then send it to the dock for charging at the click of a button. The app also lets you to customize the LED lights on the top of the vacuum using different colors, so that you can easily tell the areas where it's focused or where it's gotten stuck.

The app also makes it simple to steer the robot manually in the event of need. My living room rug, for example, has a darkly-colored border that can trip up some other robots. However the HRV 425BL kept moving across the border, without registering it as a cliff. The ability to program a daily cleaning schedule for each week is a time-saving advantage.