What s Holding Back From The Robot Vac Industry

Top Rated Robot Vacuums

A robot vacuum is able to keep floors clean enough to decrease the frequency at which you have to manually vacuum. Look for one that offers good navigation, can sweep corners and stairs and has a huge dust bin that has to be emptied only periodically.

You can also find models that clean and charge on their own, a feature that may be essential for those who have children or pets. A lot of the top performers in our tests also offer decent obstacle-avoiding capabilities.

1. Roomba iRobot i3+ from iRobot EVO

The i3+ EVO and its i3 EVO sibling the i3 EVO are the same robots that differ only in that the i3+ comes with self-emptying features. The i3+ is an excellent option for those who want an entirely automated, hands-free cleaning experience but are willing to manually empty the dustbin of the robot after it has filled up.

Both robots are proficient at removing surface dirt on hard floors and carpets and are able to move around furniture and other obstacles. iAdapt navigation software creates smart maps of your home to assist the i3+ to navigate and clean efficiently. However, unlike the i7+ and other top-rated robots we test the i3+ doesn't have obstacle-avoidance capabilities which means it can be stuck on things like power cords or socks, and it may have trouble in navigating through transitions between surfaces like from hardwood to carpet.

iRobot suggests cleaning the area in which the i3+ EVO vacuums prior to using it. This includes getting rid of any toys or other clutter it may encounter. You should also keep the dustbin and filters clear to avoid becoming clogged. If the i3+'s internal bin is empty or the battery is low it returns to the docking station, and it automatically empties the dirt into the station’s external dustbin. It then continues cleaning from where it began. Battery life is about an hour-and-a-half of continuous use. It takes about three hours to charge.

2. Roomba from iRobot

The iRobot Roomba i7+ is the Top rated Robot vacuum model of the flagship line from iRobot, and it has the most up-to-date features. It's self-charging, self-navigating and the most crucial 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 remember up to 10 floor plans and their names with Imprint Smart Mapping, an application that allows it to create maps of rooms so that it can clean them more efficiently. It also integrates with iRobot Home to schedule cleaning jobs, and you can control your robot via the app or by voice.

In our testing the i7+ was faster and more maneuverable than our top choice and the eufy RoboVac G30, and it took large pieces of pet hair from all surface types including carpeting. The biggest advantage over the Eufy is its self-emptying bin which removes major maintenance sources and lowers the cost of recurring maintenance.

We were also impressed by the i7+'s compatibility with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant AI services that we used to instruct the robot to start, stop or pause its cleaning session, move itself around the room and sweep a specific space. The iRobot Home App made it easy to connect the i7+ to these services. Once connected, to voice commands to the i7+ for example "Hey Alexa vacuum the master bedroom." The iRobot Home App also offers options to manage i7+ settings and evaluating performance.

3. Dyson Cyclone V10

This tiny Dyson model is a sports car that is amidst a sea of cordless vacuums that feel like minivans and buses. It has the power and features to replace a stand-up vacuum in most households, but it also fits in well next to the table for a coffee or the bookshelf, where you can move it around like an enchanted wand.

The V10 is powered with a 7-cell energy-dense Lithium-ion battery, which produces power without fading for 60 minutes. The advanced whole-machine filter system captures allergens, and then releases fresh air into your home. Its specialized cleaning head drives bristles made of nylon that are stiff into carpet to suck up large particles and fine dust. It comes with three suction settings to meet the task at hand. It can quickly change from floor vacuum to handheld vacuum and vice versa.

The model also comes with docks that charge to 100% in around 3.5 hours, and gives users easy access to two attachments and an clip for a wand. This is a huge improvement over earlier Dysons that require a long charge and are difficult to store.

The main drawback of the V10 is its short running time. The tests conducted by CR show that its advertising claims of up to 60 minutes are not true. This is an average not an extraordinary time for the battery-powered cordless vacuum. This is enough time to sweep a typical-sized best home vacuum cleaner but not enough to get into every corner. (A second pass is usually sufficient). This doesn't mean that this model isn't a good choice It's lighter and more mobile than the older cordless Dysons and its vacuuming efficiency is superior on carpets with a low pile.

4. iRobot Roomba 694

One of iRobot's most adored robot vacuums, the 694 is a basic model that's a great choice for people who don't want to invest too much on a robotic. It's capable of sucking up all debris types and sizes during our tests, and it often goes over the same areas multiple times to get a really thorough clean. Its flat front makes it possible to reach the corners and edges of walls.

Its navigation system is smart and uses iAdapt to avoid obstacles and navigate around your home, but it lacks the mapping capability of more sophisticated models such as our top picks and the i3+ EVO and j7+ series. It is prone to getting stuck on phone cords or furniture and often runs out of power before returning to its base.

The Xiaomi Mi robot vacuum is superior to the Roomba 694 in most respects because it has fewer components that require regular cleaning and is equipped with an allergen-trapping HEPA filter, has lower costs for recurring maintenance, has more advanced automation capabilities and is better at maneuvering itself. It also has a bigger dustbin and charges quicker.

The eufy RoboVac X8 has a superior battery life than the Roomba 694. It also comes with physical boundaries strips that can be controlled by your smartphone's voice assistance. It also feels more sturdy and has a more powerful motor, and performs notably better on both bare floors and carpets with low pile, while offering a wider range of automation options.

5. Samsung Jet Bot AI+

Samsung is a name that 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 robot vacuum and mop manufacturers. Their Jet bot cleaner AI+ is equipped with cutting-edge onboard tech for navigation and obstacles avoidance.

The app offers a variety of customization options for your robotic cleaner. This includes mopping levels, virtual barriers and behavior customizations docking frequency settings, and much more. The app is simple to use and understand similar to other Samsung devices.

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

The app allows you to 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 your pets or children while you're away. The filter and the dustbin can be washed for a quick, painless clean-up. The Jet Bot AI+ also comes with a clean and tidy station that's self-emptying, which helps keep the robot's dustbin clear and maximizes suction power for each cleaning run.

6. Black & Decker Robot Vacuum

Black and Decker robots have been designed specifically for flooring made of hard wood. They come with a wide cleaning path and a larger dust bin that can hold 2X more debris than competitors to keep the area clean for the longest time. They also come with two side sweepers that can be used to clean around corners and edges. The POWERSERIES Extreme model comes with AutoSense technology, which senses the presence of dirt or debris on the surface and then automatically adjusts the power level. The vacuum also comes with an app that allows users to see an interactive map, control functions, and create schedules. You can also check the vacuum's status and send it to the dock for charging with the press of a single button. The app allows you to modify the LEDs on the top of the vacuum so that you can tell where it is focused or if it has gotten stuck.

The app allows you to steer the cheap robot vacuum manually, if necessary. For example, my living room rug has a darkly-colored border that can make it difficult for other robots I've tried. The HRV 425BL, however was able to continue to move across the border, without notifying the edge. The ability to program a weekly cleaning schedule for each week is a time-saving convenience.