11 Ways To Completely Redesign Your Robot Vac

Top Rated Robot Vacuums

A robot vacuum can keep your floors tidy enough to cut down on the frequency of hoovering manually. Select a vacuum that is well-trained in navigation, can clean corners and stairs and also has an enormous bin that only needs to be cleaned out every now and then.

There are models that can mop and charge themselves, which is a feature important for families with pets or children. A lot of the top performers in our tests also have good obstacle avoidance.

1. Roomba iRobot i3+ from iRobot EVO

The i3+ EVO and its sibling the i3 EVO are the same robots that differ only in that the i3+ has self-emptying features. That makes the i3+ a good choice for people who want an entirely automated, hands-free cleaning experience but don't mind having to empty their dust bin manually as it gets full.

Both robots are adept at picking up surface debris on carpets and hard floors and they're very adept in moving around furniture and other obstacles. iAdapt navigation software creates a smart map of your home to help the i3+ navigate and clean efficiently. The i3+ isn't able to have obstacle avoidance capabilities like the i7+ or any other top rated robot vacuum-rated robots we test. It may get stuck on power cords and socks, and may have trouble navigating between different surfaces, like carpet and hardwood.

iRobot suggests cleaning the area in which the i3+ EVO vacuums prior to using it. This includes getting rid of any toys or clutter it might come across. It is also recommended to keep the filters and dust bin free of dirt to prevent them from becoming clogged. When the i3+'s internal bin is full or the battery is depleted it goes back to its docking station, automatically emptying its trash into the station's dust bin and continues cleaning the area where it started. The i3+ EVO's battery lasts for approximately an hour and a half continuous use, and it takes about three hours to fully recharge.

2. Roomba from iRobot

The iRobot i7+ is an excellent model from iRobot's flagship line and comes with the most recent features. It's self-charging, self-navigating, and the most important feature of all -- it has self-emptying bins that eliminate one of the primary 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 control your robot with voice or via the app.

The i7+ is faster and more maneuverable in our tests than the eufy RoboVac G30. It also cleaned large pet hair pieces from any surface including carpeting. The biggest advantage over the Eufy is the self-emptying bin, which removes major maintenance sources and reduces recurring cost.

We were also awestruck by the i7+'s compatibility with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant AI services. We used these services to instruct the robot on how to begin, stop, or pause cleaning sessions as well as move around the room, and vacuum a particular area. The iRobot Home App made it easy to connect the i7+ to these services. Once connected we were able to use the i7+'s voice commands like "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 in a sea of cordless vacuums 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 wave it around like a magic device.

The V10 is powered by a seven-cell, energy-dense lithium-ion battery which produces continuous, non-fading power for 60 minutes. The advanced whole-machine filter system traps allergens, then releases fresh air into your home. Its cleaning head is specially designed and drives bristles of nylon that are stiff and deep into carpets to trap large crumbs and fine dust. It has three different suction modes that can be adapted to suit the task. It quickly converts from handheld to floor vacuum and back again.

This model also has an accessory dock that can charge to 100% in about 3.5 hours and provides an easy access to two attachments as well as the Wand clip. This is a significant improvement over earlier Dysons models, that require a long charge and are a pain to store.

The biggest issue with the V10 is its limited run time. As CR's tests have shown, 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 a home that's average size, but not quite long enough to cover every spot (though an additional run-through often can be effective). This model has its own advantages however: it's light and more mobile than previous Dysons cordless models and its ability to vacuum is noticeably superior on low-pile floor carpet.

4. iRobot Roomba 694"

One of the most well-known robot best 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 a variety of debris types and sizes during our tests, and it often goes over the same areas several times to give a thorough clean. Its flat front end helps it reach into corners and along the edges of walls, which is a nice touch.

Its navigation system is best smart vacuum and uses iAdapt to avoid obstacles and navigate around your home, but it isn't equipped with the mapping capability of more sophisticated models like our top picks and the i3+ EVO and j7+ series. As a result, it is sometimes stuck on things like phone cords and low furniture, and it often will run out of battery before returning to its original location.

The Xiaomi Mi robot 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 costs for recurring maintenance, has more advanced automation capabilities and is better at maneuvering itself. It also has a larger dustbin and charges quicker.

The sleek RoboVac X8 has a superior battery longevity than the Roomba 694. It also has physical boundaries strips and can be controlled using your smartphone's voice assistant. It also feels better-built and has a more powerful motor, and works better on bare floors and carpets with low pile, while providing a wider array of features for automation.

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 one of the top mop and robot vacuum manufacturers. Their Jet Bot AI+ is loaded with cutting-edge onboard intelligence technology to aid in navigation and obstacle avoidance.

The app provides plenty of options to personalize your robotic vacuums cleaner, such as virtual barriers, mopping water levels and behavior adjustments, docking frequency settings, and more. The app is simple to use and understand, just like other Samsung devices.

In our tests in our tests, the Jet Bot AI+ performed well on hard floors, and removed 86 percent of dog hair (on carpet). It did not do well in avoiding taller items like socks or cords. This was disappointing. It's also more expensive than other models we've tested, and this could be a deterrent for some buyers.

The app lets you access the camera onboard of the smart vacuum. You can also create live streaming from the self-cleaning robot vacuums's cleaning zone. This feature allows you to monitor your pets or kids when you're away from home. The filter and the dust bin can be cleaned to make cleanup quick and easy. The Jet Bot AI+ also has a clean station that's self-emptying, which helps keep the robot's dustbin clear and optimizes its suction power for each cleaning.

6. black friday robot vacuum deals & Decker Robot Vacuum

Black and Decker robots are designed specifically for flooring made of hard wood. The robots come with an extra wide cleaning path, as well as dust bins that are 2 times larger than other models. This allows them to clean the area for a longer period of time. In addition, they have two side sweepers to clean up around edges and in corners. The POWERSERIES Extreme model also includes AutoSense technology, which can tell whether it's picking up dirt or debris on the surface and automatically adjusts its power level. It also comes with a smart app that lets you browse the virtual map, and control the functions and schedules. You can also track the vacuum's status and send it to its dock for charging with the click of a button. The app also allows you to personalize the lights on top of the vacuum by using different colors so you can easily tell what areas it's focusing on or where it's gotten stuck.

The app also makes it simple to manually steer the robot should you need to. For example, my living room rug has a darkly-colored border that can cause confusion for other robots I've tried. However, the HRV 425BL continued to move across the border, without registering it as an incline. And the ability to create weekly cleaning schedules is a wonderful time-saving benefit.