Top Rated Robot Vacuums
A robot vacuum will keep floors clean enough to decrease the frequency at which you need to manually vacuum. Choose a robot vacuum that has good navigation, has the ability to clean corners and stairs and has large bins that only needs to be emptying every so often.
You can also find models that can mop and charge on their own This feature could be important for people with pets or children. Many of the top performers in our tests also have good obstacle avoidance.
1. Roomba iRobot i3+ from iRobot EVO
The i3+ EVO and its i3 EVO sibling, the i3 EVO are the same robots, but they differ in that the i3+ comes with self-emptying features. The i3+ is an excellent option for those looking for a an entirely automated, hands-free cleaning experience, but are willing to manually empty the dust bin once it gets full.
Both robots excel at picking up surface debris on carpets and hard floors and they're excellent at moving around furniture and other obstacles. iAdapt navigation software creates a smart maps of your home to help the i3+ navigate and clean up efficiently. The i3+ doesn't have obstacle avoidance capabilities like the i7+ or other top-rated robots we have test. It can get stuck on power cords or socks and have difficulty navigating between surfaces, such as hardwood and rug.
iRobot suggests that you clear areas in which the i3+ EVO will vacuum prior to when you use it, and include putting away any toys or clutter it may encounter. It's also a good idea to keep the dustbin and filter clear so they don't become clogged with dirt. When the i3+ EVO’s internal bin is empty or the battery is low it returns to the docking station, and it automatically emptys the dirt into the docking station's external dustbin. It then continues cleaning where it began. Battery life is about an hour and a half of continuous use. It takes 3 hours to charge.
2. iRobot i7+ Roomba
The iRobot i7+ is an excellent model from iRobot's flagship line, and it comes with the latest features. It's self-charging, self-navigating and the most important feature of all -- it has a self-emptying dustbin that eliminates one of the primary sources of maintenance for any robot vacuum.
The Roomba i7+ is able to remember up to 10 floor plans and their names thanks to Imprint Smart Mapping, a system that allows it to identify rooms to clean them more efficiently. It also works with the iRobot Home app to let you schedule cleaning tasks and control your robot with voice or via the app.
In our testing the i7+ performed more agile and faster than our second-placed model which was the eufy RoboVac G30, and it picked up large pieces of pet hair from all surface types, including carpeting. Its main advantage over the eufy, though it self-empties its dust bin which removes a major source of maintenance and lowers recurring costs.
We were also awestruck by the i7+’s compatibility with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant AI services. cleaning robots used these services to instruct the robot to begin or stop cleaning sessions, as well as to move around the room, and to vacuum a particular area. The process of connecting the i7+ to these services was easy and straightforward using the iRobot Home app. We were able, once connected, to speak commands to the i7+ such as "Hey Alexa vacuum the master bedroom." The iRobot Home App also offers options to manage i7+ settings and evaluating performance.
3. Dyson Cyclone V10
In a world of cordless vacs that feel like minivans or buses, this tiny Dyson model is an old-fashioned sports car. It has the power and features to replace a stand-up vacuum for many households and can fit nicely on the table for a coffee or shelves where you can move it around like the magic device.
The V10 is powered by a 7-cell energy-dense Lithium-ion battery that produces power that is not fading for 60 minutes. Its sophisticated whole-machine filtration system captures allergens and expels clean 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 crumbs and fine dust. It comes with three suction settings to suit the task at hand. It quickly switches from handheld vacuum to floor vacuum and back again.
This model also has a dock that charges to 100% in about 3.5 hours and provides easy access to two attachments and the clip for a wand. This is a big improvement over older Dysons, that require a long charge and are a pain to store.
The main drawback of the V10 is its short run time. As CR's tests have shown, its claims to run up to 60 minutes are a bit misleading. This is a standard battery-powered cordless vacuum's run time. It's still enough time to vacuum the majority of an average-sized house however, it's not enough to clean every spot (though the second time around usually does the trick). This model has its own advantages, however: it's lighter and more maneuverable than older Dysons cordless models, and its vacuuming ability is noticeable superior on carpets with low pile.
4. iRobot Roomba 694"
The 694 is a basic robotic vacuum that's a great option for those who don't have lots of money to spend on a robot. It could pick up the majority of types of debris and sizes in our tests and would often go over the same area multiple times to ensure a thorough clean. Its flat front end helps to get into corners and along the edges of walls which is a nice addition.
Its smart navigation system uses iAdapt to avoid obstacles and navigate your home, but it isn't equipped with the mapping capability of more sophisticated models like our top picks such as the i3+ EVO and j7+ series. It can get stuck on phone cords or low furniture and will often run out of power before returning to its base.
The Xiaomi Mi robot vacuum is superior to the Roomba 694 in all aspects, as it has fewer components that require regular cleaning and is equipped with an allergen-trapping HEPA filter, has lower recurring costs, has more advanced automation capabilities and is more efficient in moving itself. It also has a bigger dustbin, and charges more quickly.
The elegant RoboVac X8 is superior to the Roomba 694 in 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 operated by your phone's voice assistant. It is also more robust, has a more powerful motor, and can perform better on floors with bare or low-pile.
5. Samsung Jet Bot AI+
Samsung is a brand is found on all kinds 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 equipped with cutting-edge onboard tech for navigation and obstacles avoidance.
The app offers a variety of options to customize your robotic cleaner. These include virtual barriers, mopping levels and behavior adjustments docking frequency settings, and more. The app is simple to use and understand, just like other Samsung devices.
In our testing our tests, the Jet Bot AI+ excelled on hard floors, and also handled dog hair (on carpet) quite well, cleaning up 86% of it. It did not do well in avoiding taller objects like cords or socks. This was disappointing. It's also a little more expensive than some of the other models we've tested which could be a deterrent for some buyers.
The smart vacuum has an onboard camera that can be accessed through the app. You can also set up a live streaming from the robot's cleaning station. This feature lets you keep track of your pets or kids when you're away from home. The dustbin and the filter can be washed for the quick and easy cleaning. The Jet Bot AI+ comes with a self-emptying clean station, which helps to keep the bin clean and improves suction power.
6. Black & Decker Robot Vacuum
Contrary to other robotic vacuums that are specifically designed for hard floors and carpets, Black and Decker robots are specifically designed for hard floors. They feature an extra-wide cleaning path and a larger dustbin that holds twice as much debris than competitors to keep the cleaning area free of debris for the longest period of time. Additionally, they come with two side sweepers to clean along edges and in corners. The POWERSERIES Extreme model comes with AutoSense technology, which senses whether it's picking up dirt on surfaces or embedded dirt and then automatically adjusts the power level. It also has a smart app that lets you browse the virtual map and manage the functions and schedules. You can also track the status of the vacuum and then send it to the dock for charging at the press of a single button. The app lets you alter the LED lights on the top of the vacuum to tell where it is focused or if it's stuck.
The app also makes it easy to steer the robot manually if needed. My living room rug, for instance, has a darkly-colored border that could cause trouble for 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 benefit.