Alissa Loyau

Top Rated Robot Vacuums

A robot cleaner vacuum is able to keep the floors clean enough to cut down on the frequency you need to manually vacuum. Look for one that offers an easy navigation, can sweep corners and stairs and also has a large dust bin that requires emptying only periodically.

There are also models that can mop and charge themselves, a feature that may be beneficial for those with pets or kids. Many of the best performers in our tests have excellent obstacle avoidance.

1. IRobot Roomba i3+ EVO

The i3+ EVO and its sibling, the i3 EVO are both identical robots that differ only in that the i3+ has self vacuum near me-emptying features. The i3+ is an excellent option for those who want an automated, hands-free cleaning experience but are willing to manually empty the dust bin once it gets full.

Both robots do well picking up surface debris off hard floors and carpets, and they are very good in getting around furniture and other obstacles. iAdapt navigation software makes a smart maps of your home to assist the i3+ to navigate and clean up efficiently. However unlike the i7+ or other top rated robots we tested, the i3+ doesn't have a feature for avoiding obstacles and therefore it could be stuck on things like socks or power cords, and may have issues navigating across surface transitions like from hardwood to carpet.

iRobot suggests that you clean the area around the i3+ EVO vacuums prior to using it. This includes putting away any toys or other clutter it might come across. It's also recommended to keep the dust bin and filter clear so they don't become clogged with dirt. When the i3+ EVO's internal bin is full or the battery is depleted it goes back to its docking station and automatically empties its debris into the station's dust bin and continues cleaning where it started. The i3+ EVO's batteries last for about an hour and a half continuous use, and it takes around three hours to fully recharge.

2. IRobot Roomba i7+

The iRobot i7+ is an excellent model from iRobot's flagship line and comes with the latest features. It's self-charging, self-navigating and the most important feature of all -- it has an auto-emptying dustbin, which eliminates one of the most important sources of maintenance for any robot vacuum.

The Roomba i7+ can keep up to 10 floor plans and their names using Imprint Smart Mapping, an application that allows it to create maps of rooms so that it can clean them more efficiently. It also works with the iRobot Home app to let you schedule cleaning jobs and control your robot with voice or via the app.

The i7+ is quicker and more agile in our tests than the eufy RoboVac G30. It also picked up large pet hair pieces from all surfaces, including carpeting. The biggest benefit over the eufy the dust bin is self-emptying, which removes a major source of maintenance and cuts down on the cost of maintenance.

We were also awestruck by the i7+'s compatibility with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant AI services. We utilized 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. Connecting the i7+ to these services was easy and straightforward through the iRobot Home app. After connecting we were able to give the i7+ voice commands, 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 sea of vacuums powered by cordless that resemble minivans and buses. It's powerful and has features to replace a stand-up vacuum in many households, but it also fits nicely on the table for a coffee or shelves where you can move it around like an enchanted device.

The V10 is powered with a Lithium-ion battery with 7 cells of energy that produces power without fading for 60 minutes. Its advanced whole-machine filtration system removes allergens, and then releases cleaner air back into your home. The specialized head uses rigid nylon bristles to drive deep into carpets, and then pick up large dust or crumbs. It comes with three suction modes that can be adapted to suit the task. It quickly converts from handheld vacuum to floor vacuum and back.

This model comes with an attached dock that charges the Dyson to 100% in 3.5 hours. It also provides easy access to 2 attachments and the Wand. This is a huge improvement over the older Dysons models, which require a lengthy charge and are a pain to store.

The main drawback of the V10 is its short running time. The tests conducted by CR show that its marketing claims of up to 60 minutes are not true. This is a common battery-powered cordless vacuum's running time. It's enough time to vacuum a typical-sized home however, it's not enough time to reach every area. (A second pass generally works). This doesn't mean that this model isn't a good choice: It's lighter and agile than older cordless Dysons, and its vacuuming performance is noticeably better on low-pile carpet.

4. iRobot Roomba 694

The 694 is a basic robot vacuum that's a great choice for those who don't have a lot of money to spend on an expensive robot vacuum price. It was able to remove most types of debris and sizes in our testing and often went over the same area multiple times for an extensive clean. Its flat front design allows it to reach the corners and the edges of walls.

Its navigation system is smart and uses iAdapt to avoid obstacles and navigate your home, but it's not equipped with the ability to map that comes with more sophisticated models such as our top rated robot vacuum selections and the i3+ EVO and j7+ series. Because of this, it is sometimes stuck on things like phone cords or furniture that isn't as sturdy, and often will run out of battery before making it back to its original location.

The Xiaomi Mi robot is superior in many ways over the Roomba 694 in that it has fewer parts that require regular cleaning, comes with an allergen-trapping HEPA filtering system, has a lower recurring cost, has more advanced automation abilities and is able to better move its own. It also has a larger dustbin and charges quicker.

The eufy RoboVac X8 is superior to the Roomba 694 for most reasons, since it has a longer battery life, has the ability to alter its suction power mode on its own and comes with physical boundary strips, and can be operated by your phone's voice assistant. It also feels better-built and has a more powerful motor, and works better on both bare floors and low-pile carpet, while providing a wider array of automation features.

5. Samsung Jet Bot AI+

Samsung is a brand you see on all sorts of home electronics It's no surprise that they're also one of the most popular robotic vacuum and mop makers. Jet Bot AI+ has an advanced onboard technology that allows to navigate and avoid obstacles.

The app offers a variety of options to personalize your robotic cleaner, such as virtual barriers mopping water levels, behavior modification docking frequency settings and more. The app is simple to use and understand similar to other Samsung devices.

In our tests, the Jet Bot AI+ performed well on hard floors, and cleaned up 86 percent of dog hair (on carpet). It was not as successful in avoiding taller items such as socks or cords. This was disappointing. It's also more expensive than other models that we tested, and this could be a deterrent for certain shoppers.

The smart vacuum comes with an onboard camera that you can access through the app. You can also set up a live streaming from the robot's cleaning station. This feature allows you to monitor your pets or the kids if 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 station that self-empties and helps keep the robot's dustbin clear and maximizes suction power for each cleaning.

6. Black & Decker Robot Vacuum

Black and Decker robots have been developed specifically for hard flooring. They have an extra wide cleaning path, as well as a dustbin that is 2X larger than the competition. This allows them to clean the area for longer. In addition, they have two side sweepers to clean along edges and in corners. The POWERSERIES model comes with AutoSense that automatically adjusts the power level based on whether it is picking up dirt that is on the surface or embedded. It also comes with a smart app that lets you browse the virtual map and manage the functions and schedules. You can also check the status of the vacuum and connect it to the dock for charging at the click of a button. The app allows you to modify the LEDs on the top of the vacuum to discern where it is focusing or if it's stuck.

The app makes it possible to manually steer the robot, if necessary. 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 a cliff. The ability to program a daily cleaning schedule for each week is a time-saving advantage.