Blog entry by Aja Angwin
Top Rated Robot Vacuums
A robot vacuum can keep your floors clean enough to reduce the frequency of hoovering manually. Look for one that offers an easy navigation, can clean stairs and corners and has a huge dust bin that needs emptying only once in a while.
There are also models that clean and charge on their own, a feature that may be essential for those who have pets or kids. Many of the top performers in our tests have good obstacle avoidance.
1. Roomba iRobot i3+ from iRobot EVO
The i3+ EVO and its sibling, the i3 EVO, are identical robots that differ only in that the i3+ has self-emptying features. The i3+ is an excellent option for those who want an automated, hands-free cleaning experience, but want to manually empty the robot's dustbin once it gets full.
Both robots do well picking up surface debris on hard floors and carpets, and they're excellent at getting around furniture and other obstacles. iAdapt navigation software makes a smart maps of your home that assist the i3+ to navigate and clean efficiently. The i3+ does not have the same obstacle avoidance capabilities as the i7+ or other top-rated robots that we tested. It may be stuck on power cords and socks, and may have trouble navigating between different surfaces, like rug and hardwood.
iRobot suggests that you clear areas in which the i3+ EVO will vacuum before you use it, which includes putting away any clutter or toys it might encounter. Also, keep the filters and dust bin clear to avoid becoming clogged. When the i3+ EVO's internal bin is empty or the battery is not fully charged, it returns to the docking station and automatically takes the dirt out of the docking station's external dustbin. It then continues cleaning from where it started. Battery life is about an hour-and-a-half of continuous usage. It takes about three hours to fully charge.
2. IRobot Roomba i7+
The iRobot i7+ is a top model from iRobot’s flagship line, and it comes with the latest features. It has self-charging and self-navigating. However, the most significant feature is its auto-emptying bin. This removes the need for regular maintenance.
The Roomba i7+ can keep up to 10 floor plans and their names thanks to Imprint Smart Mapping, an application that lets it create maps of rooms so that it can clean them more efficiently. It also works with iRobot Home to schedule cleaning jobs, and you can direct your robot using the app or by voice.
The i7+ is quicker and more maneuverable in our tests than the eufy RoboVac G30. It also picked up large pet hair pieces from all surfaces including carpeting. Its greatest advantage over the Eufy is its self-emptying garbage bin which eliminates the main sources of maintenance and lowers the cost of recurring maintenance.
We were also impressed with the i7+’s compatibility with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant AI services. We used these services to instruct the robot on how to start, 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+ with these services. After connecting we were able to give the i7+ voice commands like "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 filled with vacuums that are cordless and are like minivans and buses, this tiny Dyson model is a sports car. It's powerful enough to replace a traditional stand-up vacuum in most homes, but also small enough to fit on a coffee table or bookcase.
The V10 is powered by a 7-cell, energy-dense lithium-ion battery that produces fade-free power for 60 minutes. The advanced whole-machine filter system captures allergens, and then releases fresh air into your home. The cleaning head is specially designed to drive bristles made of nylon that are stiff into carpets to trap large dust and crumbs. It has three different suction modes that can be adapted to the task. It quickly converts from handheld vacuum to floor vacuum, and then back to floor.
This model also has an accessory dock that can charge to 100% in about 3.5 hours and offers an easy access to two attachments and the wand clip. This is a big improvement over the older Dysons, which take a long time to charge and are difficult to store.
The biggest issue with the V10 is its short run time. The claims of its marketing that it can provide up to 60 minutes of running time are not true as CR's tests show. This is a typical battery-powered cordless vacuum's running time. It's enough time to clean the typical home, but not enough to get into every corner. (A second pass generally works). That's not to say this model doesn't have its advantages 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 the most well-known robot vacuums, the 694 is an entry-level model that's an excellent option for those who don't wish to spend too much money on a best robot vacuum for tile floors. It was able to pick up all kinds of debris and sizes in our tests, and frequently went over the same area many times for an efficient clean. Its flat front 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 lacks the ability to map that comes with more sophisticated models like our top 10 robot vacuum cleaner Rated Robot Vacuum (Menwiki.Men) choices, the i3+ EVO and the j7+ series. This means that it can sometimes get stuck on things like phone cords or furniture that isn't in good robot vacuum condition, and often is power-depleted before returning to its base.
The Xiaomi Mi robot is superior in many ways over the Roomba 694, as it has fewer parts that require regular cleaning, comes with an allergen-trapping HEPA filtering system, has a lower recurring cost and has more advanced automation capabilities and is able to better navigate its own. It also has a bigger dustbin and is charged faster.
The sleek RoboVac X8 has a superior battery life than the Roomba. It also has physical boundaries strips that can be controlled using your smartphone's voice assistant. It also feels better-built and has a more powerful motor, and works better on floors that are bare and low-pile carpet, while offering a wider range of automation features.
5. Samsung Jet Bot AI+
Samsung is a well-known brand in the field of home electronics. It's no surprise that they are one of the top makers of robot vacuums and mop. Jet Bot AI+ has the most advanced onboard technology for navigation and obstacle avoidance.
The app offers a wide range of options for customizing your robotic cleaner. This includes mopping levels, virtual barriers and behavior modifications docking frequency settings and more. The app is easy to navigate and use, just like other Samsung devices.
In our testing, the Jet Bot AI+ excelled on hard floors, and also handled dog hair (on carpet) very well, picking up 86 percent of it. However, it didn't do particularly well with larger objects, like cords and socks which was a disappointment. It's also a little more expensive than some of the other models we tried which could be a deal-breaker for certain shoppers.
The app allows you to access the onboard camera of the smart vacuum. You can also set up live streaming from the robot's cleaning area. This feature allows you check in on your children or pets while you are away. The dustbin and filter are washable to make cleanup quick and easy. 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
Unlike other robotic vacuums, that are specifically designed for carpets and hard floors, Black and Decker robots are specifically designed for hard floors. The robots come with an extra wide cleaning path and a dustbin that is 2X larger than the competition. This lets them keep the area clean for longer. They also include two side sweepers to clean around corners and edges. The POWERSERIES Extreme model comes with AutoSense technology, which detects whether it's picking up surface litter or embedded dirt and automatically adjusts the power level. The vacuum also has an app that lets users to see the virtual map, manage functions, and create schedules. You can also check the status of the vacuum and then send it to its dock for charging with the press of a single button. The app also lets you to personalize the lights on top of the vacuum by using different colors, so you can easily identify which areas it's focused on or where it's got stuck.
The application also allows you to steer the robot manually in the event of need. For example, my living room rug has a darkly colored border that tends to trip up some of the other robots I've tested. 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.