Annie Coombes

top rated robot vacuum Rated Robot Vacuums

A robot vacuum can keep floors clean enough to decrease the frequency with which you need to manually vacuum. Look for one that offers excellent navigation, is able to sweep corners and stairs and has a huge dust bin that needs emptying only every few times.

There are models that clean and charge on their own, a feature that may be essential for those who have pets or children. Many of the top performers in our tests have decent obstacle avoidance.

1. Roomba iRobot i3+ from iRobot EVO

The i3+ EVO and its i3 EVO sibling the i3 EVO are both identical robots that differ only in that the i3+ has self-emptying features. That makes the i3+ an excellent option for those looking for a hands-off, fully automated cleaning experience but don't mind manually emptying their robot's dustbin when it fills up.

Both robots are proficient at picking up surface dirt on floors and carpets and can maneuver around furniture and other obstacles. iAdapt navigation software makes smart maps of your home, which help the i3+ EVO navigate and clean in a way that maximizes efficiency. The i3+ doesn't feature obstacle avoidance features like the i7+ or any other top-rated robots we have test. It could get stuck on power cords or socks and have trouble moving between different surfaces like carpet and hardwood.

iRobot suggests cleaning up the area where the i3+ EVO vacuums prior to using it. This includes putting away any toys or other clutter it may encounter. It's also a good idea to keep the bin and filter clear so they do not become blocked by dirt. When the i3+'s internal bin is full or the battery is empty it goes back to its docking station, automatically emptying its debris into the station's external dustbin and continues cleaning where it left off. The i3+ EVO's batteries last for approximately an hour and a half continuous use, and it takes about three hours to fully recharge.

2. Roomba by iRobot

The iRobot Roomba i7+ is the most powerful model in the iRobot flagship line, and it comes with all the latest features. It's self-charging, self-navigating and the most important feature of all -- it comes with a self-emptying dustbin that eliminates 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 lets it map rooms so it can clean them more efficiently. It also works with iRobot Home to schedule cleaning tasks, and you can control your robot vacuum cleaner for sale through the app or voice.

The i7+ is quicker and more maneuverable in our tests compared to the eufy RoboVac G30. It also cleaned large pet hair pieces from all surfaces including carpeting. The main advantage it has over the Eufy is the self-emptying bin, which removes major maintenance sources and lowers the cost of recurring maintenance.

We were also amazed by the i7+'s integration with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant AI services, which we used to instruct the robot to begin, stop or pause its cleaning routines and to move around the room, and even vacuum the 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 such as "Hey Alexa, vacuum the master bedroom." The iRobot Home app also provides options to manage the i7+'s settings and monitoring its performance.

3. Dyson Cyclone V10

In a world of cordless vacs that are like minivans and buses, this small Dyson model is a sports car. It's powerful enough to replace a traditional stand-up vacuum in most homes, yet it is also small enough to fit on a bookcase or coffee table.

The V10 is powered by a 7-cell, energy-dense lithium-ion battery that produces continuous, non-fading power for 60 minutes. Its sophisticated whole-machine filtration system captures allergens and expels clean air back into your home. Its cleaning head is specially designed and drives stiff nylon bristles deep into carpet to collect large crumbs and fine dust. It comes with three suction settings to meet the task at hand. It swiftly switches from handheld to floor vacuum, and then back to floor.

This model comes with a dock that can charge the Dyson to 100% in 3.5 hours. It also offers the ability to connect two attachments and the handheld. This is a major improvement over previous Dysons that require a long charge and are difficult to store.

The V10's main drawback is its limited running time. Its marketing claims that it can provide up to 60 minutes of running time are a bit misleading, as CR's testing shows. This is an average, not an exceptional, run time for an electric cordless vacuum powered by batteries. It's enough time to clean the typical home however, it's not enough time to reach every spot. (A second time generally works). This model has its own advantages, however: it's lighter and more maneuverable than earlier 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 an excellent choice for those who don't have a lot of money to invest in an expensive robot. It could pick up most types of debris and sizes in our tests and would often go over the same area several times for a thorough clean. Its flat front design allows it to reach corners and the edges of walls.

Its navigation system is smart and uses iAdapt to stay clear of obstacles and navigate your home, but it lacks the ability to map that comes with more advanced models like our top selections such as the i3+ EVO and the j7+ series. This means that it can sometimes get stuck on things like phone cords or low furniture, and it often runs out of battery power before returning to its original location.

The Xiaomi Mi robot vacuum is superior to the Roomba 694 in most respects because it has fewer parts that require regular maintenance It also comes with an allergen-trapping HEPA filter, incurs lower costs for recurring maintenance, has more advanced automation capabilities and is more efficient in moving itself. It also has a bigger dustbin and charges faster.

The eufy RoboVac X8 has a superior battery longevity than the Roomba 694. It also has physical boundaries strips that can be controlled by your smartphone'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 household name in the field of home electronics. It's not a surprise, then, that they are also among the top manufacturers of robot vacuums and mop. Jet Bot AI+ has a cutting-edge onboard technology for navigation and obstacle avoidance.

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

In our testing of the Jet Bot AI+ excelled on hard floors and dealt with dog hair (on carpet) very well, picking up 86 percent of it. It did not do well in avoiding taller items like socks or cords. This was disappointing. It's also more expensive than the other models that we tested, and this could be a deterrent for some shoppers.

The app lets you access the camera onboard 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're away. The filter and dustbin can be washed for quick, easy cleanup. The Jet Bot AI+ comes with an automatic clean station which helps keep the robot's bin clear and optimizes suction power.

6. Black & Decker best robot vacuums Vacuum

Unlike other robotic vacuums, that are specifically designed for hard floors and carpets, Black and Decker robots are specifically designed for hard floors. They come with a wide cleaning path and an extra-large dustbin that holds 2X more debris than competitors to keep the cleaning area free of debris for the longest period of time. They also include two side sweepers for cleaning around corners and edges. The POWERSERIES Extreme model comes with AutoSense technology, which can tell if it's picking up dirt on surfaces or embedded dirt and then automatically adjusts the power level. The vacuum also has an app that allows you to view the virtual map, manage functions, and set schedules. You can also check the vacuum's status and send it to its dock for charging at the press of a single button. The app allows you to personalize the LED lights on top of the vacuum by using different colors, so that you can easily identify what areas it's focusing on or where it's gotten stuck.

The application also allows you to steer the robot manually if needed. My living room rug, for instance is darkly colored that could cause trouble for other robots. However, the HRV 425BL continued to move across the border, but it didn't register it as an incline. The ability to program a weekly cleaning schedule for each week is a time-saving convenience.