Jeannette Mahon

Top Rated Robot Vacuums

A robot vacuum can keep your floors clean enough to decrease the frequency of hoovering manually. Choose a robot vacuum with good navigation, has the ability to clean corners and stairs and has an enormous bin that only needs to be cleaned out every now and then.

There are models that mop and charge themselves This is an advantage important for families with children or pets. Many of the top performers in our tests have good obstacle avoidance.

1. Roomba iRobot i3+ from iRobot EVO

The i3+ EVO is similar to its sibling, the i3 EVO. They differ only in the fact that the i3+ has self-emptying capabilities. The i3+ is an excellent option for those looking for a an entirely automated, hands-free cleaning experience, but want to manually empty the dust bin when it is full.

Both robots are adept at cleaning up surface debris from hard floors and carpets, and they are very good in moving around furniture and other obstacles. iAdapt navigation software creates smart map of your home to assist the i3+ to navigate and clean up efficiently. However, unlike the i7+ or other top-rated robots that we tested, the i3+ doesn't have obstacle-avoidance capabilities and therefore it could get stuck on things such as power cords or socks, and it can have difficulty navigating across surface transitions like hardwood to rug.

iRobot recommends that you tidy the area around the i3+ EVO vacuums prior to using it. This includes putting away any toys or other items it may encounter. Also, keep the dustbin and filter free of dirt to prevent them from becoming clogged. When the i3+ EVO’s internal bin is empty or the battery is depleted, it returns to the docking station and automatically emptys the dirt into the docking station's external dustbin. It then continues cleaning where it left off. The battery's life span is approximately an hour and a half of continuous use. It takes three hours to charge.

2. Roomba by iRobot

The iRobot Roomba i7+ is the most powerful model of the flagship line from iRobot, and it comes with all the latest features. It has self-charging and self-navigating, but the most significant feature is its self-emptying bin. This eliminates the need for regular maintenance.

The Roomba I7+ can make rooms more efficient maps using Imprint smart robot Mapping. It also integrates with iRobot Home to schedule cleaning tasks, and it can direct your robot using the app or by voice.

The i7+ is quicker and more agile in our tests than the eufy RoboVac G30. It also cleaned large pet hair pieces from all surfaces, including carpeting. Its main advantage over the eufy, though the dust bin is self-emptying, which removes a major source of maintenance and reduces the amount of time spent cleaning.

We were also amazed by the i7+'s compatibility with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant AI services that we used to instruct the robot to begin, stop or pause its cleaning sessions, move itself around the room and sweep the area. The iRobot Home App made it easy to connect the i7+ with these services. When connected, we were able to give the i7+ voice commands such as "Hey Alexa, vacuum the master bedroom." The iRobot Home App also offers options to manage i7+ settings and monitoring the performance.

3. Dyson Cyclone V10

In a world filled with vacuums that are cordless and feel like minivans or buses, this tiny Dyson model feels like an old-fashioned sports car. It's powerful and has features to replace a stand-up vacuum for the majority of households, but it also fits nicely on a coffee table or on a bookshelf where you can move it around like an enchanted tool.

The V10 is powered by a seven-cell, high-energy lithium-ion battery that can provide continuous, non-fading power for 60 minutes. The advanced whole-machine filtering system is able to trap allergens and then releases fresh air into your home. Its specialized cleaning robots for home head drives bristles of nylon that are stiff and deep into carpets to trap large dust and crumbs. It comes with three suction modes that can be adapted to the specific task. It swiftly switches from handheld to floor vacuum and back.

The model also comes with an accessory dock that can charge to 100% in around 3.5 hours and offers an easy access to two attachments and a wand clip. This is a significant improvement over earlier Dysons that require a lengthy charge and are difficult to store.

The biggest issue with the V10 is its short run time. The claims of its marketing that it has up to 60 minutes of running time are misleading as CR's tests show. This is a typical, not an exceptional, run time for a battery-powered cordless vac. It's enough time to clean a typical-sized home but not enough to get into every corner. (A second time is usually sufficient). This model has its own advantages, however: it's lighter and more mobile than previous Dysons cordless models, and its vacuuming ability is noticeable superior for carpet floors with low pile.

4. iRobot Roomba 694

One of iRobot's most adored robot vacuums the 694 is an entry-level model that's an excellent choice for people who don't want to spend too much on a robot. It's capable of sucking up a variety of debris types and sizes during our testing, and it often passes over the same areas several times to ensure a thorough clean. Its flat front side helps to get into corners and along the walls' edges, which is a nice addition.

Its navigation system is smart and uses iAdapt to avoid obstacles and navigate around your home, but it's not equipped with the ability to map that comes with more sophisticated models like our top picks, the i3+ EVO and j7+ series. It is prone to getting stuck on phone cords or low furniture and will often run out of power before returning to its home base.

The Xiaomi Mi robot vacuum is superior to the Roomba 694 in many ways, as it has fewer components that need regular cleaning It also comes with an allergen-trapping HEPA filter, has lower recurring costs, comes with more advanced automation capabilities and is better at maneuvering itself. It also has a bigger dustbin and is charged faster.

The sleek RoboVac X8 has a superior battery longevity than the Roomba 694. It also comes with physical boundaries and can be controlled with the voice assistant on your smartphone. It also feels better-built and has a more powerful motor, and works better on both bare floors and carpets with low pile, while offering a wider range of automation options.

5. Samsung Jet Bot AI+

Samsung is a name that you see on all sorts of electronic gadgets for your home, so it comes as no surprise that they're also one of the most reputable robot intelligent vacuum cleaner and mop manufacturers. Their Jet Bot AI+ is loaded with cutting-edge onboard intelligence tech for navigation and obstacle avoidance.

The app offers a variety of options for customizing your robotic cleaner. These include virtual barriers, mopping levels and behavior customizations, docking frequency settings and much more. The app is simple to navigate and use, just like other Samsung devices.

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

The app lets you access the onboard camera of the smart vacuum. You can also create live streaming from the robot's area of cleaning. This feature lets you monitor your pets or children when you're away from home. The filter and the dustbin can be washed for an easy, quick clean-up. The Jet Bot AI+ also has a clean station that self-empties and helps keep the robot's trash bin clean and optimizes suction power for each cleaning run.

6. Black & Decker Robot Vacuum

Black and Decker robots have been developed specifically for flooring made of hard wood. They have a wider cleaning path and an extra-large dust bin that can hold 2X more debris than the competition to keep the cleaning area free of debris for the longest period of time. Plus, they include two side sweepers that clean up around edges and in corners. The POWERSERIES model also comes with AutoSense, which automatically adjusts the power level depending on whether it's collecting dirt on the surface or embedded dirt. It also includes a smart application that lets you browse the virtual map and remote control vacuum cleaner functions and schedules. You can also check the vacuum's status and send it to the dock for charging at the press of a single button. The app lets you modify the LEDs on the top of the vacuum to tell where it is focused or if it has gotten stuck.

The app makes it possible to manually steer the robot in the event of need. For instance my living room rug has a darkly-colored border that tends to make it difficult for other robots I've tried. The HRV 425BL, however, continued to move across the border without registering the cliff. The ability to set up a weekly cleaning schedule is a great time-saving convenience.