The Robot Vac Success Story You ll Never Imagine

Top Rated Robot Vacuums

A robot vacuum will keep floors clean enough to reduce the frequency you'll need to manually vacuum. Choose one that has good navigation, can clean corners and stairs, and has a large dust bin that has to be emptied only once in a while.

There are models that mop and charge themselves, which is a feature important for families with children or pets. The top performers in our tests also have good obstacle avoidance.

1. Roomba iRobot i3+ from iRobot EVO

The i3+ EVO and its sibling the i3 EVO are the same robots, but they differ in that the i3+ has best self cleaning vacuum-emptying capabilities. The i3+ is a great alternative for those who want a an automated, hands-free cleaning experience but are willing to manually empty the robot's dustbin after it has filled up.

Both robots are adept at picking up surface debris off carpets and hard floors and they're excellent at moving around furniture and other obstacles. iAdapt navigation software makes a smart map of your home to aid the i3+ in its navigation and clean efficiently. However unlike the i7+ or other top rated robots we evaluated, the i3+ doesn't have any obstacle-avoidance features, so it may get stuck on things such as power cords or socks, and it can have difficulty in navigating through transitions between surfaces, such as from hardwood to carpet.

iRobot recommends that you tidy the area in which the i3+ EVO vacuums before using it. This includes getting rid of any toys or other items it might encounter. It's also recommended to keep the bin and filter clean so that they aren't clogged by dirt. When the i3+ EVO's internal bin is empty or the battery is not fully charged, it returns to the docking station and takes the dirt out of the docking station’s external dustbin. It then continues cleaning where it left off. The i3+ EVO's battery lasts for about an hour and a half of continuous use. It takes around three hours to recharge.

2. IRobot Roomba i7+

The iRobot i7+ is the top model in iRobot's flagship line, and it comes with the most recent features. It's self-charging, self-navigating and the most important feature of all -- it comes with self-emptying bins that eliminate one of the primary sources of maintenance for any robot vacuum.

The Roomba I7+ can make rooms more efficient maps using Imprint Smart Mapping. It also integrates with the iRobot Home app to let you schedule cleaning jobs and control your robot using voice or via the app.

In our tests the i7+ was more agile and faster than our runner-up, the eufy RoboVac G30, and it picked up large pieces of pet hair from all surfaces types, including carpeting. Its greatest advantage over the Eufy is its self-emptying garbage bin that eliminates the main sources of maintenance and lowers the cost of recurring maintenance.

We were also impressed 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 session, move itself around the room and sweep the area. Connecting the i7+ to these services was simple and straightforward through the iRobot Home app. When connected we were able to use the i7+'s voice commands, such as "Hey Alexa, vacuum the master bedroom." The iRobot Home App also offers options for managing i7+ settings and evaluating the performance.

3. Dyson Cyclone V10

In a world of cordless vacs that feel like minivans or buses, this tiny Dyson model is a sports car. It has the power and features to replace a stand-up vacuum for most expensive robot vacuum households, but it also fits nicely on the table for a coffee or a bookshelf where you can wave it around like an enchanted wand.

The V10 is powered with a Lithium-ion battery with 7 cells of energy that produces power that is not fading for 60 minutes. The sophisticated whole-machine filter system is able to trap allergens and then releases fresh air into your home. Its specialized head uses stiff nylon bristles that penetrate deep into carpets and pick up large dust or crumbs. It comes with three suction settings to meet the task at hand. It can quickly switch from floor vacuum to handheld vacuum, and vice versa.

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 wand. This is a huge improvement over older Dysons which require a long charge and are difficult to store.

The main drawback of the V10 is its limited run time. Its marketing claims that it can last up to 60 minutes of run time are not true as CR's tests have shown. This is an average and not a remarkable time for an electric cordless vacuum powered by batteries. It's still enough time to vacuum the majority of a typical-sized home, but not quite long enough to clean every spot (though an additional run-through often can be effective). This doesn't mean that this model doesn't have its benefits It's lighter and more maneuverable than older cordless Dysons and its vacuuming efficiency is better on carpets with low pile.

4. iRobot Roomba 694

One of iRobot's most popular robot vacuums, the 694 is a basic model that's a good option for those who don't want to spend too much on a robot. It's capable of sucking up all types of debris and sizes during our testing, and it frequently goes over the same areas several times to get a really thorough clean. Its flat front end helps it reach into corners and along the edges of walls which is a nice feature.

Its intelligent vacuum cleaner navigation system makes use of iAdapt to avoid obstacles and navigate your home, but it lacks the ability to map that comes with more sophisticated models such as our top selections, the i3+ EVO and j7+ series. As a result, it is sometimes stuck on things like phone cords and furniture that isn't as sturdy, and often will run out of battery before returning to its home base.

The Xiaomi Mi robot is superior in many ways over the Roomba 694 in that it has fewer components that require regular cleaning, comes with an allergen-trapping HEPA filtration system, incurs lower cost of recurring costs and has more advanced automation abilities and can better maneuver its own. It also has a bigger dustbin, and charges more quickly.

The sleek RoboVac X8 has a superior battery life than the Roomba 694. It also has physical boundaries strips that can be controlled by the voice assistant on your smartphone. It's also more robust, has a larger motor, and is more effective on floors with bare or low-pile.

5. Samsung Jet Bot AI+

Samsung is a brand is seen on a variety of electronic gadgets for your home, so it comes as no surprise that they're also one of the top robot vacuum and mop manufacturers. Their Jet Bot AI+ is equipped with cutting-edge onboard tech for navigation and obstacles avoidance.

The app provides plenty of options to customize your robotic cleaner, including virtual barriers mopping water levels, behavior modification docking frequency settings and more. The app is easy to navigate and use as are other Samsung devices.

In our tests in our tests, the Jet Bot AI+ performed well on hard floors, and removed 86 percent of dog hair (on carpet). However, it wasn't particularly well with larger objects, like cords and socks, which was disappointing. It's also more expensive than other models we've tested, and this could be a deal breaker for certain shoppers.

The smart vacuum comes with an onboard camera that you can access via the app, and you can also set up a live stream from the robot's cleaning station. This feature allows you to check in on 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 an automatic vacuum clean station which helps keep the robot's bin clear and maximizes suction power.

6. Black & Decker Robot Vacuum

In contrast to other robotic vacuums which are designed for both hard floors and carpets, Black and Decker robots are specifically designed for hard floors. The robots have an extra-wide cleaning path, as well as a dustbin that is 2X larger than the competition. This lets them clean the area for longer. They also come with two side sweepers to clean along edges and corners. The POWERSERIES Extreme model also includes AutoSense technology, which detects the presence of dirt on surfaces or embedded dirt and then automatically adjusts the power level. It also includes a smart application that lets you see the virtual map and control the 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 allows you to personalize the LED lights on the top of the vacuum by using different colors, so that you can easily tell which areas it's focused on or where it's stuck.

The app makes it possible to steer the robot manually when needed. My living room rug, for instance has a dark-colored border that could cause trouble for other robots. However the HRV 425BL continued to move across the border without registering it as an incline. The ability to program a cleaning schedule for each week is a time-saving benefit.