Top Rated Robot Vacuums
A robot vacuum is able to keep the floors clean enough to cut down on the frequency at which you have to manually vacuum. Find one that has an easy navigation, can clean stairs and corners and also has a large dust bin that has to be emptied only periodically.
There are also models that clean and charge on their own which can be essential for those who have pets or children. Many of the best performers in our tests have good ability to overcome obstacles.
1. iRobot Roomba i3+ EVO
The i3+ EVO is identical to its sibling i3 EVO. They differ only in that the i3+ has self-emptying capabilities. The i3+ is an excellent option for those who want an automated, hands-free cleaning robots for home experience but are willing to manually empty the dustbin of the robot once it gets full.
Both robots excel at picking up surface debris on carpets and hard floors, and they're very adept in getting around furniture and other obstacles. iAdapt navigation software creates smart maps of your home that aid the i3+ EVO to navigate and clean in a manner that maximizes efficiency. However, unlike the i7+ and other top-rated robots we evaluated the i3+ doesn't have a feature for avoiding obstacles, so it may be stuck on things like socks or power cords, and may have issues traversing transitions across surfaces like hardwood to carpet.
iRobot suggests cleaning up the area where the i3+ EVO vacuums before using it. This includes putting away any toys or 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. If the i3+ EVO's internal bin is full or its battery is empty it goes back to its docking station and automatically emptying its dirt into the station's external dustbin and continues cleaning the area where it started. The i3+ EVO's battery lasts for about an hour and a half of continuous use, and it takes about three hours to recharge.
2. IRobot Roomba i7+
The iRobot i7+ is an excellent model from 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 main sources of maintenance for any robot cleaner vacuum.
The Roomba i7+ can keep up to 10 floor plans and their names with Imprint Smart Mapping, which allows it to map rooms so it can clean them more efficiently. It also integrates with iRobot Home to schedule cleaning tasks, and you can Remote Control Vacuum Cleaner your robot via the app or by voice.
The i7+ is more efficient and more agile in our tests than the eufy RoboVac G30. It also cleaned large pet hair pieces from all surfaces including carpeting. Its biggest advantage over the eufy, is its self-emptying dustbin which removes a major source of maintenance and lowers recurring costs.
We were also awestruck by the i7+'s compatibility Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant AI services, which we used to instruct the robot to start, stop or pause its cleaning sessions and move around the room, and even vacuum a specific space. The process of connecting the i7+ to these services was simple and straightforward through the iRobot Home app. We were able, once connected, to voice commands to the i7+, like "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
This tiny Dyson model is an athletic car in a world of vacuums with cords that feel like minivans and buses. It's powerful and has features to replace a stand-up vacuum for many households and can fit in well next to a coffee table or on a bookshelf where you can move it around like the magic device.
The V10 is powered with a 7-cell energy-dense Lithium-ion battery that produces power without fading for 60 minutes. Its advanced whole-machine filter system traps allergens and releases clean air back into your home. Its specialized cleaning head drives bristles made of nylon that are stiff into carpets to trap large particles and fine dust. It has three suction modes that can be adjusted to the task. It swiftly switches from handheld to floor vacuum robot vacuum and back.
This model comes with an attached dock that charges the Dyson to 100 percent within 3.5 hours. It also gives an easy access to two attachments as well as a Wand. This is a significant improvement over earlier Dysons that require a lengthy charge and are difficult to store.
The main issue with the V10 is its short running time. As CR's tests have shown, its claims to run up to 60 minutes are misleading. This is an average and not a remarkable run time for a battery-powered cordless vac. That's still enough run time to clean most of a home that's average size however, it's not enough to clean every area (though a second run-through usually will suffice). This model has its own advantages however: it's light and more maneuverable than earlier Dysons cordless models, and its vacuuming ability is significantly better on carpets with low pile.
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 a robot. It's capable of sucking up all debris types and sizes during our tests, and it frequently goes over the same areas many times to give 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 technology to avoid obstacles and navigate your home. It's not equipped with the ability to map that is found in more advanced models, including our top picks, the i3+EVO and the j7+ Series. Because of this, it can sometimes get stuck on things like phone cords or low furniture, and it often will run out of battery before returning to its base.
The Xiaomi Mi robot vacuum is superior to the Roomba 694 in all aspects because it has fewer parts that require regular maintenance and is equipped with an allergen-trapping HEPA filter, has lower costs for recurring maintenance, has more advanced automation capabilities and is better at maneuvering itself. It also has a larger dustbin and can charge faster.
The eufy RoboVac X8 has a superior battery life than the Roomba. It also comes with physical boundaries strips that can be controlled by your smartphone's voice assistance. It is also more durable and has a stronger motor, and is able to perform better on floors that are bare and carpets with low pile, while providing a greater variety of automation features.
5. Samsung Jet Bot AI+
Samsung is a name is seen on a variety of home electronics It's no surprise that they're also one of the most popular mop and robot vacuum manufacturers. Jet Bot AI+ has an advanced onboard technology that allows to navigate and avoid obstacles.
The app offers a wide range of options to customize your robotic cleaner. These include mopping levels, virtual barriers and behavior customizations, docking frequency settings and many more. The app is easy to navigate and use as are other Samsung devices.
In our testing our tests, the Jet Bot AI+ excelled on hard floors, and also handled dog hair (on carpet) quite well, cleaning 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 some of the other models we tested which could be a deal-breaker for some buyers.
The app allows you to access the camera onboard of the smart vacuum. You can also create live streaming from the robot's cleaning zone. This feature lets you monitor your pets or children when you're away from home. The dustbin and filter can be washed to make cleanup quick and easy. The Jet Bot AI+ comes with a self-emptying clean station, which helps to keep the bin clean and maximizes suction power.
6. Black & Decker Robot Vacuum
Contrary to other robotic vacuums which are designed for both hard floors and carpets, Black and Decker robots are designed specifically for hard floors. The robots have an extra wide cleaning path, and a dustbin that is 2X bigger than the competitors. This lets them clean the area for a longer period of time. They also include two side sweepers that can be used to clean along edges and corners. The POWERSERIES model comes with AutoSense that automatically adjusts the power level based on whether it is collecting surface dirt or embedded dirt. It also includes a smart application that lets you browse the virtual map, and control functions and schedules. Additionally, you can track the status of the auto vacuum cleaner's battery and send it back to its dock to charge by pressing the button. The app also allows you to personalize the lights on top of the vacuum with different colors, so you can easily identify the areas where it's focused or where it's got stuck.
The app allows you to manually steer the robot when needed. My living room rug, for example, has a darkly-colored border that can trip up some other robots. However the HRV 425BL kept moving across the border, without registering it as an incline. The ability to program a cleaning schedule for each week is a time-saving advantage.