A Comprehensive Guide To Robot Vac. Ultimate Guide To Robot Vac
Top Rated Robot Vacuums
A robot vacuum is able to keep the floors clean enough to cut down on the frequency at which you'll need to manually vacuum. Choose one that has excellent navigation, is able to clean stairs and corners and also has a large dust bin that has to be emptied only once in a while.
There are also models that mop and charge on their own which can be important for people with children or pets. Many of the best performers in our tests have excellent ability to overcome obstacles.
1. iRobot Roomba i3+ 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 capabilities. The i3+ is an excellent option for those who want an entirely automated, hands-free cleaning experience but are willing to manually empty the dustbin of the robot when it is full.
Both robots are good at removing surface dirt on carpets and hard floors and are able to maneuver around furniture and other obstacles. iAdapt navigation software creates smart maps of your home, which help the i3+ EVO navigate and clean in a way that maximizes efficiency. The i3+ isn't able to have the same obstacle avoidance capabilities as the i7+ or other top-rated robots that we tested. It may be stuck on power cords or socks, and may have trouble navigating between surfaces, such as carpet and hardwood.
iRobot suggests that you clean the area in which the i3+ EVO vacuums prior to using it. This includes putting away any toys or other clutter it might come across. It's also recommended to keep the bin and filter clear so they aren't clogged by dirt. When the i3+ EVO’s internal bin is empty or the battery is depleted, it returns to the docking station and emptys the dirt into the docking station's dust bin. It then continues cleaning from where it started. The battery's life span is approximately an hour and a half of continuous use. It takes about three hours to charge.
2. IRobot Roomba i7+
The iRobot i7+ is the top model in iRobot's flagship line, and it comes with the latest features. It's 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 remember up to 10 floor plans and their names using Imprint Smart Mapping, a system that allows it to create maps of rooms so that it can clean them more efficiently. It also integrates with iRobot Home to schedule cleaning jobs, and you can direct your robot using the app or by voice.
In our testing the i7+ was more agile and faster than our second-placed model which was the eufy RoboVac G30, and it picked up large pieces of pet hair from all surface types including carpeting. Its biggest advantage over the eufy, though, is its self-emptying dustbin, which eliminates a major source of maintenance and lowers recurring costs.
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 start, stop or pause its cleaning routines and to move around the room and sweep an area. Connecting the i7+ to these services was easy and straightforward through the iRobot Home app. Once connected to these services, we were able 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 preferences and monitoring its performance.
3. Dyson Cyclone V10
In a world full of vacuums with cords that are like minivans and buses, this tiny Dyson model is an automobile. It's powerful and has features to replace a stand-up vacuum in most households, but it also fits in well next to a coffee table or on shelves where you can wave it around like a magic device.
The V10 is powered by a seven-cell, energy-dense lithium-ion battery which produces fade-free power for 60 minutes. Its advanced whole-machine filter system removes allergens, and then releases clean air back into your home. The specialized head uses rigid nylon bristles that penetrate deep into carpets, and then pick up large crumbs or fine dust. It comes with three suction modes that can be adapted to the specific task. It quickly switches from handheld to floor vacuum and back again.
This model comes with an attached dock that charges the Dyson to 100 percent within 3.5 hours. It also provides easy access to 2 attachments as well as an handheld. This is a huge improvement over the older Dysons models, which take a long time to charge and are a pain to store.
The main drawback of the V10 is its sluggish run time. Its claims on the market that it can provide up to 60 minutes of run time are a bit misleading, as CR's testing shows. This is a typical, not an exceptional, time to run an electric cordless vacuum powered by batteries. It's still enough time to clean most of a home that's average size however, it's not enough to clean every spot (though a second run-through usually can be effective). This doesn't mean that this model doesn't have its advantages: It's lighter and mobile than the older cordless Dysons, and its vacuuming performance is significantly superior on carpets with a low pile.
4. iRobot Roomba 694"
One of the most well-known robot vacuums, the 694 is a basic model that's a great choice for people who don't wish to spend too much on a robot. It's capable of sucking up a variety of types of debris and sizes during our tests, and often goes over the same areas many times to ensure a thorough clean. Its flat front allows it to reach corners and edges of walls.
Its navigation system is smart and uses iAdapt to avoid obstacles and navigate your home, but it lacks the mapping capability of more sophisticated models like our top selections, the i3+ EVO and j7+ series. It is prone to getting stuck on cords for phones or furniture that is low and often runs out of power before returning to its original location.
The Xiaomi Mi robot is superior in many ways over the Roomba 694 because it has fewer components that require regular cleaning, is equipped with an allergen-trapping HEPA filtration system, incurs lower cost of recurring costs, is more sophisticated in its automation capabilities and can better move itself. It also has a larger dustbin, and charges more quickly.
The RoboVac X8 is a slick RoboVac X8 is superior to the Roomba 694 in most purposes, because it has a longer battery life, has the ability to alter its suction power mode on its own and comes with physical boundary strips, and can be operated by your phone's voice assistant. It also feels better-built, has a more powerful motor, and performs notably better on both bare floors and low-pile carpet, while providing a wider array of automation options.
5. Samsung Jet Bot AI+
Samsung is a well-known brand in home electronics. It's no surprise, then, that they are also among the top manufacturers of robot vacuum s and mop. Their Jet Bot AI+ is loaded with cutting-edge onboard intelligence tech for navigation and obstacles avoidance.
The app provides plenty of options to customize your robotic cleaner, including virtual barriers, mopping water levels and behavior modification, docking frequency settings, and more. The app is simple to learn and use similar to other Samsung devices.
In our tests in our tests, the Jet Bot AI+ performed well on hard floors. It removed 86% of dog hair (on carpet). It was not as successful in avoiding taller items such as socks or cords. This was disappointing. It's also a little more expensive than some of the other models we tested, which might be a problem for certain shoppers.
The app allows you to access the onboard camera of the smart vacuum. You can also create live streaming from the robot's area of cleaning. This feature allows you to monitor your pets or kids when you're away from home. The filter and dustbin can be cleaned 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 improves suction power.
6. Black & Decker Robot Vacuum
In contrast to other robotic vacuums that are made for carpets and hard floors, Black and Decker robots are specifically designed for hard floors. They feature an extra-wide cleaning path and an extra-large dust bin that can hold 2X more debris than competitors to keep the area clear for maximum runtime. They also include two side sweepers to clean around corners and edges. The POWERSERIES Extreme model also includes AutoSense technology, which detects if it's picking up dirt or debris on the surface and then automatically adjusts the power level. It also includes a smart application that lets you browse the virtual map and control the functions and schedules. You can also track the status of the vacuum and then send it to its dock for charging with the press of a single button. The app allows you to customize the LED lights on the top of the vacuum so that you can tell where it is focused or if it's stuck.
The app also makes it easy to manually steer the robot should you need to. For instance my living room rug has a darkly colored border that can trip up some of the other robots I've tried. The HRV 425BL however continued to travel across the border without registering the cliff. And the ability to program weekly cleaning schedules is a wonderful time-saving benefit.