How to Find the Best Robot Vacuum

If you don't need the most advanced features such as mapping and aren't worried about emptying your bin every 60 to 90 days A basic robot vacuum could be for you. Find an option with a clean base and is compatible with voice assistants.

It is the best robo-vacuum we have tested in cleaning up pet hair on tiles, hardwood floors, and carpets with low pile. It can also map and create virtual no-go zones in rooms or areas.

1. Powerful Suction

A robot vacuum is able to stay on top of the dust, pet hair and dander that collects on your floors on a day-to-day basis. It also can reduce the frequency at which you have to do a deeper clean, saving your time and effort. The most effective models have powerful suction that is able to tackle most messes and leave your home cleaner.

You can cover more area by using a robot vacuum as well as a mop, which is particularly useful if you have an extensive home. Choose models that have an water reservoir built into its chassis or as a separate piece that you swap in when the vacuuming is done. It will need to be empty and refill it, though, so this is an additional task that will require some extra effort on your part.

In a perfect world, you would clear your floors before using your robot vacuum, preventing it from running into anything. In the majority of homes, this is not possible or desirable. Most robots allow you to utilize an app on your smartphone to create virtual barriers the robot can observe. Some models include no-go areas, which you can flag areas you don't want the robot to access. For instance, a child's room or a pile of cords in an area.

This model is a great option for those looking for a basic robot cleaner that does not have all the bells and whistles. It's quiet, it works on both hard floors as well as carpets with low pile and can be programmed via the app to vacuum and mop at your leisure. It has a long battery life of up to 180 minutes.

1. Simple to operate

In general, robot vacuums require very little input from you. They make use of instruments for navigation, such as sensors, lasers, and cameras to maneuver and collect pet hair, dust, and food crumbs from tiles, hard floors and hardwood. Many models have boundary strips that allow them to stay inside a room. Higher-end models can be programmed to wake up at a specific time and start cleaning. Some even have fall-detection technology that can help them avoid tumbling down stairs or getting tangled in electrical cords.

If you'd like to control your robot vacuum from the comfort of a couch, look for models that can work with voice assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant. You can also select Wi-Fi models that allow users to start cleaning from anywhere with an app. You may want to select an option with a long-lasting battery, as well as an enormous dust bin, based on the size of your house.

Some robot vacuums are also mopping. They make use of water reservoirs to clean the floor. This is ideal for mopping, but not great for tough messes like pet poop and other wet spills. You can pick hybrids with an adjustable microfiber mopping pad or a self-emptying option that lets you go for up to 60 days without emptying the base.

1. Smart Mapping

Some robots use advanced mapping technology to create a precise map of your floorplan while they clean and tidy, allowing them to avoid crashing into furniture or tripping over things like chair legs or cords. This feature is usually only available on more expensive models, but it's certainly one of the best ways to ensure your robot has a complete understanding of the layout of your house and is aware of where to go when it's running out of battery.

Most robots let you create virtual barriers. This can be done via an app or physically-based boundary strips. You can block off areas you don't wish your robot to go into, so that it can concentrate on rooms that require the most attention.

Many robots will also automatically change floors based on the flooring they are cleaning. This can be accomplished by changing from carpet to hard flooring or by paying attention to particular areas of your home, such as corners and baseboards. This feature proved to be useful in our tests and enhanced the performance of the vacuum on hardwood flooring and low-pile floor carpeting. It is essential to put away any furniture or cords that are loose prior to using your robot vacuum so that it doesn't become caught.

1. Remote Control

Most robot vacuums come with WiFi capabilities and can be controlled with voice commands, Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa or Siri Shortcuts. Many connect to smart home systems and create an outline of your space after each cleaning session to "learn" your layout and plan more efficient routes for future runs. Some also have built-in obstacle avoidance that prevents them from hitting furniture and damaging it or getting stuck on things like charging cables that are loose, shoe laces and pet hair.

Most robots come with a remote you can use to control them around your home. Most robots can be controlled via a mobile application that comes with more features. You can create multiple cleaning schedules and create an agenda of your most-loved rooms. You can also manually guide the robot with the directional the arrows.

Some models provide no-go zones that are virtual barriers that you can set up within the app to prevent the robot from entering certain areas (like toys for children or dog beds and bowls). Other apps let you set up a map of your home and give the robot detailed information about your floors. The Roborock S7+ app has several useful features to aid in cleaning the house. However the interface isn't as sleek as iRobot or Shark.

1. Long Battery Life

Robotic vacuums that can sweep all over your home without stopping to recharge or empty their dust bins save you time and effort. Some of them work with smart home platforms like Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri Shortcuts to allow hands-free operation. They can also create maps of the area that allows you to program them to specific areas or rooms and to stay clear of obstacles.

The majority of robot vacuums can detect objects, however the iRobot J7 has advanced features, such as "home mapping" and obstacle avoidance. These features can simplify your life (although one of our test bots did "eat" a couple of socks). If you're looking to push your home maintenance even further opt for a robotic mop that has a tank of water that can be filled and then empty.

While none of the models we tested can match the dirt-picking power of a stand-up vacuum, they all do a great job at cleaning carpets and hard floors. They are great at sweeping up fine dust and debris, food crumbs, tracked-in dirt and pet hair. They also can handle screws and nuts made of metal, as well as stray cat litter. The top robot vacuums can easily work their way through furniture, and they are great at cleaning corners and edges as well. For an affordable model that can work by itself and is relatively inexpensive, check out the Eufy 11S.

1. Convenient Self-Charging

With the proper setup, a robot vacuum can help you keep your home looking and feeling cleaner regularly, without a lot of effort. It is possible to schedule cleanings with the app, and you can designate no-go areas to ensure that your robot does not walk on your favorite chair or plants. A majority of our top picks will also empty their dustbins and clean their docking station.

The best robot vacuums can be programmed to clean your floors on a regular basis for months or even weeks at a stretch, freeing you from the time-consuming task of manually sweeping and mopping your floors on a weekly or daily basis. This helps you spend more time on things you like and cuts down on the amount of time your floors have to be cleaned manually.

In our tests the Q Revo was able to capture fine particles like oatmeal and baking soda, heavier debris such as metal screws and nails and even fluffy matter such as hair from pets. It doesn't have the smart mapping and objects avoidance features of our top picks, but it's adequate for most families.

The most appealing feature of the j7 is that it uses camera and processor-powered sensors to identify and avoid obstacles such as shoes, power cords, socks, and pet waste. This means you don't have to clean the room prior to running your robot, but clutter in your home can mean the robot may become stuck and not perform as well.