Top Rated Robot Vacuums
A robot vacuum can keep your floors tidy enough to cut down on the frequency of hoovering manually. Select a vacuum with good navigation, has the ability to clean stairs and corners and also has an enormous bin that needs to be emptying every so often.
There are models that clean and charge on their own, a feature that may be beneficial for those with pets or children. The top performers in our tests have great obstacle avoidance.
1. iRobot Roomba i3+ EVO
The i3+ EVO is similar to its sibling the i3 EVO. They differ only in that the i3+ comes with self-emptying capabilities. The i3+ is a good option for those who want a fully automated, hands-off cleaning experience, but are willing to manually empty the dustbin of the robot when it is full.
Both robots are adept at cleaning up surface debris from carpets and hard floors, and they are very good in getting around furniture and other obstacles. iAdapt navigation software creates intelligent maps of your home that aid the i3+ EVO to navigate and clean in a manner that maximizes efficiency. The i3+ does not have obstacle avoidance capabilities like the i7+ or any other top-rated robots that we tested. It may get stuck on power cords or socks, and may have trouble navigating between surfaces, such as rug and hardwood.
iRobot suggests cleaning the area around the i3+ EVO vacuums before using it. This includes putting away any toys or other items it may encounter. It's also a good idea to keep the bin and filter clear so they do not become blocked by dirt. When the i3+ EVO's internal bin is filled or the battery is empty it will return to its docking station and automatically empties its trash into the station's external dustbin and continues cleaning where it began. The i3+ EVO's battery can last for about an hour and a half of continuous use, and takes around three hours to fully recharge.
2. iRobot Roomba i7+
The iRobot i7+ is an excellent model from iRobot's flagship line and comes with the latest features. It's self-charging and self-navigating, but the most important feature is its auto-emptying bin. This will eliminate the need for regular maintenance.
The Roomba i7+ can keep up to 10 floor plans and their names thanks to Imprint Smart Mapping, a system that allows it to map rooms so it can clean them more efficiently. It also works with the iRobot Home app to let you schedule cleaning jobs and direct your robot by voice or via the app.
The i7+ is faster and more agile in our tests than the eufy RoboVac G30. It also cleaned large pet hair pieces from any surface including carpeting. Its greatest advantage over the Eufy is the self-emptying bin that eliminates major sources of maintenance and lowers the cost of recurring maintenance.
We were also impressed 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 session and to move around the room and vacuum a specific space. The process of connecting the i7+ to these services was easy and straightforward using the iRobot Home app. After being connected, to voice commands to the i7+, such as "Hey Alexa vacuum the master bedroom." The iRobot Home App also offers options for managing i7+ settings and evaluating performance.
3. Dyson Cyclone V10
This tiny Dyson model is a sports car in a world of cordless vacuums that feel like minivans and buses. It is powerful enough to replace a stand-up vacuum in most homes, but it is also compact enough to fit on the bookcase or coffee table.
The V10 is powered by seven cells of energy-dense Lithium-ion batteries that can provide power that is not fading for 60 minutes. Its advanced whole-machine filter system captures allergens and expels cleaner air back into your home. The specialized head uses rigid nylon bristles to drive deep into carpets and collect large dust or crumbs. It comes with three suction modes that can be adjusted to suit the task. It quickly switches from handheld to floor vacuum, and then back to floor.
The model also comes with docks that charge to 100% in about 3.5 hours and provides easy access to two attachments as well as an Wand clip. This is a big improvement over earlier Dysons, that require a long charge and are difficult to store.
The V10's main drawback is its limited run time. The tests conducted by CR show that its marketing claims of up to 60 minutes are not true. This is a common battery-powered cordless vacuum's run time. That's still enough run time to get rid of the majority of an average-sized house, but not quite long enough to get every single spot (though a second run-through usually does the trick). This model has its own advantages, however: it's lighter and more maneuverable than earlier Dysons cordless models and its ability to vacuum is significantly better on low-pile floor carpet.
4. iRobot Roomba 694
The 694 is a standard robot vacuum that's an excellent choice for those who don't have a lot of money to invest in a robot. It could pick up all kinds of debris in our tests and would often go over the same area several times to give an efficient clean. Its flat front end helps it reach into corners and along the walls' edges, which is a nice feature.
Its smart navigation system uses iAdapt to avoid obstacles and navigate your home, but it's not equipped with the mapping capability of more advanced models like our top selections, the i3+ EVO and j7+ series. Because of this, it may get stuck on things like phone cords and furniture that isn't as sturdy, and frequently will run out of battery before returning to its base.
The Xiaomi Mi robot is superior in many ways to the Roomba 694 because it has fewer components that require regular cleaning, is outfitted with an allergen-trapping HEPA filtration system, incurs lower recurring cost, is more sophisticated in its automation capabilities and can better move itself. It also has a larger dustbin and can charge faster.
The sleek RoboVac X8 has a superior battery life than the Roomba 694. It also comes with physical boundaries strips that can be controlled using your smartphone's voice assistant. It's also more robust, has a larger motor, and can perform better on floors with low pile and bare.
5. top robot vacuum is a brand is seen on a variety of electronic gadgets for your home, so it comes as no surprise that they're one of the top robotic vacuum and mop makers. Jet Bot AI+ has a cutting-edge onboard technology to navigate and avoid obstacles.
The app gives you plenty of options to personalize your robotic cleaner, including virtual barriers, mopping water levels and behavior modification, docking frequency settings, and more. The app is easy to navigate and use as are other Samsung devices.
In our tests during our tests, the Jet Bot AI+ performed well on hard floors. It cleaned up 86% of dog hair (on carpet). It was not as successful in avoiding taller items like cords or socks. This was disappointing. It's also more expensive than other models we've tested and this could be a deal breaker for certain shoppers.
The app allows you to access the onboard camera of the smart vacuum. You can also set up live streaming from the robot's cleaning area. This feature allows you check in on your children or pets when you're away. The dustbin and filter can be washed for quick, easy cleanup. The Jet Bot AI+ also has a clean station that self-empties and helps keep the robot's dustbin clear and optimizes suction power for each cleaning.
6. Black & Decker Robot Vacuum
Black and Decker robots have been developed specifically for hard flooring. The robots come with an extra wide cleaning path, as well as dust bins that are 2 times larger than other models. This lets them keep the area clean for longer. In addition, they have two side sweepers that clean around edges and corners. The POWERSERIES model comes with AutoSense which adjusts the power level depending on whether it's picking up dirt on the surface or embedded dirt. It also has a smart app that lets you view the virtual map and control functions and schedules. You can also monitor the status of the vacuum's battery and send it back to its dock to charge at the push of one button. The app lets you alter the LED lights on the top of the vacuum so that you can determine where it is focused or if it's stuck.
The app also makes it simple to steer the robot manually if needed. My living room rug, for example, has a darkly-colored border which could cause a problem for other robots. The HRV 425BL however, continued to move across the border without ever registering the high point. The ability to program a weekly cleaning schedule for each week is a time-saving convenience.