Top Rated Robot Vacuums
A robot vacuum will keep your floors clean enough to cut down on the frequency of manual hoovering. Choose one that has good navigation, can clean corners and stairs, and has a large dust bin that requires emptying only once in a while.
There are also models that can mop and charge on their own, a feature that may be beneficial for those with children or pets. Many of the top performers in our tests have decent obstacle avoidance.
1. IRobot Roomba i3+ EVO
The i3+ EVO is identical to its sibling the i3 EVO. They differ only in the fact that the i3+ comes with self-emptying capabilities. That makes the i3+ a great option for those who want an automated, hands-free cleaning experience, but aren't afraid of having to empty their dust bin manually as it gets full.
Both robots are adept at removing surface dirt on floors and carpets and can maneuver around furniture and other obstacles. iAdapt navigation software makes a smart maps of your home that assist the i3+ to navigate and clean efficiently. However unlike the i7+ and other top-rated robots that we tested the i3+ doesn't have obstacle-avoidance capabilities, so it may get stuck on things like socks or power cords and it may have trouble in navigating through transitions between surfaces, such as from hardwood to rug.
iRobot suggests cleaning the area in which the i3+ EVO vacuums prior to using it. This includes getting rid of any toys or other items it may encounter. You should also keep the filters and dust bin clean to prevent them from getting blocked. If the i3+'s internal bin is empty or the battery is depleted, it returns to the docking station, and it automatically takes the dirt out of the docking station's dust bin. Then it continues cleaning where it began. The battery's life span is approximately an hour-and-a-half of continuous usage. It takes about three hours to charge.
2. iRobot i7+ Roomba
The iRobot i7+ is the top model in iRobot's flagship line, and it comes with the most recent features. It is self-charging and self-navigating, but the most important feature is its auto-emptying bin. This eliminates the need for regular maintenance.
The Roomba i7+ is able to remember up to 10 floor plans and their names thanks to Imprint Smart Mapping, an application that lets it map rooms so it can clean them more efficiently. It also integrates with the iRobot Home app to let you schedule cleaning tasks and direct your robot by voice or via the app.
In our tests the i7+ performed more agile and faster than our runner-up, the eufy RoboVac G30, and it removed large chunks of pet hair from all surface types including carpeting. The main advantage it has over the Eufy is its self-emptying bin, which eliminates major sources of maintenance and lowers the cost of recurring maintenance.
We were also impressed by the i7+'s compatibility Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant AI services which we used to instruct the robot to begin, stop or pause its cleaning sessions, move itself around the room and vacuum the area. The iRobot Home App made it easy to connect the i7+ with these services. Once connected, to give voice commands to the i7+ such as "Hey Alexa vacuum the master bedroom." The iRobot Home App also offers options to manage i7+ settings and monitoring the performance.
3. Dyson Cyclone V10
In a world filled with vacuums that are cordless and are like minivans and buses, this small Dyson model feels like an old-fashioned sports car. It's got the power and features to replace a stand-up vacuum in most households and can fit in well next to the coffee table or the bookshelf, where you can move it around like a magic wand.
The V10 is powered with seven cells of energy-dense Lithium-ion batteries that produces power without fading for 60 minutes. Its advanced whole-machine filter system captures allergens and expels cleaner air back into your home. Its specialized cleaning head drives stiff nylon bristles deep into carpets to trap large dust and crumbs. It has three suction modes to match the task at hand. It quickly converts from handheld vacuum to floor vacuum and back.
This model also has an accessory dock that can charge to 100% in about 3.5 hours and offers an easy access to two attachments and a wand clip. This is a significant improvement over earlier Dysons, which take a long time to charge and are difficult to store.
The V10's main drawback is its limited running time. The claims of its marketing that it can provide up to 60 minutes of running time are not true as CR's tests have shown. This is a standard battery-powered vacuum's run time. It's still enough time to clean most of a home that's average size, but not quite long enough to cover every area (though an additional run-through often can be effective). 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 for carpet floors with low pile.
4. iRobot Roomba 694
The 694 is a basic robot vacuum that's an excellent choice for those who don't have lots of money to spend on an expensive robot. It's capable of sucking up all debris types and sizes during our tests, and it often passes over the same areas multiple times to ensure a thorough clean. Its flat front makes it possible to reach the corners and edges of walls.
Its intelligent navigation system makes use of iAdapt technology to steer clear of obstacles and help you navigate your home. However, it lacks the mapping capabilities of more advanced models, such as our top picks, the i3+EVO and j7+ Series. This means that it can sometimes get stuck on things like phone cords or low furniture, and it frequently is power-depleted before making it back to its base.
The Xiaomi Mi robot vacuum is superior to the Roomba 694 in many ways because it has fewer components that need regular cleaning, is fitted with an allergen-trapping HEPA filter, has lower recurring costs, has more advanced automation capabilities and is more efficient in maneuvering itself. It also has a larger dustbin and charges faster.
robot vacuum cleaner X8 has a superior battery life than the Roomba 694. It also has physical boundaries and can be controlled using the voice assistant on your smartphone. It also feels better-built, has a more powerful motor, and works better on bare floors and carpets with low pile, while providing a greater variety of automation features.
5. Samsung Jet Bot AI+
Samsung is a name that you see on all sorts of home electronics, so it comes as no surprise that they're one of the most reputable mop and robot vacuum manufacturers. Their Jet Bot AI+ is equipped with cutting-edge onboard tech for navigation and obstacles avoidance.
The app provides plenty of options to personalize your robotic cleaner, including virtual barriers mopping water levels, behavior modification, docking frequency settings, and much more. It's simple to comprehend and is user-friendly, which is the case with other Samsung devices.
In our tests our tests, the Jet Bot AI+ excelled on hard floors and handled dog hair (on carpet) quite well, clearing up 86 percent of it. It did not do well in avoiding taller items like cords or socks. This was disappointing. It's also more expensive than some of the other models we tried and could be a deterrent for some shoppers.
The smart vacuum has an onboard camera that is accessible through the app. You can also create a live stream from the robot's cleaning station. This feature lets you to monitor your children or pets when you're away. The dustbin and the filter can be cleaned to ensure the quick and easy cleaning. The Jet Bot AI+ comes with an automatic clean station which helps to keep the bin clean and maximizes suction power.
6. Black & Decker Robot Vacuum
Black and Decker robots have been designed specifically for flooring made of hard wood. They have a wider cleaning path and a larger dustbin that holds 2X more debris than competitors to keep the cleaning area clear for maximum runtime. They also include two side sweepers to clean along edges and corners. The POWERSERIES Extreme model also comes with AutoSense technology, which senses the presence of dirt on surfaces or embedded dirt and automatically adjusts the power level. It also includes a smart application that lets you see the virtual map and manage the functions and schedules. Additionally, you can track the status of the vacuum's battery and then return it to its dock to charge at the push of one 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 identify what areas it's focusing on or where it's stuck.
The application also allows you to steer the robot manually in the event of need. My living room rug, for example has a dark-colored border that could cause trouble for other robots. The HRV 425BL however, continued to move across the border, without notifying the high point. The ability to program a cleaning schedule for each week is a time-saving advantage.