Top Rated Robot Vacuums
A robot vacuum can keep your floors clean enough to cut down on the frequency of hoovering manually. Find one that has excellent navigation, is able to clean corners and stairs and also has a large dust bin that has to be emptied only once in a while.
You can also find models that clean and charge themselves, a feature that may be essential for those who have pets or kids. The top performers in our tests have great obstacles to avoid.
1. IRobot Roomba i3+ EVO
The i3+ EVO and its i3 EVO sibling, the i3 EVO are the same robots, but they differ in that the i3+ has self-emptying capabilities. The i3+ is a good option for those looking for a an automated, hands-free cleaning experience but are willing to manually empty the dustbin of the robot when it is full.
Both robots excel at cleaning up surface debris from hard floors and carpets, and they’re very adept at maneuvering around furniture and other obstacles. iAdapt navigation software creates a smart maps of your home to 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 any obstacle-avoidance features which means it can be stuck on things like power cords or socks, and it may have trouble navigating across surface transitions like hardwood to rug.
iRobot suggests cleaning the area around the i3+ EVO vacuums before using it. This includes putting away any toys or clutter it might come across. It’s also an excellent idea to keep the dust bin and filter clean so that they don’t become clogged with dirt. If the i3+ EVO’s internal bin is filled or the battery is empty it will return to its docking station, automatically emptying its dirt into the station’s dust bin, and then continues cleaning where it started. The battery’s life span is approximately an hour-and-a-half of continuous use. It takes three hours to fully charge.
2. Roomba from iRobot
The iRobot i7+ is an excellent model from iRobot’s flagship line and comes with the latest features. It’s self-charging, self-navigating, and the most important feature of all — it has self-emptying bins that eliminate one of the most important sources of maintenance for any robot vacuum.
The Roomba i7+ can keep up to 10 floor plans and their names with Imprint Smart Mapping, which allows it to identify rooms to clean them more efficiently. It also integrates with iRobot Home to schedule cleaning tasks, and you can direct your robot using the app or via voice.
In our testing the i7+ performed faster and more maneuverable than our top choice which was the eufy RoboVac G30, and it picked up large pieces of pet hair from all surface types including carpeting. The main advantage it has over the Eufy is its self-emptying bin that removes major maintenance sources and lowers the cost of recurring maintenance.
We were also impressed with the i7+’s compatibility with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant AI services. We used these services to instruct the robot to begin or stop cleaning sessions and also to move around the room, and vacuum bot a particular 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 provides options to manage the i7+’s preferences and monitoring its performance.
3. Dyson Cyclone V10
In a world filled with vacuums that are cordless and feel like minivans or buses, this small Dyson model is a sports car. It is powerful enough to replace a traditional stand-up vacuum in a majority of homes, but it is also compact enough to fit on a coffee table or bookcase.
The V10 is powered by a seven-cell, energy-dense lithium-ion battery that produces energy that is not faded for 60 minutes. Its sophisticated whole-machine filtration system traps allergens and releases cleaner air back into your home. Its cleaning head is specially designed and drives stiff nylon bristles deep into carpet to collect large particles and fine dust. It comes with three suction modes that can be adapted to the task. It quickly switches from handheld remote vacuum to best floor vacuum robot vacuum, and then back to floor.
The model comes with an attached dock that charges the Dyson to 100% within 3.5 hours. It also offers an easy access to two attachments as well as a handheld. This is a significant improvement over older Dysons, which take a long time to charge and are difficult to store.
The main drawback of the V10 is its short run time. Its marketing claims that it can provide up to 60 minutes of running time are misleading as CR’s tests show. This is a typical, not an exceptional, time for the battery-powered cordless vacuum. This is enough time to sweep a typical-sized home, but not enough to reach every spot. (A second pass is usually sufficient). That’s not to say this model isn’t a good choice: It’s lighter and agile than older cordless Dysons and its vacuuming performance is significantly superior on carpets with a low pile.
4. iRobot Roomba 694
One of iRobot’s most adored robot vacuums, the 694 is an entry-level model that’s a great option for those who don’t wish to spend too much on a robotic. It could pick up all kinds of debris in our tests and would often go over the same area several times to ensure a thorough clean. Its flat front side helps to get into corners and along the edges of walls, which is a nice addition.
Its intelligent navigation system makes use of iAdapt to stay clear of obstacles and navigate your home, but it lacks the ability to map that comes with more sophisticated models like our top choices such as the i3+ EVO and j7+ series. It can get stuck on phone cords or low furniture and will often run out of power before returning to its original location.
The Xiaomi Mi robot is superior in many ways over the Roomba 694, as it has fewer components that require regular cleaning, is equipped with an allergen-trapping HEPA filtration system, incurs lower recurring cost, has more advanced automation abilities and is able to better navigate its own. It also has a bigger dustbin and charges faster.
The elegant RoboVac X8 is superior to the Roomba 694 for most purposes, as it has a longer battery life, has the ability to alter its suction power mode manually and has physical boundary strips, and can be operated by your phone’s voice assistant. It is also more durable and has a stronger motor, and is able to perform better on both bare floors and carpets with a low pile, as well as offering a wider range of features for automation.
5. Samsung Jet Bot AI+
Samsung is a name is seen on a variety of electronic gadgets for your home, so it comes as no surprise that they’re one of the most popular robot vacuum and mop manufacturers. Jet Bot AI+ has a cutting-edge onboard technology to navigate and avoid obstacles.
The app offers a wide range of options to customize your robotic cleaner. This includes virtual barriers, mopping levels and behavior modifications docking frequency settings, and much more. The app is easy to learn and use as are other Samsung devices.
In our tests of the Jet Bot AI+ excelled on hard floors and handled dog hair (on carpet) quite well, cleaning up 86% of it. However, it didn’t do particularly well with higher-up objects like cords or socks which was disappointing. It’s also more expensive than other models we’ve tested and this could be a problem for certain shoppers.
The smart vacuum has an onboard camera that can be accessed via the app, and you can also set up a live streaming from the robot’s cleaning station. This feature allows you check in on your children or pets when you’re away. The filter and dustbin can be cleaned for quick, easy cleanup. The Jet Bot AI+ also comes with a clean station that’s self-emptying, which helps keep the robot’s trash bin clean and optimizes suction power for each cleaning run.
6. Black & Decker Robot Vacuum
Contrary to other robotic vacuums which are designed for both carpets and hard floors, Black and Decker robots are specifically designed for hard floors. The robots come with an extra-wide cleaning path, as well as a dustbin that is 2 times larger than other models. This lets them clean the area for a longer period of time. They also come with two side sweepers for cleaning around corners and edges. The POWERSERIES model also comes with AutoSense that automatically adjusts the power level depending on whether it’s picking up surface dirt or embedded dirt. The vacuum also comes with an app that lets users to see an interactive map, control functions, and set schedules. You can also monitor the vacuum’s battery status and then return it to its dock to charge at the push of a button. The app allows you to customize the LED lights on Top Rated Robot Vacuum of the vacuum with different colors so you can clearly see what areas it’s focusing on or where it’s gotten stuck.
The app also makes it easy to steer the robot manually if needed. For example, my living room rug has a darkly colored border that has a tendency to trip up some of the other robots I’ve tested. However, the HRV 425BL continued to move across the border, without registering it as a cliff. The ability to program a weekly cleaning schedule for each week is a time-saving convenience.