How to Find the Best Robot Vacuum

If you can live without advanced features such as mapping, and you don't mind emptying the dustbin every 60 days or so, a basic robotic vacuum will probably work for you. Choose an option with a clean base and can work with voice assistants.

It excels at picking up dirt, cat litter and pet hair on tile floors, hardwood floors and low-pile carpeting better than any other vacuum we've tried. It can also map out and set virtual no-go zones in rooms or certain areas.

1. Powerful Suction

A robot vacuum is able to stay on top of the pet hair, dust and dander that collects on your floors on a day-to-day basis. It can also decrease the frequency of deep cleaning, saving you time and effort. The best model has powerful suction that will easily take on the most difficult messes and leave your home cleaner.

Selecting a vacuum that is also able to mop will allow you to get more space by using just one machine. This is especially beneficial in larger homes. There are models with a tank for water either in the chassis itself or as an additional piece that you can swap out after vacuuming. It will need to be empty and fill it up, however, so this is an additional chore that requires some extra effort on your part.

In a perfect world you would clean your floors before you use your robot vacuum to stop it from hitting anything. But in most homes, this isn't feasible or desirable. Thankfully, most models allow you to use a smartphone to create virtual barriers that the robot can detect and avoid. Some include no-go zones, which can be used to mark areas you don't want it to enter, such as kids' rooms or a pile of cords for your device in the corner.

This model is a great option if you're looking for an easy robot cleaner that doesn't have all the bells and whistles. It's quiet and works well on hard floors and low-pile carpets and can be scheduled using the app to vacuum or mop at your own convenience. It has a long battery life, and Robot vacuum cleaner can last for up to 180 minutes before needing to recharge.

2. Easy to Operate

In general robot vacuums require little input from you. They use instruments for navigation, such as sensors, lasers, and cameras to move and collect dust, pet hair and food crumbs from tiles, hard floors and hardwood. Many models have boundaries strips that help them remain inside the room. The more expensive models can be programmed to wake up at a specific time and begin cleaning. Certain models come with fall detection technology that helps users avoid falling down the stairs or getting caught in cords.

Look for models that you can control from the comfort of your sofa using voice assistants such as Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also select Wi-Fi models that permit users to start cleaning anywhere you want using an app. You may want to select a model that has a long-lasting battery and a large dustbin, depending on the size of your home.

Some robot vacuums can double as mops, utilizing reservoirs of water to wash your floors. This is ideal for mopping, but not great for difficult messes such as pet poop or other wet spills. There are hybrids that have a removable microfiber pad that can be used for mopping, or choose an auto-emptying model that lets you use the device for 30 to 60 days without needing to empty the base.

3. Smart Mapping

Some robots use advanced mapping technology to create a detailed map as they clean. This makes it easier to avoid hitting furniture or tripping over cords or legs of chairs. This feature is only available on top rated robot vacuum-of-the-line models however it allows your robot to get a complete understanding of the layout of your home and knows where to go when the battery is out.

If you don't want your robot to venture into areas of your house that you'd rather it stay away from (like your kids' toys or the tangled mess of gadget cords in the corner) The majority of robots offer some way to create virtual barriers, either through their apps or physical boundary strips. This allows you to block off zones that you do not want your robot to venture into, so it can focus its attention on the areas and rooms that require the most attention.

Many robots also have the ability to automatically navigate to different flooring types based on the type of surface they're cleaning, whether that's changing between hard and carpet or focusing on certain areas of your home, like baseboards and corners. This feature proved to be effective during our tests and helped improve the performance of the vacuum on hardwood flooring and carpeting for floors with low-pile. It's important to tuck away any loose cords or furniture prior to using your robot vacuum to ensure that it doesn't get caught.

4. Remote Control

Most robot vacuums have WiFi capabilities and can be controlled with voice commands, Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa or Siri Shortcuts. Many robot vacuums connect to smart home systems and create a map of the area they clean after each cleaning session. This lets them "learn" how your home is laid out and to plan more efficient routes in future cleaning sessions. There are also built-in obstacles avoidance that stops them from bumping into and damaging furniture or getting stuck on things like loose charging cables, shoe laces and pet hair.

Most robots come with a remote you can use to steer them around your home. Most robots are operated by mobile applications that comes with more features. You can create multiple cleaning schedules, and create a list with your favorite rooms. You can also manually direct the robot by using the directional Arrows.

Certain models have zones that are not allowed. These are virtual barriers can be created in the app to stop the robot from entering certain areas (like kid's toys or dishes for dogs and dog beds). Some apps let you draw an outline of your home and provide more detailed information about the floors. The Roborock S7+ app has many useful features that will help you clean the house. However the interface isn't as sleek as iRobot or Shark.

5. Long Battery Life

Robotic vacs that can clean all over your home without stopping to recharge or empty their dust bins can save you time and energy. Some Robot vacuum Cleaner vacuums are compatible with smart home devices like Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri Shortcuts to enable hands-free operation. They can also draw a map of the space for you to program them for certain areas or rooms and to stay clear of obstacles.

The majority of robot vacuums come with some level of object detection, but higher-end models such as the iRobot j7 come with advanced features such as "home mapping" and advanced obstacle avoidance that can really make your life easier (although our test bot did once "eat" a pair of socks). If you want to take your home cleaning to the next level, look for a robotic mop that has an water tank that can be filled and then empty.

While none of the models that we tested could match the dirt-picking ability of a stand-up vacuum, they did a great job cleaning hard floors as well as carpets with low pile. They are excellent at sweeping up food crumbs, and tracked-in dirt. They can also tackle stray cat litter and metal screws and nuts. The top robot vacuums can effortlessly work through furniture, and they do a great job of cleaning edges and corners as well. For an affordable model that can work on its own and is comparatively inexpensive look into the Eufy 11S.

6. Convenient Self-Charging

With the right setup and the right setup, a robotic vacuum can assist you in keeping 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 so that your robot doesn't step on your plants or sit on your favorite chair. Many of our top picks will empty their trash bins for you and clean their docking stations.

The top robot vacuums are programmable to clean your floors regularly for months or weeks at a stretch, saving you the time and effort of manually sweeping or mopping your floors every single week or day. This lets you spend more time doing things you like and cuts down on the amount of time your floors need to be cleaned manually.

In our tests the Q Revo was able grab fine particles such as baking soda and oatmeal. It also picked up heavier particles such as nails and screws made of steel, as well as fluffy stuff like pet hair. It doesn't have the smart mapping and objects avoidance features of our top picks, but it's sufficient for the majority of families.

The most appealing aspect of the j7 robot is that it uses camera and processor-powered smarts to recognize and avoid obstacles like power cords, shoes socks, and pet waste. This means that you don't have to clean up before using your robot. However, cluttered rooms can cause your robot to become stuck and perform poorly.