Top Rated Robot Vacuums
A robot vacuum will keep your floors tidy enough to decrease the frequency of hoovering manually. Look for one that offers excellent navigation, is able to sweep corners and stairs and has a huge dust bin that has to be emptied only periodically.
You can also find models that can mop and charge on their own, a feature that may be essential for those who have pets or kids. Many of the best performers in our tests have excellent obstacles to avoid.
1. IRobot Roomba i3+ EVO
The i3+ EVO is similar to its sibling i3 EVO. They differ only in the fact that the i3+ has self-emptying capabilities. This makes the i3+ a good option for those who want an entirely automated, hands-free cleaning experience, but don't mind manually emptying their robot's dustbin as it gets full.
Both robots are adept at removing surface dirt on carpets and hard floors and can move 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 the same obstacle avoidance capabilities as the i7+ or any other top-rated robots we have test. It may get stuck on power cords or socks and have difficulty navigating between different surfaces like hardwood and rug.
iRobot suggests cleaning the area around the i3+ EVO vacuums prior to using it. This includes putting away any toys or other clutter it may encounter. It's also an excellent idea to keep the bin and filter clean so they do not become blocked by dirt. If the i3+'s internal bin is empty or the battery is low it returns to the docking station and automatically emptys the dirt into the docking station's dust bin. Then it continues cleaning where it started. Battery life is about an hour-and-a-half of continuous usage. It takes 3 hours to charge.
2. best home vacuum cleaner from iRobot
The iRobot i7+ is the top model in iRobot's flagship line and is packed with the latest features. It's self-charging, self-navigating, and the most crucial feature of all -- it has a self-emptying dustbin that eliminates one of the main sources of maintenance for any robot vacuum.
The Roomba i7+ can keep up to 10 floor plans and their names using Imprint Smart Mapping, which allows it to create maps of rooms so that it can clean them more efficiently. It also integrates with the iRobot Home app to let you schedule cleaning tasks and control your robot with voice or through the app.
In our testing the i7+ was quicker and more maneuverable than our top choice, the eufy RoboVac G30, and it picked up large pieces of pet hair from all surface kinds, including carpeting. Its biggest advantage over the eufy, is its self-emptying dustbin that eliminates a major source of maintenance and cuts down on the amount of time spent cleaning.
We were also impressed by the i7+'s compatibility with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant AI services, which we used to instruct the robot to start, stop or pause its cleaning sessions and to move around the room and vacuum a specific space. The iRobot Home App made it easy to connect the i7+ with these services. After being connected, to speak commands to the i7+ like "Hey Alexa vacuum the master bedroom." The iRobot Home App also offers options for managing i7+ settings and monitoring the performance.
3. Dyson Cyclone V10
This tiny Dyson model is an athletic car in a world of vacuums powered by cordless that resemble minivans and buses. It's powerful and has features to replace a stand-up vacuum in most households, but it also fits in well next to the table for a coffee or a bookshelf that you can spin around like the magic tool.
The V10 is powered by a seven-cell, energy-dense lithium-ion battery which produces energy that is not faded for 60 minutes. Its advanced whole-machine filtration system captures allergens and expels cleaner air back into your home. Its cleaning head is specially designed and drives stiff nylon bristles deep into carpets to trap large dust and crumbs. It comes with three suction modes to meet the task at hand. It can quickly switch from floor vacuum to handheld vacuum and vice versa.
This model comes with a dock that can charge the Dyson to 100 percent in 3.5 hours. It also gives easy access to 2 attachments and an Wand. This is a significant improvement over previous Dysons that require a lengthy charge and are difficult to store.
The biggest issue with the V10 is its sluggish run time. The claims of its marketing that it has up to 60 minutes of run time are misleading as CR's tests show. This is a typical and not a remarkable time for the battery-powered cordless vacuum. That's still enough run time to get rid of the majority of a typical-sized home but not long enough to clean every spot (though an additional run-through often 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
One of iRobot's most adored robot vacuums the 694 is an entry-level model that's a good choice for people who don't want to invest too much money on a robot. It's capable of sucking up most types of debris and sizes during our testing, and it frequently goes over the same areas many times to ensure a thorough clean. Its flat front design allows it to reach the corners and the edges of walls.
Its smart navigation system uses iAdapt technology to stay clear of obstacles and guide you through your home. However, it lacks the mapping capabilities of more advanced models, such as our top picks, i3+EVO and J7+ Series. It is prone to getting stuck on phone cords or low furniture and is often unable to supply power before returning to its base.
The Xiaomi Mi robot vacuum is superior to the Roomba 694 in many ways in that it has fewer parts that require regular cleaning, is fitted with an allergen-trapping HEPA filter, incurs lower recurring costs, has more advanced automation capabilities and is better at maneuvering itself. It also has a larger dustbin and is charged faster.
The eufy RoboVac X8 has a superior battery life than the Roomba 694. It also comes with physical boundaries strips that can be controlled with your smartphone's voice assistance. It's also more robust, has a larger motor, and is more effective on floors with low pile and bare.
5. Samsung Jet Bot AI+
Samsung is a well-known brand in home electronics. It's no surprise that they are also among the top manufacturers of robot vacuums and mop. Jet Bot AI+ has an advanced onboard technology that allows for navigation and obstacle avoidance.
The app offers a variety of options for customizing your robotic cleaner. These include mopping levels, virtual barriers and behavior customizations, docking frequency settings and more. It's easy to understand and user-friendly, as is the case with other Samsung devices.
In our testing of the Jet Bot AI+ excelled on hard floors and dealt with dog hair (on carpet) quite well, cleaning up 86 percent of it. It was not as successful in avoiding taller objects like cords or socks. This was disappointing. It's also a bit more expensive than some of the other models we tried, which might be a deal-breaker for some shoppers.
The app lets you access the onboard camera of the smart vacuum. You can also set up live streaming from the robot's cleaning zone. This feature lets you check in on pets or kids when you're away from home. The filter and the dustbin can be cleaned for a quick, painless clean-up. The Jet Bot AI+ also comes with a clean and tidy station that's self-emptying and helps keep the robot's trash bin clean and maximizes suction power for each cleaning run.
6. Black & Decker Robot Vacuum
Black and Decker robots are designed specifically for hard flooring. They have an extra wide cleaning path and dust bins that are 2X larger than the competition. This allows them to clean the area for a longer period of time. In addition, they have two side sweepers to clean around edges and corners. The POWERSERIES Extreme model comes with AutoSense technology, which senses if it's picking up dirt or debris on the surface and automatically adjusts its power level. The vacuum also comes with an app that allows users to see a virtual map, control functions, and create schedules. Additionally, you can track the status of the vacuum's battery and then return it to its dock to charge by pressing the button. The app lets you alter the LED lights on the top of the vacuum to determine where it is focused or if it has 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 can trip up some of the other robots I've tried. However the HRV 425BL continued to move across the border, but it didn't register it as a cliff. And the ability to create weekly cleaning schedules is a great time-saving convenience.