Why We Love Robot Vac (And You Should Also!)

Top Rated Robot Vacuums

A robot vacuum can keep your floors tidy enough to reduce the frequency of manual hoovering. Find one that has good navigation, can clean stairs and corners and has a huge dust bin that requires emptying only every few times.

There are models that mop and charge themselves, which is a feature important for families with pets or children. Many of the top performers in our tests have decent obstacle avoidance.

1. iRobot Roomba i3+ EVO

The i3+ EVO and its sibling the i3 EVO are both identical robots, but they differ in that the i3+ has self-emptying features. That makes the i3+ a good choice for people who want an automated, hands-free cleaning experience but don't mind taking the time to empty their robot's trash bin when it is full.

Both robots are adept at cleaning up surface debris from hard floors and carpets, and they're excellent in getting around furniture and other obstacles. iAdapt navigation software makes smart maps of your home that aid the i3+ EVO navigate and clean in a way that maximizes efficiency. However, unlike the i7+ or other top rated robots we tested the i3+ doesn't have any obstacle-avoidance features, so it may get stuck on things like socks or power cords, and it can have difficulty traversing transitions across surfaces like hardwood to rug.

iRobot suggests cleaning up the area where the i3+ EVO vacuums prior to using it. This includes getting rid of any toys or clutter it may encounter. Also, keep the dustbin and filters clean to prevent them from getting blocked. When the i3+ EVO's internal bin is filled or the battery is empty, it returns to its docking station and automatically empties its trash into the station's dust bin, and then continues cleaning the area where it started. The i3+ EVO's battery can last for about an hour and a half continuous use, and it takes around three hours to recharge.

2. IRobot Roomba i7+

The iRobot Roomba i7+ is the top model in the iRobot flagship line and is equipped with the most recent features. It's self-charging, self-navigating, and the most important feature of all -- it has an auto-emptying dustbin, which eliminates 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 using Imprint smart robot Mapping, a system 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 control your robot using voice or through the app.

The i7+ is more efficient and more maneuverable in our tests compared to the eufy RoboVac G30. It also removed large pet hair pieces from all surfaces including carpeting. Its biggest advantage over the eufy, though, is its self-emptying dustbin, which eliminates a major cause of maintenance and lowers the amount of time spent cleaning.

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 sessions and move around the room and sweep a specific space. The iRobot Home App made it easy to connect the i7+ with these services. After being connected, to give voice commands to the i7+ for example "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 of vacuums with cords that feel like minivans or buses, this small Dyson model is an old-fashioned sports car. It is powerful enough to replace a traditional stand-up vacuum in the majority of homes, but it is also compact enough to fit on the bookcase or coffee table.

The V10 is powered by a 7-cell, energy-dense lithium-ion battery that produces fade-free power for 60 minutes. The advanced whole-machine filter system captures allergens, and then lets cleaner air into your home. The cleaning head is specially designed to drive bristles of nylon that are stiff and deep into carpet to suck up large particles and fine dust. It has three different suction modes that can be adjusted to suit the task. It quickly switches from handheld to automatic floor cleaners vacuum and back again.

This model comes with a dock that can charge the Dyson to 100% in 3.5 hours. It also offers an easy access to two attachments as well as a wand. This is a significant improvement over the older Dysons models, which require a lengthy charge and are difficult to store.

The V10's biggest drawback is its sluggish run time. The claims of its marketing that it can provide up to 60 minutes of run time are misleading, as CR's testing shows. This is a typical not an extraordinary time to run an electric cordless vacuum powered by batteries. It's enough time to vacuum the typical home, but not enough to reach every spot. (A second pass usually works). This model has its own advantages, however: it's lighter and more maneuverable than earlier Dysons cordless models, and its vacuuming ability is significantly better for carpet floors with low pile.

4. iRobot Roomba 694

The 694 is a basic robotic vacuum cleaner commercial vacuum that's an excellent choice for those who don't have a lot of money to spend on the latest model of robot vacuum cleaner ebay. It was able to remove the majority of types of debris and sizes during our tests and would often go over the same area many times for a thorough clean. Its flat front allows it to reach corners and the edges of walls.

Its navigation system is smart and uses iAdapt to avoid obstacles and navigate around your home, but it isn't equipped with the mapping capabilities of more sophisticated models such as our top selections such as the i3+ EVO and the j7+ series. It may get stuck on cords for phones or furniture that is low and is often unable to supply power before returning to its original location.

The Xiaomi Mi robot vacuum is superior to the Roomba 694 in all aspects in that it has fewer components that need regular cleaning It also comes with an allergen-trapping HEPA filter, incurs lower recurring costs, comes with more advanced automation capabilities and is better at maneuvering itself. It also has a bigger dustbin and can charge faster.

The sleek RoboVac X8 has a superior battery life than the Roomba 694. It also has physical boundaries strips that can be controlled with your smartphone's voice assistance. It's also more robust, has a more powerful motor, and can perform better on floors with bare or low-pile.

5. Samsung Jet Bot AI+

Samsung is a well-known brand in the field of home electronics. It's no surprise that they are also among the top producers of robot vacuums and mop. Jet Bot AI+ has a cutting-edge onboard technology for navigation and obstacle avoidance.

The app offers a variety of options to customize your robotic cleaner, including virtual barriers mopping water levels, behavior adjustments docking frequency settings and much more. It's easy to understand and easy to use, just as is the case with other Samsung devices.

In our tests in our tests, the Jet Bot AI+ performed well on hard floors, and cleaned up 86% of dog hair (on carpet). It did not do well in avoiding taller items like socks or cords. This was disappointing. It's also more expensive than some of the other models we tested, which might be a deterrent for some buyers.

The app lets you access the camera onboard of the smart vacuum. You can also set up live streaming from the robot's cleaning zone. This feature lets you to monitor your children or pets when you're away. The dustbin and the filter can be cleaned to ensure 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 dustbin clear and optimizes suction power for each cleaning run.

6. Black & Decker Robot Vacuum

Black and Decker robots have been designed specifically for flooring made of hard wood. They feature an extra-wide cleaning path as well as a large dustbin that holds twice as much debris than the competition to keep the cleaning area clear for maximum runtime. Additionally, they come with two side sweepers that clean along edges and in corners. The POWERSERIES model includes AutoSense, which automatically adjusts the power level depending on whether it's picking up surface dirt or embedded dirt. It also comes with a smart app that lets you see the virtual map, and control functions and schedules. You can also check the status of the vacuum and then send it to its dock for charging with the click of a button. The app lets you alter the LED lights on the top of the vacuum so that you can tell where it is focused or if it's stuck.

The app makes it possible to manually steer the robot when needed. My living room rug, for example, has a darkly-colored border which could cause a problem for other robots. However the HRV 425BL continued to move across the border, without registering it as an incline. The ability to program a daily cleaning schedule for each week is a time-saving advantage.