Now That You've Purchased Robot Vac ... Now What?

Top Rated Robot Vacuums

A robot auto vacuum can keep your floors tidy enough to reduce the frequency of hoovering manually. Select a vacuum with good robot vacuum navigation, can clean stairs and corners and also has a large bin that needs to be emptied periodically.

There are models that can mop and charge themselves This feature could be essential for those who have pets or children. A lot of the top performers in our tests offer decent obstacle-avoiding capabilities.

1. Roomba iRobot i3+ from iRobot EVO

The i3+ EVO and its sibling the i3 EVO are both identical robots that differ only in that the i3+ has self-emptying features. The i3+ is a great option for those looking for a an entirely automated vacuum, hands-free cleaning experience, but want to manually empty the robot's dustbin after it has filled up.

Both robots do well picking up surface debris off carpets and hard floors and they're very adept at moving around furniture and other obstacles. iAdapt navigation software makes a smart maps of your home that help the i3+ navigate and clean efficiently. However, unlike the i7+ and other top rated robots we test the i3+ doesn't have a feature for avoiding obstacles and therefore it could be stuck on things like socks or power cords and it may have trouble traversing transitions across surfaces like from hardwood to carpet.

iRobot recommends that you tidy up the area where the i3+ EVO vacuums before 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 clear so they do not become blocked by dirt. If the i3+'s internal bin is empty or the battery is not fully charged, it returns to the docking station and takes the dirt out of the docking station's external dustbin. Then it continues cleaning from where it started. The battery's life span is approximately an hour and a half of constant usage. It takes 3 hours to fully charge.

2. Roomba by iRobot

The iRobot i7+ is an excellent model from iRobot's flagship line and is packed with the latest features. It has self-charging and self-navigating. However, the most significant feature is the self-emptying bin. This removes the need for routine maintenance.

The Roomba I7+ can better map rooms with Imprint Smart Mapping. It also integrates with the iRobot Home app to let you schedule cleaning tasks and direct your robot by voice or through the app.

In our tests the i7+ was quicker and more maneuverable than our top choice and the eufy RoboVac G30, and it took large pieces of pet hair from all surface kinds including carpeting. Its biggest advantage over the eufy, though it self-empties its dust bin which removes a major source of maintenance and lowers the amount of time spent cleaning.

We were also amazed 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 routines and move around the room and sweep a specific space. The iRobot Home App made it easy to connect the i7+ with these services. Once connected we were able to give the i7+ voice commands like "Hey Alexa, vacuum the master bedroom." The iRobot Home App also offers options to manage i7+ settings and evaluating performance.

3. Dyson Cyclone V10

This tiny Dyson model is an all-sports car in a sea of cordless vacuums that feel like minivans and buses. It's powerful enough to replace a stand-up vacuum in most homes, but also small enough to fit on the bookcase or coffee table.

The V10 is powered by a seven-cell, high-energy lithium-ion battery that can provide fade-free power for 60 minutes. Its advanced whole-machine filter system traps allergens and releases cleaner air back into your home. The specialized head uses rigid nylon bristles that penetrate deep into carpets and collect large crumbs or fine dust. It has three suction modes to suit the task being performed. It quickly switches from floor vac to handheld vacuum and back.

The model comes with a dock that can charge the Dyson to 100 percent in 3.5 hours. It also provides the ability to connect two attachments as well as the wand. This is a significant improvement over previous Dysons which require a long charge and are difficult to store.

The main issue with the V10 is its short running time. The tests conducted by CR show that its claims to run up to 60 minutes are not true. This is a typical battery-powered cordless vacuum's run time. This is still enough to clean most of an average-sized house but not long enough to cover every area (though an additional run-through often does the trick). This model has its own advantages, however: it's lighter and more mobile than previous Dysons cordless models, and its vacuuming ability is noticeable superior on carpets with low pile.

4. iRobot Roomba 694

One of iRobot's most adored robot vacuums, the 694 is a basic model that's an excellent option for those who don't want to invest too much on a robotic. It's capable of sucking up all debris types and sizes during our testing, and it frequently goes over the same areas multiple times to ensure a thorough clean. Its flat front end helps it reach into corners and along the edges of walls which is a nice touch.

Its navigation system is smart and uses iAdapt to avoid obstacles and navigate your home, but it's not equipped with the mapping capabilities of more sophisticated models such as our top choices and the i3+ EVO and j7+ series. As a result, it may get stuck on things like phone cords and low furniture, and it often is power-depleted before returning to its base.

The Xiaomi Mi robot is superior in many ways to the Roomba 694, as it has fewer parts that require regular cleaning, comes with an allergen-trapping HEPA filtering system, has a lower recurring cost, has more advanced automation capabilities and is better able to navigate itself. It also has a larger dustbin, and charges more quickly.

The eufy RoboVac X8 has a superior battery longevity than the Roomba 694. It also comes with physical boundaries strips that can be controlled by your smartphone's voice assistance. It also feels more sturdy and has a more powerful motor, and is able to perform better on floors that are bare and low-pile carpet, while providing a wider array of automation options.

5. Samsung Jet Bot AI+

Samsung is a name that you see on all sorts of home electronics So it's no surprise that they're one of the most popular robot vacuum and mop manufacturers. Their Jet Bot AI+ is packed 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 and behavior adjustments, docking frequency settings, and much more. The app is easy to use and understand similar to other Samsung devices.

In our tests, the Jet Bot AI+ performed well on hard floors, and cleaned up 86 percent of dog hair (on carpet). However, it did not do particularly well at avoiding higher-up objects like cords or socks which was disappointing. It's also more expensive than the other models we've tested and this could be a problem for some shoppers.

The app allows you to access the onboard camera of the smart vacuum. You can also set up live streaming from the robot's area of cleaning. This feature allows you to check in on pets or the kids if you're away from home. The filter and the dustbin can be washed for an easy, quick clean-up. The Jet Bot AI+ comes with self-emptying clean stations, which helps to keep the robot's bin clear and improves suction power.

6. Black & Decker Robot Vacuum

Contrary to other robotic vacuums that are specifically designed for carpets and hard floors, Black and Decker robots are specifically designed for hard floors. They have a wider cleaning path as well as a large dustbin that holds 2X more debris than competitors to keep the cleaning area clear for maximum runtime. They also come with two side sweepers to clean along edges and corners. The POWERSERIES Extreme model also comes with AutoSense technology, which detects the presence of dirt or debris on the surface and then automatically adjusts its power level. The vacuum also has an app that lets you to view the virtual map, manage functions, and create schedules. Plus, you can monitor the vacuum's battery status and then return it to its dock for charging at the touch of a button. The app also lets you to personalize the LED lights on top of the vacuum with different colors so you can clearly see which areas it's focused on or where it's stuck.

The app makes it possible to steer the Robot Vacuum Cleaner Comparison manually in the event of need. For example, my living room rug has a darkly colored border that tends to cause confusion for other robots I've tried. The HRV 425BL however, continued to move across the border without ever registering the high point. The ability to set up the weekly cleaning schedule is a great time-saving convenience.