How to Find the Best Robot Vacuum
If you don't need the most advanced features such as mapping and do not mind cleaning your trash bin every 60 to 90 days, a basic robotic vacuum is probably the best choice for you. Choose a model with clean and tidy base that is compatible with voice assistants.
It is the best robo-vacuum we have tested for getting rid of dirt and pet hair on tile floors, hardwood floors and carpets with low pile. It also maps and set virtual no-go zones for rooms or areas.
1. Powerful Suction
A robot vacuum will stay on top of the dust, pet hair and dander that accumulates on your floors on a day-to-day basis. It can also cut down on the frequency at which you have to clean your floors and saves your time and effort. The best models come with powerful suction that can take on the majority of messes and leave your home clean.
Choosing a robot vacuum that can also mop can help you cover more ground by using just one machine. This can be particularly beneficial in larger homes. Choose one that has a water reservoir either integrated into the chassis or as a separate piece that you can swap out when the vacuuming is done. You'll need to empty and refill it, though it's an additional task that will require some extra effort on your part.
In a perfect world, you'd clean your floors before you used your robot vac to keep it from running into things. However, in the majority of homes, this isn't feasible or desirable. The majority of models let you use an app that you can install on your phone to create virtual barriers the robot can observe. Some models have no-go zones which can be used to mark areas you don't want the robot to be in, like kids rooms or a stack of device cords in the corner.
This model is a good option if you're looking for an easy robot cleaner that doesn't have all the bells. It's quiet, works well on hard floors and low-pile rugs and can be scheduled using the app to vacuum or mop at your own convenience. It has a long battery life that can last up to 180 minutes before it needs to recharge.
2. Simple to operate
In general robot vacuums require little input from you. They make use of sensors, lasers, and cameras to move around and collect dust, pet hair and food crumbs off hard floors, tile and hardwood. A lot of them have boundary strips that aid in staying within a room's walls, while pricier models can be programmed to automatically wake up and start cleaning at a scheduled time. Some models have fall detection technology to help users avoid falling down the stairs or becoming tangled in cords.
Look for models that you can control from your couch using voice assistants such as Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also select Wi-Fi models that permit you to begin cleaning from anywhere with an app. You might want to choose one with an extremely long-lasting battery as well as an enormous dust bin, based on the size of your house.
Certain robot vacuums are also mops. They make use of water reservoirs to wash the floor. This is great for mopping, but not for tough messes like pet poop or other wet spills. You can select hybrids with a removable microfiber mopping pad or a self-emptying model that allows you to go for up to 60 days before emptying the base.
3. Smart Mapping
Some robots utilize advanced mapping technologies to build an accurate map of your floorplan as they clean and tidy, allowing them to avoid crashing into furniture or tripping over things like cords or chair legs. This feature is only available on the top models however, it lets your robot have a thorough understanding of the layout of your home and to know where it should go when the battery is out.
Most robots allow you to create virtual barriers. This can be done using an app or physically-based boundary strips. You can block off areas you don't want your robot to go into, so that it can focus on the rooms that require the most attention.
A lot of robots can also automatically change floors based on the type of flooring they are cleaning. This can be accomplished by changing from carpet to hard flooring, or by paying attention to specific areas of your house like corners and baseboards. In our tests, this was a useful feature that improved their scores on picking up carpeting that is low-pile and hardwood. It's nevertheless important to secure furniture and cords before running your robot vacuum so that it doesn't get stuck or come into contact with something it shouldn't.
4. Remote Control
Most robot vacuums are WiFi-enabled and work with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri Shortcuts to allow you to control them using voice commands or through your smartphone. Many robot vacuums connect to smart home systems, and create an outline of the area they clean after each session. This allows them to "learn" the way your home is laid out, and then plan more efficient routes in future cleaning sessions. Certain models have obstacle avoidance built in, which prevents them from damaging furniture and getting stuck on things such as loose charging cables or pet hair.
Most robots come with a remote that you can use to steer them around your home. The majority of robots can be controlled via a mobile application, which offers more features. You can create multiple cleaning schedules, and create an inventory of your preferred rooms. You can also guide the robot by using directional arrows.
Certain models have zones that are not allowed. These are virtual barriers you can create in the app to stop the robot from accessing certain areas (like toys for kids or dishes for dogs and dog beds). Other apps let you make a map of your home and provide the robot with detailed information about your floors. The Roborock S7+ app has several useful features that can aid in cleaning the house. However, its interface isn't quite as polished as iRobot or Shark.
5. Long Battery Life
Robotic vacs that can clean a whole house without stopping to recharge or empty their dust bins save you time and effort. Some of them work with smart home devices like Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri Shortcuts for hands-free operation. They can also draw an outline of the space to allow you to program them to specific rooms or areas and to stay clear of obstacles.
The majority of robot vacuums come with some degree of object detection however, higher-end models such as the iRobot j7 offer sophisticated features such as "home mapping" and advanced obstacle avoidance, which can simplify your life (although our test bot did "eat" socks). socks). If you want to take your home maintenance even further consider a robot mop that has a water tank that can be filled and then empty.
While none of the models we tested could match the dirt-picking ability of a stand-up vacuum, they did a great job cleaning hard floors and low pile carpets. They are great in sweeping up dust and debris, food particles, dirt tracked in and pet hair. They can also tackle pet litter that is stray and metal screws and nuts. The most effective robot vacuums can clean corners and edges and can work on furniture. Eufy 11S is a relatively basic and affordable model.
6. Convenient Self-Charging
With the right setup and the right setup, a robotic vacuum can help you keep your home looking and feeling fresh regularly, without much work from you. You can schedule cleanings using the app, and designate no-go areas to ensure that your robot does not get in the way of your favorite chair or plants. The majority of our top picks also automatically empty their dustbins and clean their docking stations for you.
The top robot vacuums can be programmed to clean your floors regularly for months or even weeks at a time, saving you from the arduous task of manually cleaning your floors on a weekly or daily basis. This helps you have more time to do the things you enjoy and cuts down on the amount of time your floors need to be cleaned manually.
In vacuum mop combo during testing, Q Revo was able to grab small particles such as baking soda and oatmeal. It also grabbed heavier debris like nails and screws made of steel, as well as fluffy hair. It lacks the smart mapping and object-avoiding features found in our top picks but is still a great choice for families with children.
The most appealing aspect of the j7 robot is that it uses camera and processor-powered sensors to identify and avoid obstacles such as power cords, shoes, socks, and pet waste. This means that you don't need to clean up before using your robot. However, messy rooms can cause your robot to become stuck and do an inadequate job.