Top Rated Robot Vacuums
A robot vacuum can keep your floors tidy enough to cut down on the frequency of manual hoovering. Pick a robot vacuum that is well-trained in navigation, is able to clean stairs and corners and also has large bins that only needs to be emptied periodically.
There are models that mop and charge themselves, which is a feature important for families with children or pets. A lot 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 that differ only in that the i3+ has self-emptying features. The i3+ is an excellent option for those who want an automated, hands-free cleaning experience, but are willing to manually empty the dustbin of the robot after it has filled up.
Both robots do well picking up surface debris on carpets and hard floors, and they are very good at moving around furniture and other obstacles. iAdapt navigation software makes smart maps of your home that help the i3+ EVO to navigate and clean in a manner that maximizes efficiency. The i3+ isn't able to have obstacle avoidance capabilities like the i7+ or other top-rated robots we tested. It can get stuck on power cords and socks and have trouble moving between surfaces, such as carpet and hardwood.
iRobot suggests cleaning the area around the i3+ EVO vacuums before using it. This includes getting rid of any toys or other items it might encounter. It's also a good idea to keep the dust bin and filter clear so they do not become blocked by dirt. When the i3+ EVO's internal bin is empty or the battery is not fully charged, it returns to the docking station and automatically empties the dirt into the station’s external dustbin. Then it continues cleaning where it began. The i3+ EVO's battery lasts for approximately an hour and a half of continuous use, and takes around three hours to fully recharge.
2. iRobot i7+ Roomba
The iRobot i7+ is the top model in iRobot's flagship line and is packed with the latest technology. It's self-charging, self-navigating, and -- the most important feature of all -- it has an auto-emptying dustbin, which eliminates one of the primary sources of maintenance for any robot vacuum.
The Roomba I7+ can make rooms more efficient maps using Imprint Smart Mapping. It also works with iRobot Home to schedule cleaning tasks, and it can control your robot through the app or by voice.
In our testing the i7+ performed faster and more maneuverable than our second-placed model, the eufy RoboVac G30, and it removed large chunks of pet hair from all surfaces kinds, including carpeting. Its greatest advantage over the Eufy is its self-emptying bin which eliminates major sources of maintenance and reduces the cost of maintenance.
We were also impressed with the i7+'s compatibility Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant AI services. We utilized these services to instruct the robot on how to begin, stop, or pause cleaning sessions and also to move around the room and to vacuum a particular area. The process of connecting the i7+ to these services was easy and straightforward using the iRobot Home app. After being connected, to speak robot cleaner to the i7+, such as "Hey Alexa vacuum the master bedroom." The iRobot Home App also offers options to manage i7+ settings and evaluating the performance.
3. Dyson Cyclone V10
In a world of vacuums with cords that look 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 most homes, yet it is also small enough to fit on the bookcase or coffee table.
The V10 is powered by a 7-cell energy-dense Lithium-ion battery, which produces power that is not fading for 60 minutes. The sophisticated whole-machine filter system captures allergens, and then releases fresh air into your home. The specialized head uses rigid nylon bristles to drive deep into carpets and collect large dust or crumbs. It comes with three suction modes to meet the task being performed. It can quickly change between handheld and floor vacuum and vice versa.
This model also has an accessory dock that can charge to 100% in 3.5 hours and provides an easy access to two attachments as well as an Wand clip. This is a significant improvement over older Dysons, that require a long charge and are a pain to store.
The biggest issue with the V10 is its short run time. The tests conducted by CR show that its claims to run up to 60 minutes are misleading. This is a typical not an extraordinary time for a battery-powered cordless vac. This is still enough to vacuum the majority of an average-sized house, but not quite long enough to get every single spot (though the second time around usually can be effective). This doesn't mean that this model isn't a good choice It's lighter and more maneuverable than older cordless Dysons and its vacuuming efficiency is better on carpets with low pile.
4. iRobot Roomba 694
The 694 is a basic robot vacuum that's an excellent choice for those who don't have a lot of money to spend on an expensive robot. It's capable of sucking up most types of debris and sizes during our testing, and it often goes over the same areas multiple times to ensure a thorough clean. Its flat front end helps to get into corners and along the walls' edges and walls, which is a nice touch.
Its smart navigation system uses iAdapt to stay clear of obstacles and navigate your home, but it isn't equipped with the mapping capabilities of more sophisticated models like our top choices and the i3+ EVO and j7+ series. It is prone to getting stuck on phone cords or furniture and often runs out of power before returning to its home base.
The Xiaomi Mi robot vacuum is superior to the Roomba 694 in most respects because it has fewer parts that require regular cleaning, is fitted 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 charges more quickly.
The eufy RoboVac X8 has a superior battery longevity than the Roomba 694. It also comes with physical boundaries and can be controlled using your smartphone's voice assistance. It also feels better-built, has a more powerful motor, and works better on bare floors and carpets with low pile, while providing a greater variety of automation features.
5. Samsung Jet Bot AI+
Samsung is a well-known brand in home electronics. It's not surprising that they are one of the top makers of robot vacuums and mop. Their Jet Bot AI+ is packed with cutting-edge onboard tech for navigation and obstacles avoidance.
The app offers a variety of options to customize your robotic cleaner. These include virtual barriers, mopping levels and behavior adjustments docking frequency settings and many more. The app is easy to use and understand as are other Samsung devices.
In our tests of the Jet Bot AI+ excelled on hard floors and handled dog hair (on carpet) quite well, cleaning up 86 percent of it. It was not as successful in avoiding taller objects like socks or cords. This was disappointing. It's also a bit more expensive than some of the other models we tried, which might be a deterrent for some buyers.
The app allows you to access the onboard camera of the smart vacuum. You can also set up live streaming from the robot's cleaning area. This feature allows you to monitor your pets or the kids if you're away from home. The dustbin and the filter can be cleaned for a quick, painless clean-up. The Jet Bot AI+ also comes with a clean and tidy station that self-empties, which helps keep the robot's dustbin clean and maximizes suction power for each cleaning run.
6. Black & Decker Robot Vacuum
Unlike other robotic vacuums, that are made for carpets and hard floors, Black and Decker robots are designed specifically for hard floors. The robots come with an extra-wide cleaning path, as well as a dustbin that is 2 times larger than other models. This lets them clean the area for longer. They also include two side sweepers to clean along edges and corners. The POWERSERIES Extreme model comes with AutoSense technology, which detects if it's picking up surface litter or embedded dirt and automatically adjusts its power level. The vacuum also comes with an app that lets you to view the virtual map, manage functions, and set schedules. You can also track the status of the vacuum and then send it to its dock for charging at the touch of a single button. The app allows you to customize the LED lights on top of the vacuum using different colors so you can easily identify which areas it's focused on or where it's got stuck.
The app makes it possible to manually steer the robot in the event of need. For example my living room rug has a darkly colored border that has a tendency to trip up some of the other robots I've tested. However, the HRV 425BL continued to move across the border, but it didn't register it as an incline. Also, the ability to set up a weekly cleaning schedule is a fantastic time-saving feature.