If you don't need advanced features like mapping, and aren't worried about emptying your bin every 60 to 90 days A basic robot vacuum is likely to be the best choice suitable for you. Choose a model with an uncluttered base that can work with voice assistants.
It excels at removing dirt, clumps of pet hair and cat litter on hardwood floors, tile and low-pile carpeting better than any other robo vacuum we've tested. It also maps and set virtual no-go zones for rooms and areas.
1. Powerful Suction
A robot vacuum can help you keep track of the pet fur, dust and dander that accumulates on your floor every day. It can also cut down on the frequency at which you have to clean your floors, saving you time and effort. The most effective models have powerful suction that can tackle most messes and leave your home clean.
A robot vacuum that can also mop will allow you to cover more ground by using just one machine. This could be especially helpful for homes with a large area. There are models that has a water tank in the chassis itself or as an additional piece that you can take out after vacuuming. You'll have to empty it and refill it, however 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 vacuum to keep it from crashing into objects. In the majority of homes, however, this is not possible or desirable. Most robots allow you to make use of an app that you can install on your phone to create virtual barriers that the robot will observe. Some models have no-go zones which you can use to mark areas you don't want it to access, such as children rooms or a stack of cords for your device in the corner.
This model is a good option if you're looking for a simple robot cleaner without all the bells. It is quiet, works on both hard floors and carpets with low pile and can be programmed using the app to vacuum and mop at your convenience. It comes with a battery life of up to 180 minutes.
2. Simple to operate
In general, robot vacuums require very little input from you. They utilize navigational tools such as sensors, lasers, and cameras to maneuver and collect pet hair, dust and food crumbs from tiles, hard floors and hardwood. Many have boundary strips to allow them to stay within a room's walls, while higher-end models can be set to automatically wake up and start cleaning at a predetermined time. Some models include fall detection technology to help users avoid falling down the stairs or becoming tangled in cords.
Find models that you can control from your couch using voice assistants, such as Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also choose Wi-Fi models that allow users to start a cleaning session anywhere using an app. Depending on how big your house is, you may want an item with a long-lasting battery and a large dust bin that doesn't have to be regularly emptied.
Some robot vacuums can double as mops, utilizing water reservoirs to clean your floor. This is ideal for mopping, but not for difficult messes such as pet poop or other wet spills. You can pick hybrids that have a removable microfiber mopping pad, or a self-emptying version that allows you to go for up to 60 days before emptying the base.
3. Smart Mapping
Some robots employ advanced mapping technology to build a detailed map while they clean. This allows them to avoid crashing into furniture and getting caught on cords or chair legs. This feature is only available on the top models however it lets your robot be aware of the layout of your home and knows where to go when the battery runs out.
Most robots allow you to create virtual barriers. This can be done through an application or even physical 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 need the most attention.
Many robots also have the ability to automatically navigate to different floorings according to the type of floor they're cleaning, whether that's changing between carpet and hard flooring or focusing on certain areas of your home, like baseboards and corners. In our tests it was a great feature that improved their performance in picking up hardwood and low-pile carpeting. It is essential to put away any furniture or cords that are loose prior to using your robot vacuum, so that it doesn't become caught.
4. Remote Control
The majority of robot vacuums have WiFi capabilities and can be controlled via voice commands, Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa or Siri Shortcuts. Many robot vacuums connect to smart home systems and create an outline of the area they clean after each cleaning session. This allows them to "learn" how your home is laid out, and then plan more efficient routes during future cleaning sessions. There are also built-in obstacles avoidance, which stops them from bumping into furniture and damaging it or getting stuck on things like loose charging cables or shoe laces, as well as hair from pets.
Most robots come with a remote that you can use to control them around your home. vacuum and mop combo are operated by mobile applications which has more options. You can create multiple cleaning schedules, and create an agenda of your most-loved rooms. You can also guide the robot with the directional Arrows.
Some models provide no-go zones that are virtual barriers you can create within the app to prevent the robot from entering certain areas (like kids' toys or dog beds and bowls). Other apps let you create an outline of your home and give the robot detailed information about your floors. The Roborock S7+ app has a number of useful features that will aid in cleaning the house. However its interface isn't as polished as that from iRobot or Shark.
5. Long Battery Life
Robot vacuums that clean your entire house without stopping to recharge or emptying their trash bins save time and effort. Some robot vacuums are compatible with smart home platforms like Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri Shortcuts to enable hands-free operation. They can also draw a map of the space for you to program them for specific rooms or areas and to stay clear of obstacles.
The majority of robot vacuums can detect objects, however the iRobot j7 comes with advanced features like "home mapping" and obstacle avoidance. These features can make your life easier (although one of our test bots did "eat" a few socks). If you're looking to push your home cleaning to the next level, look for a robotic mop that has an water tank that you fill and empty yourself.
While none of the models we tested could compete with the power of a stand-up vacuum the majority of them do an excellent job of cleaning hard floors and low-pile carpets. They are great in sweeping up dust and debris, food dust, tracked-in dirt, and pet hair. They are also able to tackle pet litter that is stray and metal screws and nuts. The most effective robot vacuums are able to remove dirt from edges and corners and can work around furniture. For a basic model that works by itself and is relatively inexpensive look into the Eufy 11S.
6. Convenient Self-Charging
With the right setup, a robot vacuum can assist you in keeping your home looking and feeling fresh regularly, with minimal effort. You can schedule cleanings through the app, and designate no-go areas to ensure that your robot does not walk on your plants or sit on your favorite chair. The majority of our top picks also automatically empty their bins and clean their docking stations for you.
The best robot vacuums can be programmed to clean your floors regularly for months or even weeks at a time, removing you from the time-consuming task of manually sweeping and mopping your floors on a weekly or daily basis. This allows you to take more time doing the things you like and reduces the time it takes to clean your floors manually.
In the course of testing the Q Revo was able to capture small particles such as baking soda and oatmeal, heavier debris such as nails and screws made of steel, and fluffy stuff such as pet hair. It does not have the advanced mapping and objects-avoiding features of our top picks but is still a great choice for families with children.
The most impressive feature of the j7 is its ability to spot and avoid obstacles like power cords, shoes and socks, and pet waste. This means that you don't need to spend time tidying up before running your robot, however cluttered rooms will mean that your bot may get stuck and not be able to do the job as well.
