If you don't need the most advanced features such as mapping and don't mind emptying your dustbin every 60 to 90 days, a basic robotic vacuum is probably suitable for you. Select a model with an uncluttered base that can work with voice assistants.
It is the best robo-vacuum we have tested at cleaning up pet hair on tile floors, hardwood floors and carpets with low pile. It also maps and set virtual no-go zones for rooms and areas.
1. Powerful Suction
A robot vacuum will help you keep track of the dust, pet fur and dander that settles on your floors every day. It can also cut down on the frequency you have to do a deeper clean, saving you time and effort. The best models come with powerful suction, which will take on the majority of messes and leave your house cleaner.
You can cover more area by using a robot vacuum as well as a mop, which is especially beneficial if you live in a large home. Find models that have an water reservoir integrated into the chassis or as a separate item that you can swap out when the vacuuming is finished. It'll need to be emptied and filled and refilled, which is an additional task to complete.
In ideal world, you'd clear your floors prior to using your robot vac to keep it from running into things. But in most homes, this isn't possible or desirable. Most models allow you to make use of an app on your smartphone to create virtual barriers the robot can see. Some models have no-go zones that you can mark areas that you don't want it to access. For example, a child's room or a pile of cords in a corner.
This model is a good option if you're looking for a basic robot cleaner that does not have all the bells. It's quiet, and it works on hard floors and low-pile rugs and can be scheduled through the app to mop or vacuum at your convenience. It's got a long battery life that can last up to 180 minutes.
2. Easy to operate
Robot vacuums generally require very little effort from you. They use navigation tools like sensors lasers, cameras and sensors to move through obstacles and collect dust, food crumbs and pet hair from hard flooring, tile, hardwood and low-pile carpets. Many have boundary strips that help them stay within the walls of a room, while more expensive models can be programmed to automatically wake up and begin cleaning at a scheduled time. Certain models come with fall detection technology to help them avoid falling down stairs or becoming tangled in cords.
Look for models that you can control from your couch via voice assistants, such as Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also look for models that connect to Wi-Fi and let you start a cleaning session from anywhere via an app. Depending on how big your home is, you might prefer an item with a long-lasting battery and a large dust bin that doesn't require being emptied frequently.
Some robot vacuums are also mops. They utilize water reservoirs to wash the floor. This is helpful for everyday mopping, but will not be effective for messes that are more difficult to clean, like pet poop or other spills that are wet. There are hybrids that come with an ejectable microfiber pad for mopping, or you can choose self-emptying models that let you use the device for 30 to 60 days without needing to empty the base.
3. Smart Mapping
Certain robots employ advanced mapping technology to create an accurate map of your floorplan while they clean the floor, which makes it easier for them to avoid falling into furniture or tripping over things like cords or chair legs. This feature is typically only available on higher-end models, but it's one of the best ways to make sure your robot has a complete understanding of the layout of your house and is aware of where to go when it runs out of battery.
The majority of robots allow you to create virtual barriers. This can be done using an application or even physical boundary strips. You can block off areas that you don't wish your robot to go into in order to concentrate on rooms that need 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 switching from carpet to hard flooring or by paying attention to particular areas of your home, such as corners and baseboards. In our tests this was a helpful feature that improved their pick-up scores for both carpeting made of low-pile or hardwood. However, it's still important to tuck away furniture and cords before using your robot vacuum to ensure that it doesn't get caught or get into something it shouldn't.
4. Remote Control
Almost all robot vacuums are WiFi-connected and can be controlled by Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri Shortcuts to enable you to control them via voice commands or from your smartphone. Many connect to smart home systems that create a map of your space after each cleaning session, so they can "learn" your layout and design more efficient routes for future runs. Some come with obstacle avoidance features 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 control them around your home. Most robots can be controlled by a mobile app which has more options. You can typically set multiple cleaning schedules, build an inventory of your favorite rooms and even manually guide your robot to certain areas by using directions on the screen.
Certain models have no-go zones. These are virtual barriers that can be created in the app to stop the robot from entering certain areas (like toys for children or dishes for dogs and dog beds). Other apps allow you to create a map of your home and provide the robot with detailed information about your floors. The Roborock S7+ app has several useful features to help you clean the house. However its interface isn't as polished as that from iRobot or Shark.
5. Long Battery Life
Robot vacuums that can clean your entire home without stopping to recharge or to empty their dustbins save time and effort. Certain robot vacuums can work with smart home platforms like Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri Shortcuts to allow hands-free operation. They can also create an outline of your space and allow you to program them to clean specific rooms or areas and stay clear of obstacles.
The majority of robot vacuums detect objects, however the iRobot j7 offers advanced features like "home mapping" and obstacle avoidance. These features can simplify your life (although one of our test bots did "eat" a few socks). If you're looking to take your home maintenance even further consider a robot mop that has an water tank that you fill and empty yourself.
While none of the models that we tested could compete with the dirt-picking power of a standup vacuum, they did a great job cleaning hard floors and carpets with a low pile. They are great at sweeping up fine dust and debris, food particles, dirt tracked in and pet hair. They can also tackle scattered cat litter, as well as metal screws and nuts. best robot vacuum for hardwood floors are able to clean corners and edges and can even work around furniture. For a basic model that works by itself and is comparatively inexpensive, check out the Eufy 11S.
6. Convenient Self-Charging
With the right setup and the right setup, a robotic vacuum can assist you in keeping your home looking and feeling fresh every day without a lot of effort. You can schedule your cleanings using the app and create zones that are not allowed to enter so that your robot won't trample your plants or your favourite chair. Many of our top picks empty their dustbins and clean their docking stations.
The most effective robot vacuums can be programmed to clean your floors regularly for months or even weeks at a time, removing you from the tedious chore of manually mopping and sweeping your floors on a weekly or daily basis. This lets you enjoy more time doing things you enjoy, and decreases the time needed to clean your floors manually.
During tests, Q Revo was able to grab small particles like baking soda and oatmeal. It also picked up larger particles like nails and screws made of metal, as well as fluffy things like pet hair. It does not have the advanced mapping and object-avoiding features of our top picks, but is still a great option for families with children.
The most impressive feature of the j7 is its ability to spot and avoid obstacles like power cords as well as socks and shoes and pet waste. This means that you don't need to tidy up before using your robot. However, messy rooms can cause your robot to get stuck and do a poor job.
