How to Find the Best Robot Vacuum

If you’re able to live without smart capabilities like mapping, and you don’t mind emptying the garbage bin every 60 days or so, a basic robotic vacuum will probably work for you. Choose a model with clean and tidy base that is compatible with voice assistants.

It is the most effective robo-vacuum we have tested at getting rid of dirt and pet hair from tile floors, hardwood floors and carpeting with low pile. It can also map and set virtual no-go zones for rooms or areas.

1. Powerful Suction

A robot vacuum can keep clean of the pet hair, dust and dander that build up on your floors on a day-to-day basis. It can also decrease the frequency of deep cleaning, which will save you both time and effort. The best models have powerful suction, which can clean up most mess with ease and leave your home cleaner.

You can cover more area by using a robot vacuum and mop, which is particularly useful if you have a large home. Choose a model that has a water reservoir either integrated into the chassis or as a separate piece that you swap in when vacuuming is complete. It will need to be emptied and filled, so it’s an extra task to complete.

In a perfect universe, you would clear your floors first before you use your robot vacuum, preventing it from hitting anything. But in most homes, this isn’t possible or desirable. The majority of models let you make use of an app that you can install on your phone to create virtual barriers that the robot can see. Certain models have no-go zones that you can mark areas you don’t want the robot to enter. For instance an area for children’s play or a pile of cords in an area.

This model is a great option for those looking for a basic robot cleaner that does not have all the bells. It’s quiet and works well on hard floors and low-pile rugs. It can be scheduled using the app to mop or vacuum at your convenience. It has a long battery life that can last for up to 180 minutes before it requires to recharge.

1. Easy to operate

Robot vacuums generally require very little effort from you. They utilize navigation tools like sensors lasers, cameras and sensors to navigate through obstacles and collect food particles, dust and pet hair from floors, tiles carpets, hardwood floors and low-pile carpets. Many have boundary strips that allow them to stay within a room’s walls, while pricier models can be set to automatically wake up and start cleaning at a predetermined time. Some models include fall detection technology to help them avoid falling down a flight of stairs or getting caught in cords.

Find models that you can control from your couch using voice assistants like Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also select Wi-Fi models that permit you to start a cleaning session anywhere using an app. You may prefer one with a long-lasting battery, as well as a large dustbin, depending on the size of your home.

Some robot vacuums can also be mopping machines. They make use of water reservoirs to clean the floor. This is great for mopping, but not for tough messes like pet poop and other wet spills. You can select hybrids with an able mopping pad made of microfiber, or a self-emptying version that allows you to go for up to 60 days before emptying the base.

1. Smart Mapping

Some robots use advanced mapping technology to create a precise map as they clean. This helps them avoid hitting furniture and getting caught on cords or chairs. This feature is usually only available on higher-end models, but it’s certainly one of the best ways to make sure that your robot has an accurate understanding of the layout of your house and is aware of where to go when it’s low on battery.

Most robots let you create virtual barriers. This can be done through an app or physically-based boundary strips. You can block off areas you don’t want your robot to access in order to concentrate on rooms that require the most attention.

A lot of robots can also automatically switch floors based on the kind of floor they are cleaning. This can be accomplished by switching from carpet to hard flooring or by paying attention to specific areas of your house like corners and baseboards. In our tests it was a great feature that improved their scores on picking up carpeting made of low-pile or hardwood. It’s important to tuck away any furniture or cords that are loose before using your robot vacuum to ensure that it doesn’t get caught.

1. Remote Control

The majority of robot vacuums have WiFi capabilities and can be controlled using voice commands, Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa or Siri Shortcuts. Many connect to smart home systems and create an outline of your space after each cleaning session, to “learn” your layout and plan more efficient routes for future trips. Some come with 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 you can use to control them around your home. However, many can be controlled via an app on your mobile that comes with additional options. You can typically set multiple cleaning schedules, build the list of rooms you like and even manually guide your robot around specific areas by using directions on the screen.

Some models have no-go zones. These are virtual barriers you can set up within the app to block the robot from entering certain areas (like toys for children or dishes and dog beds). Other apps allow you to set up a map of your home and provide the robot with precise information about your floors. The app on our top pick one, the Roborock S7+, has many useful options to help you tidy your house, but its interface isn’t as polished as the ones from iRobot and Shark.

1. Long Battery Life

Robotic vacs that can clean throughout the house without stopping to recharge or empty their trash bins can save you time and energy. Some of them work with smart home platforms like Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri Shortcuts for hands-free operation. They can also create maps of the area to allow you to program them for certain rooms or areas and to avoid obstacles.

The majority of robot vacuums detect objects, but the iRobot J7 has advanced features, such as “home mapping” and obstacle avoidance. These features can make your life easier (although one of our test robots did “eat” two socks). If you’re trying to improve your home maintenance, consider a robot mop with a water container that you can fill and empty.

While no of the models we tested could compete with the dirt-picking power of a standup vacuum, they did a great job cleaning hard floors and low pile carpets. They excel in sweeping up dust and food particles, dirt tracked in and pet hair. They can even tackle some stray cat litter and metal screws and nuts. The most effective robot vacuums are able to clean corners and edges and can work around furniture. Eufy 11S is a relatively basic and affordable model.

1. Convenient Self-Charging

With the proper setup, a robot vacuum can help you keep your home looking and feeling cleaner regularly, without a lot of effort. You can schedule cleanings through the app, and designate no-go areas so that the robot won’t walk on your plants or favorite chair. Many of our top picks also automatically empty their trash bins and clean their docking stations for you.

The top robot vacuums can be programmed to clean your floors regularly for weeks or even months at a time, removing you from the time-consuming task of manually cleaning your floors on a daily or weekly basis. This helps you spend more time doing things you like and reduces the amount of time your floors need to be cleaned manually.

In our tests during testing, Q Revo was able grab fine particles like baking soda and oatmeal. It also grabbed heavier particles such as nails and screws made of metal, as well as fluffy things like pet hair. It’s not equipped with the advanced mapping and objects avoidance features of our top picks, however it’s adequate for the majority of families.

The best aspect of the j7 robot mop vacuum is that it makes use of cameras and processor-powered smarts to recognize and avoid obstacles like shoes, power cords, socks and pet waste. This means that you don’t need to spend time tidying up before you can run your robot, but clutter in your home can mean your robot could get stuck and not be able to do the job as well.