Top Rated Robot Vacuums
A robot vacuum can keep your floors tidy enough to cut down on the frequency of hoovering manually. Select a vacuum with good navigation, is able to clean corners and stairs, and that has large bins that needs to be emptied periodically.
You can also find models that mop and charge themselves, a feature that may be beneficial for those with pets or children. Many of the best performers in our tests have great obstacles to avoid.
1. iRobot Roomba i3+ EVO
The i3+ EVO and its sibling, the i3 EVO, are identical robots that differ only in that the i3+ has self-emptying features. The i3+ is a great alternative for those who want a an entirely automated, hands-free cleaning experience but are willing to manually empty the dustbin of the robot when it is full.
Both robots are proficient at removing surface dirt on floors and carpets and are able to move around furniture and other obstacles. iAdapt navigation software creates smart maps of your home that help the i3+ navigate and clean up efficiently. However unlike the i7+ or other top rated robots we tested, the i3+ doesn't have a feature for avoiding obstacles and therefore it could be stuck on things like socks or power cords and may have issues traversing transitions across surfaces like from hardwood to rug.
iRobot recommends clearing areas where the i3+ EVO will vacuum before you use it, which includes putting away any toys or clutter it may come across. It is also recommended to keep the dustbin and filters free of dirt to prevent them from becoming clogged. If the i3+ EVO's internal bin is full or its battery is depleted it will return to its docking station, automatically emptying its dirt into the station's dust bin and continues cleaning the area where it left off. The i3+ EVO's batteries last for approximately an hour and a half continuous use. It takes around three hours to recharge.
2. IRobot Roomba i7+
The iRobot Roomba i7+ is the most powerful model in the iRobot flagship line, and it is equipped with the most recent features. It is self-charging and self-navigating, but the most important feature is its auto-emptying bin. This removes the need for regular maintenance.
The Roomba i7+ is able to remember up to 10 floor plans and their names using Imprint Smart Mapping, an application that lets it map rooms so it can clean them more efficiently. It also works with the iRobot Home app to let you schedule cleaning tasks and control your robot with voice or through the app.
The i7+ is quicker and more maneuverable in our tests compared to the eufy RoboVac G30. It also picked up large pet hair pieces from all surfaces, including carpeting. The biggest advantage over the Eufy is its self-emptying bin, which removes major maintenance sources and lowers the cost of recurring maintenance.
We were also amazed by the i7+'s compatibility Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant AI services that we used to instruct the robot to begin, stop or pause its cleaning session and to move around the room and sweep the area. The iRobot Home App made it easy to connect the i7+ to these services. After being connected, to voice commands to the i7+ such as "Hey Alexa vacuum the master bedroom." The iRobot Home App also offers options for managing i7+ settings and monitoring performance.
3. Dyson Cyclone V10
In a world of cordless vacs that feel like minivans or buses, this tiny Dyson model feels like an automobile. It's powerful and has features to replace a stand-up vacuum for many households, but it also fits perfectly next to a coffee table or on shelves that you can spin around like the magic wand.
The V10 is powered by a 7-cell, energy-dense lithium-ion battery which produces continuous, non-fading power for 60 minutes. The advanced whole-machine filtering system is able to trap allergens and then lets cleaner air into your home. Its specialized head uses stiff nylon bristles that penetrate deep into carpets and pick up large crumbs or fine dust. It comes with three suction settings to match the task being performed. It is able to quickly change between handheld and floor vacuum and vice versa.
This model has a dock that can charge the Dyson to 100 percent in 3.5 hours. It also gives the ability to connect two attachments as well as an Wand. This is a huge improvement over earlier Dysons, that require a long charge and are a pain to store.
The main issue with the V10 is its short running time. The tests conducted by CR show that its claims to run up to 60 minutes are misleading. This is a typical battery-powered cordless vacuum's run time. This is still enough to vacuum the majority of an average-sized house however, it's not enough to clean every spot (though an additional run-through often does the trick). This model has its own advantages however: it's lighter and more mobile than previous Dysons cordless models and its ability to vacuum is noticeably superior for carpet floors with low pile.
4. iRobot Roomba 694
One of iRobot's most adored robot vacuums, the 694 is a basic model that's a good option for those who don't want to invest too much money on a robot. It could pick up all kinds of debris and sizes during our tests, and frequently went over the same area multiple times for a thorough clean. Its flat front side helps it to reach into corners and along the walls' edges, which is a nice touch.
Its intelligent navigation system makes use of iAdapt to avoid obstacles and navigate around your home, but it lacks the mapping capabilities of more advanced models like our top choices and the i3+ EVO and the j7+ series. As a result, it is sometimes stuck on things like phone cords or furniture that isn't as sturdy, and frequently runs out of battery power before returning to its base.
The Xiaomi Mi robot is superior in many ways over the Roomba 694 in that it has fewer components that require regular cleaning, comes with an allergen-trapping HEPA filtering system, incurs lower recurring cost, has more advanced automation capabilities and can better move its own. It also has a larger dustbin and charges faster.
The eufy RoboVac X8 has a superior battery life than the Roomba. It also comes with physical boundaries strips and can be controlled with your smartphone's voice assistant. It also feels more sturdy and has a more powerful motor, and is able to perform better on bare floors and carpets with low pile, while offering a wider range of automation options.
5. Samsung Jet Bot AI+
Samsung is a name that is found on all kinds of electronic gadgets for your home, so it comes as no surprise that they're also one of the most popular robotic vacuum and mop makers. Jet Bot AI+ has a cutting-edge onboard technology to navigate and avoid obstacles.
The app provides a range of options for customizing your robotic cleaner. These include mopping levels, virtual barriers and behavior modifications docking frequency settings and more. It's simple to comprehend and easy to use, just as is the case with other Samsung devices.
In our tests our tests, the Jet Bot AI+ excelled on hard floors and handled dog hair (on carpet) quite well, cleaning up 86 percent of it. However, it did not do particularly well in avoiding higher-up objects like cords or socks which was disappointing. It's also a little more expensive than the other models we tested and could be a problem for certain shoppers.
The app lets you access the camera onboard of the smart vacuum. You can also create live streaming from the robot's area of cleaning. This feature allows you check in on your children or pets when you are away. The filter and the dustbin can be cleaned to ensure an easy, quick clean-up. The Jet Bot AI+ also comes with a clean station that self-empties, which helps keep the robot's dustbin clean and optimizes its suction power for each cleaning run.
6. Black & Decker Robot Vacuum
Unlike other robotic vacuums, which are designed for both hard floors and carpets, Black and Decker robots are designed specifically for hard floors. They have an extra-wide cleaning path and a dustbin that is 2X bigger than the competitors. This allows them to keep the area clean for longer. Additionally, best vacuums come with two side sweepers to clean up around edges and in corners. The POWERSERIES model includes AutoSense which adjusts the power level according to whether it's cleaning up surface dirt or embedded dirt. It also includes a smart application that lets you browse the virtual map, and control functions and schedules. You can also monitor the battery's status and then return it to its dock for charging at the push of a button. The app also lets you to customize the lights on top of the vacuum by using different colors so you can clearly see what areas it's focusing on or where it's stuck.
The app allows you to manually steer the robot in the event of need. My living room rug for instance has a dark-colored border which could cause a problem for other robots. The HRV 425BL, however was able to continue to move across the border without registering the cliff. The ability to program a daily cleaning schedule for each week is a time-saving convenience.