How to Find the Best Robot Vacuum
If you don't require advanced features such as mapping and don't mind emptying your dustbin every 60 to 90 days A basic robot vacuum is probably suitable for you. Find an option that is clean and is compatible with voice assistants.
It excels at removing dirt, clumps of cat litter and pet hair on hardwood floors, tile and low-pile carpeting better than any other vacuum we've tried. It can also map out and create virtual no-go zones in rooms or areas.
1. Powerful Suction
A robot vacuum can help you keep up with the dust, pet fur and dander that settles on your floor each day. It can also reduce the frequency at which you have to deep clean which will save you time and effort. The best models have powerful suction, which can tackle most messes with ease and leave your house cleaner.
A robot vacuum that also mop can help you cover more ground by using just one machine. This is especially beneficial in larger homes. narwal robot vacuum can find a model with a tank for water either built into the chassis or as an extra piece that you can take out after vacuuming. You'll have to empty it and fill it up, however, so this is an additional chore that requires some extra effort on your part.
In a perfect universe it would be ideal to clean your floors before using your robot vacuum, preventing it from crashing into anything. However, in the majority of homes, this isn't feasible or desirable. Thankfully, most models allow you to use your smartphone to create virtual barriers that the robot will see and avoid. Some include no-go zones, which can be used to mark areas you don't want the robot to enter, such as kids rooms or a pile of cords for your device in the corner.
This model is a great option if you're looking for a basic robot cleaner that does not have all the bells and whistles. It's quiet, it can be used on hard floors as well as carpets with low pile and can be programmed via the app to vacuum and mop at your own convenience. It has a good battery life, and can last for up to 180 minutes before it needs to recharge.
2. Simple to operate
In general, robot vacuums require very little input from you. They use navigation tools like sensors, lasers and cameras to maneuver around obstacles and suck up dust, food crumbs and pet hair from hard floors, tile, hardwood and low-pile carpets. Many models have boundary strips that allow them to remain in a room. Higher-end models can be programmed to wake up at a specific time and start cleaning. Some models even have fall detection technology that helps them avoid falling down the stairs or getting tangled in electrical cords.
Find models that allow you to control from your couch using voice assistants like Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also choose Wi-Fi models that permit users to start cleaning from anywhere with an app. Depending on how big your house is, you may want an item with a long battery life and a large dust bin that doesn't have to be regularly emptied.
Some robot vacuums double as mops, utilizing water reservoirs to clean your floor. This is ideal for mopping, but not ideal for difficult messes such as pet poop and other spills. There are hybrids that have an ejectable microfiber pad for mopping, or you can choose a self-emptying model that lets you go for 30 to 60 days without needing to empty the base.
3. Smart Mapping
Some robots use advanced mapping technology to build a detailed map as they clean. This allows them to avoid crashing into furniture and getting caught on cords or legs of chairs. This feature is usually only available on higher-end models, but it's certainly one of the best ways to make sure your robot has a full understanding of the layout of your house and can determine where to go when it runs out of battery.
If you don't want your robot to venture into areas of your home you'd prefer to keep it away from (like your kids' toys or the mess of device cords in the corner), most robots offer the possibility of creating virtual barriers, either through their app or physical boundary strips. You can block off areas you don't want your robot to go into, so that it can focus on the areas that require the most attention.
A lot of robots are able to automatically navigate to different flooring types according to the type of surface 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 this was a helpful feature that improved their performance in picking up hardwood and low-pile carpeting. It's important to tuck away any furniture or cords that are loose prior to using your robot vacuum, so it doesn't get caught.
4. Remote Control
Most 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 generate a map of the space they clean after each cleaning session. This lets them "learn" the way your home is laid out, and then plan more efficient routes in future cleaning sessions. Some come with obstacle avoidance features built in that prevents them from causing damage to furniture or getting stuck on things like loose charging cables or pet hair.
Most robots come with a remote you can use to steer them around your home. However, many can be controlled via an app for mobile devices that offers more options. You can typically set up multiple cleaning schedules, make an inventory of your favorite rooms and even manually guide your robot around specific areas by using directional arrows that appear on the screen.
Some models offer no-go zones These are virtual barriers you can create in the app to block the robot from entering certain areas (like toys for children or dog bowls and beds). Other apps allow you to set up the map of your house and provide the robot with detailed information about your floors. The app we ranked as our top pick Roborock S7+, the Roborock S7+, has a lot of useful options to help you clean your house, but its interface isn't as polished as those from iRobot and Shark.
5. Long Battery Life
Robot vacuums that can sweep your entire house without stopping for a recharge or to empty their dustbins save time and effort. Some robot vacuums work with smart home devices like Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri Shortcuts to enable hands-free operation. They can also create a map of the space to allow you to program them for certain areas or rooms, and to avoid obstacles.
The majority of robot vacuums detect objects, but the iRobot j7 comes with advanced features like "home mapping" and obstacle avoidance. These features can simplify your life (although one of our test bots did "eat" two socks). If you're trying to improve your home maintenance, think about an automated mop that comes 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 of cleaning hard floors and carpets with a low pile. 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 best robot vacs can easily maneuver around furniture and are great at cleaning corners and edges as well. For an affordable model that can work by itself and is relatively inexpensive, check out the Eufy 11S.
6. Convenient Self-Charging
A robot vacuum can keep your home tidy and clean without doing much work. It is possible to schedule cleanings with the app, and create no-go zones so that the robot won't walk on your plants or favorite chair. A majority of our top picks empty their dustbins and clean their docking station.
The most effective robot vacuums are programmable to keep your floors clean for weeks or even months at a time, thereby saving you the time and effort of manually mopping or sweeping your floors every week or every day. This allows you to spend more time on things you love and decreases the amount of time your floors need to be cleaned manually.
In the course of testing, the Q Revo was able to capture small particles such as oatmeal and baking soda as well as heavier debris such nails and screws made of steel as well as fluffy things such as hair from pets. It lacks the smart mapping and object-avoiding features found in our top picks, but it is still a great option for most families.
The most appealing aspect of the j7 robot is that it uses camera and processor-powered smarts to detect and avoid obstacles like shoes, power cords, socks, and pet waste. This means that you don't have to tidy up before using your robot. However, messy rooms could cause your robot to get stuck and do a poor job.