How to Find the Best Robot Vacuum
If you don't require advanced features such as mapping and aren't worried about emptying your bin every 60 to 90 days, a basic robotic vacuum is probably suitable for you. Pick a model that has clean and tidy base that is compatible with voice assistants.
It is the best vacuum we have tested in getting rid of dirt and pet hair from hardwood floors, tile, and low-pile carpeting. It also has the ability to map out and set virtual no-go zones in rooms or certain 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 daily basis. It can also reduce the frequency at which you have to clean your floors which will save your time and effort. The most effective models have powerful suction that will easily take on the most difficult messes and leave your home sparkling clean.
You can cover a larger area by using a robot vacuum and mop, which is particularly useful if you have a large home. There are models with a water tank either built into the chassis or as an extra piece that you can swap out after vacuuming. You'll need to empty and fill it up, however, so this is an additional task that requires some extra effort on your part.
In a perfect world, you'd clear your floors prior to using your robot vacuum to keep it from running into things. In the majority of homes, however it's not feasible or desirable. The majority of models let you use an app that you can install on your phone to create virtual barriers that the robot will detect. Some include no-go zones, which can be used to mark areas you don't want it to access, such as children rooms or a pile of cords for your device in the corner.
If you're looking for a simple robot vacuum that doesn't have all the bells and whistles, this model from networking company TP-Link is a great choice. It is quiet, works on both hard floors and carpets with low pile and can be programmed using the app to mop and vacuum at your leisure. It's got a long battery life, which can last for up to 180 minutes before it requires to recharge.
2. Simple to operate
In general robot vacuums require little input from you. i loved this utilize instruments for navigation, such as sensors cameras, lasers, and sensors to move and collect pet hair, dust and food crumbs off tiles, hard floors and hardwood. Many have boundary strips that aid in staying 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 that helps them avoid falling down stairs or becoming tangled in cords.
If you'd like to control your robot vacuum from the comfort of a couch, search for models that work with voice assistants such as Alexa and Google Assistant. You can also select Wi-Fi models that allow you to begin cleaning anywhere you want using an app. You may want to select a model that has an extremely long-lasting battery as well as a large dust bin, depending on the size of your home.
Some robot vacuums can double as mops, using reservoirs of water to clean your floor. This is great for everyday mopping, but will not work for extra-tough messes, like pet poop, or other spills that get wet. There are hybrids that come with an ejectable microfiber pad for mopping, or choose a self-emptying model that lets you use the device for 30 to 60 days without needing to empty the base.
3. Smart Mapping
Some robots use advanced mapping technology to create a detailed map as they clean. This allows them to avoid crashing into furniture or tripping over cords or legs of chairs. This feature is typically only available on higher-end models, but it's one of the best ways to make sure that your robot has an accurate understanding of the layout of your house and knows where to go next when it runs out of battery.
If you don't want your robot navigating into areas of your house that you'd prefer it to stay clear from (like your kids' toys or the mess of device cords in the corner) Most robots provide some method of creating virtual barriers, either via their apps or a set of physical boundary strips. You can block off areas you don't want your robot to go into to allow it to concentrate on rooms that require the most attention.
Many robots also have the ability to automatically navigate to different floorings according to the type of flooring they're cleaning, be it they're switching between hard flooring and carpet or focusing on certain areas of your home, such as corners and baseboards. In our tests it was a great feature that improved their pick-up scores for both carpeting made of low-pile or hardwood. It is important to secure any loose cords or furniture before using your robot vacuum, so it doesn't get caught.
4. Remote Control
Most robot vacuums are WiFi-connected and work with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri Shortcuts that enable you to control them via voice commands or from your smartphone. Many robot vacuums connect to smart home systems, and generate an outline of the area they clean after each session. This lets them "learn" the way your home is laid out, and then plan more efficient routes during future cleaning sessions. Some have obstacle avoidance built in, which 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 that you can use to pilot them around your home. The majority of robots can be controlled by a mobile app that comes with more features. You can set up a variety of cleaning schedules and create an agenda of your most-loved rooms. You can also manually direct the robot using direction the arrows.
Certain models have no-go zones that are virtual barriers you can set up within the app to prevent the robot from entering certain areas (like toys for kids or dog beds and bowls). Other apps allow you to create a map of your home and provide the robot with precise information about your floors. The app that we recommend as our top pick Roborock S7+, the Roborock S7+, has a lot of useful options to help you clean your home, however its interface isn't as polished as those from iRobot and Shark.
5. Long Battery Life
Robot vacuums that clean your entire home without stopping for a recharge or to empty their dustbins save time and effort. Some work with smart home platforms like Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri Shortcuts to allow hands-free operation. They can also create maps of the area to allow you to program them to specific rooms or areas and to stay clear of obstacles.
The majority of robot vacuums can detect objects, however the iRobot J7 has 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 take your home maintenance even further opt for a robotic mop with a water tank that can be filled and then empty.
While no of the models we tested could match the ability to pick up dirt of a standup vacuum, they did an excellent job cleaning hard floors as well as low pile carpets. They excel in sweeping up dust and food particles, dirt tracked in and pet hair. They can also handle screws and nuts made of metal, as well as cats' litter. The top robot vacuums can effortlessly work through furniture, and they do a great job of cleaning corners and edges as well. For a basic model that works by itself and is reasonably priced, check out the Eufy 11S.
6. Convenient Self-Charging
A robot vacuum can help keep your home clean and tidy without doing much work. You can schedule cleanings in the app and set up zones that are not allowed to enter so that your robot doesn't harm your plants or ruin your favorite chair. Many of our top picks automatically empty their bins and clean their docking stations for you.
The top robot vacuums can be programmed to keep your floors clean for months or weeks at a stretch, making it easier to save time and effort of manually mopping or sweeping your floors every single week or day. This lets you spend more time doing things you enjoy and reduces the amount of time your floors need to be cleaned manually.
In our tests the Q Revo was able to grab fine particles like oatmeal and baking soda, heavier debris such as nails and screws made of metal as well as fluffy things like hair from pets. It lacks the advanced mapping and object-avoiding features found in our top picks but is still a good choice for most families.
The greatest aspect of the j7 robot is that it uses camera and processor-powered smarts to recognize and avoid obstacles such as power cords, shoes socks, and pet waste. This means that you don't have to clean up after using your robot. However, rooms that are cluttered could cause your robot to become stuck and perform poorly.