How to Find the Best Robot Vacuum

If you can live without smart capabilities like mapping, and don't mind emptying the garbage bin every 60 days or so, a basic robotic vacuum will probably work for you. Look for a model with a clean base and works with voice assistants.

It is the best robot vacuum cleaner and mop 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 in rooms or areas.

1. Powerful Suction

A robot vacuum will stay clean of the pet hair, dust and dander that collects on your floors on a daily basis. It can also cut down on how often you need to do a deeper clean which will save you time and effort. The best model has powerful suction that is able to tackle most messes and leave your home clean.

A robot vacuum mop combo robot that is also able to mop will help you achieve more coverage by using just one machine. This is especially beneficial for homes with a large area. You can find a model that has a water tank in the chassis itself or as an extra piece that you can swap out after vacuuming. It will have to be emptied and refilled in order to complete the task to complete.

In the ideal world, cleaner you'd clear your floors before you used your robot vacuum to prevent it from crashing into objects. In the majority of homes, however it's not feasible or desirable. Thankfully, most models allow you to use a smartphone to create virtual barriers that the robot is able to be aware of and avoid. Some include no-go zones, which can be used to mark areas that you don't want it be in, like kids rooms or a pile of device cords in the corner.

This model is a great option for those looking for an easy robot cleaner that doesn't have all the bells and whistles. It's quiet and works well on both hard floors and low-pile rugs. It can be scheduled through the app to mop or vacuum at your own convenience. It has a good battery life, which can last for up to 180 minutes before it requires to recharge.

2. Easy to Operate

In general robot vacuums require little input from you. They use sensors cameras, lasers, and sensors to move around and collect dust, pet hair and food crumbs off hard floors, tile and hardwood. Many have boundary strips that allow them to stay within the walls of a room, while pricier models can be set to automatically wake up and begin cleaning at a predetermined time. Certain models come with fall detection technology that helps them avoid falling down stairs or getting caught in cords.

If you're looking to control your robot vacuum from the comfort of your couch, search for models that can work with voice assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant. You can also look for models with Wi-Fi connectivity that let you start cleaning from any location using an app. You may prefer one with an extremely long-lasting battery as well as an enormous dust bin, based on the size of your home.

Some robot vacuums can also be mops. They utilize water reservoirs to clean the floor. This is great for mopping, but not for difficult messes such as pet poop and other spills. There are hybrids that come with an ejectable microfiber pad for mopping, or opt for an auto-emptying model that lets you use the device for 30 to 60 days without having to empty the base.

3. Smart Mapping

Some robots employ advanced mapping technology to create a precise map as they clean. This helps them avoid bumping into furniture and cleaner getting caught on cords or chairs. This feature is only available on higher-end models, but it allows your robot to get a complete understanding of your home's layout and to know where it should go when the battery runs out.

Most robots allow you to create virtual barriers. This can be done via an app or physically-based boundary strips. You can block off areas you don't wish your robot to go into, so that it can focus on the rooms that require the most attention.

Many robots also automatically change floors based on the floor they are cleaning. This can be achieved by switching from carpet to hard flooring or by paying attention to specific areas of your house like corners and baseboards. In our tests, this was a useful feature that improved their pick-up scores for both carpeting that is low-pile and hardwood. It is essential to put away any loose cords or furniture prior to using your robot vacuum so that it doesn't become caught.

4. Remote Control

The majority of robot vacuums have WiFi capabilities and can be controlled with voice commands, Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa or Siri Shortcuts. Many connect to smart home systems and build maps of your home after each cleaning session to "learn" your layout and devise more efficient routes for future runs. Some have obstacle avoidance built in to prevent them from causing damage to furniture or getting stuck on objects like loose charging cables or pet hair.

Most robots come with a remote that you can use to control them around your home. The majority of robots can be operated by mobile applications, which offers more features. You can typically set up multiple cleaning schedules, build a list of favorite rooms and even manually guide your robot to specific areas by using directions on the screen.

Some models offer no-go zones, which are virtual barriers that you can configure in the app to block the robot from entering certain areas (like kids' toys or dog bowls and beds). Some apps allow you to create a map of your house and provide detailed information on the floors. The app we ranked as our top pick one, the Roborock S7+, has a lot of useful options to help you clean your home, but its interface isn't as polished as those from iRobot and shark ez robot vacuum.

5. Long Battery Life

Robotic vacs that can clean throughout the house without stopping to recharge or empty their trash bins save you time and effort. Some robot vacuums work with smart home platforms such as Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri Shortcuts to enable hands-free operation. They can also create an image of your living space that allows you to program them to clean certain areas or rooms, and to beware of obstacles.

Most robot vacs have some degree of detection of objects, but higher-end models such as the iRobot j7 come with advanced features such as "home mapping" and advanced obstacle avoidance that can really simplify your life (although our test bot did once "eat" a pair of socks). If you're looking to push your home cleaning to the next level, look for a robotic mop that comes with an water tank that can be filled and then empty.

While no of the models we tested could match the dirt-picking ability of a standup vacuum, they did a great job cleaning hard floors as well as carpets with a low pile. They excel at sweeping up fine dust and debris, food particles, dirt tracked in and pet hair. They are also able to tackle pet litter that is stray and metal screws and nuts. The most effective robot vacuums are able to easily maneuver around furniture and excel at cleaning corners and edges as well. For an affordable model that can work by itself and is reasonably priced look into the eufy robot vacuum 11S.

6. Convenient Self-Charging

A robot vacuum will help keep your home clean and tidy without having to do much work. You can schedule cleanings using the app, and you can set up no-go areas to ensure that your robot does not walk on your plants or favorite chair. Many of our top picks will also empty their dustbins for you and clean their docking stations.

The best robot vacuums can be programmed to clean your floors regularly for months or even weeks at a time, removing you from the time-consuming task of manually sweeping and mopping your floors on a weekly or daily basis. This helps you have more time to do the things you enjoy and reduces the amount of time that your floors require to be cleaned manually.

In the course of testing the Q Revo was able to pick up fine particles like baking soda and oatmeal as well as heavier debris such nails and screws made of steel, and fluffy stuff like hair of pets. It's not equipped with the advanced mapping and object avoidance features found in our top picks, but it's sufficient for the majority of families.

The best aspect of the j7 robot is that it makes use of cameras and processor-powered smarts to detect and avoid obstacles such as power cords, shoes socks, and pet waste. This means that you don't need to clean up before using your robot. However, rooms that are cluttered can cause your robot to become stuck and do a poor job.