How to Find the Best Robot Vacuum

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

It excels at picking up dirt, cat litter and pet hair on tile floors, hardwood floors and carpeting that is lower-pile better than any other robo vacuum we've tried. It also has the ability to map out and set virtual no go zones for rooms or specific areas.

1. Powerful Suction

A robot vacuum is able to stay on top of the dust, pet hair and dander that build up on your floors on a daily basis. It can also cut down on how often you need to clean your floors which will save you time and effort. The best robot vacuum for carpet models have powerful suction, which will clean up most mess with ease and leave your house cleaner.

You can cover more area by using a robot vacuum as well as a mop, which can be useful if you have a large house. Look for a model that has a water reservoir either integrated into the chassis or as a separate item that you can swap out when the vacuuming is done. It'll need to be emptied and refilled and refilled, which is an additional task to complete.

In a perfect world you would clean your floors before you use your robot vacuum, preventing it from crashing into anything. However, in the majority of homes, this isn't feasible or desirable. Most robots allow you to make use of an app that you can install on your phone to create virtual barriers that the robot can observe. Some models have no-go zones that you can mark areas you don't wish it to enter. For example, a child's room or a pile cords in a corner.

If you're looking for a basic robot vacuum without all the bells and whistles, this model made by the company that makes networking TP-Link is a great option. It's quiet and works well on hard floors and low-pile rugs and can be scheduled via the app to vacuum or mop at any time. It comes with a battery life of around 180 minutes.

2. Simple to operate

In general robot vacuums require little input from you. They utilize sensors, lasers, and cameras to move and collect dust, pet hair and food crumbs from hard floors, tiles and hardwood. Many have boundary strips that aid in staying within a room's walls, while higher-end models can be programmed to automatically wake up and begin cleaning at a set time. Some models have fall detection technology to help them avoid falling down a flight of stairs or becoming tangled in cords.

If you're looking to control your robot vacuum from the comfort of a couch, you should look for models that can work with voice assistants such as Alexa and Google Assistant. You can also look for Wi-Fi-connected models that let you start a cleaning session from anywhere using an app. You may prefer a model that has a long-lasting battery and a large dustbin, depending on the size of your home.

Some Robot vacuum with self empty vacuums double as mops, utilizing reservoirs of water to wash your floors. This is helpful for regular mopping but won't be effective for messes that are more difficult to clean, like pet poop, or other spills that get wet. There are hybrids that have a removable microfiber pad that can be used for mopping, or choose self-emptying models that let you go 30 to 60 days without needing to empty the base.

3. Smart Mapping

Some robots utilize advanced mapping technologies to build an accurate map of your floorplan as they clean, making it easier for them to avoid bumping mindlessly into furniture or falling over things such as cords or chairs. This feature is only available on the top 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.

If you don't want your robot to venture into areas of your home you'd rather it stay away from (like your children's toys or the tangled mess of gadget cords in the corner) The majority of robots offer some way to create virtual barriers, either via their app or a set of physical boundary strips. You can block off areas you don't want your robot to go into, so that it can focus on the rooms that require the most attention.

Many robots also automatically switch floors based on the flooring they are cleaning. This can be done by changing from carpet to hard flooring, or by paying attention to particular areas of your home like corners and baseboards. In our tests, this was a useful feature that helped improve 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.

4. Remote Control

Most robot vacuums come with WiFi capabilities and can be controlled with voice commands, Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa or Siri Shortcuts. Many robot vacuums connect to smart home systems, and can create a map of the space they clean after each 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 obstacles avoidance built-in, which prevents them from causing damage to furniture or getting stuck on things like loose charging cables or pet hair.

The majority of robots come with the ability to control them with a remote that can be used to guide them around your house. However, most can also be controlled with an app for mobile devices that comes with additional options. You can set up a variety of cleaning schedules and create an inventory of your preferred rooms. You can also manually direct the robot with direction Arrows.

Some models have zones that are not allowed. These are virtual barriers you can create within the app to block the robot from entering certain areas (like toys for kids 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 we ranked as our top choice, the Roborock S7+, has numerous options to help you tidy your home, however its interface isn't as polished as those from iRobot and Shark.

5. Long Battery Life

Robotic vacuums that can sweep a whole house without stopping to recharge or empty their bins of dust save you time and shorl.com effort. Some of them work with smart home platforms such as Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri Shortcuts for hands-free operation. They can also create maps of the area that allows you to program them to specific areas or rooms, and to stay clear of obstacles.

The majority of robot vacuums can detect objects, however 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 bots did "eat" a few socks). If you're seeking to improve the quality of your home maintenance, think about the use of a robot mop and a water container that can be filled and then empty.

While none of the models we tested could compete with the dirt-picking power of a standup vacuum, they did an excellent job of cleaning hard floors and carpets with a low pile. They excel at sweeping up food crumbs, and dirt that has been tracked into. They are also able to tackle scattered cat litter, as well as metal screws and nuts. The most effective robot vacuums can clean edges and corners and can work around furniture. For an affordable model that can work by itself and is comparatively inexpensive, check out the Eufy 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 your cleanings using the app and set up zones that are not allowed to enter so that your robot won't trample your plants or your favourite chair. A majority of our top picks will empty their trash bins for you and clean their docking station.

The best robot vacuums are programmable to clean your floors regularly for weeks or even months at a time, thereby making it easier to save time and effort of manually mopping or sweeping your floors each week or day. This lets you take more time doing the things you enjoy, and decreases the amount of time required to clean your floors manually.

During testing the Q Revo was able to grab small particles like baking soda and oatmeal. It also picked up heavier particles such as nails and screws made of steel, as well as fluffy things like pet hair. It isn't equipped with the advanced mapping and object-avoiding features of our top picks, but is still a great option for families with children.

The greatest thing about the j7 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 have to clean up before using your robot. However, messy rooms can cause your robot to get stuck and do an inadequate job.