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 could be for you. Choose a model with a clean base that works with voice assistants.

It excels at removing dirt, cat litter and pet hair on hardwood floors, tile and carpeting that is lower-pile better than any other vacuum we've tried. It can also map and create virtual no-go zones for rooms and areas.

1. Powerful Suction

A robot vacuum will help you keep track of the pet fur, dust and dander that settles on your floors every day. It can also reduce the frequency at which you have to clean your floors and saves you time and effort. The best model has powerful suction that is able to clean up most mess and leave your home clean.

You can cover a larger area by using a robot vacuum and mop, which can be beneficial if you live in a large home. You can find a model that has a water tank integrated into the chassis or as an extra piece that you can remove after vacuuming. It will need to be empty and refill it, however, so this is an additional chore that requires some extra effort on your part.

In a perfect world, you would clear your floors first before you use your robot vacuum, preventing it from hitting anything. But in most homes, this isn't possible or desirable. Thankfully, most models allow you to use your smartphone to create virtual barriers that the robot will see and avoid. Some have no-go zones which you can use to mark areas you don't want the robot to be in, like kids rooms or a stack of device cords in the corner.

If you're looking for a simple robot vacuum that doesn't have all the bells and whistles, this model made by the company that makes networking TP-Link is a great option. It's quiet and can be used on hard floors as well as low-pile carpets and can be programmed via the app to mop and vacuum at your leisure. It has a good battery life, and Best Buy Robot Vacuum can last up to 180 minutes before it needs to recharge.

2. Easy to Operate

In general, robot vacuums require very little input from you. They make use of navigational tools such as sensors lasers, cameras, and sensors to move around and collect dust, pet hair and food crumbs from hard floors, tile and hardwood. Many models have boundary strips to help them remain in a room. More expensive models can be programmed to get up at a particular time and start cleaning. Some models have fall detection technology to help them avoid falling down stairs or getting caught in cords.

If you want to control your robot vacuum from the comfort of a couch, search for models that work with voice assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant. You can also pick Wi-Fi models that permit you to start cleaning from anywhere with an app. You might want to choose an option with a long-lasting battery and a large dust bin, depending on the size of your home.

Some robot vacuums double as mops, utilizing water reservoirs to clean your floors. This is great for everyday mopping, but will not work for extra-tough messes, like pet poop, or other spills that are wet. You can find hybrids with a removable microfiber pad for mopping, or opt for a self-emptying model that lets you go 30 to 60 days without needing to empty the base.

3. Smart Mapping

Some robots use advanced mapping technology to create a detailed map while they clean. This makes it easier to avoid crashing into furniture or tripping over cords or chair legs. This feature is typically only available on higher-end models, but it's certainly one of the most effective ways to ensure that your robot has an accurate understanding of the layout of your house and is aware of where to go when it's running out of battery.

The majority of robots allow you to create virtual barriers. This can be done via an application or even physical boundary strips. This lets you define areas that you do not want your robot to explore, so that it can focus its attention on areas that require the most cleaning.

Many robots also have the ability to automatically navigate to different floorings depending on the surface they're cleaning, whether that's changing between hard and carpet or focusing on particular areas of your home, such as baseboards and corners. This feature proved helpful in our tests and improved the vacuum's performance on both hardwood flooring and carpet flooring with low pile. It is essential to put away any loose cords or furniture prior to using your robot vacuum, to ensure that 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 connect to smart home systems and create an outline of your space after each cleaning session, so that they can "learn" your layout and design more efficient routes for future trips. Some have built-in obstacle avoidance, which stops them from hitting and damaging furniture or getting stuck on things like loose charging cables, shoe laces and pet hair.

Most robots have an remote control that can be used to guide them around your house. The majority of robots can be operated by mobile applications that comes with more features. It is possible to set up multiple cleaning schedules, make a list of favorite rooms and even manually guide your robot to certain areas using directional arrows on the screen.

Some models have no-go zones. These are virtual barriers can be created within the app to block the robot from accessing certain areas (like toys for children or dishes and dog beds). Certain apps let you draw a map of your house and provide detailed information about the floors. The app we ranked as our top pick one, the Roborock S7+, has numerous options to help you clean your home, however its interface isn't as polished and elegant as those from iRobot and Shark.

5. Long Battery Life

Robotic vacuums that can sweep throughout the house without stopping to recharge or empty their dust bins can save you time and energy. Some work with smart home platforms such as Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri Shortcuts for hands-free operation. They can also make a map of your space that allows you to program them to clean certain areas or rooms, and to beware of obstacles.

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

While none of the models that we tested could match the dirt-picking ability of a stand-up automatic vacuum and mop robot, they did a great job of cleaning hard floors and carpets with a low pile. They excel in sweeping up dust and debris, food dust, tracked-in dirt, and pet hair. They can also tackle stray cat litter and metal screws and nuts. The most effective robot vacuums are able to easily work their way around furniture, and they are great at cleaning edges and corners as well. Eufy 11S is a relatively basic and affordable model.

6. Convenient Self-Charging

A robot vacuum can keep your home tidy and clean without you having to do lots of work. You can schedule cleanings through the app and create zones that are not allowed to enter so that your robot doesn't harm your plants or your favorite chair. The majority of our top picks automatically empty their trash bins and clean their docking stations for you.

The best buy Robot Vacuum robot vacuums can be programmed to clean your floors on a regular basis for weeks or even months at a stretch, freeing you from the arduous task of manually sweeping and mopping your floors on a weekly or daily basis. This helps you spend more time on things you like and cuts down on the amount of time that your floors require to be cleaned manually.

In our tests, the Q Revo was able to grab tiny particles such as oatmeal and baking soda and heavier debris like nails and screws made of metal as well as fluffy things such as hair from pets. It's not equipped with the advanced mapping and object avoidance features of our top picks, but it's adequate for most families.

The most appealing feature of the j7 is that it utilizes camera and processor-powered sensors to identify and avoid obstacles such as power cords, shoes socks, and pet waste. This means you don't have to clean the room prior to running your robot, but clutter in your home can mean your robot could get stuck and not do as good a job.