Buzzwords De-Buzzed: 10 Different Ways To Deliver Robot Vac

Top Rated Robot Vacuums

A robot vacuum can keep your floors clean enough to reduce the frequency of hoovering manually. Choose one that has an easy navigation, can clean corners and stairs, and has a large dust bin that requires emptying only every few times.

There are models that can mop and charge themselves, which is a feature that is essential for families with children or pets. A lot of the top performers in our tests have good obstacle avoidance.

1. Roomba iRobot i3+ from iRobot EVO

The i3+ EVO is similar to its sibling, the i3 EVO. They differ only in the fact that the i3+ comes with self-emptying capabilities. The i3+ is an excellent alternative for those who want a an entirely automated, hands-free cleaning experience, but want to manually empty the dust bin after it has filled up.

Both robots do well picking up surface debris off hard floors and carpets, and they are very good at getting around furniture and other obstacles. iAdapt navigation software creates a smart map of your home to help the i3+ navigate and clean efficiently. However, unlike the i7+ and other top rated robots we tested, the i3+ doesn't have any obstacle-avoidance features and therefore it could get stuck on things like socks or power cords, and it can have difficulty navigating across surface transitions like hardwood to carpet.

iRobot suggests that you clean the area around the i3+ EVO vacuums prior to using it. This includes getting rid of any toys or other items it might encounter. You should also keep the filters and dust bin free of dirt to prevent them from becoming clogged. When the i3+ EVO’s internal bin is empty or the battery is not fully charged, it returns to the docking station, and it automatically emptys the dirt into the docking station's dust bin. It then continues cleaning from where it began. The i3+ EVO's battery can last for about an hour and a half continuous use, and takes around three hours to fully recharge.

2. Roomba from iRobot

The iRobot i7+ is an excellent model from iRobot's flagship line and comes with the most recent features. It's self-charging, self-navigating and -- the most important feature of all -- it has self cleaning vacuum cleaner-emptying bins that eliminate one of the main sources of maintenance for any robot vacuum.

The Roomba I7+ is able to make rooms more efficient maps using Imprint Smart Mapping. It also works with the iRobot Home app to let you schedule cleaning jobs and control your robot using voice or via the app.

The i7+ is faster and more agile in our tests than the eufy RoboVac G30. It also cleaned large pet hair pieces from any surface, including carpeting. The biggest benefit over the eufy the dust bin is self-emptying, which eliminates a major source of maintenance and cuts down on the cost of maintenance.

We were also impressed by the i7+'s compatibility with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant AI services. We used these services to instruct the robot to start or stop cleaning sessions as well as move around the room, and even vacuum a specific area. Connecting the i7+ to these services was simple and easy with the iRobot Home app. After being connected, to voice commands to the i7+ like "Hey Alexa vacuum the master bedroom." The iRobot Home app also provides options to manage the i7+'s settings and monitoring its performance.

3. Dyson Cyclone V10

This tiny Dyson model is an all-sports car in a world of vacuums with cords that feel like minivans and buses. It is powerful enough to replace a traditional stand-up vacuum in most homes, but it is also compact enough to fit on a coffee table or bookcase.

The V10 is powered with a 7-cell energy-dense Lithium-ion battery that produces power without fading for 60 minutes. The advanced whole-machine filtering system captures allergens, and then releases fresh air into your home. Its cleaning head is specially designed and drives bristles of nylon that are stiff and deep into carpet to suck up large particles and fine dust. It comes with three suction settings to meet the task at hand. It swiftly switches from floor vac to handheld vacuum and back.

This model also has a dock that charges to 100% in 3.5 hours, and gives users easy access to two attachments and the clip for a wand. This is a significant improvement over earlier Dysons models, which require a lengthy charge and are a pain to store.

The main drawback of the V10 is its sluggish run time. The claims of its marketing that it can last up to 60 minutes of running time are misleading as CR's tests have shown. This is a common battery-powered cordless vacuum's running time. This is enough time to vacuum the average-sized home, but not enough to reach every spot. (A second time is usually sufficient). However, this model doesn't have its benefits It's lighter and more mobile than the older cordless Dysons and its vacuuming efficiency is better on carpets with low pile.

4. iRobot Roomba 694

The 694 is a standard robot vacuum that's an excellent choice for those who don't have lots of money to invest in the latest model of robot. It's capable of sucking up most debris types and sizes during our tests, and often goes over the same areas several times to ensure a thorough clean. Its flat front design allows it to reach the corners and edges of walls.

Its navigation system is smart and uses iAdapt to avoid obstacles and navigate your home, but it isn't equipped with the mapping capability of more sophisticated models such as our top rated robot vacuum choices such as the i3+ EVO and the j7+ series. It can get stuck on phone cords or low furniture and will often run out of power before returning to its base.

The Xiaomi Mi robot vacuum is superior to the Roomba 694 in most respects in that it has fewer parts that require regular maintenance and is equipped with an allergen-trapping HEPA filter, incurs lower recurring costs, has more advanced automation capabilities and is more efficient in maneuvering itself. It also has a larger dustbin and is charged faster.

The eufy RoboVac X8 is superior to the Roomba 694 for most reasons, since it has a better battery life, the ability to change its suction power mode manually and has physical boundary strips, and can be operated by your phone's voice assistant. It also feels better-built, has a more powerful motor, and performs notably better on bare floors and carpets with low pile, while providing a wider array of features for automation.

5. Samsung Jet Bot AI+

Samsung is a brand is found on all kinds of electronic gadgets for your home So it's no surprise that they're also one of the top robot vacuum and mop manufacturers. Jet Bot AI+ has the most advanced onboard technology for navigation and obstacle avoidance.

The app offers a variety of options to customize your robotic cleaner. This includes mopping levels, virtual barriers and behavior modifications docking frequency settings, and more. It's simple to comprehend and is user-friendly, which is the case with other Samsung devices.

In our tests, the Jet Bot AI+ excelled on hard floors and handled dog hair (on carpet) quite well, clearing up 86% of it. However, it didn't do particularly well in avoiding taller objects like cords and socks which was disappointing. It's also more expensive than other models we've tested, and this could be a problem for some buyers.

The smart vacuum comes with an onboard camera that can be accessed through the app. You can also set up a live stream from the robot's cleaning station. This feature allows you to check in on your pets or children while you're away. The dustbin and the filter can be cleaned to ensure a quick, painless clean-up. The Jet Bot AI+ also has a clean station that's self-emptying and helps keep the robot's trash bin clean and maximizes suction power for each cleaning.

6. Black & Decker Robot Vacuum

Black and Decker robots have been designed specifically for flooring made of hard wood. They have a wider cleaning path and a larger dustbin that holds 2X more debris than competitors to keep the area free of debris for the longest period of time. Additionally, they come with two side sweepers that clean up around edges and in corners. The POWERSERIES model also comes with AutoSense that automatically adjusts the power level depending on whether it's cleaning up surface dirt or embedded dirt. It also includes a smart application that lets you browse the virtual map and manage functions and schedules. Plus, you can monitor the status of the vacuum's battery and then return it to its dock to charge by pressing one button. The app also allows you to personalize the LED lights on the top rated robot vacuum of the vacuum by using different colors so you can easily tell what areas it's focusing on or where it's gotten stuck.

The app also makes it simple to steer the robot manually should you need to. My living room rug for instance, has a darkly-colored border which could cause a problem for other robots. The HRV 425BL, however was able to continue to move across the border, without notifying the cliff. Also, the ability to create weekly cleaning schedules is a fantastic time-saving feature.