So You ve Purchased Robot Vac ... Now What

top rated Robot Vacuum Rated Robot Vacuums

A best buy robot vacuum vacuum can keep the floors clean enough to cut down on the frequency at which you have to manually vacuum. Choose one that has good navigation, can clean stairs and corners, and has a large dust bin that has to be emptied only every few times.

There are models that mop and charge themselves, which is a feature essential for families with children or pets. The top performers in our tests have decent obstacle avoidance.

1. iRobot Roomba i3+ EVO

The i3+ EVO is similar to its sibling the i3 EVO. They differ only in that the i3+ comes with self-emptying capabilities. The i3+ is a great option for those looking for a a fully automated vacuum cleaner, hands-off cleaning experience but are willing to manually empty the dustbin of the robot once it gets full.

Both robots excel at picking up surface debris on hard floors and carpets, and they are very good in maneuvering around furniture and other obstacles. iAdapt navigation software creates intelligent maps of your home that help the i3+ EVO navigate and clean in a way that maximizes efficiency. However unlike the i7+ and other top rated robot vacuum-rated robots we evaluated, the i3+ doesn't have any obstacle-avoidance features and therefore it could be stuck on things like power cords or socks, and may have issues traversing transitions across surfaces like from hardwood to rug.

iRobot suggests that you clean the area in which the i3+ EVO vacuums before using it. This includes getting rid of any toys or other items it might encounter. It's also recommended to keep the bin and filter clear so they don't become clogged with dirt. When the i3+'s internal bin is full or its battery is low it will return to its docking station and automatically empties its trash into the station's external dustbin and continues cleaning the area where it began. Battery life is about an hour and a half of constant use. It takes 3 hours to charge.

2. IRobot Roomba i7+

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

The Roomba i7+ is able to remember up to 10 floor plans and their names with Imprint Smart Mapping, a system that lets it identify rooms to clean them more efficiently. It also works with iRobot Home to schedule cleaning tasks, and you can control your robot through the app or voice.

The i7+ is more efficient and more maneuverable in our tests compared to the eufy RoboVac G30. It also picked up large pet hair pieces from any surface, including carpeting. The biggest advantage over the Eufy is its self-emptying garbage bin, which eliminates the main sources of maintenance and lowers the cost of recurring maintenance.

We were also amazed by the i7+'s compatibility with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant AI services which we used to instruct the robot to begin, stop or pause its cleaning session and move around the room and sweep an area. The process of connecting the i7+ to these services was easy and straightforward through the iRobot Home app. Once connected to these services, we were able give the i7+ voice commands like "Hey Alexa, vacuum the master bedroom." The iRobot Home App also offers options for managing i7+ settings and monitoring the performance.

3. Dyson Cyclone V10

This tiny Dyson model is an athletic car in a world of vacuums powered by cordless that resemble 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 bookcase or coffee table.

The V10 is powered by a seven-cell, energy-dense lithium-ion battery which produces fade-free power for 60 minutes. The advanced whole-machine filtering system is able to trap allergens and then lets cleaner air into your home. Its specialized cleaning head drives bristles made of nylon that are stiff into carpets to trap large dust and crumbs. It comes with three suction modes that can be adapted to the specific task. It is able to swiftly change between handheld and floor vacuum and vice versa.

This model also has docks that charge to 100% in 3.5 hours and provides easy access to two attachments and the wand clip. This is a huge improvement over the older Dysons models, which take a long time to charge and are a pain to store.

The main drawback of the V10 is its limited running time. Its marketing claims that it has up to 60 minutes of running time are not true, as CR's testing shows. This is a typical battery-powered cordless vacuum's running time. This is still enough to vacuum the majority of a typical-sized home however, it's not enough to get every single spot (though an additional run-through often does the trick). However, this model doesn't have its benefits: It's lighter and maneuverable than older cordless Dysons and its vacuuming performance is noticeably better on low-pile carpet.

4. iRobot Roomba 694

One of iRobot's most popular robot vacuums, the 694 is a basic model that's an excellent option for those who don't want to invest too much on a robot. It's capable of sucking up all debris types and sizes during our tests, and it often goes over the same areas many times to ensure a thorough clean. Its flat front design allows it to reach the corners and the edges of walls.

Its intelligent navigation system makes use of iAdapt technology to avoid obstacles and navigate your home. However, it lacks the capabilities for mapping of more advanced models, like our top picks, i3+EVO and the j7+ Series. It can get stuck on phone cords or furniture and will often run out of power before returning to its home base.

The Xiaomi Mi robot is superior in many ways to the Roomba 694 in that it has fewer components that require regular cleaning, is outfitted with an allergen-trapping HEPA filtering system, has a lower costs for recurring expenses and has more advanced automation capabilities and is able to better maneuver itself. It also has a bigger dustbin and charges quicker.

The eufy RoboVac X8 has a superior battery life than the Roomba 694. It also comes with physical boundaries and can be controlled using the voice assistant on your smartphone. It's also more robust, has a more powerful motor, and is more effective on floors with low pile and bare.

5. Samsung Jet Bot AI+

Samsung is a well-known brand in the field of home electronics. It's no surprise, then, that they are also among the top producers of robot vacuums and mop. Jet Bot AI+ has the most advanced onboard technology for navigation and obstacle avoidance.

The app provides a range of options to customize your robotic cleaner. These include mopping levels, virtual barriers and behavior customizations, docking frequency settings and more. The app is easy to navigate and use similar to other Samsung devices.

In our tests, the Jet Bot AI+ performed well on hard floors, and it removed 86 percent of dog hair (on carpet). It didn't do very well in avoiding taller items such as socks or cords. This was disappointing. It's also a bit more expensive than the other models we've tested which could be a problem for some buyers.

The smart vacuum comes with an onboard camera that you can access via the app. You can also set up a live stream from the robot's cleaning station. This feature lets you monitor your pets or kids when you're away from home. The dustbin and the filter can be washed for the quick and easy cleaning. The Jet Bot AI+ comes with an automatic clean station which helps keep the robot's bin clear and improves suction power.

6. Black & Decker Robot Vacuum

Unlike other robotic vacuums, which are designed for both hard floors and carpets, Black and Decker robots are specifically designed for hard floors. They have an extra wide cleaning path, and a dustbin that is 2X larger than the competition. This allows them to clean the area for a longer period of time. Plus, they include two side sweepers that clean around edges and corners. The POWERSERIES model also comes with AutoSense, which automatically adjusts the power level depending on whether it's picking up dirt that is on the surface or embedded. It also includes a smart application that lets you browse the virtual map, and control the functions and schedules. You can also monitor the vacuum's status and send it to the dock for charging with the press of a single button. The app also lets you to customize the lights on top of the vacuum using different colors so you can easily identify what areas it's focusing on or where it's stuck.

The app also makes it simple to steer the robot manually in the event of need. My living room rug, for example has a dark-colored border which could cause a problem for other robots. However, the HRV 425BL kept moving across the border without registering it as a cliff. The ability to set up a weekly cleaning schedule is a fantastic time-saving feature.