How to Find the Best Robot Vacuum

If you're able to live without the benefits of smart features like mapping, and you don't mind emptying the dustbin every 60 days or then, a basic robot vacuum will probably work for you. Select a model with clean and tidy base that is compatible with voice assistants.

It is the best vacuum we have tested at picking up dirt and pet hair on tile floors, hardwood floors and low-pile carpeting. It can also map and create virtual no-go zones in rooms or areas.

1. Powerful Suction

A robot vacuum can help you keep track of the pet fur, dust and dander that collects on your floors every day. It can also reduce the frequency of deep cleaning, saving you both time and effort. The most effective model comes with powerful suction that is able to tackle most messes and leave your home clean.

A robot vacuum that also mop can help you cover more ground using one machine, which is especially beneficial for homes with a large area. There are models with a water tank either built into the chassis or as an additional piece that you can swap out after vacuuming. It'll need to be emptied and refilled, so it's an extra chore.

In a perfect world, you'd clean your floors prior to using your robot vacuum to keep it from running into things. But in most homes, this isn't feasible or desirable. Fortunately, the majority of models let you use your smartphone app to set up virtual barriers that the robot will see and avoid. Some have no-go zones which can be used to mark areas you don't want it to be in, like kids rooms or a pile of cords for your device in the corner.

If you're looking to buy a basic robot vacuum that doesn't have all the bells and whistles, this model made by the company that makes networking TP-Link is a good choice. It's quiet, works well on hard floors as well as low-pile carpets and can be scheduled using the app to vacuum or mop at any time. It has a long battery life of around 180 minutes.

2. Simple to operate

In general, robot vacuums require very little input from you. They utilize navigation tools like sensors, lasers and cameras to maneuver through obstacles and collect dust, food crumbs and pet hair from flooring, tile carpets, hardwood floors and low-pile carpets. A lot of models come with boundary strips that allow them to remain inside the room. Higher-end models can be programmed to wake up at a specific time and begin cleaning. Some models have fall detection technology to help users avoid falling down the stairs or shark ai robot vacuum becoming tangled in cords.

If you want to control your bobsweep robot vacuum vacuum from the comfort of your couch, look for models that can work with voice assistants such as Alexa and Google Assistant. You can also pick Wi-Fi models that allow you to start cleaning anywhere you want using an app. You may prefer one with a long-lasting battery and a large dust bin, depending on the size of your house.

Some robot vacuums double as mops, using water reservoirs to clean your floors. This is great for mopping, but not for tough messes like pet poop and other wet spills. There are hybrids that have a removable microfiber pad that can be used for mopping, or you can choose an auto-emptying model that lets you go for 30 to 60 days without having to empty the base.

3. Smart Mapping

Some robots utilize advanced mapping technology to create a precise map of your floorplan while they clean the floor, which makes it easier for them to avoid bumping mindlessly into furniture or tripping over things such as cords or chairs. This feature is only available on top-of-the-line models however, it lets your robot get a complete understanding of the layout of your home and knows where to move when the battery runs out.

Most robots let you create virtual barriers. This can be done through an application or even physical boundary strips. This lets you define areas that you do not want your robot to enter, so that it can concentrate its attention on the areas and rooms that require the most attention.

A lot of robots can also automatically change floors depending on the kind of flooring they are cleaning. This can be accomplished by changing 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 helped improve their performance in picking up carpeting made of low-pile or hardwood. It's important to tuck away any furniture or cords that are loose prior to using your robot vacuum, so it doesn't get caught.

4. Remote Control

The majority of robot vacuums have WiFi connectivity and work with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri Shortcuts to allow you to control them using voice commands or via your smartphone. Many connect to smart home systems and build maps of your home after each cleaning session so that they can "learn" your layout and plan more efficient routes for future trips. Some have built-in obstacle avoidance that prevents them from crashing into furniture and causing damage or getting stuck on things like loose charging cables, shoe laces and pet hair.

The majority of robots come with a remote control that you can use to move them around your house. Most robots can be operated by mobile applications, which offers more features. You can create multiple cleaning schedules and create a list with your favorite rooms. You can also guide the robot vacuum cleaner for carpet by using the directional arrows.

Some models have zones that are not allowed. These are virtual barriers you can set up in the app to prevent the robot from entering specific areas (like toys for children or dishes and dog beds). Other apps allow you to set up a map of your home and provide the robot with detailed information about your floors. The app that we recommend as our top choice one, the Roborock S7+, has many useful options to help you tidy your home, but its interface isn't as polished as the ones from iRobot and shark Ai robot vacuum.

5. Long Battery Life

Robot vacuums that can sweep your entire home without stopping to recharge or to empty their dustbins save time and effort. Some work with smart home platforms like Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri Shortcuts to allow hands-free operation. They can also make an image of your space that allows you to program them to clean specific rooms or areas and beware of obstacles.

The majority of robot vacuums detect objects, however the iRobot j7 comes with advanced features such as "home mapping" and obstacle avoidance. These features can make your life much easier (although one of our test robots did "eat" a couple of socks). If you're seeking to improve your home maintenance, you should consider a robot mop with water containers 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 were able to do a fantastic job cleaning hard floors as well as low pile carpets. They excel in sweeping up dust and debris, food crumbs, tracked-in dirt and pet hair. They can also tackle stray cat litter and metal screws and nuts. The most effective robot vacuums can clean corners and edges and can even work on furniture. Eufy 11S is a relatively inexpensive and basic model.

6. Convenient Self-Charging

With the right configuration and the right setup, a robotic vacuum can assist you in keeping your home looking and feeling fresh regularly, without much work from you. It is possible to schedule cleanings with the app, and you can create no-go zones to ensure that your robot does not get in the way of your favorite chair or plants. The majority of our top picks automatically empty their trash bins and clean their docking stations for you.

The top robot vacuums are programmable to keep your floors clean for weeks or even months at a stretch, saving you the time and effort of manually mopping or sweeping your floors each week or even every day. This helps you spend more time doing things you like and cuts down on the amount of time your floors have to be cleaned manually.

In the course of testing the Q Revo was able to pick up tiny particles such as oatmeal and baking soda and heavier debris like nails and screws made of steel, and fluffy stuff like hair from pets. It does not have the intelligent mapping and objects-avoiding features of our top picks, but is still a great choice for most families.

The best thing about the j7 is its ability to recognize and avoid obstacles like power cords as well as socks and shoes, and pet waste. This means that you don't need to tidy the room prior to running your robot, however messy rooms can mean that your bot may get stuck and not perform the job as well.