cleaning robots can keep your floors clean enough to reduce the frequency of hoovering manually. Find one that has an easy navigation, can clean corners and stairs and has a huge dust bin that requires emptying only once in a while.
There are models that mop and charge on their own, a feature that may be important for people with children or pets. The top performers in our tests have great ability to overcome obstacles.
1. Roomba iRobot i3+ from iRobot EVO
The i3+ EVO and its i3 EVO sibling, the i3 EVO are the same robots that differ only in that the i3+ has self-emptying features. That makes the i3+ a great option for those who want an entirely automated, hands-free cleaning experience, but aren't afraid of having to empty their dust bin manually when it is full.
Both robots do well picking up surface debris on hard floors and carpets, and they are very good at maneuvering around furniture and other obstacles. iAdapt navigation software creates a smart maps of your home that assist the i3+ to navigate and clean up efficiently. The i3+ isn't able to feature obstacle avoidance features like the i7+ or any other top-rated robots we test. It could get stuck on power cords or socks, and may have trouble navigating between different surfaces like carpet and hardwood.
iRobot recommends that you tidy up the area where the i3+ EVO vacuums prior to using it. This includes getting rid of any toys or clutter it might encounter. You should also keep the dustbin and filter clear to avoid becoming clogged. If the i3+ EVO's internal bin is full or the battery is depleted it goes back to its docking station and automatically empties its trash into the station's dust bin and continues cleaning where it began. The battery's lifespan is around an hour and a half of continuous usage. It takes three hours to charge.
2. Roomba from iRobot
The iRobot i7+ is the top model in iRobot's flagship line and is packed with the latest features. It's self-charging and self-navigating. However, the most important feature is its self-emptying bin. This will eliminate the need for routine maintenance.
The Roomba I7+ can map rooms more efficiently with Imprint Smart Mapping. It also integrates with iRobot Home to schedule cleaning tasks, and you can control your robot through the app or voice.
In our testing, the i7+ was faster and more maneuverable than our top choice, the eufy RoboVac G30, and it removed large chunks of pet hair from all surfaces types, including carpeting. Its main advantage over the eufy, though it self-empties its dust bin, which eliminates a major source of maintenance and reduces recurring costs.
We were also awestruck by the i7+'s compatibility Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant AI services. We used these services to instruct the robot on how to start, stop, or pause cleaning sessions and also to move around the room, and to vacuum a particular area. The iRobot Home App made it easy to connect the i7+ to these services. 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 powered by cordless that resemble minivans and buses. It's powerful and has features to replace a stand-up vacuum for the majority of households, but it also fits nicely on the coffee table or a bookshelf where you can move it around like the magic wand.
The V10 is powered with a Lithium-ion battery with 7 cells of energy that can provide energy that lasts for 60 minutes. Its advanced whole-machine filtration system captures allergens and expels cleaner air back into your home. The specialized head uses rigid nylon bristles that penetrate deep into carpets and pick up large particles or fine dust. It comes with three suction settings to suit the task being performed. It is able to quickly change between handheld and floor vacuum, and vice versa.
The model also comes with an accessory dock that can charge to 100% in 3.5 hours and offers an easy access to two attachments and a Wand clip. This is a major improvement over previous Dysons that require a long charge and are difficult to store.
The main drawback of the V10 is its limited running time. As CR's tests have shown, its claims to run up to 60 minutes are a bit misleading. This is a typical, not an exceptional, run time for an electric cordless vacuum powered by batteries. It's still enough time to vacuum the majority of an average-sized house, but not quite long enough to get every single spot (though a second run-through usually does the trick). This model has its own advantages however: it's lighter and more maneuverable than older Dysons cordless models, and its vacuuming ability is noticeably superior on carpets with low pile.
4. iRobot Roomba 694
The 694 is a standard robot vacuum that's a great option for those who don't have a lot of money to invest in a robot. It's capable of sucking up a variety of kinds of debris in our tests, and it often goes over the same areas multiple times to get a really thorough clean. The flat front of the unit allows to get into corners and along the edges of walls and walls, which is a nice feature.
Its navigation system is smart and uses 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 J7+ Series. As a result, it is sometimes stuck on things like phone cords or low furniture, and it frequently is power-depleted before returning to its original location.
The Xiaomi Mi robot is superior in many ways over the Roomba 694 because it has less parts that require regular cleaning, comes with an allergen-trapping HEPA filtering system, has a lower costs for recurring expenses and has more advanced automation abilities and can better move itself. It also has a larger dustbin, and charges more quickly.
The sleek RoboVac X8 has a superior battery life than the Roomba 694. It also has physical boundaries and can be controlled using your smartphone's voice assistance. It also feels more sturdy, has a more powerful motor, and performs notably better on floors that are bare and carpets with low pile, while providing a greater variety of features for automation.
5. Samsung Jet Bot AI+
Samsung is a household name in home electronics. It's not a surprise that they are also among the top manufacturers of robot vacuums and mop. Jet Bot AI+ has an advanced onboard technology that allows to navigate and avoid obstacles.
The app gives you plenty of options to personalize your robotic cleaner, such as virtual barriers, mopping water levels and behavior modification, docking frequency settings, and more. The app is simple to use and understand similar to other Samsung devices.
In our tests during our tests, the Jet Bot AI+ performed well on hard floors. It removed 86% of dog hair (on carpet). It was not as successful in avoiding taller objects like socks or cords. This was disappointing. It's also more expensive than some of the other models we tested and could be a problem for some shoppers.
The smart vacuum has an onboard camera that can be accessed through the app, and you can also create a live stream from the robot's cleaning station. This feature lets you to monitor your pets or children while you are away. The dustbin and the filter can be washed for the quick and easy cleaning. The Jet Bot AI+ also has a clean station that self-empties and helps keep the robot's dustbin clean and optimizes suction power for each cleaning run.
6. Black & Decker Robot Vacuum
Contrary to other robotic vacuums that are specifically designed for carpets and hard floors, Black and Decker robots are specifically designed for hard floors. They have an extra wide cleaning path, and dust bins that are 2X bigger than the competitors. This allows them to clean the area for a longer period of time. Additionally, they come with two side sweepers to clean around edges and corners. The POWERSERIES Extreme model also comes with AutoSense technology, which can tell the presence of surface litter or embedded dirt and automatically adjusts the power level. It also comes with a smart app that lets you view the virtual map and control the functions and schedules. You can also track the vacuum's status and send it to its dock for charging at the press of a single button. The app allows you to customize the lights on top of the vacuum with different colors, so you can clearly see what areas it's focusing on or where it's got stuck.
The app also makes it simple to manually steer the robot in the event of need. For instance, my living room rug has a darkly-colored border that tends to make it difficult for other robots I've tried. The HRV 425BL however, continued to move across the border, without notifying the cliff. And the ability to set up weekly cleaning schedules is a wonderful time-saving benefit.