How to Find the Best Robot Vacuum
If you don't need advanced features like mapping, and don't mind emptying your dustbin every 60 to 90 days A basic robot vacuum is probably for you. Look for one that is clean and can work with voice assistants.
It is the best vacuum we have tested at picking up dirt and pet hair on tile floors, hardwood floors and carpeting with low pile. It also has the ability to map out and create virtual no-go zones for rooms or certain areas.
1. Powerful Suction
A robot vacuum will help you keep track of the pet fur, dust and dander that accumulates on your floor every day. It also can reduce the frequency of deep cleaning, which will save you both time and effort. The best model has powerful suction that can take on the most difficult messes and leave your home clean.
Selecting a vacuum that can also mop can help you cover more ground by using just one machine. This is especially beneficial in a larger home. Choose a model that has an water reservoir in the chassis or as a separate piece that you swap in when the vacuuming is finished. You'll have to empty it and refill it, however, so this is an additional chore that requires a little extra work on your part.
In the ideal world, you'd clear your floors prior to using your robot vacuum to prevent it from running into things. But in most homes, this isn't feasible or desirable. The majority of models let you utilize an app on your smartphone to create virtual barriers the robot can observe. robot vacuum cleaner with mop include no-go zones, which can be used to mark areas you don't want it to access, such as children' rooms or a pile of device cords in the corner.
This model is a good option for those looking for a simple robot cleaner without all the bells. It's quiet, it works on both hard floors as well as carpets with low pile and can be programmed using the app to mop and vacuum at your own convenience. It has a long battery life, which can last for up to 180 minutes before it requires to recharge.
2. Easy to operate
In general robot vacuums require little input from you. They use sensors cameras, lasers, and sensors to move and collect pet hair, dust and food crumbs off hard floors, tiles and hardwood. A lot of them have boundary strips that aid in staying within a room's walls, while higher-end models can be programmed to automatically wake up and start cleaning at a scheduled time. Some even have fall-detection technology that prevents tumbling down stairs or getting caught in electrical cords.
Find models that can be controlled from your couch using voice assistants such as Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also look for models that connect to Wi-Fi and allow you to begin cleaning sessions from anywhere via an app. You may want to select a model that has a long-lasting battery, as well as a large dustbin, depending on the size of your house.
Some robot vacuums can double as mops, using water reservoirs to clean your floors. This is great for normal mopping, but it won't work for extra-tough messes, like pet poop, or other spills that get wet. You can select hybrids with an able mopping pad made of microfiber, or a self-emptying version that allows you to stay up to 60 days before emptying the base.
3. Smart Mapping
Certain robots employ advanced mapping technology to create a precise map of your floorplan while they clean, making it easier for them to avoid falling into furniture or falling over things such as cords or chairs. This feature is only available on higher-end models however it allows your robot to be aware of your home's layout and know where to move when the battery runs out.
The majority of robots allow you to create virtual barriers. This can be done via an app or physically-based boundary strips. You can block off areas that you don't wish your robot to access to allow it to focus on the areas that require the most attention.
Many robots will also automatically change floors depending on the flooring they are cleaning. This can be accomplished by changing from carpet to hard flooring or by paying attention to particular areas of your home like corners and baseboards. This feature proved useful in our tests and improved the vacuum's performance on both hardwood flooring and low-pile floor carpeting. It is essential to put away any loose cords or furniture before using your robot vacuum to ensure that it doesn't get caught.
4. Remote Control
Most robot vacuums come with WiFi capabilities and can be controlled using voice commands, Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa or Siri Shortcuts. Many connect to smart home systems and create a map of your space after each cleaning session, so that they can "learn" your layout and design more efficient routes for future runs. Some also have built-in obstacle avoidance, which stops them from hitting furniture and causing damage 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 home. However, most can also be controlled via an app for mobile devices, which gives you more options. You can typically set multiple cleaning schedules, make a list of favorite rooms and even manually guide your robot to certain areas using directions on the screen.
Certain models have no-go zones. These are virtual barriers you can create in the app to stop the robot from entering specific areas (like toys for children or dishes for dogs and dog beds). Other apps let you set up a map of your home and provide the robot with precise information about your floors. The app we ranked as our top pick one, the Roborock S7+, has numerous options to help you tidy your home, however its interface isn't as polished and elegant as those from iRobot and Shark.
5. Long Battery Life
Robot vacs that can work a whole house without stopping to recharge or empty their dust bins make it easier for you to 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 maps of the area for you to program them to specific areas or rooms and to stay clear of obstacles.
The majority of robot vacuums can detect objects, but the iRobot j7 offers advanced features such as "home mapping" and obstacle avoidance. These features can make your life much easier (although one of our test bots did "eat" two socks). If you're trying to improve your home's maintenance, think about a robot mop with an water container that you can fill and empty.
While none of the models we tested could compete with the dirt-picking power of a stand-up vacuum, they were able to do a fantastic job cleaning hard floors and carpets with low pile. They are excellent at sweeping up fine dirt, food crumbs and tracked-in dirt. They are also able to handle metal screws and nuts and stray cat litter. The top robot vacuums can effortlessly work around furniture, and they do a great job of cleaning edges and corners as well. For a basic model that functions by itself and is comparatively inexpensive, check out the Eufy 11S.
6. Convenient Self-Charging
With the right configuration, a robot vacuum can assist you in keeping your home looking and feeling cleaner every day without much work from you. You can schedule cleanings in the app and set up zones that are not allowed to enter so that your robot doesn't damage your plants or your favorite chair. The majority of our top picks automatically empty their dustbins and clean their docking stations for you.
The most effective robot vacuums can be programmed to clean your floors regularly for weeks or even months at a stretch, freeing you from the tedious chore of manually cleaning your floors on a weekly or daily basis. This allows you to spend more time on things you love and reduces the amount of time your floors need to be cleaned manually.
During tests during testing, Q Revo was able to capture fine particles like baking soda and oatmeal. It also snatched up heavier debris like nails and screws made of steel, as well as fluffy stuff like pet hair. It's not equipped with the advanced mapping and object avoidance features of our top picks, but it works well enough for the majority of families.
The most appealing feature of the j7 is that it utilizes camera and processor-powered smarts to recognize and avoid obstacles such as power cords, shoes, socks and pet waste. This means that you don't need to clean up before using your robot. However, messy rooms may cause your bot to become stuck and do a poor job.