How to Find the Best Robot VacuumIf you don't require advanced features like mapping, and do not mind cleaning your trash bin every 60 to 90 days, a basic robotic vacuum could be the best choice for you. Pick a model that has clean and tidy base that is compatible with voice assistants.
It excels at removing dirt, cat litter and pet hair on hardwood floors, tile and carpeting that is lower-pile better than any other robo vacuum we've tested. 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 cleaner can help you keep up with the pet fur, dust and dander that collects on your floor every day. It also can reduce the frequency of deep cleaning, saving you time and effort. The most effective models have powerful suction that is able to tackle most messes and leave your home sparkling clean.
You can cover a larger area with a robot vacuum and mop, which is particularly useful if you have a large home. Look for one that has water reservoirs either built into its chassis or as a separate piece that you swap in when the vacuuming is finished. It will need to be filled and empty, so it's an extra task to complete.
In a perfect universe you would clean your floors first before using your robot vacuum to prevent it from crashing into anything. In the majority of homes it's not feasible or desirable. The majority of models let you utilize an app on your smartphone to create virtual barriers the robot can see. Some include no-go zones, which can be used to mark areas that you don't want the robot to be in, like kids rooms or a pile of device cords in the corner.
This model is a good option if you're looking for a simple robot cleaner without all the bells and whistles. It's quiet and works on both hard floors and carpets with low pile and can be programmed using the app to vacuum and mop at your leisure. It has a long battery life of around 180 minutes.
2. Easy to operate
Robot vacuums typically require very little from you. They utilize sensors cameras, lasers, and sensors to move around and collect pet hair, dust and food crumbs from tiles, hard floors and hardwood. Many have boundary strips to help them stay within the walls of a room, while pricier models can be set to automatically wake up and start cleaning at a scheduled time. Some models have fall detection technology to help them avoid falling down stairs or getting caught in cords.
If you'd like to control your robot vacuum from the comfort of your couch, look for models that work with voice assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant. You can also select Wi-Fi models that permit you to begin a cleaning session anywhere using an app. You may want to select one with a long-lasting battery, as well as a large dustbin, depending on the size of your home.
Some robot vacuums can double as mops, using water reservoirs to clean your floor. This is useful for everyday mopping, but will not work for tough messes like pet poop or other spills that get wet. You can pick hybrids with an able mopping pad made of microfiber or a self-emptying model that allows you to go for up to 60 days without emptying the base.
3. Smart Mapping
Certain robots employ advanced mapping technologies to build a precise map of your floorplan as they clean, making it easier for them to avoid falling into furniture or tripping over things such as cords or chairs. This feature is usually only available on more expensive models, but it's certainly one of the best robot vacuum for tile floors ways to ensure your robot has a complete understanding of the layout of your home and knows where to go next when it runs out of battery.
If you do not want your robot to go into areas of your house that you'd prefer it to stay clear from (like your kids' toys or the tangled mess of gadget cords in the corner), most robots offer some method of creating virtual barriers, either through their app or a set of physical boundary strips. You can block off areas you don't want your robot to access to allow it to focus on the rooms that need the most attention.
Many robots will also automatically switch floors based on the kind of floor they are cleaning. This can be accomplished by switching from carpet to hard flooring or by focusing on particular areas of your home like corners and baseboards. In our tests, this was a useful feature that helped improve their pick-up scores for both hardwood and low-pile carpeting. It's nevertheless important to tuck away loose cords and furniture before using your robot vacuum to ensure that it doesn't get stuck or get into something it shouldn't.
4. Remote Control
Most robot vacuums have WiFi capabilities and can be controlled with voice commands, Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa or Siri Shortcuts. Many connect to smart home systems and create an outline of your space after each cleaning session so they can "learn" your layout and design more efficient routes for future trips. Some have built-in obstacle avoidance that prevents them from hitting furniture and damaging it or getting stuck on things like loose charging cables shoes, laces for shoes and pet hair.
Most robots come with a remote you can use to pilot them around your home. Most robots can be controlled via a mobile application, which offers more features. You can create multiple cleaning schedules and make a list with your favorite rooms. You can also guide the robot using directional Arrows.
Some models offer no-go zones, which are virtual barriers you can create in the app to block the robot from entering certain areas (like kids' toys or dog beds and bowls). Some apps allow you to create an image of your home and provide detailed information about the floors. The app we ranked as our top choice, the Roborock S7+, has numerous options to help you clean your house, but its interface isn't as polished as those from iRobot and Shark.5. Long Battery Life
Robot vacuums that clean your entire house without stopping for a recharge or to empty their dustbins save time and effort. Certain robot vacuums can work with smart home platforms such as Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri Shortcuts to allow hands-free operation. They can also draw a map of the space to allow you to program them for specific areas or rooms, and to avoid obstacles.
The majority of robot vacuums detect objects, however the iRobot J7 has advanced features such as "home mapping" and obstacle avoidance. These can simplify your life (although one of our test robots did "eat" a few socks). If you want to take your home cleaning to the next level, look for a robotic mop that comes with an water tank that you fill and empty yourself.
While none of the models we tested could compete with the power of a stand-up model, most do an admirable job of cleaning hard floors and low-pile carpets. They excel at sweeping up food crumbs, and tracked-in dirt. They can even tackle some pet litter that is stray and metal screws and nuts. The best robot vacs can effortlessly work around furniture, and they excel at cleaning corners and edges as well. For an affordable model that can work by itself and is comparatively inexpensive look into the Eufy 11S.
6. Convenient Self-Charging
With the right configuration and the right setup, a robotic vacuum can assist you in keeping your home looking and looking and feeling cleaner on a regular basis without much work from you. You can schedule cleanings in the app and set up no-go zones to ensure that your robot doesn't damage your plants or your favorite chair. The majority of our top picks also automatically empty their bins and clean their docking stations for you.
The most effective robot vacuums can be programmed to clean your floors regularly for months or even weeks at a stretch, freeing you from the time-consuming task of manually mopping and sweeping your floors on a daily or weekly basis. This allows you to enjoy more time doing things you enjoy, and decreases the amount of time required to clean your floors manually.
In our tests the Q Revo was able to grab tiny particles such as baking soda and oatmeal, heavier debris such as nails and screws made of steel, and fluffy stuff such as pet hair. It doesn't have the smart mapping and object avoidance features found in our top picks, but it's sufficient for most families.
The best feature of the j7 is that it utilizes camera and processor-powered smarts to detect and avoid obstacles like power cords, shoes socks, and pet waste. This means that you don't have to clean up after using your robot. However, rooms that are cluttered may cause your bot to get stuck and do an inadequate job.
