How to Find the Best Robot Vacuum

If you're willing to live without advanced features such as mapping, and aren't worried about emptying the garbage bin every 60 days or then, a basic robot vacuum will probably work for you. Choose a model with clean and tidy base that is compatible with voice assistants.

It is the best robot mop combo vacuum we have tested in cleaning up pet hair on tiles, hardwood floors, and carpeting with low pile. It also has the ability to map out and set virtual no-go zones for rooms or areas.

1. Powerful Suction

A robot vacuum will help you keep track of the dust, pet fur and dander that collects on your floor each day. It can also reduce the frequency of deep cleaning, which will save you both time and effort. The most effective model comes with powerful suction that is able to take on the most difficult messes and leave your home sparkling clean.

A robot vacuum that is also able to mop can help you get more space by using just one machine. This could be especially helpful in larger homes. You can find a model with a tank for water either in the chassis itself or as an extra piece that you can take out after vacuuming. You'll have to empty it and fill it up, however, so this is an additional task that will require some extra effort on your part.

In a perfect world you would clean your floors before you use your robot vacuum to stop it from hitting anything. But in most homes, this isn't feasible or desirable. Thankfully, most models allow you to use your smartphone to create virtual barriers that the robot can see and avoid. Some have no-go zones which can be used to mark areas that you don't want it to be in, like kids rooms or a pile of device cords in the corner.

If you're looking to buy a basic robot vacuum with no bells and whistles, this model made by the company that makes networking TP-Link is a good choice. It's quiet and works well on hard floors as well as low-pile rugs. It can be scheduled through the app to mop or vacuum at your own convenience. It comes with a battery life that can last up to 180 minutes.

2. Easy to Operate

Robot vacuums generally need only minimal effort from you. They use navigation tools like sensors, lasers and cameras to navigate around obstacles and suck up dust, food crumbs and pet hair from hard floors, tiles carpets, and hardwood. A lot of models come with boundary strips to help them remain inside the room. More expensive models can be programmed to get up at a particular time and begin cleaning. Some models include fall detection technology to help them avoid falling down stairs or getting caught in cords.

If you want to control your robot vacuum from the comfort of your couch, search for models that work with voice assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant. You can also pick Wi-Fi models that permit you to start cleaning anywhere you want using an app. Depending on how large your house is, you might prefer a model with a long-lasting battery and a roomy dustbin that doesn't need to be emptied frequently.

Some robot vacuums can also be mopping machines. They utilize water reservoirs to wash the floor. This is ideal for mopping, but not for difficult messes such as pet poop and other wet spills. You can choose hybrids that have an adjustable microfiber mopping pad or a self-emptying model that lets you go up to 60 days before emptying the base.

3. Smart Mapping

Some robots utilize advanced mapping technologies to build a detailed map of your floorplan while they clean and tidy, allowing them to avoid bumping mindlessly into furniture or falling over things such as cords or chairs. This feature is only available on top-of-the-line models however, it allows your robot to be aware of the layout of your home and knows where to go when the battery runs out.

Most robots let you create virtual barriers. This can be done via an app or physically-based boundary strips. This allows you to define areas that you don't want your robot to explore, so that it can concentrate its attention on areas that require the most attention.

A lot of robots can also automatically switch floors based on the type of floor they are cleaning. This can be achieved by switching from carpet to hard flooring or by focussing on certain areas of your home like corners and baseboards. This feature was effective during our tests and helped improve the performance of the vacuum on hardwood flooring and low-pile floor carpeting. But, it's still essential to put away furniture and cords that are loose prior to running your robot vacuum so that it doesn't get caught or run into something it shouldn't.

4. Remote Control

The majority of robot vacuums have WiFi capabilities and can be controlled using voice commands, Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa or Siri Shortcuts. Many connect to smart home systems and build maps of your home after each cleaning session, so they can "learn" your layout and devise more efficient routes for future runs. Some come with obstacle avoidance features built in, which prevents them from damaging furniture and getting stuck on things such as loose charging cables or pet hair.

The majority of robots come with the ability to control them with a remote that you can use to navigate them around your house. However, most can also be controlled with a mobile app that offers more features. You can typically set up multiple cleaning schedules, create an inventory of your favorite rooms and even manually guide your robot to certain areas by using directions on the screen.

Certain models have zones that are not allowed. These are virtual barriers that you can set up in the app to stop the robot from entering specific areas (like toys for kids or dishes and dog beds). Certain apps let you draw an outline of your home and provide more detailed information about the floors. The Roborock S7+ app has several useful features that will aid in cleaning the house. However its interface isn't as polished as that from iRobot or Shark.

5. Long Battery Life

Robotic vacuums that can sweep all over your home without stopping to recharge or empty their dust bins can save you time and energy. Some robot vacuums work with smart home platforms such as Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri Shortcuts to allow hands-free operation. They can also draw an outline of the space to allow you to program them for specific rooms or areas and to stay clear of obstacles.

The majority of robot vacuums come with some level of object detection however, higher-end models such as the iRobot J7 have advanced features like "home mapping" and advanced obstacle avoidance that can really simplify your life (although our test bot did "eat" a pair of socks). If you're looking to improve the quality of your home maintenance, consider a robot mop with water containers that can be filled and then empty.

While none of the models we tested beat the dirt-picking power of a stand-up model, most do an admirable job at cleaning carpets with low pile and hard floors. They are great at sweeping up fine dust and food crumbs, tracked-in dirt and pet hair. They can even tackle some pet litter that is stray and metal screws and nuts. The most effective robot vacuums can clean corners and edges and work on furniture. Eufy 11S is a relatively affordable and basic model.

6. Convenient Self-Charging

A robot vacuum can help keep your home tidy and clean without doing much work. You can schedule cleanings in the app and set up no-go zones to ensure that your robot won't trample your plants or your favorite chair. The majority of our top picks automatically empty their dustbins and clean their docking stations for you.

The best robot vacuums can be programmed to clean your floors on a regular basis for months or even weeks at a time, saving you from the arduous task of manually sweeping and mopping Robot vacuum Cleaner your floors on a weekly or daily basis. This helps you spend more time doing things you love and reduces the amount of time your floors need to be cleaned manually.

In the course of testing the Q Revo was able to capture fine particles like baking soda and oatmeal and heavier debris like nails and screws made of metal as well as fluffy things such as hair of pets. It's not equipped with the advanced mapping and objects avoidance features of our top picks, but it's adequate for the majority of families.

The most impressive feature of the j7 is its ability to recognize and avoid obstacles such as power cords, shoes and socks and pet waste. This means that you don't need to clean up after using your robot. However, messy rooms can cause your robot to become stuck and do a poor job.