A robot vacuum will keep your floors clean enough to decrease the frequency of manual hoovering. Choose one that has excellent navigation, is able to clean corners and stairs, and has a large dust bin that needs emptying only once in a while.
There are models that can mop and charge themselves This is an advantage essential for families with pets or children. Many of the best amazon vacuum performers in our tests have good obstacle avoidance.
1. Roomba iRobot i3+ from iRobot EVO
The i3+ EVO is identical to its sibling i3 EVO. They differ only in that the i3+ has best self cleaning vacuum-emptying capabilities. The i3+ is a great option for those looking for a a fully automated, hands-off cleaning experience, but want to manually empty the dustbin of the robot when it is full.
Both robots are proficient at picking up surface dirt on floors and carpets, and they can easily navigate around furniture and other obstacles. iAdapt navigation software creates smart maps of your home that assist the i3+ to navigate and clean efficiently. The i3+ isn't able to have obstacle avoidance capabilities like the i7+ or other top rated robot Vacuum-rated robots we test. It may be stuck on power cords and socks and have difficulty navigating between different surfaces like rug and hardwood.
iRobot recommends clearing areas that the i3+ EVO will vacuum prior to when you use it, which includes clearing out any clutter or toys it may come across. It's also a good idea to keep the dust bin and filter clean so that they do not become blocked by dirt. When the i3+ EVO's internal bin is filled or the battery is low it goes back to its docking station, automatically emptying its debris into the station's external dustbin and continues cleaning where it left off. The battery's life span is approximately an hour and a half of constant use. It takes about three hours to fully charge.
2. Roomba by iRobot
The iRobot i7+ is the top model in iRobot's flagship line and is packed with the latest features. It's self-charging, self-navigating, and the most crucial feature of all -- it comes with an auto-emptying dustbin, which eliminates one of the most important sources of maintenance for any robot vacuum.
The Roomba i7+ is able to remember up to 10 floor plans and their names using Imprint smart robot Mapping, a system that allows it to map rooms so it can clean them more efficiently. It also works with the iRobot Home app to let you schedule cleaning jobs and direct your robot by voice or via the app.
The i7+ is more efficient and more maneuverable in our tests than the eufy RoboVac G30. It also cleaned large pet hair pieces from all surfaces, including carpeting. The biggest advantage over the Eufy is its self-emptying garbage bin which eliminates the main sources of maintenance and reduces recurring cost.
We were also impressed by the i7+'s compatibility with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant AI services that we used to instruct the robot to start, stop or pause its cleaning sessions and to move around the room and sweep a specific space. The process of connecting the i7+ to these services was simple and straightforward using the iRobot Home app. We were able, once connected, to speak 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 a sports car in a sea of cordless vacuums that feel like minivans and buses. It's got the power and features to replace a stand-up vacuum for many households however, it can also fit in well next to a coffee table or on shelves where you can wave it around like an enchanted wand.
The V10 is powered with seven cells of energy-dense Lithium-ion batteries, which produces power without fading for 60 minutes. The advanced whole-machine filtering system traps allergens, then releases cleaner air into your home. Its specialized cleaning head drives bristles made of nylon that are stiff into carpet to collect large dust and crumbs. It comes with three suction modes to meet the task that is being completed. It can quickly switch from floor vacuum to handheld vacuum, and vice versa.
This model has an attached dock that charges the Dyson to 100 percent within 3.5 hours. It also offers easy access to 2 attachments as well as an Wand. This is a huge improvement over older Dysons that require a lengthy charge and are difficult to store.
The main drawback of the V10 is its sluggish run time. The tests conducted by CR show that its advertising claims of up to 60 minutes are not true. This is an average and not a remarkable time for an electric cordless vacuum powered by batteries. It's enough time to clean a typical-sized home, but not enough to reach every area. (A second pass is usually sufficient). This model has its own advantages however: it's light and more mobile than previous Dysons cordless models, and its vacuuming ability is significantly better on low-pile floor carpet.
4. iRobot Roomba 694
One of iRobot's most popular robot broom vacuums, the 694 is an entry-level model that's a great option for those who don't want to spend too much money on a robot. It was able to pick up most types of debris in our testing and often went over the same area multiple times to ensure an efficient clean. Its flat front makes it possible to reach corners and the edges of walls.
Its smart navigation system uses iAdapt to stay clear of obstacles and navigate your home, but it isn't equipped with the mapping capabilities of more sophisticated models such as our top choices such as the i3+ EVO and the j7+ series. It can get stuck on phone cords or low furniture and often runs out of power before returning to its base.
The Xiaomi Mi robot vacuum is superior to the Roomba 694 in many ways in that it has fewer parts that require regular cleaning, is fitted with an allergen-trapping HEPA filter, incurs lower recurring costs, comes with more advanced automation capabilities and is better at moving itself. It also has a larger dustbin and charges quicker.
The eufy RoboVac X8 has a superior battery life than the Roomba 694. It also comes with physical boundaries strips that can be controlled with the voice assistant on your smartphone. It's also more robust, has a larger motor, and is more effective on floors with bare or low-pile.
5. Samsung Jet Bot AI+
Samsung is a household name in home electronics. It's not surprising that they are one of the top makers of robot vacuums and mop. Their Jet Bot AI+ is loaded with cutting-edge onboard intelligence technology for navigation and obstacle avoidance.
The app provides plenty of options to personalize your robotic cleaner, including virtual barriers, mopping water levels and behavior adjustments docking frequency settings and much more. The app is simple to use and understand, just like other Samsung devices.
In our tests, the Jet Bot AI+ performed well on hard floors. It cleaned up 86 percent of dog hair (on carpet). However, it didn't do particularly well in avoiding taller objects like cords and socks, which was disappointing. It's priced higher than other models we've tested, and this could be a deterrent for certain shoppers.
The smart vacuum has an onboard camera that you can access via the app. You can also create a live stream from the robot's cleaning station. This feature allows you to monitor your children or pets when you're away. The filter and the dustbin can be cleaned to ensure a quick, painless clean-up. The Jet Bot AI+ comes with a self-emptying clean station, which helps keep the robot floor cleaner's bin clear and improves suction power.
6. Black & Decker Robot Vacuum
Black and Decker robots are designed specifically for hard flooring. They feature an extra-wide cleaning path and a larger dustbin that holds twice as much debris than competitors to keep the cleaning area clear for maximum runtime. They also have two side sweepers that can be used to clean around corners and edges. The POWERSERIES model also comes with AutoSense that automatically adjusts the power level based on whether it is picking up dirt on the surface or embedded dirt. The vacuum also has an app that lets users to see an interactive map, control functions, and schedules. You can also track the vacuum's status and send it to its dock for charging at the touch of a single button. The app lets you modify the LEDs on the top of the vacuum to discern where it is focusing or if it's stuck.
The app allows you to manually steer the robot when needed. For example my living room rug has a darkly colored border that tends to trip up some of the other robots I've tried. However the HRV 425BL continued to move across the border without registering it as a cliff. The ability to program a cleaning schedule for each week is a time-saving convenience.