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 so, a basic robot vacuum will probably work for you. Select a model with a clean base that works with voice assistants.

It is a pro at picking up dirt, clumps of cat litter and pet hair on hardwood floors, tile and low-pile carpeting better than any other vacuum we've tested. It can also plan out and create virtual no go zones for rooms or certain areas.

1. Powerful Suction

A robot vacuum is able to stay on top of the dust, pet hair and dander that collects on your floors on a daily basis. It can also reduce how often you need to do a deeper clean, saving you time and effort. The best model has powerful suction that can tackle most messes and leave your home cleaner.

You can cover a larger area with a robot vacuum and mop, which is particularly useful if you have a large house. You can find a model with a tank for water either in the chassis itself or as an additional piece that you can remove after vacuuming. It'll need to be emptied and refilled in order to complete the task.

In a perfect universe you would clean your floors first before using your robot vacuum, preventing it from running into anything. But in most homes, this isn't feasible or desirable. Thankfully, most models let you use your smartphone to create virtual barriers that the robot will be aware of and avoid. Certain models have no-go zones, which you can flag areas you don't wish it to enter. For example an area for children's play or a pile cords in the corner.

If you're looking to buy a basic robot vacuum with no bells and bells, this model from the networking company TP-Link is a great choice. It's quiet and works well on hard floors and low-pile carpets and self cleaning robot Vacuum can be scheduled through the app to vacuum or mop at your convenience. It's got a long battery life that can last for up to 180 minutes before it needs to recharge.

2. Easy to operate

Robot vacuums generally require very little effort from you. They make use of navigational tools such as sensors lasers, cameras, and sensors to move and collect dust, pet hair and food crumbs off hard floors, tile and hardwood. A lot of them have boundary strips that allow them to stay within the walls of a room while higher-end models can be programmed to automatically wake up and begin cleaning at a predetermined time. Some models include fall detection technology to help them avoid falling down stairs or becoming tangled in cords.

If you'd like to control your robot vacuum from the comfort of a couch, look for models that integrate voice assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant. Also, look for models with Wi-Fi connectivity that allow you to begin cleaning from any location through an app. Depending on the size of your house is, you might prefer a model with a long battery life and a spacious dust bin that doesn't require being emptying frequently.

Some robot vacuums can also be mopping machines. They make use of water reservoirs to clean the floor. This is useful for regular mopping but won't work for tough messes like pet poop or other wet spills. You can find hybrids with an ejectable microfiber pad for mopping, or opt for self Cleaning robot vacuum-emptying models that let you use the device for 30 to 60 days without having to empty the base.

3. Smart Mapping

Some robots use advanced mapping technology to create a precise map while they clean. This helps them avoid crashing into furniture and getting caught on cords or chair legs. This feature is only available on the top 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.

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 children's toys or the mess of device cords in the corner) Most robots provide the possibility of creating virtual barriers, either with their app or a set of physical boundary strips. This lets you create zones that you don't want your robot explore, so that it can concentrate its attention on rooms and spaces that need the most cleaning.

Many robots also automatically switch floors based on the type of floor vacuum robot they are cleaning. This can be done by changing from carpet to hard flooring or by focussing on particular areas of your home like corners and baseboards. In our tests it was a great feature that improved their performance in picking up carpeting made of low-pile or hardwood. It's nevertheless important to tuck away furniture and cords that are loose prior to using your robot vacuum to ensure that it doesn't get stuck or get into something it shouldn't.

4. Remote Control

Almost all robot vacuums are WiFi-connected and can be controlled by Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri Shortcuts that allow you to control them via voice commands or via your smartphone. Many connect to smart home systems and build a map of your space after each cleaning session, so that they can "learn" your layout and plan more efficient routes for future trips. Some come with obstacle avoidance built in, which prevents them from causing damage to furniture or getting stuck on objects like loose charging cables or pet hair.

Most robots are equipped with an remote control that can be used to guide them around your house. However, most can also be controlled using an app on your mobile that offers more features. You can create multiple cleaning schedules and create a list with your favorite rooms. You can also manually direct the robot by using directional Arrows.

Certain models have zones that are not allowed. These are virtual barriers that you can create in the app to stop the robot from accessing certain areas (like kid's toys or dog beds and dishes). Some apps let you draw an outline of your home and provide more detailed information about the floors. The app we ranked as our top pick, the Roborock S7+, has numerous options to help you tidy your house, but its interface isn't as polished as those from iRobot and Shark.

5. Long Battery Life

Robotic vacs that can clean throughout the house without stopping to recharge or empty their trash bins save you time and effort. Some work with smart home platforms such as Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri Shortcuts to allow hands-free operation. They can also create an outline of your space and allow you to program them to clean specific areas or rooms and avoid 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 simplify your life (although one of our test bots did "eat" a couple of socks). If you're seeking to improve your home's maintenance, consider a robot mop with a water container that you can fill and empty.

While none of the models we tested can match the dirt-picking power of a stand-up model, they all do a great job of cleaning hard floors and low-pile carpets. They are great in sweeping up dust and food particles, dirt tracked in and pet hair. They can also handle screws and nuts made of metal as well as cats' litter. The best robot vacs can easily work their way around furniture, and they excel at cleaning corners and edges as well. For a basic model that functions on its own and is relatively inexpensive take a look at the Eufy 11S.

6. Convenient self cleaning robot vacuum-Charging

With the proper setup with the right setup, a robot vacuum will help you keep your home looking and feeling fresh regularly, 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 harm your plants or ruin your favorite chair. Many of our top picks will empty their trash bins for you and clean their docking station.

The top robot vacuums can be programmed to clean your floors regularly for weeks or months at a time, thereby saving you the time and effort of manually mopping or sweeping your floors every week or every day. This lets you 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 capture tiny particles such as oatmeal and baking soda and heavier debris like metal screws and nails, and fluffy stuff such as hair from pets. It's not equipped with the advanced mapping and object avoidance features found in our top picks, however it works well enough for most families.

The best thing about the j7 is its ability to detect and avoid obstacles such as power cords and socks, shoes, and pet waste. This means that you don't need to clean up before you can run your robot, but cluttered rooms will mean that the robot may become stuck and not do as good a job.