How to Find the Best Robot Vacuum

If you're able to live without smart capabilities like mapping, and you don't mind cleaning the trash bin every 60 days or then, a basic robot vacuum is likely to work for you. Choose a model that is clean and can work with voice assistants.

It excels at picking up dirt, clumps of cat litter and pet hair on tile floors, hardwood floors and carpeting with less pile than any other robo vacuum mop robot cleaner we've tested. It also has the ability to map out and set virtual no-go zones in rooms or areas.

1. Powerful Suction

A robot vacuum can keep on top of the dust, pet hair and dander that collects on your floors on a day-to-day basis. It can also decrease the frequency of deep cleaning, which will save you time and effort. The best robot mop and vacuum combo models have powerful suction, which can take on the majority of messes and leave your house cleaner.

Choosing a robot vacuum that also mop will allow you to cover more ground by using just one machine. This can be particularly beneficial in a larger home. Find models that have a water reservoir either built into its chassis or as a separate piece that you put in after the vacuuming is finished. You'll need to empty and fill it up, however it's an additional task that will require some extra effort on your part.

In a perfect world it would be ideal to clean your floors first before you use your robot vacuum to stop it from running into anything. But in most homes, this isn't feasible or desirable. The majority of models let you make use of an app on your smartphone to create virtual barriers that the robot can see. Some include no-go zones, which you can use to mark areas you don't want the robot to enter, such as kids' rooms or a pile of cords for your device in the corner.

If you're looking for a basic robot vacuum that doesn't have all the bells and bells, this model from the networking company TP-Link is a great option. It is quiet, can be used on hard floors as well as carpets with low pile and can be programmed using the app to vacuum and mop at your convenience. It has a good battery life, and automatic can last for up to 180 minutes before it needs to recharge.

2. Easy to operate

In general robot vacuums require little input from you. They utilize navigation tools like sensors lasers, cameras and sensors to maneuver through obstacles and collect dust, food crumbs and pet hair from flooring, tile carpets, hardwood floors and low-pile carpets. Many models have boundary strips that allow them to remain inside the room. The more expensive models can be programmed to start up at a certain time and start cleaning. Certain models come with fall detection technology that helps them avoid falling down a flight of stairs or getting caught in cords.

Look for models that can be controlled from the comfort of your sofa using voice assistants such as Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also look for models with Wi-Fi connectivity that allow you to begin cleaning from any location via an app. Depending on how large your home is, you may prefer one that has a long battery life and a roomy dustbin that doesn't need to be emptied frequently.

Some robot vacuums double as mops, utilizing water reservoirs to clean your floors. This is ideal for mopping, but not ideal for difficult messes such as pet poop or other wet spills. There are hybrids that have a removable microfiber pad for mopping, or choose an auto-emptying model that lets you go 30 to 60 days without having to empty the base.

3. Smart Mapping

Certain robots employ advanced mapping technologies to build an accurate map of your floorplan as they clean, making it easier for them to avoid bumping mindlessly into furniture or tripping over things like cords or chair legs. This feature is typically only available on more expensive models, but it's certainly one of the best ways to make sure your robot has a full understanding of the layout of your house and knows where to go next when it's low on battery.

If you don't want your robot navigating into areas of your house that you'd prefer it to stay clear from (like your kids' toys or automatic the tangled mess of gadget cords in the corner) The majority of robots offer the possibility of creating virtual barriers, either through their apps or physical boundary strips. You can block off areas you don't want your robot to go into in order to concentrate on rooms that need the most attention.

A lot of robots are able to automatically navigate to different floorings based on the type of surface they're cleaning, whether that's changing between hard flooring and carpet or focusing on particular areas of your home, such as corners and baseboards. This feature proved helpful during our tests and helped improve the vacuum's performance on both hardwood flooring and carpet flooring with low pile. It is essential to put away any furniture or cords that are loose before using your robot vacuum, so that it doesn't become caught.

4. Remote Control

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

Most robots come with a remote that you can use to steer them around your home. Most robots can be controlled via a mobile application which has more options. You can usually create multiple cleaning schedules, create a list of favorite rooms and even manually guide your robot to certain areas by using directions on the screen.

Some models provide no-go zones, which are virtual barriers you can configure in the app to stop the robot from entering certain areas (like toys for children or dog beds and bowls). Some apps allow you to create a map of your house and provide detailed information about the floors. The Roborock S7+ app has a number of useful features to aid in cleaning the house. However its interface isn't as polished as that from irobot that vacuums and mops or shark robotic vacuum cleaner.

5. Long Battery Life

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

The majority of robot vacuums come with some degree of object detection however, higher-end models such as the iRobot j7 come with advanced features such as "home mapping" and advanced obstacle avoidance that will make your life easier (although our test bot did once "eat" a pair of socks). If you're looking to improve your home maintenance, consider an automated mop that comes with an water container that you can fill and empty.

While none of the models we tested could match the dirt-picking ability of a stand-up vacuum, they did a great job cleaning hard floors and low pile carpets. They excel at picking up fine dirt, food crumbs and dirt that has been tracked in. They can also tackle pet litter that is stray and metal screws and nuts. The best robot vacuums are able to clean corners and edges and work on furniture. Eufy 11S is a relatively inexpensive and basic model.

6. Convenient Self-Charging

With the proper setup, a robot vacuum can aid in keeping your home looking and feeling cleaner on a regular basis without a lot of effort. You can schedule cleanings using the app, and you can designate no-go areas so that your robot doesn't get in the way of your favorite chair or plants. The majority of our top picks will also empty their dustbins and clean their docking stations.

The top robot vacuums can be programmed to clean your floors on a regular basis for months or even weeks at a time, removing you from the arduous task of manually mopping and sweeping your floors on a daily or weekly basis. This helps you spend more time doing things you like and decreases the amount of time that your floors require to be cleaned manually.

In our tests, 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 lacks the intelligent mapping and objects-avoiding features of our top picks, but is still a good choice for families with children.

The j7's best feature is its ability to spot and avoid obstacles such as power cords, shoes and socks as well as pet waste. This means that you don't need to clean up before using your robot. However, rooms that are cluttered may cause your bot to become stuck and perform a poor job.