How to Find the best robot vacuum under 200 Robot Vacuum

If you're willing to live without advanced features such as mapping, and don't mind emptying the garbage bin every 60 days or so, a basic robot vacuum will probably work for you. Choose an option that has a clean base and can work with voice assistants.

It is a pro at picking up dirt, cat litter and pet hair on tile floors, hardwood floors and carpeting that is lower-pile better than any other robo vacuum we've tested. It also maps and set virtual no-go zones for rooms and areas.

1. Powerful Suction

A robot vacuum can assist you in keeping up with the pet fur, dust and dander that settles on your floor every day. It also can reduce the frequency of deep cleaning, saving you time and effort. The most effective models feature powerful suction, which will take on the majority of messes and leave your house cleaner.

A robot vacuum that also mop will help you get more space by using just one machine. This could be especially helpful for homes with a large area. Choose a model that has water reservoirs either integrated into the chassis or as a separate piece that you can swap out when the vacuuming is finished. It will need to be empty and fill it up, however, so this is an additional chore that requires a little extra work on your part.

In a perfect world you would clean your floors first before using your robot vacuum to prevent it from running into anything. In most homes, however this isn't possible or desirable. Fortunately, the majority of models let you use your smartphone to create virtual barriers that the robot is able to see and avoid. Some have no-go zones which can be used to mark areas you don't want it to be in, like kids rooms or a pile of cords for your device in the corner.

If you're looking for a simple robot vacuum that doesn't have all the bells and bells, this model from networking company TP-Link is a great option. It's quiet and works well on hard floors and low-pile carpets and can be scheduled through the app to vacuum or mop at any time. It has a good battery life, and can last up to 180 minutes before it requires to recharge.

2. Easy to Operate

Robot vacuums generally need only minimal effort from you. They use navigation tools like sensors and lasers to move through obstacles and collect dust, food crumbs and pet hair from floors, tile carpets, hardwood floors and low-pile carpets. Many have boundary strips to aid in staying within a room's walls, while more expensive models can be programmed to automatically wake up and start cleaning at a predetermined time. Some models have fall detection technology to help them avoid falling down a flight of stairs or becoming tangled in cords.

Look for models that allow you to control from your couch using voice assistants, such as Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also select Wi-Fi models that allow you to start a cleaning session anywhere using an app. Depending on how large your home is, you may prefer an item that has a long battery life and a large dust bin that doesn't need to be emptying frequently.

Some robot vacuums double as mops, utilizing water reservoirs to clean your floor. This is great for mopping, but not ideal for difficult messes such as pet poop and other spills. You can choose hybrids with a removable microfiber mopping pad or a self emptying robot vacuum-emptying model that allows you to go for up to 60 days without emptying the base.

3. Smart Mapping

Some robots use advanced mapping technology to build a detailed map as they clean. This helps them avoid hitting furniture or tripping over cords or legs of chairs. This feature is usually 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 can determine where to go when it's low on battery.

If you do not want your robot to go into areas of your home you'd prefer to keep it away from (like your kids' toys or the tangled mess of gadget cords in the corner) Most robots provide some method of creating virtual barriers, either via their apps or physical boundary strips. You can block off areas that you don't want your robot to enter, so that it can focus on the rooms that need the most attention.

Many robots will also automatically change floors based on the floor they are cleaning. This can be accomplished by switching from carpet to hard flooring, or by paying attention to particular areas of your home like corners and baseboards. In our tests it was a great feature that improved their pick-up scores for both carpeting that is low-pile and hardwood. It's nevertheless important to tuck away furniture and cords before using your 360 Robot vacuum vacuum to ensure that it doesn't get stuck or run into something it shouldn't.

4. Remote Control

Most robot vacuums come with WiFi capabilities and can be controlled via voice commands, Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa or Siri Shortcuts. Many robot vacuums are connected to smart home systems and generate a map of the area they clean after each session. This allows them to "learn" how your home is laid out and plan more efficient routes during future cleaning sessions. Some also have built-in obstacle avoidance that prevents them from hitting furniture and causing damage or getting stuck on things like loose charging cables, shoe laces and pet hair.

Most robots come with a remote that you can use to pilot them around your home. The majority of robots can be controlled via a mobile application which has more options. You can create multiple cleaning schedules and create a list with your favorite rooms. You can also manually direct the robot by using the directional Arrows.

Some models provide no-go zones that are virtual barriers that you can configure in the app to block the robot from entering certain areas (like toys for kids or dog bowls and beds). Other apps let you set up a map of your home and provide the robot with detailed information about your floors. The Roborock S7+ app has many useful features to assist you in cleaning your home. However, its interface isn't quite as sleek as iRobot or Shark.

5. Long Battery Life

Robotic vacuums that can sweep throughout the house without stopping to recharge or empty their dust bins can save you time and energy. Some are compatible with smart home platforms such as Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri Shortcuts to allow hands-free operation. They can also make an outline of your living space and allow you to program them to clean certain areas or rooms, and to avoid obstacles.

The majority of robot vacuums detect objects, but the irobot vacuum cleaner and mop J7 has advanced features such as "home mapping" and obstacle avoidance. These can make your life easier (although one of our test robots did "eat" two socks). If you're seeking to improve the quality of your home maintenance, you should consider an automated mop that comes with water containers that can be filled and then empty.

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 are excellent at sweeping up food crumbs and tracked-in dirt. They also can handle screws and nuts made of metal as well as stray cat litter. The best robotic mop and vacuum robot vacuums are able to remove dirt from edges and corners and work on furniture. For a basic model that works on its own and is comparatively inexpensive look into the Eufy 11S.

6. Convenient Self-Charging

With the right configuration, a robot vacuum can aid in keeping your home looking and looking and feeling cleaner every day without a lot of effort. You can schedule cleanings through the app, and you can create no-go zones so that your robot doesn't get in the way of your plants or sit on your favorite chair. A majority of our top picks will also empty their trash bins for you and clean their docking station.

The most effective robot vacuums can be programmed to clean your floors on a regular basis for weeks or even months at a stretch, freeing you from the tedious chore of manually sweeping and mopping your floors on a weekly or daily basis. This allows you to take more time doing the things you like and reduces the time it takes to clean your floors manually.

In the course of testing the Q Revo was able to grab tiny particles such as oatmeal and baking soda and 360 Robot vacuum heavier debris like nails and screws made of steel, and fluffy stuff such as pet hair. It isn't equipped with the intelligent mapping and objects-avoiding features of our top picks, but it is still a great option for most families.

The most impressive feature of the j7 is its ability to detect and avoid obstacles like power cords as well as socks and shoes, and pet waste. This means you don't have to spend time tidying up before you can run your robot, although clutter in your home can mean your bot may get stuck and not perform as good a job.