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This Week's Top Stories About Robot Vacuum
How to Find the Best Robot Vacuum

If you're willing to live without the benefits of smart features like mapping, and aren't worried about cleaning the trash bin every 60 days or so, a basic robot vacuum will probably work for you. Look for a model with a clean base and works with voice assistants.

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

1. Powerful Suction

A robot vacuum will stay up with the pet hair, dust and dander that accumulates on your floors on a day-to-day basis. It also can reduce the frequency you have to deep clean, saving your time and effort. The best models come with powerful suction that can take on the majority of messes and leave your home clean.

You can cover a larger area with a robot vacuum and mop, which is especially beneficial if you live in a large house. Choose robotvacuummops that have an water reservoir integrated into the chassis or as a separate piece that you swap in when vacuuming is complete. It'll need to be emptied and refilled, so it's an extra task.

In a perfect world you would clean your floors before using your robot vacuum to prevent it from hitting anything. In the majority of 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 can be aware of and avoid. Some include no-go zones, which you can use to flag areas you don't want it to be in, like kids' rooms or a pile of device cords in the corner.

If you're looking for a simple robot vacuum without all the bells and whistles, this model from the company that makes networking TP-Link is a good choice. It's quiet, and it works on hard floors and low-pile carpets and can be scheduled through the app to mop or vacuum at your own convenience. It comes with a battery life of up to 180 minutes.

2. Easy to operate

Robot vacuums generally require only minimal effort from you. They use navigational tools such as sensors cameras, lasers, and sensors to move and collect pet hair, dust and food crumbs off hard floors, tiles and hardwood. Many have boundary strips to allow them to stay within a room's walls, while higher-end models can be set to automatically wake up and begin cleaning at a set time. Some even have fall-detection technology that can help them avoid tumbling down stairs or getting caught in electrical cords.

Find models that allow you to control from the comfort of your sofa using voice assistants like Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also look for models that connect to Wi-Fi and let you start cleaning from any location via an app. You may want to select one with a long-lasting battery, as well as a large dust bin, depending on the size of your house.

Some robot vacuums can also be mopping. They make use of water reservoirs to wash the floor. This is great for mopping, but not great for tough messes like pet poop and other wet spills. You can find hybrids with an ejectable microfiber pad for mopping, or opt for self-emptying models that let you use the device for 30 to 60 days without needing to empty the base.

3. Smart Mapping

Certain robots employ advanced mapping technology to create a detailed map of your floorplan while they clean and tidy, allowing them to avoid bumping mindlessly into furniture or tripping over things such as cords or chairs. This feature is usually only available on higher-end models, but it's one of the best ways to make sure your robot has a complete understanding of the layout of your house and knows where to go next when it runs out of battery.

Most robots let you create virtual barriers. This can be done using an application or even physical boundary strips. This allows you to create zones that you don't want your robot to venture into, so it can concentrate its attention on areas and rooms that require the most attention.

Many robots can also automatically navigate to different floorings depending on the flooring they're cleaning, be it they're switching between hard and carpet or focusing on specific areas of your home, such as baseboards and corners. In our tests it was a great feature that helped improve their performance in picking up hardwood and low-pile carpeting. It is important to secure any furniture or cords that are loose before using your robot vacuum, so that it doesn't become caught.

4. Remote Control

Almost all robot vacuums are WiFi-connected and work with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri Shortcuts to allow you to control them via voice commands or through your smartphone. Many robot vacuums connect to smart home systems, and can create an outline of the area they clean after each session. This lets them "learn" the way your home is laid out and plan more efficient routes in future cleaning sessions. Certain models have obstacles avoidance built-in that prevents them from causing damage to furniture or 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 operated by mobile applications, which offers more features. It is possible to set up multiple cleaning schedules, make an inventory of your favorite rooms and even manually guide your robot around specific areas by using directional arrows on the screen.

Some models offer no-go zones that are virtual barriers that you can set up in the app to block the robot from entering certain areas (like toys for children or dog beds and bowls). Some apps let you draw an image of your home and provide detailed information about the floors. The Roborock S7+ app has many useful features to assist you in cleaning your home. However the interface isn't as polished as iRobot or Shark.

5. Long Battery Life

Robotic vacuums that can sweep throughout the house without stopping to recharge or empty their bins of dust can save you time and energy. Some of them work with smart home devices like Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri Shortcuts for hands-free operation. They can also create a map of the space for you to program them for certain areas or rooms, and to stay clear of obstacles.


Most robot vacuums offer 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, which can make your life easier (although our test bot did "eat" the socks of a pair). socks). If you're seeking to improve your home's maintenance, you should consider an automated mop that comes with water containers that you can fill and empty.

While none of the models that we tested could match the ability to pick up dirt of a stand-up vacuum, they did a great job cleaning hard floors as well as carpets with a low pile. They excel at picking up food crumbs, and dirt that has been tracked in. They can even tackle some stray cat litter and metal screws and nuts. The most effective robot vacuums are able to easily maneuver through furniture, and they are great at cleaning edges and corners as well. Eufy 11S is a relatively basic and affordable model.

6. Convenient Self-Charging

With the proper setup and the right setup, a robotic vacuum can assist you in keeping your home looking and feeling fresh regularly, with minimal effort. It is possible to schedule cleanings with the app, and you can set up no-go areas to ensure that your robot does not get in the way of your plants or sit on your favorite chair. Many 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 regularly for months or even weeks at a stretch, freeing you from the time-consuming task of manually mopping and sweeping your floors on a daily or weekly basis. This lets you spend more time doing things you enjoy and cuts down on the amount of time your floors need to be cleaned manually.

During testing the Q Revo was able grab fine particles like baking soda and oatmeal. It also grabbed larger particles like nails and screws made of steel, as well as fluffy stuff like pet hair. It lacks the smart mapping and object-avoiding features of our top picks but is still a great option for families with children.

The most impressive feature of the j7 is its ability to recognize and avoid obstacles like power cords and socks, shoes and pet waste. This means that you don't need to spend time tidying the room prior to running your robot, although messy rooms can mean that the robot may become stuck and not perform the job as well.