Get the new powerful Roomba® j7 robot vacuum and the exclusive matching Braava jet® m6 robot mop. Enjoy a whole-room clean wth a robot vacuum, robot mop, and the iRobot® H1 Handheld Vacuum. Foolishly, I thought I’d be able to plug in the charging station, press the vacuum’s “Clean” button, and voilà—it would clean the floors all by itself and scoot back home with a minimum of fuss, and with practically no effort on my part. This article was edited and updated by Sara Coughlin, a freelance writer and The Spruce’s small appliances expert. From canister models to dustbusters, she’s researched what it takes for a vacuum to stand out in a vast and broad market—and what to look for in up-and-coming models.
They aren’t as flexible as invisible barriers that you can draw in an app, but they’re much more elegant than the ugly magnetic strips used with some other cheaper bots . That said, the virtual walls are expensive if you buy them through iRobot, at $60 each, though it’s not hard to find used ones on eBay or similar marketplaces. But on a basic level, you’ll never have as much control over the i3 as you would over a robot with smart maps. By our count, more than 100 robot vacuums are available as of November 2021, and we’ve tested more than 30 of the most noteworthy ones.
As one of the top names in robotic vacuums, Roombas tend to feature some enticing capabilities across the board, including app, Wi-Fi, and voice-control integrations, household mapping, and, of course, dependable vacuuming performance. If you’re not willing to devote the time to prepping the house, then opt for the LiDAR-enabled, connected robot vacuums — like our irobot vacuum cleaner overall recommendation, the iRobot Roomba j7+ — that are smart enough to detect and steer clear of obstacles. Spending the time during the initial setup, mapping your home and creating in-app “no-go zones” will save you the hassle of decluttering each time you run the vacuum. The dustbin on the 11S needs to be emptied manually, like others in this price range.
Several other Wirecutter staff members own Roomba 600 series bots and have also found them to be sturdy and reliable. Here’s a quick summary of the important differences between iRobot’s best Roomba models. It will look stupid sometimes, and that can shatter the illusion that you have an artificially intelligent magic machine. If a robot runs across anything smearable, get ready to do some nasty cleanup. Bots also tend to struggle with thresholds, certain types of furniture supports, and sometimes even floor-to-rug transitions. The iRobot limited warranty shall not apply to failures or problems which are caused by products or equipment not authorized by iRobot Corporation.
We measured the volume on the bot’s maximum suction setting and found that it was just 57 dBc, a full 5 dBc quieter than the Roomba 694—that’s a major difference. On its normal suction setting, it’s just 53 dBc, which sounds more like a fan than a vacuum cleaner (“traditional” vacuums are often 70 dBc or louder because of their much stronger suction). And since the 11S stops short of most obstacles, it also avoids creating many of the bonking impact noises that the rougher Roomba 694 does. Other basic Eufy models have slightly stronger suction and can be a couple decibels louder, but they are still quieter than most competitors. Compared with other cheap bump bots, the Roomba 694 is a little rough on furniture. None of the current Roomba 600 series models come with a barrier system, but they work with the iRobot virtual walls, which you can buy separately.
I spilled cat litter on the hardwood floor and the j7+ recognized it as a “dirt event.” It got to the end of the cat litter spill, reversed itself back to the beginning of the spill area and took another pass at it. Even litter that got scattered by the sweeping motion of the side brush was eventually picked up. The Eufy 11s may not be smart, but its brute force approach covered our test area almost as well as the connected robots, plus it’s quiet, slim dyson robot vacuum enough to reach under most furniture and does a great job cleaning. That means you’re looking for a robot that can traverse different floor types or maneuver around furniture without needing help. This is especially true if you have dark flooring, as infrared sensors might mistake a black carpet for a ledge, and refuse to pass over it. We test vacuums on hardwood, tile, and rugs to see how well they manage the transitions across various surfaces.