They’re also pretty loud on bare floors, sort of like a two-stroke lawn mower puttering in the distance. To their credit, they seem to be strong cleaners, particularly on bare floors. The main thing that makes the Roomba 600 series stand out from other affordable robot vacuums is that it’s more durable and easier to repair . They generally don’t break, spare parts are always in stock, and you can swap in everything from a new filter to a new transmission with nothing more than a screwdriver.
The Roombas’ speed is also increased, which is possible in part because of the sensors to avoid bumping into obstacles too hard. Roombas are powered by a user-replaceable rechargeable battery; older models used NiMH batteries, while newer models use lithium-ion batteries, and a few models support both. First-generation models must be recharged from a wall power adapter, while all subsequent models have a self-charging homebase that the unit seeks out at the end of a cleaning session via infrared beacons. Roomba, the iconic robot vacuum from iRobot, is in some ways as ubiquitous a term as Kleenex.
Dark or black carpeting won’t throw it off, either, unlike other models that might think they’re a cliff. For homes with pet dander and shedded fur, a dual multisurface rubber brush allows for easy release of hair to avoid tangling, while a high-efficiency filter traps 99 percent of dander and other common allergens. A recharge and resume feature automatically activates after about 90 minutes of battery use. It comes loaded with filters and dust bags for the base, plus replacements for each.
The Roomba s9+ is truly the top-tier robot vacuum available at the moment — with a steep price tag to match. Its market-leading 2500Pa suction power is quite the match for homes full of plush carpeting that’s undoubtedly hoarding hair and debris. After skirting the walls with its flat edge and making the number of passes necessary to get the job done, the s9+ releases its dust on its own. The self-emptying base won’t need to be emptied by you for at least 60 days.
The Shark, however, is the only vacuum we tested that features a bagless self-emptying base. To empty it, you simply detach the bin and empty it manually over the trash. This can get messy as dust flies around, but you save money buying replacement bags. The V3S Pro uses a small suction opening to scoop up debris, much like a regular vacuum, instead of the spinning roller brush on the bottom used by most robots. While the suction isn’t the strongest I’ve seen on devices in this price range, it avoids having hair and carpet threads build up and get stuck in a brush, and therefore helps it pick up more hair and dirt. Two side brushes with three bristles each push hair and dirt into the robot’s path, and do a great job.
It also automatically detects a change in terrain, say, when it goes from your carpeted bedroom to your tiled bathroom floor. With outstanding maneuverability, the Miele Scout RX2 Home Vision can vacuum through your home for up to two hours, taking care of your floors and carpet without bumping into obstacles. During testing, this pick vacuumed every size mess efficiently and more quickly than our other winners. It has multiple cleaning modes, depending on the cleaning you need and its multiple sensors prevent it from bumping into furniture, or toppling down stairs. Don’t rely on only the sensors to protect your investment — a handy boundary strip is easily installed to stop the robot from entering a no-go area. Robot vacuums can offer a very impressive clean, even on thick carpets which makes them a good alternative to upright or other types of vacuums.
Many of the latest models feature a Light Detection and Ranging laser (the same technology used in self-driving cars) to map your home and plan an efficient cleaning route. But some budget-friendly robot vacuums still haphazardly ping-pong from wall to wall, inefficiently crossing over the same space multiple times as they clean. In addition, robot vacuums have reached the point where they’re basically just as powerful and effective as regular vacuums. The robots rounded up here combine spinning brusholls and side brushes to clean your home just as well as their upright equivalents. And they’re able to travel underneath most couches and tables, so you don’t have to rearrange furniture. Eufy makes several RoboVac models built on the same base as the 11S, plus extra features.
Upright vacuums typically come with attachments that are useful for cleaning things like drapes or furniture, which robot vacs can’t handle. The main brush is between five and ten bissell crosswave cordless inches long, located under the unit, and is made of a rubber-like material. The vacuum sucks debris into the main brush, which spins to feed the materials into the dustbin.
What makes the Groove great for pet owners is that it is super easy to remove the brush roll and clean it. You can also create virtual barriers—lines you don’t want the 930 to cross and ones you do. With a single swipe, the app tells the 930 to go over a certain area multiple times. This feature works really well with high-traffic locations in your home. Use Automations to connect to your smart devices and personalize your cleaning experience by scheduling your robot to clean when you leave the house. We sent them on a normal run of the house cleaning run as well as runs with handfuls of cat litter on the floor and carpeting.