Our top pick isn’t themostexpensive model on the market, though it’s price tag is up there. If you’re working with a more modest budget, we have a strong recommendation in that category as well. Using snapshots, the robot device gradually creates a map of the room it is cleaning. The app is simple and easy to use, and the vacuum is quiet and powerful, and it has stellar navigation capabilities. Giving up smart navigation lands you a dependable budget vacuum with surprisingly juicy suction.
We lab-tested leading models from Neato, Samsung, iRobot, Roborock, Eufy, Ecovacs and other brands to pick the best robot vacuum. The nice thing about bissell crosswave cordless that is that you never have to come into contact with dust and debris. The downside is that you’ll eventually have to buy more bags when you run out.
We keep finding deals on bots from no-name brands like Coredy, Goovi, Onson, and Amarey, all of which have product dimensions that are barely distinguishable from those of the Eufy RoboVac 11S that we recommend. Personally, I used an old Roomba 650 at home for four years and found that it held up very well. 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. If a robot runs across anything smearable, get ready to do some nasty cleanup. Get honest reviews on top products & services — delivered weekly to your inbox.
As iRobot’s top-of-the-line model, the Roomba s9+ Robot Vacuum is packed with features. It empties itself and is supported by an app that allows you to schedule cleanings effortlessly, set no-go zones, and customize your cleaning experience. You can even pair it with the iRobot Braava Jet M6 to mop after it finishes its vacuum cycle. It picked up all of the coffee grounds, kitty litter, and pet hair we laid out on carpeting and hardwood. It had a more challenging time with flour, leaving 10% of the flour on hardwood and a disappointing 40% of the flour on the carpeting.
A horizontally mounted “side spinner” brush on the right side of the unit sweeps against walls to reach debris not accessible by the main brushes and vacuum. In the first generation, the dirty air passes through the fan before reaching the filter, while later models use a fan-bypass vacuum. Roomba uses a patented 3-stage cleaning process to vacuum your carpets, hardwood, tile, and laminate floors on its own, automatically adjusting to different floor surfaces as it moves through your home. 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. The dustbin on the i3 is smaller than the ones on some other bots at this price, but the upgraded Roomba i3+ comes with a dock that automatically empties the bin when it’s full, or at the end of a cleaning session.
This underdog from Yeedi churns out serious suction power and lasts for hours, plus so many other extras. There’s serious suction power and brain power packed into this affordable gem from Yeedi. Tenacious suction, room selection, and a mop that avoids carpet make the S7+ a highly hands-off purchase.
Experience a comprehensive clean with the powerful cleaning system that pulls in dirt, debris, and pet hair from wherever it hides. Pair our specialized robots together for a complete clean with less effort from you. Let iRobot take care of the vacuuming and mopping so that you can take care of everything else. Braava jet® m6 robot mop tackles grease and grime all at the sound of your voice.
Rotary encoders on the wheels can detect the rate at which the wheels are spinning so it can determine if they’re slipping or stuck, and drop sensors detect if a wheel is too low . An undriven swivel caster (located at the front of most models, and at the back of the D-shaped S series) is used not for steering, as is often believed, but as an additional sensor. It too is a rotary encoder; the caster’s wheel is half black and half white, and optical sensors detect the change in color as it rotates. This helps detect if the Roomba is stuck or beached (i.e., the drive wheels are spinning but the Roomba isn’t moving). Stark’s Vacuums has grown to be one of the largest independent vacuum cleaner retailers in the country, with nine locations and more than 250 vacuums to choose from. Most bots come with a tool that can cut and then brush away the fuzz.