Today’s robot vacuums can’t clean up as much dirt and debris as traditional upright vacuums. “I think you’d still need a stick or upright vacuum for spots that the robot vac can’t reach,” Ferro said. I’ve tested 30 robot vacuums to find the best ones and consulted health experts and engineers on how to use them properly.
Floors cluttered with obstacles like wires, charging cords, toys, shoes and clothing can stop robots in their tracks. Some robot vacuum models clean tile, wood flooring and different types of carpet better than others. Here’s a list of the other robot vacuums we tested besides the models listed above. With a competitive price, plus rock-solid performance and intelligent navigation, the Roborock S7 is our new favorite midrange robot vacuum. It demonstrated about the same power to remove sand from hardwood floors (92.8%) as the Roomba S9 Plus (93%) and Neato D7 (95%). You no longer have to suffer the indignity of dragging around an unwieldy plastic hose connected to a clumsy, wheeled canister the size of a Galapagos tortoise.
Its three-stage cleaning system and multisurface brush lift dirt efficiently, while an edge-sweeping brush tackles corners and edges. Most robot vacuums are equipped with multiroom cleaning features, which allow the device to clean in zones versus one room at a time. An “edge cleaning” mode makes sure dust and debris are picked up along the perimeter and around furniture. Some machines will also include app-controlled custom cleaning preferences, which allow the user to adjust cleaning modes, power settings, number of cleaning passes, and edge cleaning. Roomba vacuums, made by iRobot, are a well-known name in hands-free cleaners. The Roomba product line comes in a variety of small but effective robot vacuums with smart features such as household mapping, as well as control integrations through app, Wi-Fi, and voice.
The E5 is a midrange option with five times the suction power of the 600 series, but still slightly less than the i7 and i3. It lacks smart mapping but features advanced sensors to help it navigate around furniture and along edges. Similar to other cordless vacuums, the best robot vacuums have varying runtimes that depend on the battery life. The battery life will generally range from 60 minutes with more basic versions to about 120 minutes at the higher end. Those who want their Roomba to cover more square footage may prefer a model with a longer battery life, or perhaps two robots to cover different zones or floors. The Roomba J7 has all of the features that you need to get your carpets clean, including PrecisionVision Navigation.
For a robot vacuum that will take care of all your floor-cleaning needs, look no further than the Roborock S7. This gadget can vacuum and wet-mop your floors simultaneously, with an innovative sonic technology shark cordless that scrubs floors up to 3,000 times per minute. And no need to worry about your rugs and carpets getting wet, the Roborock will automatically lift the mop off the floor to avoid causing any damage!
On hardwood floors this Roomba picked up an average of 93% of our test sand, the second-highest amount in our test group. With 95% sand removal, the Neato Botvac D7 still reigns supreme on that test. Unlike more traditional canister or stick models, robot vacuums are autonomous and intelligent. The vacuums we’ve tested are equipped with lasers, motherboards, sensors, and even Wi-Fi to navigate around your home without assistance. With a few exceptions, you barely have to interact with them at all. The relatively affordable Eufy RoboVac G30 robot vacuum has a compact design, strong suction power for its size, and smarter navigation than its predecessors.
Enjoy the barefoot clean floors you’ve always wanted with Roomba iRobot Vacuums. We would say that the newest Roomba goes where no Roomba has gone before, but it’s more about where it doesn’t go. The j7+ uses a new PrecisionVision Navigation camera that helps it to avoid small obstacles that are typically blind spots, like cords and pet waste. Maximalists with lots of rugs will appreciate the i3+’s balanced suction and automatic emptying.
Be advised, however, that this model’s cleaning sessions have less suction power than comparable models. There are some bonus features to consider when selecting the model best suited to your cleaning needs. A tangle-free roller is especially handy for those with pets, as its extractors lift pet hair and other bissell crosswave cordless debris without it getting caught in the Roomba’s brushes. Another beneficial extra for families with pets or those sensitive to allergens is a high-efficiency filter that can capture dander, pollen, dust bunnies, and other tiny particles. Most robot vacuums are made to suit certain surfaces better than others.