Eufy makes several RoboVac models built on the same base as the 11S, plus extra features. The following table is a cheat sheet of the most popular Eufy bump bots as of November 2021 (though it’s not a full list of all their models). In our experience, it can be useful in spaces as large as 1,000 square feet, as long as you run it most days of the week as a habit and can forgive that it might not thoroughly clean every room every time that it runs.
But it should grant you the greater level of control you get with other smart-mapping models, like the Roborock S4 Max . Whatever the mess, Roomba® robot vacuum has been cleaning it all for over 30 years. A better option if you want to vacuum multiple floors is the AEG RX9.2. This doesn’t have the mopping or self-emptying features, but it can be used on multiple storeys.
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. Instead of random navigation around your home, the i series can clean in neat, straight lines, which might be more effective in larger spaces — especially when combined with its increased suction . The i3 is a standalone vacuum, but the i3+ comes with a self-emptying dock — you don’t have to clean out the chamber as often. All models have a patented design using pair of brushes or rollers, rotating in opposite directions, to pick up debris from the floor.
And, even though the warranty states explicitly these accidents aren’t covered, they still provided me with a replacement unit for free. I plugged in the dock to charge the vacuum, connected the app, updated the firmware, and set a schedule for cleaning. After two cleanings, the vac created a map of my layout so I could set no-go zones to keep the T8 AIVI away from sensitive areas. The 240mL water tank was large enough to complete at least two passes over the 500-square-foot test floor. With the app, you can choose from four water-flow levels to reach a balance of moistness and quick drying and two mopping patterns.
This is an annoying oversight in an otherwise capable and sophisticated app. If you live in a single storey flat or apartment then you could overlook this, but few people will want to fork out for a second robot to manage upstairs. It isn’t quite as fast as the Eufy G30 dyson robot vacuum Edge, which knocked another five minutes off that time but it’s still faster than most. The only blot on its navigation record card is its inability to store more than one map. The other problem is that you’re advised to empty and air-dry the water tank after use.
In my tests the robot didn’t get lost or stuck, despite tackling a range of spaces and obstacles that have trapped rivals in the past. It builds its map very quickly and accurately, and it constantly adapts and updates it, so shifting furniture around has very little effect on the robot’s navigation skills. The vacuum’s iRobot Genius app creates personalized cleaning suggestions, and can be used to control and schedule which rooms are cleaned and when. The device automatically empties itself into enclosed bags via its so-called “Clean Base Automatic Dirt Disposal” system.
Through testing, we found that it didn’t do a great job getting stubborn flour “dust” out of crevices between floorboards , and it tended to not grab our “crumbs” of rice very well. As there are other models with more suction power on the market, consider skipping this base model for an upgraded shark cordless option. The iRobot Roomba vacuum cleaner shoulders some of the housework load by automatically cleaning your carpet and floors. It vacuums up debris, even in hard-to-reach spots like beneath your furniture and along baseboards. The robot navigates around obstacles such as toys and chair legs.
It only came within about 3 inches of the hardwood corner, and though it came within an inch of the carpeted corner, it didn’t pick up much of the flour. The top-end Braava m6 provides more adjustments, custom mapping and can even integrate with certain Roomba models so the two can clean in tandem. The Roomba i7 adds to the i3’s functionality by using a camera to map your house, allowing you to tell it to clean a specific room or even a specific area of a room (like “under the couch”) as needed. Like the i3, an elevated a “plus” version equips that lower-touch self-emptying dock. Vacuuming noiseiRobot doesn’t offer decibel ratings for each of its vacuums, but if you plan on being home when the vacuum is running, check out reviews to help you gauge whether noise will be a problem for a given model. A tech expert explains how to find the best Roomba robot vacuum for your needs and budget.