It works with an auto-empty charging base and has Alexa, Google, and Siri voice control. However, not all of these busy little bots are created equal, and you’ll pay more for those with whizz-bang features that make your life a little easier. Robot vacuums range in price from under $200 to well over $1,000, so there’s a bot for every budget.
IRobot’s proprietary Imprint technology not only intelligently maps out your home as it cleans, but allows your i7 to synchronize with a Braava robotic mop to clean your home efficiently together. In alphabetical order, here are five standouts from CR’s rigorous robotic vacuum tests, dyson robot vacuum across a variety of price ranges and with diverse feature sets. For complete test results and even more options, CR members can see our robotic vacuum ratings. Also, check out our vacuum cleaner buying guide to find out how robotics compare with other types of vacuum cleaners.
In March 2022, iRobot announced a new software update that remedies this shortcoming. According to the press release, the i3 EVO and the i3+ EVO can now use a feature called Imprint Smart Mapping to follow courses and maps created via the iRobot app. The software update also offers Siri compatibility , a child and pet lock feature, and a do-not-disturb setting. We haven’t tested iRobot’s new smart mapping to see how well it works, but we recommended the i3 EVO even without this capability. The key is that bots don’t procrastinate or get bored, so they spend more time cleaning, and clean more thoroughly, than almost any human.
In general, the more power, the better, especially if you have carpet, but battery life and obstacle avoidance capabilities are also a factor. Affordable robot vacuums often struggle to thoroughly remove pet hair and other debris from carpeting. With an impressive 2,600Pa of suction power, the midrange Proscenic M7 Pro excels at this task.
And they’re able to travel underneath most couches and tables, so you don’t have to rearrange furniture. It also features a self-emptying dustbin, good battery life, impressive obstacle avoidance, and strong vacuum suction power. From its companion app, you can move the robot around and view a live video stream of what’s happening inside your home. It also has the longest battery life of any robot vacuum we’ve tested, cleaning for up to 170 minutes on a charge. For even greater convenience, Ecovacs makes an Auto-Empty Station that allows the Deebot Ozmo T8 AIVI to empty its bin into a disposable dust bag without your help.
The popular and powerful Lift-Away with great suction is a canister vacuum for households with pet hair, bare floors, carpets and area rugs. The Lift-away is also available as a lightweight and bagless upright vacuum. There are other vac options with a more powerful suction ability and built-in lithium-ion battery for some heavy-duty, battery-powered vacuuming. Handheld vacuums from Dyson and BISSELL, for instance, offer great performance.