So to ensure you get the most vacuum bang for your bucks, we’ve tested the leading models to really put them through their paces – and we’ve tested them in our own homes, which are much more challenging than any test lab. We’ve tested all their key features – runtime, suction power, mapping and automation capabilities and more – in real-world situations to help bissell crosswave cordless you find the best robot vacuum for you and your home. They’re smaller and more powerful, delivering better cleaning with a lot less noise. And they have clever navigation systems to ensure they don’t miss an inch or vacuum up a lost sock. Some can even detect when they’re moving from hard floors to carpets or rugs and adjust their cleaning power accordingly.
The inexpensive iLife V3s Pro is light on bells and whistles, but big on keeping your floors free from fur. In fact, it collected 100% of pet fur from hardwood floors and 99% from carpet — which is an almost perfect score. This bump-and-clean robot sets itself apart with a 3-inch suction opening instead of a brush roll for ingesting debris. Not only does that aid in picking up dog hair, but it also makes maintenance easier since you won’t need to spend time removing hair from a brush roll. Many of these robot vacuums can also pair with a smartphone app, which lets you command the bot to clean specific rooms or sections of a room while ignoring other areas. This “smart mapping” tech is particularly convenient, and it’s one of the most compelling reasons to spend a little extra on a robot.
The fur can end up jamming the brush bar, which prevents the vacuum from picking up further debris. Its general performance wasn’t too shabby either, handling large debris, such as cereal and kitty litter, with ease, and achieving an overall cleaning score of 91.81%. If you hate to empty your robot vacuum between runs, the j7+ model comes with a compact cleaning base as well, which can store up to 60 days of dust. So, this robot vacuum might not be best if your pet constantly sheds, but if there’s an occasional accident on your floor, you will be grateful for the j7+’s intelligence.
Like other types of vacuums, many of the best robot vacuums on this list and other models we’ve tested are effective at collecting pet hair, fine dust, and larger debris from floors. As well as deciding whether you want a robovac that just vacuums or one that mops, it’s also important to consider battery life, as nobody wants a robot vacuum that runs out of power halfway through cleaning your home. Similarly, look for robot vacuums that have large dust canisters or those that empty their dust bins, meaning it really can be left to clean your floors unaided.
Most 500-series models support scheduling through buttons on the unit itself, and higher-end models allow the use of a remote control, smartphone app, or smart-home automation integration to program schedules. Many robot vacuums cope well with hardwood floors and carpeted areas, but if your home has many staircases, you’ll need an additional vacuum to clean the stairs. With many robot vacuums suitable for programming from your phone, you’ll be able to switch these devices on when you’re out and about and come home to clean floors.
But for the most part, modern robots are pretty good at navigation, and many models now give you the option to draw invisible boundaries around problematic areas using a smartphone app. Some homes have more of these traps than others; most homes have at least a few. Many of today’s robot vacuums are great at thoroughly cleaning every room in a home without getting lost or stuck. We will also continue to monitor reports and how and why robot vacs are using your data, but when it comes to object-recognition robots, we just don’t think they are worth your time, money, and possible privacy tradeoffs—yet.