Learns your home, cleans when and where you want with 10X the Power-Lifting Suction1 and custom cleaning control. The mop also performed well, with its floor wiping action doing as good a job as a human could do with a cloth, some water and minimal elbow grease. It isn’t going to tackle stubborn stains but can wipe up a light footprint or kitchen spill if it isn’t too sticky.
It projects a pattern of infrared light, which the vacuum detects and treats as a physical wall, prompting it to stop and turn around. Third-generation and newer models are compatible with the Dual Mode Virtual Wall, which, in addition to simulating a straight wall, can create a circular barrier roughly 4 feet (1.2 m) in diameter. Some 500-, 700- and 800-series models are compatible with the Virtual Wall Lighthouse. It initially confines the vacuum to one area to be cleaned; then, once the vacuum reports the area has been sufficiently cleaned , it directs it to proceed to the next space to be cleaned, and contains it there. The Roomba S9 Plus also struggled a bit cleaning sand from low-pile carpeting, earning a low average dust and sand pickup of 28%. While not the worst result we’ve seen (that honor belongs to the Ecovacs Deebot 600 at 18%), it’s definitely near the bottom.
I was surprised the first time I saw the 11S disappear under my bed—and then more surprised when it reemerged with an unholy amount of cat hair stuffed into its bin and wrapped about the brush roll. If you like the sound of the Roomba 694 but want just a little more cleaning power, you could look for a Roomba e5. It’s a similar bissell crosswave cordless robot, with semi-random navigation, plus some extra suction and nubbed “extractor” rolls that are great at getting debris out of rugs . Some retailers sell the functionally identical Roomba e6 instead. It’s a semi-discontinued model, and at this point may cost less than the weaker Roomba 694, so keep an eye out for deals.
For hard surfaces, the company also manufactures mopping robots that also include smart features to work in conjunction with their vacuuming counterparts. All Roombas include obstacle sensors, and they can detect areas with dirt and debris. Higher-end models will have more advanced navigation and mapping systems and some can map an entire home, which can then be used to specify cleaning areas through a downloadable app.
The vacuum cleaner covered the entire floor of our test room in an average of just 16 minutes. That’s a full 9 minutes shorter than the Roomba S9 Plus required . Among them are brand-new models that launched in 2021, flagship models from companies like iRobot, Samsung and Neato and compelling options offered across numerous online retailers. I excluded older models that likely won’t be sold for much longer. I’ll continue to update this best robot vacuum list periodically as new models become available, so you can find the best vacuum for your home.
Get the best value on product protection including fast repairs or replacements. “iRobot Extends Wi-Fi Connectivity with New Roomba 890 and 690 Vacuuming Robots”. I’ve covered appliances and other major household fixtures for more than a decade, and I’m excited to help CR’s readers find the right goods for their homes. If you ever get me talking, I’ll probably have a story about some wacky side effects of appliance regulations, or the journey to fully electrify my 100-year-old house.
The Bissell SpinWave picked up all the cat and dog hair we laid out on carpeting and hardwood. Additionally, on the hardwood, it only left a trace of kitty litter and flour. It came within 2 inches in corners and picked up more than 60% of the flour on both the carpet and hardwood. The more helpful feature is the auto-empty station that automatically empties the dustbin after cleaning sessions. Setup is a breeze, only taking about 10 minutes, including connecting to the user-friendly app. Unfortunately, the app doesn’t allow you to set up no-go zones, so you must buy virtual wall barriers.
“That likely has to do with their smaller motor size. They’re good for touch-ups and in-between uses.” Generally speaking, the higher the Pa, the better, but that’s a misleading metric of comparison. The vacuum’s extras are helpful to any pet parent, including a mop tank attachment, spinning mop pads, and a trial-size bottle of cleaning formula. Plus, you receive a cleaning tool that helps remove hairs from the brushes and clean the filter. The Bissell SpinWave Robot Vacuum is created specifically for pet hair and has a 5.75-inch tangle-resistant main brush, a useful mop attachment, and powerful suction. Specs aside, a portion of each sale also goes to the Bissell Pet Foundation, which is committed to finding loving homes for pets.
But unlike most of its competitors, the Roomba i3 EVO is actually a sturdy, repairable appliance—and while longevity is never guaranteed, you can reasonably expect to own and use it regularly for years. It’s also better at cleaning rugs than most bots, and hair doesn’t get tangled in its brushes as quickly. With the companion app and a Wi-Fi connection, you can turn the robot on or off, and optionally set an automatic cleaning schedule. The downside is that it doesn’t work quite as fast as some competing models. The Eufy RoboVac 11S and other Eufy models that begin with a number instead of a letter stand out as some of the quietest robots we’ve tested. They’re also some of the shortest, so they can fit beneath more pieces of furniture.
Some robot vacuum models clean tile, wood flooring and different types of carpet better than others. 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%). The main downside to smart mapping is that, like anything that increases the complexity of a system, it adds more opportunities for something to go wrong and disappoint you. It’s a huge annoyance and letdown when the smart maps don’t work.