Dustbin capacity for the Robovac is maximized by compressing the debris in the dustbin as it suctions, resulting in far fewer trips to empty as it cleans. The three-hour runtime and multi-floor mapping make this robot vacuum a great choice for larger homes. While this one isn’t exactly a Roomba, it’s certainly in the family and it pairs well with certain smart models from iRobot’s stable of vacuum robots. Meant for use on hardwood, tile, or stone floors, the M6 is perfect for cleaning spills, pet waste, and other messes. Similar to iRobot’s vacuums, the automated M6 mop features smart mapping and coordinated app control. Users can pair the app to voice-control devices in order to direct the bot to quickly clean up specified areas.
It also has sensors on the underside of the device that detect changes in elevation, allowing it to transition from bare floor to carpet. It has beater brushes like a conventional vacuum cleaner to loosen and collect dirt, as well as suction that sweeps the dirt into a storage compartment. Top robot models have a proprietary VSLM feature — Vision Simultaneous Localization and Mapping — that takes snapshots as the Roomba works to guide the unit in an efficient path throughout the room. When the iRobot is finished, it stores itself in a recharging station.
The vacuum’s sensor package enables both mapping and the ability to identify areas that need more attention, even when on automatic mode. In terms of battery life, the i3 irobot vacuum cleaner is solid, sitting between 90 minutes and two hours. There’s no mop feature, so if you want to stick with iRobot you might have to grab the Braava M6 for total cleaning.
We spoke with sources in the floor-care manufacturing industry to help make sense of all the low-cost, off-brand options. With iRobot OS, you can schedule when to have your Roomba® Robot Vacuum clean while you’re out.
Shark’s newest robot vacuum almost makes you feel like you have someone doing the cleaning for you. Even before the first test, we admired its compact footprint and streamlined design, impressive for a model with a self-empty bin. It had no problem cleaning under kitchen cabinet toe kicks or figuring out how to clean tight spaces without getting stuck. And if you’d prefer not to be connected to your robot vacuum, you can completely remove the Wi-Fi module and use the remote control to schedule cleaning sessions or direct the robot to an area for spot cleaning. A two-year warranty, which is double the usual duration, comes standard, and the cleaning tool for maintenance is installed in the dustbin, so it can’t get lost or misplaced. This unit actively captures thousands of measurements in order to identify different rooms and areas of the home.
The models listed here range from around $200 to well over $1,000. The S7+ works well on hard flooring and carpet, but is best for homes that have both. With four vacuum power levels—Quiet, Balanced , Turbo, irobot vacuum cleaner and Max, topping out at an impressive 2,500Pa of suction—it’s an excellent option for homes with pets and carpeting. The Proscenic M7 Pro is a smart, powerful robot vacuum that can also mop small spaces.