It features a runtime of up to 120 minutes, is 3.3 inches tall, has a 300 ML dustbin, and is fairly quiet when operating. Then there are the top-of-the-line Roomba s9 and self-emptying Roomba s9+, which we do not recommend. Instead of the classic puck shape, it has a D-shaped body and extra-wide brushes to improve its edge-cleaning irobot vacuum cleaner and corner-cleaning abilities. It also has four times more raw suction than the already-strong Roomba i3 EVO, i7, or j7. That helps it consistently pick up larger debris like cat litter or yard waste better than most robots, though it still doesn’t come close to deep-cleaning dust from a rug like a traditional vacuum.
Our robot vacuums are set loose, maneuvering under a couch, coffee table and traversing over an area rug and through a doorway to collect as much of the debris as possible. We calculate the pick-up percentage from the weight of the dustbin after the robot vacuum is finished cleaning. Its voice command capabilities are one of the smartest we’ve tested, able to recognize when you tell your robot to clean under or around items in a room, such as “Clean under the dining room table,” for example. Robot vacuum cleaning styleAffordable robot vacuums will clean in a more haphazard pattern, rolling across the floor and turning around whenever they bump into a wall. While the Roomba j7 is the best bot if you want all the bells and whistles, the Roomba i3 Plus EVO is the best robot vacuum for a better price that also empties itself. You don’t get AI obstacle avoidance or app-enabled clean or keep-out zones, but you do get smart mapping and a physical spot cleaning button that lets you do small areas on the fly.
So the first order of business for any successful robot vacuum is to avoid or at least escape from potential bot traps and hazards. They’re basically fine, but they won’t match the agility of the Eufy or the durability of the Roomba. We’re going to use shark cordless the Roomba 694 as shorthand to refer to the 600 series throughout the rest of this section. But if it’s a Roomba and the model number starts with a 6, everything you’re about to read applies, except that Wi-Fi capabilities vary from model to model .
And for even more efficiency, Roomba runs for up to 90 minutes before automatically docking and recharging. When compared to the other robot vacuums, its performance was lackluster and did not earn an award in our guide. 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.
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. Like every robot—especially one that comes in contact with the grimiest parts of your house—you need to care for it regularly. Error messages may prompt you to empty the bin mid-run, cut the hair off the rollers, or wipe off the cliff sensors.
Again like the Eufy, it returns to the charging base if it runs out of battery before the house is finished and then resumes the job once fully charged. Infrared sensors keep it off the stairs, though like other bump bots, it can’t avoid obstacles like lamp cords. The 694 is ideal for smaller areas and will work best in rooms without clutter. An auto-adjust cleaning head helps the unit transition easily between low-pile carpet, medium-pile carpet, hardwood, and bare floors. It can run for up to 90 minutes before automatically recharging, but it will need to be reset before its next run. Through the company’s Imprint Link technology, the iRobot Roomba i3 coordinates with the Braava Jet M6 robot mop so users can vacuum and then mop in sequence.
The Roomba i3+ EVO is usually the most affordable way to get a great self-emptying robot vacuum system. The only Roborock model that works with an auto-empty dock is the high-end Roborock S7+, which is quite expensive. The Roomba j7+, which has a lot of the same advanced navigation features as the Roborock, actually costs less than the S7 and dock combo. The Eufy RoboVac X8 seems to be a fine laser-nav robot vacuum based on our testing, but it’s relatively expensive and doesn’t offer meaningful improvements over the cheaper models.