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Is Your Company Responsible For The Robot Vacuum Budget? 12 Ways To Spend Your Money
How to Find the Best Robot Vacuum

If you're able to live without advanced features such as mapping, and aren't worried about cleaning the trash bin every 60 days or then, a basic robot vacuum will probably work for you. Choose a model with an uncluttered base that can work with voice assistants.

It is the best vacuum we have tested for getting rid of dirt and pet hair from tiles, hardwood floors, and carpets with low pile. It can also map out and set virtual no go zones for rooms or specific areas.

1. Powerful Suction

A robot vacuum will help you keep up with the dust, pet fur and dander that settles on your floor each day. It can also reduce how often you need to do a deeper clean and saves your time and effort. The best model has powerful suction that can clean up most mess and leave your home sparkling clean.

A robot vacuum that also mop can help you get more space by using just one machine. This can be particularly beneficial for homes with a large area. Choose models that have an water reservoir built into its chassis or as a separate piece that you can swap out when the vacuuming is done. You'll need to empty and refill it, however, so this is an additional task that requires some extra effort on your part.

In the ideal world, you'd clear your floors prior to using your robot vacuum to keep it from crashing into objects. However, in the majority of homes, this isn't possible or desirable. Most robots allow you to use an app that you can install on your phone to create virtual barriers that the robot will detect. Certain models have no-go zones that you can mark areas you don't want the robot to access. For example an area for children's play or a pile cords in a corner.

This model is a great option if you're looking for an easy robot cleaner that doesn't have all the bells and whistles. It's quiet, works well on hard floors and low-pile carpets and can be scheduled via the app to vacuum or mop at your own convenience. It has a long battery life that can last up to 180 minutes before needing to recharge.

2. Easy to Operate

Robot vacuums generally require only minimal effort from you. They use navigational tools such as sensors, lasers, and cameras to maneuver and collect pet hair, dust, and food crumbs from hard floors, tiles and hardwood. Many models have boundary strips to help them remain in a room. The more expensive models can be programmed to start up at a certain time and start cleaning. Some even have fall-detection technology that helps them avoid tumbling down stairs or getting tangled in electrical cords.

Look for models that allow you to control from the comfort of your sofa using voice assistants, such as Alexa or Google Assistant. Also, look for models that connect to Wi-Fi and allow you to begin cleaning from any location using an app. Depending on how large your home is, you may want an item with a long-lasting battery and a large dust bin that doesn't have to be emptied frequently.

Some robot vacuums can also be mopping machines. They utilize water reservoirs to wash the floor. This is ideal for mopping, but not great for difficult messes such as pet poop and other spills. There are hybrids that have a removable microfiber pad for mopping, or choose self-emptying models that let you go for 30 to 60 days without having to empty the base.

3. vacuum and mop combo Mapping

Some robots use advanced mapping technology to create a detailed map while they clean. This helps them avoid hitting furniture and getting caught on cords or chair legs. This feature is only available on higher-end models however it allows your robot to get a complete understanding of your home's layout and know where to go when the battery runs out.

If you don't want your robot navigating into areas of your home that you'd rather it stay away from (like your kids' toys or the tangled mess of device cords in the corner) Most robots provide some method of creating virtual barriers, either with their apps or a set of physical boundary strips. This allows you to create zones that you don't want your robot enter, so that it can concentrate its attention on rooms and spaces that need the most attention.

A lot of robots can also automatically switch floors based on the floor they are cleaning. This can be accomplished by switching from carpet to hard flooring, or by paying attention to specific areas of your house like corners and baseboards. In our tests, this was a useful feature that improved their pick-up scores for both carpeting made of low-pile or hardwood. But, it's still essential to tuck away furniture and cords that are loose prior to using your robot vacuum to ensure that it doesn't get stuck or come into contact with something it shouldn't.

4. Remote Control

The majority of robot vacuums have WiFi capabilities and can be controlled using voice commands, Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa or Siri Shortcuts. Many robot vacuums are connected to smart home systems and can create a map of the space they clean after each cleaning session. This allows them to "learn" the way your home is laid out and plan more efficient routes for future cleaning sessions. Certain models have obstacle avoidance built in that prevents them from damaging furniture and getting stuck on things such as loose charging cables or pet hair.


Most robots are equipped with a remote control that can be used to guide them around your home. Most robots can be controlled by a mobile app, which offers more features. It is possible to create multiple cleaning schedules, create the list of rooms you like and even manually guide your robot to certain areas using directional arrows that appear on the screen.

Some models provide no-go zones These are virtual barriers you can create in the app to stop the robot from entering certain areas (like toys for children or dog bowls and beds). Certain apps let you draw an image of your home and provide detailed information on the floors. The app we ranked as our top choice, the Roborock S7+, has many useful options to help you clean your home, however its interface isn't as polished as the ones from iRobot and Shark.

5. Long Battery Life

Robot vacuums that clean your entire house without stopping to recharge or to empty their dustbins save time and effort. Some are compatible with smart home platforms like Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri Shortcuts to allow hands-free operation. They can also create a map of your home and allow you to program them to clean certain rooms or areas and stay clear of obstacles.

The majority of robot vacuums can detect objects, but the iRobot j7 comes with advanced features like "home mapping" and obstacle avoidance. These features can make your life much easier (although one of our test bots did "eat" a couple of socks). If you want to take your home maintenance even further, look for a robotic mop with an water tank that can be filled and then empty.

While no of the models we tested could match the ability to pick up dirt of a stand-up vacuum, they did a great job cleaning hard floors as well as carpets with a low pile. They excel at picking up food crumbs, and dirt that has been tracked into. They also can handle nuts and screws made of metal, as well as cats' litter. The best robot vacuums can clean corners and edges and can work around furniture. For a basic model that functions by itself and is relatively inexpensive take a look at the Eufy 11S.

6. Convenient Self-Charging

A robot vacuum can help keep your home clean and tidy without doing lots of work. You can schedule cleanings through the app and create zones that are not allowed to enter so that your robot doesn't damage your plants or your favorite chair. The majority of our top picks will also empty their trash bins for you and clean their docking stations.

The most effective robot vacuums can be programmed to clean your floors on a regular basis for weeks or even months at a time, saving you from the tedious chore of manually mopping and sweeping your floors on a weekly or daily basis. This allows you to spend more time doing things you love and decreases the amount of time your floors need to be cleaned manually.

During testing the Q Revo was able to capture small particles such as baking soda and oatmeal, heavier debris such as metal screws and nails as well as fluffy things like hair from pets. It isn't equipped with the smart mapping and objects-avoiding features of our top picks, but is still a good choice for families with children.

The j7's best feature is its ability to detect and avoid obstacles such as power cords as well as socks and shoes, and pet waste. This means that you don't need to spend time tidying the room prior to running your robot, however messy rooms can mean that your robot could get stuck and not do as well.

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