14 Smart Ways To Spend Your Extra Robot Vacuum Budget How to Find the Best Robot Vacuum

If you don't need advanced features like mapping, and do not mind cleaning your trash bin every 60 to 90 days A basic robot vacuum could be the best choice for you. Look for a model with a clean base and can work with voice assistants.

It is the best vacuum we have tested at picking up dirt and pet hair from tiles, hardwood floors, and low-pile carpeting. It also maps and create virtual no-go zones in rooms or areas.

1. Powerful Suction

A robot vacuum is able to stay clean of the dust, pet hair and dander that build up on your floors on a daily basis. vacuum mop combo robot can reduce the frequency of deep cleaning, saving you both time and effort. The most effective models have powerful suction that can take on the most difficult messes and leave your home clean.

A robot vacuum that is also able to mop will help you cover more ground using one machine, which can be particularly beneficial in a larger home. You can find a model that has a water tank built into the chassis or as an extra piece that you can take out after vacuuming. It will need to be empty and refill it, though it's an additional chore that requires some extra effort on your part.

In a perfect world it would be ideal to clean your floors before using your robot vacuum, preventing it from crashing into anything. But in most homes, this isn't possible or desirable. The majority of models let you use an app that you can install on your phone to create virtual barriers the robot can detect. Certain models have no-go zones, which you can flag areas you don't wish it to access. For example an area for children's play or a pile cords in a corner.

If you're looking for a simple robot vacuum with no bells and whistles, this model made by the company that makes networking TP-Link is a great option. It is quiet, works on both hard floors as well as carpets with low pile and can be programmed using the app to mop and vacuum at your leisure. It has a good battery life, which can last for up to 180 minutes before it needs to recharge.

2. Easy to operate

In general, robot vacuums require very little input from you. They use navigational tools such as sensors cameras, lasers, and sensors to maneuver and collect pet hair, dust and food crumbs off tiles, hard floors and hardwood. Many have boundary strips to aid in staying within the walls of a room while pricier models can be set to automatically wake up and start cleaning at a set time. Some models even have fall detection technology that helps them avoid tumbling down stairs or getting tangled in electrical cords.

If you'd like to control your robot vacuum from the comfort of your couch, search for models that integrate voice assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant. You can also select Wi-Fi models that allow you to start a cleaning session anywhere using an app. Depending on how large your home is, you may want a model with a long-lasting battery and a large dust bin that doesn't have to be regularly emptied.

Certain robot vacuums are also mopping. They make use of water reservoirs to clean the floor. This is ideal for mopping, but not great for difficult messes such as pet poop and other spills. You can pick hybrids with a removable microfiber mopping pad, or a self-emptying version that allows you to go for up to 60 days before emptying the base.

3. Smart Mapping

Some robots use advanced mapping technologies to build an accurate map of your floorplan as they clean the floor, which makes it easier for them to avoid crashing into furniture or tripping over things like cords or chair legs. This feature is usually only available on more expensive models, but it's certainly one of the most effective ways to ensure your robot has a full understanding of the layout of your house and is aware of where to go when it's low on battery.

If you don't want your robot to venture into areas of your home that you'd rather it stay away from (like your children's toys or the tangled mess of device cords in the corner) The majority of robots offer some method of creating virtual barriers, either via their app or physical boundary strips. This allows you to create zones that you do not want your robot to explore, so that it can focus its attention on rooms and spaces that need the most attention.

A lot of robots can also automatically change floors depending on the floor they are cleaning. This can be done by switching from carpet to hard flooring, or by paying attention to specific areas of your house like corners and baseboards. In our tests it was a great feature that helped improve their pick-up scores for both hardwood and low-pile carpeting. But, it's still essential to put away furniture and cords before using your robot vacuum to ensure that it doesn't become stuck or come into contact with something it shouldn't.

4. Remote Control

Most robot vacuums have WiFi connectivity and work with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri Shortcuts that enable users to control them with voice commands or from your smartphone. Many connect to smart home systems that create a map of your space after each cleaning session so that they can "learn" your layout and devise more efficient routes for future runs. Some have obstacles avoidance built-in, which prevents them from causing damage to furniture or getting stuck on things like loose charging cables or pet hair.

Most robots are equipped with a remote control that can be used to guide them around your home. However, most can also be controlled via an app on your mobile that comes with additional features. You can set up a variety of cleaning schedules, and create a list with your favorite rooms. You can also manually guide the robot by using direction the arrows.

Certain models have zones that are not allowed. These are virtual barriers that you can create in the app to prevent the robot from entering certain areas (like kid's toys or dog beds and dishes). Some apps allow you to draw a map of your house and provide more detailed information about the floors. The app that we recommend as our top pick Roborock S7+, the Roborock S7+, has numerous options to help you clean your home, but its interface isn't as polished as the ones from iRobot and Shark.

5. Long Battery Life

Robot vacuums that clean your entire home without stopping for a recharge or to empty their bins save time and effort. Some work with smart home devices like Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri Shortcuts to allow hands-free operation. They can also create an image of your home that allows you to program them to clean specific areas or rooms, and to stay clear of obstacles.

The majority of robot vacuums detect objects, however the iRobot j7 offers advanced features such as "home mapping" and obstacle avoidance. These features can make your life easier (although one of our test bots did "eat" two socks). If you're trying to improve your home maintenance, consider an automated mop that comes with an water container that can be filled and then empty.

While none of the models we tested could compete with the power of a stand-up model, they all do a great job of cleaning carpets with low pile and hard floors. They excel in sweeping up dust and food dust, tracked-in dirt, and pet hair. They also can handle screws and nuts made of metal, as well as the stray cat litter. The top robot vacuums can easily work their way around furniture and do a great job of cleaning edges and corners as well. Eufy 11S is a relatively basic and affordable model.

6. Convenient Self-Charging

With the proper setup, a robot vacuum can aid in keeping your home looking and feeling fresh on a regular basis without a lot of effort. You can schedule cleanings using the app, and designate no-go areas so that the robot won't get in the way of your plants or favorite chair. A majority of our top picks also automatically empty their dustbins and clean their docking stations for you.


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

During testing, the Q Revo was able to grab tiny particles such as baking soda and oatmeal and heavier debris like nails and screws made of steel and even fluffy matter such as pet hair. It's not equipped with the advanced mapping and object avoidance features of our top picks, however it's sufficient for the majority of families.

The best thing about the j7 is that it makes use of cameras and processor-powered smarts to detect and avoid obstacles like shoes, power cords, socks, and pet waste. This means that you don't have to clean up after using your robot. However, rooms that are cluttered can cause your robot to become stuck and do a poor job.