Robot Vacuum 10 Things I'd Loved To Know Earlier How to Find the Best Robot Vacuum

If you can 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. Select a model with clean and tidy base that is compatible with voice assistants.

It excels at removing dirt, clumps of cat litter and pet hair on hardwood floors, tile and low-pile carpeting better than any other robo vacuum we've tested. It can also map and set virtual no-go zones for rooms or areas.

1. Powerful Suction

A robot vacuum will assist you in keeping up with the dust, pet fur and dander that settles on your floor every day. It also can reduce the frequency of deep cleaning, saving your time and effort. The most effective model comes with powerful suction that will easily clean up most mess and leave your home clean.

You can cover a larger area with a robot vacuum and mop, which is especially useful if you have a large home. There are models with a water tank either in the chassis itself or as an additional piece that you can swap out after vacuuming. You'll have to empty it and refill it, however, so this is an additional chore that requires some extra effort on your part.

In a perfect world, you'd clean your floors before you used your robot vacuum to prevent it from hitting things. But in most homes, this isn't feasible or desirable. Most robots allow you to use an app for your smartphone to build virtual barriers that the robot will see. Some models include no-go areas, which you can flag areas that you don't want it to access. For example an area for children's play or a pile of cords in a corner.

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

2. Simple to operate

In general robot vacuums require little input from you. They make use of navigation tools such as sensors and lasers to maneuver around obstacles and remove food particles, dust and pet hair from hard floors, tiles, hardwood and low-pile carpets. Many models come with boundaries strips that help them stay inside a room. Higher-end models can be programmed to start up at a certain time and begin cleaning. Some models include fall detection technology that helps users avoid falling down the stairs or becoming tangled in cords.

If you're looking to control your robot vacuum from the comfort of a couch, you should look for models that can work with voice assistants such as Alexa and Google Assistant. You can also pick Wi-Fi models that permit you to begin cleaning from anywhere with an app. Depending on how large your home is, you might prefer a model with a long-lasting battery and a spacious dust bin that doesn't need to be emptied frequently.

Some robot vacuums can double as mops and use reservoirs of water to wash your floor. This is ideal for mopping, but not ideal for tough messes like pet poop or other wet spills. You can select hybrids with an adjustable microfiber mopping pad or a self-emptying model that allows you to go for up to 60 days without emptying the base.

3. Smart Mapping

Some robots use advanced mapping technology to create a precise map while they clean. This helps them avoid bumping into furniture or tripping over cords or chair legs. This feature is only available on top-of-the-line models however, it allows your robot to get a complete understanding of your home's layout and knows where to go when the battery is out.

Most robots allow you to create virtual barriers. This can be done using an app or physical boundary strips. This allows you to block off zones that you don't want your robot to venture into, so it can focus its attention on areas and rooms that require the most attention.

A lot of robots are able to automatically navigate to different flooring types according to the type of floor they're cleaning, whether they're switching between hard and carpet or focusing on particular areas of your home, like baseboards and corners. In our tests, this was a useful feature that improved their performance in picking up hardwood and low-pile carpeting. But, it's still essential to put away loose cords and furniture before using your robot vacuum to ensure that it doesn't get caught or get into something it shouldn't.

4. Remote Control

The majority of robot vacuums have WiFi connectivity and can be controlled by Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri Shortcuts, which allow you to control them using voice commands or through your smartphone. Many connect to smart home systems and create an outline of your space after each cleaning session, to "learn" your layout and design more efficient routes for future runs. Some have built-in obstacle avoidance that stops them from crashing into furniture and damaging it or getting stuck on things like charging cables that are loose shoes, laces for shoes and pet hair.

top rated robot vacuum are equipped with a remote control that can be used to guide them around your house. Most robots can be controlled by a mobile app, which offers more features. You can typically set multiple cleaning schedules, make the list of rooms you like and even manually guide your robot around specific areas using directional arrows on the screen.

Some models have zones that are not allowed. These are virtual barriers that can be created within the app to block the robot from accessing certain areas (like toys for children or dog beds and dishes). Other apps let you make the map of your house and provide the robot with detailed information about your floors. The app on our top choice, the Roborock S7+, has many useful options to help you clean your home, but its interface isn't as polished as those from iRobot and Shark.

5. Long Battery Life

Robot vacuums that clean your entire house without stopping for a recharge or emptying their trash bins save time and effort. Some robot vacuums work with smart home devices like Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri Shortcuts to enable hands-free operation. They can also build a map of your space and allow you to program them to clean certain areas or rooms, and to avoid obstacles.


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

While none of the models we tested could compete with the dirt-picking power of a stand-up vacuum, they did a great job of cleaning hard floors and carpets with a low pile. They are great at sweeping up fine dust and debris, food dust, tracked-in dirt, and pet hair. They can even tackle some stray cat litter and metal screws and nuts. The most effective robot vacuums can clean edges and corners and work on furniture. Eufy 11S is a relatively affordable and basic model.

6. Convenient Self-Charging

A robot vacuum can keep your home tidy and clean without having to do many tasks. It is possible to schedule cleanings with the app, and create no-go zones so that the robot won't get in the way of your plants or sit on your favorite chair. The majority of our top picks automatically empty their trash bins and clean their docking stations for you.

The most effective robot vacuums can be programmed to clean your floors regularly for weeks or even months at a time, saving you from the arduous task of manually mopping and sweeping your floors on a weekly or daily basis. This allows you to enjoy more time doing things you enjoy and reduces the time needed to clean your floors manually.

In our tests, the Q Revo was able to pick up small particles such as oatmeal and baking soda as well as heavier debris such nails and screws made of metal and even fluffy matter like hair of pets. It's not equipped with the advanced mapping and object avoidance features found in our top picks, but it's adequate for most families.

The most appealing thing about the j7 is that it utilizes camera and processor-powered smarts to detect and avoid obstacles such as power cords, shoes, socks, and pet waste. This means that you don't need to tidy up before running your robot, but cluttered rooms will mean that the robot may become stuck and not be able to do the job as well.