If you're willing to live without advanced features such as mapping, and aren't worried about emptying the dustbin every 60 days or so, a basic robot vacuum could be a good choice for you. Choose a model with a clean base that works with voice assistants.
It excels at picking up dirt, clumps of pet hair and cat litter on hardwood floors, tile and carpeting that is lower-pile better than any other robo vacuum we've tried. It also maps and set virtual no-go zones for rooms or areas.1. Powerful Suction
A robot vacuum can keep on top of the dust, pet hair and dander that collects on your floors on a day-to-day basis. It can also cut down on how often you need to deep clean which will save your time and effort. The most effective models feature powerful suction that can take on the majority of messes and leave your home clean.
You can cover a larger area by using a robot vacuum as well as a mop, which can be useful if you have a large home. Choose one that has water reservoirs either in the chassis or as a separate piece that you put in after the vacuuming is finished. It'll need to be emptied and refilled and refilled, which is an additional task.
In a perfect universe, you would clear your floors before using your robot vacuum, preventing it from crashing into anything. But in most homes, this isn't feasible or desirable. Most robots allow you to utilize an app on your smartphone to create virtual barriers that the robot can see. Some models include no-go areas that you can mark areas you don't want the robot to access. For instance an area for children's play or a pile of cords in an area.
If you're looking for a simple robot vacuum that doesn't have all the bells and whistles, this model made by the company that makes networking TP-Link is a great option. It's quiet, and it works on hard floors as well as low-pile carpets and can be scheduled via the app to mop or vacuum at any time. It has a good battery life, which can last up to 180 minutes before it needs to recharge.
2. Easy to Operate
Robot vacuums generally need only minimal effort from you. They use sensors cameras, lasers, and sensors to maneuver and collect pet hair, dust, and food crumbs from tiles, hard floors and hardwood. Many models come with boundary strips that allow them to remain in a room. The more expensive models can be programmed to wake up at a specific time and begin cleaning. Some even come with fall detection technology that helps them avoid falling down the stairs or getting caught in electrical cords.
If you'd like to control your robot vacuum from the comfort of your couch, you should look for models that can work with voice assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant. You can also select Wi-Fi models that permit you to start a cleaning session anywhere using an app. Depending on how big your home is, you may want a model that has a long battery life and a roomy dustbin that doesn't need to be emptied frequently.
Some robot vacuums can also be mops. They use water reservoirs to clean the floor. This is helpful for everyday mopping, but will not work for tough messes like pet poop, or other wet spills. You can choose hybrids that have a removable microfiber mopping pad, or a self-emptying version that allows you to go up to 60 days before emptying the base.
3. Smart Mapping
Some robots use advanced mapping technology to create a detailed map of your floorplan as they clean the floor, which makes it easier for them to avoid falling into furniture or falling over things like chair legs or cords. This feature is only available on top-of-the-line models, but it lets your robot be aware of the layout of your home and to know where it should go when the battery runs out.
Most robots let you create virtual barriers. This can be done through an application or even physical boundary strips. You can block off areas that you don't want your robot to go into to allow it to focus on the rooms that require the most attention.
Many robots will also automatically change floors depending on the floor they are cleaning. This can be accomplished by changing from carpet to hard flooring, or by focusing on certain areas of your home, such as corners and baseboards. This feature proved effective during our tests and helped improve the performance of the vacuum on hardwood flooring and carpet flooring with low pile. It is essential to put away any loose cords or furniture prior to using your robot vacuum, to ensure that it doesn't get caught.4. Remote Control
Almost all robot vacuums are WiFi-enabled and work with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri Shortcuts to allow you to control them using voice commands or from your smartphone. Many robot vacuums connect to smart home systems and generate a map of the space they clean after each session. This lets them "learn" the way your home is laid out, and then plan more efficient routes in future cleaning sessions. Some have obstacle avoidance built in, which prevents them from damaging furniture and getting stuck on objects like loose charging cables or pet hair.
Most robots come with a remote you can use to pilot them around your home. However, many can be controlled via an app for mobile devices that comes with additional options. You can create multiple cleaning schedules and make a list with your favorite rooms. You can also manually direct the robot with direction the arrows.
Some models have no-go zones. These are virtual barriers that can be created in the app to stop the robot from entering specific areas (like toys for kids or dishes for dogs and dog beds). Other apps allow you to create an outline of your home and provide the robot with detailed information about your floors. The Roborock S7+ app has many useful features that will assist you in cleaning your home. However the interface isn't as polished as iRobot or Shark.
5. Long Battery Life
Robot vacuums that can clean your entire home without stopping for a recharge or to empty their bins save time and effort. Some of them work with smart home platforms like Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri Shortcuts for hands-free operation. They can also make a map of the space to allow you to program them for specific areas or rooms, and to stay clear of obstacles.
The majority of robot vacuums can detect objects, but the iRobot j7 offers advanced features, such as "home mapping" and obstacle avoidance. These features can simplify your life (although one of our test bots did "eat" two socks). If you're trying to improve your home's maintenance, consider a robot mop 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 vacuum the majority of them do an excellent job of cleaning carpets and hard floors. They excel at sweeping up fine dust and debris, food particles, dirt tracked in and pet hair. They can also handle metal screws and nuts, as well as cats' litter. The best robot vacuums are able to clean corners and edges and can even work on furniture. Eufy 11S is a relatively affordable and basic model.
6. Convenient Self-Charging
With the right configuration and the right setup, a Robotic Hoovers vacuum can aid in keeping your home looking and feeling cleaner every day with minimal effort. You can schedule cleanings using the app, and you can set up no-go areas so that the robot won't get in the way of your favorite chair or plants. The majority of our top picks empty their dustbins and clean their docking stations.
The best 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 arduous task of manually mopping and sweeping your floors on a daily or weekly basis. This helps you have more time to do the things you love and reduces the amount of time your floors have to be cleaned manually.
During testing the Q Revo was able to grab small particles like baking soda and oatmeal. It also snatched up heavier debris like nails and screws made of steel, as well as fluffy hair. It's not equipped with the advanced mapping and objects avoidance features of our top picks, but it's adequate for the majority of families.
The best thing about the j7 is that it utilizes camera and processor-powered sensors to identify and avoid obstacles such as power cords, shoes, socks and pet waste. This means that you don't need to tidy up before using your robot. However, cluttered rooms could cause your robot to get stuck and do an inadequate job.
