Best Rated Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Robot vacuums are great for keeping your floors clean but they cannot replace a traditional vacuum. Even the most powerful robots struggle to get deep into carpets and rugs. They also often get tangled in cords and socks.
Being on top of routine maintenance (replacing filters cutting hair tangled from brushes and emptying the dust bin) can help your robot last longer.
Battery Life
Most robot vacuums are able to handle a few cleaning sessions without needing to be charged. The Ecovacs Q30S Combo is the runner-up of our overall picks. It comes with an energy-efficient battery that can last for up to 180 minutes (3,230 square foot) on one charge. This will suffice for homes that have carpets, hard floors and carpets with low pile or larger homes with rooms that are about the same size.
A longer battery life means the robot will spend less time charging and can spend more time cleaning. It's a good idea to choose a model with a self-emptying dust bin, as they are more efficient in collecting debris and returning to the dock for recharging. It is important to clean or replace filters and clean the sensors and the camera regularly so that they can be seen clearly.
Smart mapping technology is a beneficial feature, as you can program your robot so that it only cleans certain rooms or stays clear of areas where it's likely to bump into furniture and other obstacles. This feature is also helpful to ensure that your robot is able to get under and around furniture like sofas, beds and other high-height items. Some cheap robovacs have boundary strips that you can use to block off certain areas. Other high-end models rely on sensors and cameras.
Even the best robot vacuums can't replace a conventional vacuum when it comes to heavy-duty large-pile dirt and other debris. It's best to keep an electric vacuum in your home for these tasks and schedule robot vacs for light cleanings throughout the week.
Navigation
A robot must be able to navigate you home without getting stuck or running into things such as metal screws or loose pet hair or sand. In our tests, a tracking device is used to track the robot through an entire lab. It then analyzes its surroundings. We also test how the robot can avoid obstacles like power cords, furniture leg, and pet waste.
The most advanced robots can create several floors and recognize landmarks like windows and doors. The most advanced models such as the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra, have a dual-sensor navigation system that utilizes the LIDAR sensor to map the room and a structured lighting camera in front of the bot to detect objects in real time. The S8 can evade obstacles such as cables for power and furniture legs. It can also store up to four floor maps.
Cheaper models don't come with this kind of detection and rely on bump sensors which aren't as precise. In my testing they cut right through cords, dog poop and even shoes that were placed in the middle of the room. The Dreametech D10+ is the best value pick. It has excellent carpet and hard floor pickup, good hair and tangle pickup, and a near perfect auto empty score.
A large onboard dustbin, that doesn't need to be manually empty is another feature that's important. For models that mop the floor, this tank is able to provide enough water for several weeks of cleaning sessions. The Karcher RCV 5 has this, and a large enough footprint that it can go under furniture however, it's not so huge that it won't fit in the space between your bathtub and toilet.
Apps
Robot vacuums are a lot like their upright counterparts, and it takes a lot of tech to get them up to speed. The result is a pretty mature market that is brimming with options. But even the top models require interaction with their users - especially when cleaning schedules are being planned, establishing a home floor plan and setting up virtual barriers.
To lessen the chance of this kind of interaction, look for a model that has its own app to recognize the layout of your home and save those settings for the future. This will let the vacuum begin where it left off on subsequent runs, rather than having to start the mapping process each time.
It's worth looking out for a model that offers spot or zone cleaning modes. You can instruct the robot vacuum cleaner to concentrate on a specific area, such as under the table after a huge family meal. It is possible to use the app or via voice commands.
Many models also offer object avoidance. It allows the robot when it spots objects in its path such as a box of shoe or a crate with dog toys, to coach itself around. This prevents it from crashing into objects that could damage its sensors or cause jams.
This feature is available on a few of the more expensive models we tested. They depend on the technology of bump sensors for this, but they didn't always stay clear of things I tested at home.
Pet Hair
Find a vacuum cleaner that is designed to pick up pet hair. The most effective models will feature the highest suction, a brush that stops tangling, and an automatic emptying mechanism. Some models are able to detect dirt levels and adjust the intensity of cleaning. They can also detect items that aren't a part of your flooring at home, such as furniture, toys and food bowls.
Some robot vacuums have extra features that are pet-friendly, such as a small water dispenser that can be used for mopping floors, and an HEPA filter that can reduce allergens such as pet dander. They could also feature a quieter mode of operation to reduce the amount noise produced during cleaning sessions.
Robot vacuums with the ability to map are a great option for pet owners. They are designed to analyze your home, and create an strategy based on the layout of each room as well as obstacles. Shark Matrix Plus is a dual-purpose robot vacuum that can map a room, and navigate around furniture, and other obstacles by using accelerometers and gyroscope sensors.
Other advanced models allow you to create no-go zones, which are areas that the robot is expected to stay clear of, such as fragile items or pet feeding spots--by adjusting settings through an app. This feature is especially beneficial for families with busy schedules, since you can schedule cleaning times without needing to be in the space where the vacuum is. Spot cleaning is another great feature. You can use the vacuum cleaner to clean a spot that is especially dirty or filled with pet hair.
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If you don't need something tiny, choose a robot with a large bin, or even a self-emptying trash bin. This is why we suggest opting for a model that has a large bin or even self-emptying bins. The former will allow you to keep up with emptying the bin frequently enough to ensure you are on top of its performance while the latter will save you time and effort by automatically emptying its contents into an internal container every few cleans.
Find models that have smart mapping capabilities, which enable them to "learn" the layout of your house and plan more efficient routes. They can also sense and avoid objects that could block their paths (like shoelaces or tangled charging cables). Find models with intelligent mapping capabilities. This allows them to "learn the layout of your house and devise a an efficient route.
Some models offer spot cleaning. This lets you manually target an area of your house for intensive cleaning. In our tests, we discovered that the top models are able to remove fine particles such as baking soda, sand, orzo, metal screws, and pet hair, as well as heavier debris such as oatmeal, orzo, and metal screws.
The brand you choose will determine the longevity of the robot. most robots can last for years and will remain in good working order as long as you maintain them with regular maintenance, such as cleaning hair that is tangled from brushes and emptying the dust bin after each use and wiping down cameras and sensors whenever needed. The best robots are also more modular. This allows you to replace or repair components like wheels and batteries as they wear out.