15 Interesting Hobbies That Will Make You Better At Robot Vac

Top best rated robot vacuum Robot Vacuums

A robot vacuum is able to keep floors clean enough to decrease the frequency with which you have to manually vacuum. Look for one that offers excellent navigation, is able to clean stairs and corners, and has a large dust bin that has to be emptied only every few times.

There are models that mop and charge themselves this is an option essential for families with pets or children. Many of the top performers in our tests have decent obstacle avoidance.

1. iRobot Roomba i3+ EVO

The i3+ EVO is similar to its sibling, the i3 EVO. They differ only in the fact that the i3+ comes with self-emptying capabilities. The i3+ is an excellent option for those who want an automated, hands-free cleaning experience but are willing to manually empty the dustbin of the robot when it is full.

Both robots do well cleaning up surface debris from hard floors and carpets, and they are very good in maneuvering around furniture and other obstacles. iAdapt navigation software makes smart maps of your home that aid the i3+ EVO to navigate and clean in a manner that maximizes efficiency. The i3+ does not feature obstacle avoidance features like the i7+ or any other top-rated robots we have test. It could get stuck on power cords and socks, and may have trouble navigating between surfaces, such as hardwood and rug.

iRobot suggests that you clear areas that the i3+ EVO will vacuum prior to when you use it, including putting away any clutter or toys it may come across. Also, keep the filters and dust bin clean to prevent them from becoming clogged. When the i3+ EVO’s internal bin is empty or the battery is depleted, it returns to the docking station and automatically empties the dirt into the station’s external dustbin. It then continues cleaning from where it started. The battery's life span is approximately an hour-and-a-half of continuous use. It takes 3 hours to fully charge.

2. Roomba by iRobot

The iRobot Roomba i7+ is the most powerful model of the flagship line from iRobot, and it is equipped with the most recent features. It is self-charging and self-navigating. But the most important feature is its self-emptying bin. This eliminates the need for regular maintenance.

The Roomba I7+ is able to make rooms more efficient maps using Imprint Smart Mapping. It also works with the iRobot Home app to let you schedule cleaning jobs and direct your robot by voice or through the app.

In our tests, the i7+ was more agile and faster than our runner-up, the eufy RoboVac G30, and it removed large chunks of pet hair from all surfaces types including carpeting. Its biggest advantage over the eufy, is its self-emptying dustbin that removes a major source of maintenance and lowers the cost of maintenance.

We were also awestruck by the i7+'s compatibility with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant AI services. We used these services to instruct the robot to begin, stop, or pause cleaning sessions and also to move around the room, and even vacuum a specific area. The process of connecting the i7+ to these services was simple and straightforward through the iRobot Home app. After connecting we were able to give the i7+ voice commands such as "Hey Alexa, vacuum the master bedroom." The iRobot Home app also provides options to manage the i7+'s settings and monitoring its performance.

3. Dyson Cyclone V10

In a world of cordless vacs that look like minivans or buses, this tiny Dyson model is an old-fashioned sports car. It is powerful enough to replace a traditional stand-up vacuum in the majority of homes, but it is also compact enough to fit on a coffee table or bookcase.

The V10 is powered by a 7-cell energy-dense Lithium-ion battery, which produces power that is not fading for 60 minutes. The advanced whole-machine filter system traps allergens, then releases fresh air into your home. Its specialized cleaning head drives bristles made of nylon that are stiff into carpet to suck up large dust and crumbs. It comes with three suction modes that can be adapted to the task. It quickly switches from floor washing robot vac to handheld vacuum and back again.

This model also has an accessory dock that can charge to 100% in about 3.5 hours and offers an easy access to two attachments as well as an wand clip. This is a significant improvement over older Dysons, that require a long charge and are a pain to store.

The main drawback of the V10 is its limited running time. The tests conducted by CR show that its advertising claims of up to 60 minutes are a bit misleading. This is an average and not a remarkable run time for a battery-powered cordless vac. That's still enough run time to clean most of a home that's average size but not long enough to clean every area (though a second run-through usually can be effective). This model has its own advantages however: it's lighter and more maneuverable than older Dysons cordless models, and its vacuuming ability is significantly better on carpets with low pile.

4. iRobot Roomba 694"

The 694 is a standard robot vacuum that's an excellent choice for those who don't have lots of money to spend on the latest model of robot. It was able to remove most types of debris and sizes during our testing and often went over the same area multiple times to give an extensive clean. Its flat front side helps it to reach into corners and along the edges of walls and walls, which is a nice touch.

Its smart navigation system uses iAdapt technology to avoid obstacles and help you navigate your home. However, it isn't equipped with the capabilities for mapping of more advanced models, like our Top Rated Robot Vacuum picks, i3+EVO and j7+ Series. It can get stuck on phone cords or low furniture and will often run out of power before returning to its home base.

The Xiaomi Mi robot vacuum is superior to the Roomba 694 in most respects in that it has fewer parts that require regular maintenance, is fitted with an allergen-trapping HEPA filter, incurs lower recurring costs, comes with more advanced automation capabilities and is better at moving itself. It also has a larger dustbin and is charged faster.

The sleek RoboVac X8 has a superior battery longevity than the Roomba 694. It also comes with physical boundaries strips that can be controlled using your smartphone's voice assistance. It also feels more sturdy and has a more powerful motor, and works better on both bare floors and low-pile carpet, while offering a wider range of features for automation.

5. Samsung Jet Bot AI+

Samsung is a name you see on all sorts of home electronics, so it comes as no surprise that they're one of the top robot vacuum and mop manufacturers. Jet Bot AI+ has a cutting-edge onboard technology for navigation and obstacle avoidance.

The app offers a variety of options to customize your robotic floor scrubber cleaner, such as virtual barriers mopping water levels, behavior adjustments, docking frequency settings, and more. The app is simple to navigate and use similar to other Samsung devices.

In our tests of the Jet Bot AI+ excelled on hard floors and handled dog hair (on carpet) quite well, clearing up 86% of it. However, it wasn't particularly well with taller objects like cords and socks which was a disappointment. It's also more expensive than the other models that we tested, and this could be a deterrent for certain shoppers.

The app lets you access the camera onboard of the smart vacuum. You can also set up live streaming from the robot's cleaning zone. This feature lets you monitor your pets or the kids if you're away from home. The filter and the dustbin can be cleaned to ensure the quick and easy cleaning. The Jet Bot AI+ also has a clean station that self-empties, which helps keep the robot's dustbin clean and maximizes suction power for each cleaning.

6. Black & Decker Robot Vacuum

Black and Decker robots have been designed specifically for flooring made of hard wood. The robots have an extra wide cleaning path, and dust bins that are 2X bigger than the competitors. This allows them to keep the area clean for longer. In addition, they have two side sweepers to clean up around edges and in corners. The POWERSERIES model includes AutoSense, which automatically adjusts the power level according to whether it's collecting surface dirt or embedded dirt. It also comes with a smart app that lets you browse the virtual map, and control functions and schedules. You can also monitor the status of the vacuum's battery and return it to its dock to charge at the touch of the button. The app lets you customize the LED lights on the top of the vacuum to tell where it is focused or if it has gotten stuck.

The app allows you to manually steer the robot, if necessary. For example my living room rug has a darkly-colored border that has a tendency to make it difficult for other robots I've tried. However, the HRV 425BL kept moving across the border, but it didn't register it as a cliff. And the ability to program a weekly cleaning schedule is a great time-saving convenience.