However, we noticed that it’s better at picking up pet hair and kitty litter compared to Cheerios — this is usually the other way around. We’ve tested over 40 robot vacuums, and below are our recommendations for the best robot vacuum cleaners you can buy. These picks are selected not only based on their performance, but also their feature set, design, and price. For more recommendations, look at our list of thebest vacuums, thebest vacuums for high-pile carpet, and thebest vacuums for pet hair. If daily pet-hair vacuuming is a hassle, consider this option we tested in a house with dogs. The iRobot Roomba s9+ is one of the newest models from the brand and among the priciest, but its upgrades make it extremely efficient for pet-loving households.
Upright vacuums typically come with attachments helpful in cleaning things like drapes or furniture, which robot vacs can’t handle. For example, I have several radiators in my house with a 3.5-inch clearance that slim vacuums can get under, while just-slim-enough models sometimes get stuck, and too-thick models bump up against and go elsewhere. If you want your robot vacuum to get under your low-clearance furniture, make sure you choose a model that is slim enough to do so. Whereas some robot vacuums sense carpeting and boost suction, the i3+ EVO provides consistently strong suction, and when it detects excess dirt, it automatically performs multiple passes. Remote control — Some entry level robot vacuum cleaners come with a remote control rather than Wi-Fi connectivity. It doesn’t give you as many options, but you can still control it hands-free using this.
Some, like the more basic models in the Roomba 600 series, don’t even include Wi-Fi capabilities. For our hard floor straight-line pickup tests, large and small debris is deposited onto a marked area of the floor (based on the width of the opening of the robot vacuum’s nozzle). Then each robot vacuum is allowed 10 minutes to pick up the debris from the floor and the weight of the dustbin is taken to find how much debris is picked up by each. Straight-line pickup tests on carpet are done in an enclosed area where we deposit mixed debris including potting soil, sand and rayon fibers meant to mimic hair. Each robot vacuum is allowed to clean the carpet for a specified length of time, and the weight of the dustbin is taken to find out how much debris each robot can pick up. The best of the bunch is the Roomba j7+, which is on sale at Crutchfield for $599.
When Roomba detects that it’s on carpet, it automatically pumps up the suction for a deeper clean. Its onboard high-efficiency filter traps irritating allergens, while the corner brush reaches deep into corners and along edges to nab stray crumbs. Alternatively, the iRobot Roomba 694 is a more dyson robot vacuum affordable option that is suitable for smaller homes and spaces. With an included edge-sweeping brush, this pick comes with adaptive navigation included and a multisurface lift brush. Be advised, however, that this model’s cleaning sessions have less suction power than comparable models.
An undriven swivel caster (located at the front of most models, and at the back of the D-shaped S series) is used not for steering, as is often believed, but as an additional sensor. It too is a rotary encoder; the caster’s bissell crosswave cordless wheel is half black and half white, and optical sensors detect the change in color as it rotates. This helps detect if the Roomba is stuck or beached (i.e., the drive wheels are spinning but the Roomba isn’t moving).
Dirt Detect™ sensors alert your robot about dirtier areas of your home, then clean them more thoroughly, so high-traffic spots stay as clean as the rest of the house. If it’s thorough clean you’re after, Dual Multi-Surface Rubber Brushes are the secret. Uniquely designed with rubber treads to hug different floor surfaces, removing everything from small dust to large debris. Another option to consider is the Roomba i7 (or i7+), which has the same cleaning system and Smart Map capabilities as the j7 but does not have the obstacle-avoidance feature.