Perhaps unsurprisingly, public policy is starting to reflect the growing public concern with data privacy. From 2018 to 2022, there has been a marked increase in states considering and passing privacy protections, such as the California Consumer Privacy Act and the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act. At the federal level, the FTC is considering new rules to crack down on harmful commercial surveillance and lax data security practices—including those used in training data. In the case of the woman on the toilet, a data labeler made an effort to preserve her privacy, by placing a black circle over her face. But in no other images featuring people were identities obscured, either by the data labelers themselves, by Scale AI, or by iRobot.
In owner reviews, the main complaints about the bot included glitchiness, an unstable app, and poor customer service. We’ve tried several Eufy models, including the RoboVac G30 Edge, the RoboVac G30, and the RoboVac G20. The last is the newest model, but it’s our least favorite of the trio, and none are better than our top picks. We like the G30 models best since they include very basic mapping, a 110-minute run time (versus 90 minutes on the G20), a Cleaning History in the app, and more push buttons on top.
As you can see just by looking at self-emptying bases, they are a chunky addition and will take up extra space in your home. They’re also remarkably loud in operation, because the dust in the vacuum needs to be effectively sucked into the dust bag. Though some robot vacuums are clever enough that you can set do not disturb timings via the app to keep things quiet. Then there’s the expense irobot vacuum cleaner to consider — self-emptying bases naturally add a hefty sum to the price tag. Here’s the table on which robot vacuums are best at picking up dirt and pet hair. Note that while all of the robot vacuums were tested by picking up the same material on the same surfaces, those with an asterisk were tested in a 15 x 15-foot square, whereas the other models were tested in a 5 x 5-foot square.
The iRobot Roomba 694 Robot Vacuum is our top pick because almost anyone can operate this device. It’s compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant, but you can also just push a button on top of this vacuum and it will start cleaning. If you’re a beginner to robot vacuums, or if you don’t want to rely on apps and Wi-Fi connectivity, you’ll absolutely want to choose this vacuum.
This is because you can only store one floor plan, and because of the bulk of the appliance’s docking station. The Roomba 694 was released in 2020 and has all the same features as the 675, just with a larger dustbin and a more sophisticated look. The Roomba i3+ can be controlled via an app as well as with Alexa and Google Assistant, so you can create a schedule and connect it to smart home devices. Unlike the more expensive Roomba i7+ and s9+, though, the i3+ can’t be directed to map individual rooms.
Many robot vacuums have object avoidance technology and stair recognition, which can prevent it from falling down the stairs while in use. If you’re planning to use your robot vacuum when you aren’t at home, it’s especially important to find a model that is capable of navigating its surroundings without getting stuck, falling down stairs, or breaking something in your house. The best robot vacuums will have object sensors and object avoidance to help them move across your floor seamlessly. “Those dyson robot vacuum with open-style or larger homes should consider purchasing a robot vacuum with smart mapping capabilities,” Hild says. “Smart mapping robots can seamlessly and efficiently navigate an entire level of a home and keep track of its location … Users can also set up ‘Keep Out Zones’ for keeping the robot out of unwanted areas.” After two days of testing in our lab, our selection for the best robot vacuums is the iRobot Roomba 694 Robot Vacuum because of its effectiveness on multiple flooring types.