This robot vacuum is constantly learning with every run too, making it one of the smartest we’ve seen. Until the Roborock S7, most of the hybrid robot vacuums/robot irobot vacuum cleaner mops we’ve tested have been good, but not great, at either task. The S7 is the first such device we’d actually trust to vacuum and mop without close supervision.
The simplest robots can be programmed to run on a schedule using on-device controls. Smarter models can be controlled with phone apps or even smart speakers. Generally speaking, the smarter a vacuum the better, because the technology is coming down in price and offers not just easier cleaning, but options to target irobot vacuum cleaner specific zones instead of an entire floor. That can be handy if someone makes a mess but you don’t want a robot roaming around for the next hour. Kyvol calls its E20 model “the best entry-level robot vacuum” — and our experts agree! It offers plenty of high-end features at a price that’s hard to pass up.
Roomba is a series of autonomous robotic vacuum cleaners sold by iRobot. Introduced in September 2002, they have a set of sensors that enable them to navigate the floor area of a home. These sensors can detect the presence of obstacles, particularly dirty spots on the floor, and steep drops (e.g., to avoid falling down stairs). Unfortunately, it’s worth noting that this vacuum has a hard time dealing with pet hair on carpets, but thankfully it clears most of it on bare floors. Also, even though it has a HEPA post-motor filter, fine particles can still escape from its exhaust. It’s also somewhat pricey, and if you’re looking for a more affordable alternative, the Neato D8 is worth a look.
Sign up for Lab Report to get the latest reviews and top product advice delivered right to your inbox. You could save some money by using third-party filters, which are extremely unlikely to harm the bot, but you may void your warranty if you happen to send in your bot for repairs with one of them in the filter slot. The Eufy RoboVac G30 Edge, Roborock E4, and Ecovacs Deebot 601 all use a similar nav system as the Roomba i3 EVO, but we seriously doubt that they’ll be as durable as the Roomba. We’ve also discovered that, as of late 2021, several other brands are selling near-copies of the Eufy bots. The Eufy 11S is not meant to be taken apart and put back together—major repairs are impossible without breaking parts of the robot.
Looking at general best practices in choosing a robot vacuum and Roomba’s common properties can make it easier to figure out which one fits your space, needs and budget. Having been testing and writing about tech for more than a decade, I’ve used and played around with enough Roomba robot vacuums to understand their approach. For starters, let’s consider what a robot vacuum gives you and what features actually matter. Eufy is one of the most well-known robot manufacturers (and they’re owned by Anker, who make some of our favorite phone chargers). In the past, experts told us Eufy’s BoostIQ 11S robot vacuum cleaner was the best out there; it’s also the best-selling model among readers of the Strategist. However, we’ve decided to name Eufy’s newer G20 as our best overall, as it has updated and improved on all the things that made the 11S so good in the first place.