The best robot vacuum 2023: brilliant cleaning that saves you tons of time

These rubber brushes don’t get tangled by long hair the way bristle brushes can. Because there’s no option to add keep-out zones in the app, you’ll need to buy iRobot’s virtual walls if there are places you don’t want the robot to go. They cost $99 for two, so if you need more than a couple of keep-out zones, it’s worth going for the j7 instead.

irobot vacuum cleaner

Like other types of vacuums, many of the best robot vacuums on this list and other models we’ve tested are effective at collecting pet hair, fine dust, and larger debris from floors. As well as deciding whether you want a robovac that just vacuums or one that mops, it’s also important irobot vacuum cleaner to consider battery life, as nobody wants a robot vacuum that runs out of power halfway through cleaning your home. Similarly, look for robot vacuums that have large dust canisters or those that empty their dust bins, meaning it really can be left to clean your floors unaided.

During testing, the Ecovacs robot vacuum was able to maneuver around the socks and faux pet messes we laid out in our obstacle course, but it did suck up a USB cord in its path. We recommend double-checking that any power cords are out of the way before using the vacuum. Additionally, we challenged each vacuum by creating a small obstacle course of furniture for it to navigate, placing socks and USB cables in its path to see if it avoided the objects or ran them over.

If you’re okay with providing the iLife V3s Pro a little supervision, this incredible value will serve your floors well. Most Roomba models will run for around 90 minutes before needing to recharge. Robot vacuums take their time cleaning your space, and Roombas are no different. The iRobot Roomba i3+ is an example of a mid-priced model that comes with shark cordless this feature. The cleaning time depends on room size and, for models equipped with dirt sensors, volume of dirt. First-generation models must be told the room size, while subsequent models either estimate room size by measuring the longest straight-line run they can perform without bumping into an object or create an accurate map of the room.

So to ensure you get the most vacuum bang for your bucks, we’ve tested the leading models to really put them through their paces – and we’ve tested them in our own homes, which are much more challenging than any test lab. We’ve tested all their key features – runtime, suction power, mapping and automation capabilities and more – in real-world situations to help you find the best robot vacuum for you and your home. They’re smaller and more powerful, delivering better cleaning with a lot less noise. And they have clever navigation systems to ensure they don’t miss an inch or vacuum up a lost sock. Some can even detect when they’re moving from hard floors to carpets or rugs and adjust their cleaning power accordingly.

Luckily, the iRobot Roomba s9+’s performance matches its hefty price tag – especially when dealing with pet hair. It picked up 98% of pet hair on average across carpet and hardwood floors, which makes it a close second to the iLife V3S Pro. Aside from cleaning your floors, Roombas also come with features such as voice control, smart mapping, and scheduled cleans. Our home testers are currently performing long-term tests on our top vacuums to put these smart features through their paces in the real world. We will update this list with their fresh and thorough insights once those tests are complete.

Most 500-series models support scheduling through buttons on the unit itself, and higher-end models allow the use of a remote control, smartphone app, or smart-home automation integration to program schedules. Many robot vacuums cope well with hardwood floors and carpeted areas, but if your home has many staircases, you’ll need an additional vacuum to clean the stairs. With many robot vacuums suitable for programming from your phone, you’ll be able to switch these devices on when you’re out and about and come home to clean floors.