What to Look For in a Robot Vacuum

Based on your budget, you can pick a vacuum that has all the bells, whistles, and features. Find a model that can clean a variety of floors. Also, consider purchasing one with a self-empty dock.

Models that are priced lower often have basic bump systems that are inefficient and slow. High-end models use sensors to map your home and navigate around furniture and other obstacles.

Features

Robot vacuums are a great way to cut down on the amount of time you're spending cleaning your home. They are especially useful for people with hectic schedules or those with pets or small children and cannot keep up with the mess. They are also useful for those who live in tiny apartments or condos with limited storage space. While they are great for automating general cleaning, they aren't able to reach into corners and corners as well as the size of large-sized vacuums. They can remove cords, toys, and socks, but not all the dust under your cabinets or on the baseboards.

The most effective robot vacuums have powerful suction that can eliminate dirt from a variety flooring types. This information can be found in the specifications of the manufacturer which are usually expressed in Pascals. relevant website indicate more power. It is a good idea to pick a vacuum that has at minimum 2000 Pa, since this is enough for most homes.

One of the most appealing characteristics of a high-quality robot vacuum is its double-duty as mop. Some models come with an option to concentrate on a specific area of the room. This is a great feature in the event of a huge spill or sticky mess to take care of.

A quality robot vacuum must also have an integrated navigation system. The more advanced the system, the better it can identify your home's layout and return to its dock without getting lost. This is especially crucial for older homes, which often have a confusing layout. It is also important to determine if the device has sensors that can detect obstacles and be aware of them and avoid them.

Suction

If you have carpeting in your home, select an automatic vacuum cleaner that has powerful suction. The higher the suction, the better the robot is able to remove dust and other lightweight debris. It should be able to move from one type of floor to another. A good robot must be able to suck up cereal or crumbs as well as pet hair from hardwood floors, and then pull out the lint stuck in carpet fibers.

During testing, various models performed notably better on different types of flooring. Certain models were better at removing cereal from hard floors whereas others struggled with carpet fibers. Think about how often you'll have to maintain your robotic vacuum. It should be emptied often to prevent overflowing, and the brushes cleaned regularly.

The best robot vacuums have an element that can self-emptied. It will automatically empty the dirt and debris when it's full. This feature can save time and money on bags to replace and cut down on the frequency at the frequency you need to clean the robot itself. Some companies also offer an option that has a bin with a removable lid, which can be emptied by tapping a finger.

When you purchase a robot vacuum, make sure you cover any mirrors before the device determines your home's location for the first time. The LIDAR sensors that are used by most robot vacuums to navigate, may bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the machine to "perceive", the mirror as a barrier. Robots can also be tripped up by dark colored objects like chairs and toys for children. This is due to the cliff sensors on robots are sensitive to infrared light which is absorbed by darker surfaces.

App control

A few of the top robot cleaners come with applications that let you schedule cleaning sessions and monitor them, as well as creating no-go zones. Certain robot vacuums can be used with Amazon Alexa or other digital voice assistants to give you the convenience of cleaning hands-free. If you're looking to have a more convenient experience, consider opting for a model with object avoidance technology and stair-recognition. These features can stop the robot from falling and running into items such as socks, pet toys, and power cords.

The majority of robot vacuums come in round and square models. Round models are able to navigate around furniture legs with ease but they have a difficult to reach the corners. Square models, on the other hand, have a more angular design and are able to reach corners with ease. However, they require more space to maneuver and can run into objects faster than their round counterparts. To avoid this, make sure you measure your home carefully and select a model that is suitable to it.

Choose an option with an enormous dustbin as well as an automatic docking station that emptys. These features will reduce the frequency of emptying and decrease the amount of maintenance required by the device. Additionally, a robot with docks that are able to pause and recharge and then resume cleaning right where it stopped will give you the most hands-free experience.


Robot vacuums are great for midweek routine cleaning and regular touch-ups, but they aren't able to replace an upright or a canister on carpets that are thick or hard floors. They can still get tangled up in rugs, unable to clean up certain particles, and miss spots of dirt on hard flooring. This is why it's imperative to clean your entire house before using a robot and ensure that all cords to power, clothing fringes on the rug, window blind cords are tucked away from the device's sensors and charging contacts.

Battery life

A high-quality robot vacuum will come with a long-lasting battery and retain its charge throughout the cleaning cycle. If you plan to utilize your robot vacuum in several rooms or in a larger home, you'll need to choose a model that has a long battery life. If you do not plan to clean your floors as frequently, a model with a shorter battery lifespan should suffice.

In our tests, the X10 was able to map a whole room in just a couple of runs. It also cleaned floors in just two hours. It also has the top mopping technology we've seen in a robot vacuum. It mops in the form of a scrubby scrubbing action that assists in getting rid of dried coffee stains as well as other marks that are stubborn on the floorboards. It also features Eufy's top-of-the-line object avoidance that has been trained like a self-driving car to dodge things such as socks and slippers.

The ability of a robot vacuum navigate stairs and corners is one of its most important attributes. This feature allows the robot not to collide with objects or fall down the stairs. A robot equipped with vSLAM navigation that is found on the higher-end models of iRobot, uses a camera and sensors to create an interactive 3D map of its surroundings when it is moving.

In addition to stair and corner navigation Other features that make a good robot vacuum include a low profile and the ability to get into tight spots. Some of our top picks, like the Shark iRobot vac with self-emptying station, can fit under most furniture. They also come with a huge tower chamber that can hold weeks or even months of debris that you need to empty it.

App navigation

Take into consideration the size of your house and the type of flooring you have when choosing the best robot vacuum. Also, you should consider the type of navigation system the robot has. Some have built-in sensors that can detect obstacles, while others employ sensors that combine to create and update maps. The amount of sensors and how they function together will determine how large of an area a robot is able to cover on a single charge, and how quickly it can travel between rooms.

The best robot vacuums for cleaning large spaces feature a range of navigation and mapping capabilities. They use sensors to recognize furniture and walls. Then, they navigate around them without causing damage or spreading dirt. They also employ cliff sensors to detect steep thresholds and prevent falling. Bump sensors, which could be found in the form of physical bumpers and touch-sensitive pads are another characteristic of robot vacuums.

With a smartphone app you can modify the robot's map of your home and create no-go zones. You can also schedule cleanings and track the progress of the robot from your smartphone. Some robots have shorter battery life but the majority can clean up to 2000 square feet.

The SwitchBot K10 Plus is a robot that can reach into tight spaces better than other models. Its SLAM navigation is among the top in the business and is compatible with Dyson's MyDyson application which lets you look at clean areas.

This robot is the most affordable choice in this price range. Its lidar mapping was quick and precise. It arranged my room into zones from the very first attempt. Its obstacle avoidance is impressive, with its ability to navigate between cables and shoes and even the fake dog poop that I placed in my test.