best budget robot vacuum can keep your floors tidy enough to reduce the frequency of hoovering manually. Look for one that offers good navigation, can clean corners and stairs, and has a large dust bin that has to be emptied only every few times.
There are models that mop and charge themselves this is an option essential for families with children or pets. The top performers in our tests have great obstacle avoidance.
1. Roomba iRobot i3+ from iRobot EVO
The i3+ EVO and its i3 EVO sibling the i3 EVO, are identical robots that differ only in that the i3+ has self-emptying capabilities. The i3+ is an excellent alternative for those who want a an entirely automated, hands-free cleaning experience, but want to manually empty the robot's dustbin once it gets full.
Both robots excel at cleaning up surface debris from hard floors and carpets, and they're excellent in maneuvering around furniture and other obstacles. iAdapt navigation software creates smart maps of your home to assist the i3+ to navigate and clean up efficiently. However unlike the i7+ or other top-rated robots that we tested the i3+ does not have obstacle-avoidance capabilities and therefore it could get stuck on things like power cords or socks, and it may have trouble navigating across surface transitions, such as from hardwood to carpet.
iRobot recommends that you tidy the area in which the i3+ EVO vacuums prior to using it. This includes getting rid of any toys or other clutter it may encounter. Also, keep the filters and dust bin clean to prevent them from becoming clogged. When the i3+'s internal bin is full or the battery is depleted, it returns to its docking station, automatically emptying its dirt into the station's dust bin, and then continues cleaning where it began. The i3+ EVO's batteries last for about an hour and a half of continuous use, and takes around three hours to fully recharge.
2. IRobot Roomba i7+
The iRobot i7+ is an excellent model from iRobot's flagship line, and it comes with the most recent features. robotic vacuum cleaner is self-charging and self-navigating. However, the most significant feature is its self-emptying bin. This will eliminate the need for regular maintenance.
The Roomba i7+ can keep up to 10 floor plans and their names using Imprint Smart Mapping, a system that lets it map rooms so it can clean them more efficiently. It also integrates with iRobot Home to schedule cleaning tasks, and it can control your robot via the app or by voice.
In our testing, the i7+ was more agile and faster than our runner-up, the eufy RoboVac G30, and it took large pieces of pet hair from all surfaces types including carpeting. The main advantage it has over the Eufy is its self-emptying garbage bin that removes major maintenance sources and lowers the cost of recurring maintenance.
We were also awestruck by the i7+'s compatibility Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant AI services. We utilized these services to instruct the robot on how to start or stop cleaning sessions and also to move around the room and even vacuum a specific area. The iRobot Home App made it easy to connect the i7+ to these services. After being connected, to voice commands to the i7+, like "Hey Alexa vacuum the master bedroom." The iRobot Home app also provides options for managing the i7+'s settings and monitoring its performance.
3. Dyson Cyclone V10
This tiny Dyson model is a sports car that is amidst a sea of vacuums with cords that feel like minivans and buses. It is powerful enough to replace a stand-up vacuum in a majority of homes, but also small enough to fit on the bookcase or coffee table.
The V10 is powered with seven cells of energy-dense Lithium-ion batteries, which produces power without fading for 60 minutes. Its advanced whole-machine filtration system traps allergens and releases cleaner air back into your home. Its specialized cleaning head drives bristles made of nylon that are stiff into carpet to suck up large particles and fine dust. It has three suction modes that can be adapted to suit the task. It swiftly switches from floor vac to handheld vacuum, and then back to floor.
This model also has an accessory dock that can charge to 100% in 3.5 hours, and gives users an easy access to two attachments as well as a wand clip. This is a significant improvement over earlier Dysons models, that require a long charge and are difficult to store.
The main issue with the V10 is its short running time. As CR's tests show, its marketing claims of up to 60 minutes are not true. This is a typical, not exceptional, battery-powered cordless vacuum's run time. This is still enough to get rid of the majority of a home that's average size but not long enough to get every single area (though a second run-through usually can be effective). This model has its own advantages however: it's lighter and more maneuverable than older Dysons cordless models and its ability to vacuum is noticeably superior for carpet floors with low pile.
4. iRobot Roomba 694
The 694 is a basic robotic vacuum that's a great choice for those who don't have lots of money to invest in a robot. It was able to remove most types of debris and sizes during our testing and often went over the same area several times to give an efficient clean. Its flat front allows it to reach the corners and the edges of walls.
Its intelligent navigation system makes use of iAdapt technology to steer clear of obstacles and guide you through your home. It's not equipped with the ability to map that is found in more advanced models, such as our top picks, the i3+EVO and J7+ Series. It can get stuck on phone cords or low furniture and is often unable to supply power before returning to its home base.
The Xiaomi Mi robot is superior in many ways over the Roomba 694 because it has fewer parts that require regular cleaning, is outfitted with an allergen-trapping HEPA filtering system, has a lower costs for recurring expenses, has more advanced automation abilities and can better navigate its own. It also has a bigger dustbin and is charged faster.
The eufy RoboVac X8 has a superior battery life than the Roomba 694. robot floor cleaner has physical boundaries strips that can be controlled by your smartphone's voice assistant. It also feels more sturdy and has a more powerful motor, and works better on bare floors and low-pile carpet, while offering a wider range of features for automation.
5. Samsung Jet Bot AI+
Samsung is a name that is found on all kinds of electronic gadgets for your home It's no surprise that they're one of the most popular robot vacuum and mop manufacturers. Their Jet Bot AI+ is loaded with cutting-edge onboard intelligence technology to aid in navigation and obstacle avoidance.
The app offers a variety of options to customize your robotic cleaner. These include mopping levels, virtual barriers and behavior modifications docking frequency settings, and many more. The app is simple to navigate and use similar to other Samsung devices.
In our tests, the Jet Bot AI+ performed well on hard floors, and removed 86 percent of dog hair (on carpet). However, it did not do particularly well in avoiding higher-up objects like cords or socks, which was disappointing. It's also more expensive than other models that we tested, and this could be a problem for certain shoppers.
The app allows you to access the onboard camera of the smart vacuum. You can also set up live streaming from the robot's cleaning zone. This feature lets you check in on pets or the kids if you're away from home. The filter and the dust bin can be cleaned for quick, painless cleanup. The Jet Bot AI+ comes with self-emptying clean stations, which helps to keep the robot's bin clear and improves suction power.
6. Black & Decker Robot Vacuum
In contrast to other robotic vacuums that are specifically designed for carpets and hard floors, Black and Decker robots are designed specifically for hard floors. They have a wider cleaning path and an extra-large dust bin that can hold 2X more debris than other models to keep the cleaning area clean for the longest time. They also come with two side sweepers that can be used to clean around corners and edges. The POWERSERIES Extreme model also includes AutoSense technology, which can tell whether it's picking up dirt on surfaces or embedded dirt and then automatically adjusts its power level. It also comes with a smart app that lets you view the virtual map, and control functions and schedules. You can also check the vacuum's status and send it to the dock for charging at the click of a button. The app also allows you to customize the lights on top of the vacuum by using different colors, so you can easily tell which areas it's focused on or where it's stuck.
The app also makes it easy to manually steer the robot if needed. For example, my living room rug has a darkly-colored border that tends to cause confusion for other robots I've tried. The HRV 425BL, however continued to travel across the border, without notifying the high point. The ability to set up weekly cleaning schedules is a wonderful time-saving benefit.