For instance, if there are crumbs under the kitchen table, users can tell their Roomba to “clean under the kitchen table.” Areas of the home where children or pets might be playing can be set as “off-limits” areas. The vacuum’s “clean map reports” allow the user to see where the Roomba cleaned and for how long. Since iRobot has several models, it can be difficult to choose the best Roomba to suit your needs. Sometimes a hands-on test is a helpful way to truly know what works in a home, so we tested some of the most popular models in a home environment to find out which ones are the best. Keep reading to learn about some of the key considerations when choosing a Roomba, and see our hands-on evaluation results later in this article. Carolyn Forté brings more than 40 years of experience as a consumer products expert to her role as executive director of the Good Housekeeping Institute’s Home Care and Cleaning Lab.
In addition, besides the initial cost, some Roombas require ongoing cost in the form of cleaning pads and fluid for the mops and dustbin evacuation bags for the + models. Now that you’ve learned the differences among a variety of Roomba models, you may be wondering if you can run two at the same time or if your robot vacuum can work in the dark. Find out the answers to these and other commonly asked robot vacuum FAQs below.
Still, you’re paying for the added convenience of not having to do the vacuuming yourself and worry about how often you should vacuum. Robot vacuums are an excellent solution for busy people who don’t have time to put the vacuum around. Still, they offer a good alternative for those with mobility issues bissell crosswave cordless because all you need to do is switch them on. We rate each robot vacuum on how easy it was to empty, how loud it was in use, and how long the battery lasted between charges. The Ecovas Deebot X1 Omni is a mop and vacuum in one, but rather than slosh water over your hard floors, it can also scrub them.
Roomba’s top-of-the-line model contains the most suction power of the entire lineup, along with a slightly different shape that allows it to get into corners more easily. It’s also designed with anti-allergen filters built in, making it great for pet owners. Like the i series, it’s available as a standalone vacuum or in a plus model with the self-emptying dock. Because they are smaller and less powerful than large upright vacuums, the dustbin must be emptied frequently , and hair and other obstructions must be removed from rollers and brushes more frequently.
Mopping performance is also generally light-duty, as it doesn’t have enough friction to handle stuck-on dirt or scuff marks. There are people who wish the mop was more effective, noting it has difficulty tackling tougher tasks. Some users may have received defective units, noting that their robot shark cordless was unable to hold a charge out of the box. Thankfully this can be remedied by contacting Kyvol’s customer support. It’s one of the more costly options on our list, so it won’t fit the average homeowner’s budget. There’s no carry handle for easy transporting between rooms or floor levels.
The iLife A9 robot vacuum cleans hard floors and low-pile carpet with aplomb, supports app and voice control, and won’t break the bank. As robot vacuums get more technologically advanced, with laser navigation sensors and home security cameras, they’re also getting bigger and taller. The Eufy RoboVac G30, on the other hand, stands out for its short stature. Measuring 12.8 inches in diameter and 2.85 inches tall, it’s one of the smallest robot vacuums we’ve tested, meaning it can clean where a lot of other robot vacuums won’t fit, like under couches. The S7 MaxV Ultra stole the spotlight in 2022, but the year-old Roborock S7+ is still a strong choice. Like its more expensive sibling, the S7+ boasts Roborock’s VibraRise technology, which allows it to both mop your hard floors and vacuum your carpeting in the same cleaning run.
Mediocre suction capability, random navigation and difficulty finding its base made this a nonstarter for us. While the vacuum has features such as voice control and in-app scheduling, it didn’t function half as well as the similarly priced Eufy 11S. But just because you’re not spending a lot of money on a smart unit doesn’t mean you’re not going to get a clean house. In our testing, we found there are some models that clean really well and can do almost as good a job as a higher-priced option. Luckily the Eufy has a recharge and resume feature, so if it runs low on battery, it makes its way back to the base to recharge itself and when ready resumes the cleaning job.
And it doesn’t get stuck on obstacles like thresholds or power cables very often. The iRobot Braava jet m6 robot mop is a great companion to the Roomba i3. It’s ideal for multiple rooms and larger spaces but won’t hesitate to find its way around apartments and smaller quarters.
I’m also a yoga instructor, and have been actively teaching group and private classes for nearly a decade. Your robot never stops getting smarter because it constantly receives innovations in its software with the latest tech and groundbreaking features, thanks to iRobot OS. The cleaning job is completed because Roomba® j7/j7+ Robot Vacuum sends itself to its base to recharge when the battery gets low, and then resumes right where it left off. With iRobot OS, you can choose to set your robot to automatically start cleaning when you leave and stop when you come home, so you only notice the clean and never the cleaning. For cleaning that fits in perfectly with your life and your home, iRobot OS delivers unique intelligence to your robot so it works the way you want it to.