Most robot vacuums are equipped with multiroom cleaning features, which allow the device to clean in zones versus one room at a time. An “edge cleaning” mode makes sure dust and debris are picked up along the perimeter and around furniture. Some machines will also include app-controlled custom cleaning preferences, which allow the user to adjust cleaning modes, power settings, number of cleaning passes, and edge cleaning.
Many of those reviewers also noted difficulty getting replacement parts. We can’t be sure whether other models will have similar rates of problems, though the typical owner ratings for Ecovacs laser-nav bots tend to be a few tenths of a point lower than the ratings for other brands’ models. To Ecovacs’s credit, we’ve found that its bots are a little better at traversing tall rugs and large thresholds than other brands’ bots.
Unlike more traditional canister or stick models, robot vacuums are autonomous and intelligent. The vacuums we’ve tested are equipped with lasers, motherboards, sensors, and even Wi-Fi to navigate around your home without assistance. While pricey, iRobot’s Roomba j7+ robot vacuum has smarts to spare, with a guarantee to avoid pet waste and a self-emptying base that means you rarely have to lift a finger. Here’s a list of the other robot vacuums we tested besides the models listed above.
Because of the range, options will vary in each product’s smart features, suction power, battery life, and cleaning capabilities. Before selecting the best Roomba for your needs, consider your cleaning goals and review these common shopping considerations. This Roomba isn’t going to win any awards for quiet operation, but it sure can clean up dirt! It cleaned our flour “dust” on the first pass and easily sucked up flour out of crevices between floorboards, where other robot vacuums left it. It has the power to vault over raised thresholds and automatically finds high traffic/high dirt areas where it should spend more time.
Its compact design makes it especially appealing for small homes and apartments, particularly if you have low-profile furniture. If your current robot vacuum can’t get the dust bunnies under the couch, or constantly gets stuck between chair legs, the G30 is worth a look. Designed to navigate your home and clean your floors automatically, robot vacuum cleaners are made to tackle this chore so you don’t have to. They can clean on demand, on a schedule and even when you’re not home. Powered by rechargeable batteries, the robot typically sits on a charging dock to top off its energy supply. Premium models come with docking stations that can also empty the robot’s dustbin when it’s full.
The 700 series, introduced in May 2011, though largely similar to the 500 and 600 series, included a more robust cleaning system, improved AeroVac Bin with HEPA filter, and improved battery life. Like the 500 series, the 700 series had models with different technologies and accessories. Besides these two irobot vacuum cleaner models, Roomba 770 and 782e were available, with scheduling, Dirt Detect, and full bin indicator. Also, the first- and second-generation Roombas can get stuck on rug tassels and electrical cords. Third-generation and newer models are able to reverse their brushes to escape entangled cords and tassels.
For the 600 and e series, press and hold the “home” and “spot clean” buttons for 10 seconds. Many homes have areas that aren’t always ready for a vacuum to roll through. Roombas have customizable keep-out zones, so users can create spots where the robot vacuum irobot vacuum cleaner knows not to venture. This might mean staying clear of an area of tangled cords under a desk, a playroom’s toy zone, or the dog’s water bowl. Users can give specific areas names such as “living room” or “kitchen” for custom schedules and voice activation.