The Best Robot Vacuums of 2022
Nothing beats hands-free cleaning and it really doesn’t get any better than a robot vacuum. At the touch of a button, the best robot vacuums can take care of the biggest rooms in your home without wasting any time. They are equipped with special features such as quick connection to handheld devices or the ability to remember the overall layout of each room in the home.
Don’t spend hours panic vacuuming before guests come over or do chores on the weekend. Enjoy more free time while these devices do the dirty work. All you need to operate the robot vacuum is an open socket for the charging port and you’re ready to roll. Here are our favorite options and what you need to consider when looking for the best robot vacuum.
How We Picked the Best Robot Vacuums
We’ve compared prices, brands, extras, mapping technology, reviews, and battery life across 50+ robot vacuum models. No two people’s cleaning needs are the same, which is why we offer a variety of options – from Samsung’s mop option to remove stubborn dirt, to an automatic emptying pick for those who don’t want to lift their pinky fingers. Many of the brands we’ve selected have a solid reputation in technology and vacuums, so we can be sure that your choice of robot vacuum is both reliable and a worthwhile investment.
What to Consider When Buying the Best Robot Vacuum
There are five main things you should consider when shopping for a robot vacuum. The best robot vacuums have long-lasting batteries and large-capacity bins, so they can work from home without dumping or charging before the job is done. You may want to find one that can be easily connected to your smartphone for customization or remote control. If you really want to raise your floors, consider a robotic vacuum with mopping capabilities to keep your surfaces looking radiant. Finally, look for other advanced features like map features or smart timers. We know there’s a lot of information you need to keep in mind when shopping, so we’ve created a thorough guide to help you better understand these features, along with some product suggestions to help you get started.
How much cleaning time do you want?
A robot vacuum is only as good as its battery life. Fortunately, many robot vacuums have batteries that last at least an hour. If you have a larger living space, you might want to look for something that can last 90 to 120 minutes to ensure the robot can reach every nook and cranny before it needs a charge. Keep in mind that some vacuums have different power settings, such as high intensity or turbo, which may drain the battery faster. Think about how you want to use your vacuum, what your regular cleaning time frame is like, and whether you need more surface coverage or suction.
Most robot vacuums will alert you when the battery is low, or they will dock themselves on the charger. They might also do this automatically after every cleaning, meaning you’ll never have to bother finding a charging cable or dealing with the consequences of forgetting to plug it in. An actually smart robot vacuum will take care of itself after taking care of your smart floors.
Do you want to control the robot vacuum with your mobile phone?
The best robot vacuums pair with your smartphone so you can create custom settings and control your cleaning remotely. Device-compatible robot vacuums may be able to pair with Alexa or Google Assistant, follow invisible boundaries you create to keep them away from loose carpets or lots of cables, generate stats based on recent cleanings, tell you how much battery life is left , and virtually map your living space.
Being able to control a robot vacuum from your phone means having brunch with friends, running to the grocery store, picking up your kids from school, and going home to clean. Some models even allow you to set a scheduled cleaning schedule so you don’t even have to take out your phone to clean. Keep in mind that it might be a good idea to go home for the first cleaning of the robot so that you can identify any difficulties or issues your little machine may be facing.
Before buying, make sure to check each vacuum’s compatibility, especially if you’re using Android or you’d like to connect to a specific virtual assistant. Many vacuums work well with any smart device, but we don’t want you to be ready to hook up and be disappointed.
Do you want it to help you take out the trash?
Not all robot vacuums can collect the same amount of debris and debris before they need to be emptied. Think about how often you want to vacuum and how much dust, dirt, and pet dander may accumulate during that time. If you have a small living area, keep your items relatively tidy, dust and sweep frequently, or vacuum regularly, you may be able to survive in a smaller litter box. But if you know you need something more durable, don’t skimp on bin storage. The average size of a litter box is 600ml; some can reach 700 or 750. These bins are easy to remove and require no additional work, such as changing bags or filters. If you have a cat or dog (or a very hairy person) running around the house, consider a vacuum that especially boasts about its ability to pick up hair and dander.
One of the best features of a robot vacuum is the automatic vacuum box. Instead of emptying the bin after every cleaning or two, your vacuum will automatically deposit all collected dust bunnies, forgotten Lego bricks, food scraps, and other artifacts into its docking station’s larger trash in the box. Many of these sites are equipped with allergen filters and other sensors to keep their contents completely sealed. It notifies you when it needs to be emptied, so you don’t have to worry about overflowing or clogging. Now that’s some serious futuristic cleaning.
Do you want a mop too?
We’re happy to inform you that the best robot vacuums can also mop floors, so not only will you suck up all the dirt and debris, but you’ll keep your floors shiny and free of stains and spills. These vacuum mop hybrids have two compartments: one for collecting bits and pieces that get sucked up, and another for holding water, which runs over hardwood or tile floors. These hybrids often come with a sensor that tells the robot where to find carpeted areas, which the vacuum cleaner avoids when it’s time to mop. Here’s another chore your smart vacuum can handle while you watch another TV episode!
If the vacuum you’re looking for doesn’t have its own mopping feature, or a hybrid isn’t in your price range, look for a model that can be paired with a separate robotic mopping machine. Many brands have created individual vacuums and mops that communicate with each other via smartphones or internal programs to schedule one cleaning after another. They can often be stored next to each other and have similar special features and battery life, so you can rely on this dynamic combination to get the job done.
Does it know your home?
While outlining smartphone compatibility, we touched on some special features a bit, which robot vacuum is right for you. The first thing to look for is a vacuum with obstacle recognition, so your vacuum can recognize small obstacles like power strips, cables, pet toys or shoes. There’s nothing worse than coming home to find your vacuum cleaner stuck in an endless battle between your internet router and your kid’s favorite plush toy, right?
You can also look for specific mapping functions to determine whether your robot is cleaning randomly or methodically. A random robot using the “bounce” cleaning method may have object recognition sensors but it won’t necessarily track its location in your home, and will traverse the area more than once for a thorough cleaning. The methodical vacuum has sensors that track its location and which areas of the house it covers. This is usually faster, but not always the most thorough. But these methodical cleaners collect data over time to keep a virtual map of your home for more efficient cleaning. Just make sure to keep the lights on during vacuuming, as these sensors need to fully “see” to gather information and avoid bumping into things. After collecting this data, you can also set boundaries or no-clean zones from your phone. This tells the robot where to avoid, such as play areas or delicate rugs.
You can also use the camera to find the vacuum so you can see where it is, or simply inspect your home. You can choose from an almost endless list of advanced features that you can prioritize according to your needs.
Why it’s on the list: This mop has long battery life and high-tech features to make your cleaning as seamless as possible.
Glasses:
• Surface: hard floor, carpet
• Container size: 430ml
• Run time: more than three hours
advantage:
• Long battery life
• including mopping
• Laser mapping technology for thorough cleaning
shortcoming:
• Mops can use more water
Ecovacs was founded in 1998 and its official Ecovacs Robotics brand was created in 2006. Ecovacs’ Deebot Ozmo T5 can run for over three hours, cleaning up to 3,200 square feet at a time. In addition to impressive battery life, this vacuum comes with Smart Navi 3.0 laser mapping technology to track your home and prevent any missed areas, a high-efficiency filter and three-stage suction. It connects to your smartphone for custom cleaning, and, did we mention it? It is also a mop. Yes, this vacuum can also mop at the same time, identifying and avoiding carpeted areas while cleaning.
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