10 Best Mobile Apps For Robot Vacuum

How to Find the Best Robot Vacuum

If you don't need the most advanced features like mapping, and don't mind emptying your dustbin every 60 to 90 days, a basic robotic vacuum is likely to be the best choice for you. Select a model with an uncluttered base that can work with voice assistants.

It is a pro at picking up dirt, cat litter and pet hair on tile floors, hardwood floors and carpeting with less pile than any other vacuum we've tested. It also maps and create virtual no-go zones in rooms or areas.

1. Powerful Suction

A robot vacuum is able to stay clean of the pet hair, dust and dander that build up on your floors on a day-to-day basis. It can also decrease the frequency of deep cleaning, which will save you both time and effort. The most effective models feature powerful suction, which will clean up most mess with ease and leave your home clean.

You can cover a larger area by using a robot vacuum and mop, which can be beneficial if you live in an extensive home. There are models with a water tank either integrated into the chassis or as an extra piece that you can take out after vacuuming. It will have to be emptied and refilled, so it's an extra task.

In a perfect world it would be ideal to clean your floors first before you use your robot vacuum to prevent it from running into anything. However, in the majority of homes, this isn't possible or desirable. Thankfully, most models allow you to use a smartphone app to set up virtual barriers that the robot will see and avoid. Some models have no-go zones, which you can flag areas that you don't want it to be allowed to enter. For instance the child's room or a pile cords in a corner.

If you're looking to buy a basic robot vacuum with no bells and whistles, this model made by networking company TP-Link is a great option. It's quiet, and it works on hard floors as well as low-pile carpets and can be scheduled via the app to vacuum or amazon robot vacuum mop at any time. It's got a long battery life of up to 180 minutes.

2. Simple to operate

Robot vacuums generally require very little from you. They use navigation tools like sensors, lasers and cameras to move through obstacles and collect dust, food crumbs and pet hair from floors, tiles carpets, hardwood floors and low-pile carpets. Many have boundary strips to aid in staying within a room's walls, while pricier models can be set to automatically wake up and start cleaning at a set time. Some even come with fall detection technology that can help them avoid tumbling down stairs or getting tangled in electrical cords.

Find models that you can control from your couch using voice assistants like Alexa or Google Assistant. Also, look for models with Wi-Fi connectivity that let you start cleaning from any location using an app. You might want to choose an option with a long-lasting battery, as well as a large dustbin, depending on the size of your home.

Some robot vacuums can also be mopping. They utilize water reservoirs to clean the floor. This is great for regular mopping but won't work for extra-tough messes, like pet poop or other wet dry robot vacuum spills. There are hybrids that come with a removable microfiber pad that can be used for mopping, or choose a self-emptying model that lets you use the device for 30 to 60 days without having to empty the base.

3. Smart Mapping

Some robots use advanced mapping technology to create a detailed map as they clean. This allows them to avoid hitting furniture or tripping over cords or legs of chairs. This feature is only available on the top models however, it allows your robot to be aware of your home's layout and knows where to move when the battery runs out.

If you don't want your robot navigating into areas of your house that you'd prefer it to stay clear from (like your children's toys or the tangled mess of device cords in the corner) The majority of robots offer some method of creating virtual barriers, either with their app or a set of physical boundary strips. You can block off areas that you don't want your robot to enter to allow it to concentrate on the areas that require the most attention.

Many robots can also automatically navigate to different floors depending on the flooring they're cleaning, be it that's switching between hard and carpet or focusing on particular areas of your home, like corners and baseboards. In our tests, this was a useful feature that improved their scores on picking up hardwood and low-pile carpeting. It is important to secure any loose cords or furniture prior to using your robot vacuum so it doesn't get caught.

4. Remote Control

Most robot vacuums have WiFi connectivity and can be controlled by amazon Robot vacuum Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri Shortcuts, which enable you to control them using voice commands or from your smartphone. Many connect to smart home systems that create a map of your space after each cleaning session, to "learn" your layout and design more efficient routes for future runs. Certain models have obstacle avoidance built in, which prevents them from causing damage to furniture and getting stuck on things such as loose charging cables or pet hair.

The majority of robots come with a remote control that you can use to navigate them around your home. Most robots can be controlled by a mobile app that comes with more features. You can create multiple cleaning schedules and make an agenda of your most-loved rooms. You can also manually direct the robot using direction the arrows.

Some models have zones that are not allowed. These are virtual barriers that can be created within the app to block the robot from accessing certain areas (like toys for children or dishes and dog beds). Other apps let you set up an outline of your home and provide the robot with precise information about your floors. The app that we recommend as our top choice one, the Roborock S7+, has a lot of useful options to help you clean your home, but its interface isn't as polished and elegant as those from iRobot and Shark.

5. Long Battery Life

Robotic vacs that can clean throughout the house without stopping to recharge or empty their bins of dust can save you time and energy. Some are compatible with smart home platforms such as Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri Shortcuts for hands-free operation. They can also draw an outline of the space that allows you to program them for certain areas or rooms and to avoid obstacles.

The majority of robot vacuums detect objects, however the iRobot J7 has advanced features, such as "home mapping" and amazon Robot vacuum obstacle avoidance. These can make your life much easier (although one of our test bots did "eat" a couple of socks). If you're looking to push your home maintenance even further opt for a robotic mop that comes with a water tank that you fill and empty yourself.

While no of the models we tested could compete with the dirt-picking power of a standup vacuum, they were able to do a fantastic job of cleaning hard floors and carpets with a low pile. They are great at sweeping up fine dust and debris, food dust, tracked-in dirt, and pet hair. They are also able to handle nuts and screws made of metal and stray cat litter. The best robot vacuums are able to clean edges and corners and can work on furniture. Eufy 11S is a relatively affordable and basic model.

6. Convenient Self-Charging

A robot vacuum can keep your home tidy and clean without you having to do lots of work. You can schedule cleanings using the app, and create no-go zones to ensure that your robot does not get in the way of your plants or favorite chair. Many of our top picks automatically empty their bins and clean their docking stations for you.

The best robot vacuums are programmable to keep your floors clean for months or weeks at a time, making it easier to save time and effort of manually sweeping or mopping your floors each week or even every day. This lets you enjoy more time doing things you enjoy, and decreases the amount of time required to clean your floors manually.

During testing the Q Revo was able to pick up tiny particles such as oatmeal and baking soda and heavier debris like metal screws and nails, and fluffy stuff like pet hair. It's not equipped with the advanced mapping and object avoidance features found in our top picks, but it's adequate for the majority of families.

The most impressive feature of the j7 is its ability to spot and avoid obstacles like power cords, shoes and socks, and pet waste. This means that you don't need to clean up after using your robot. However, cluttered rooms could cause your robot to get stuck and do a poor job.