Even if you’re home to babysit your robot and rescue it from trouble, that kind of defeats the purpose of having an automatic vacuum anyway. We’ve tested a handful of their laser-nav bots over the past few years, including the Deebot Ozmo T8 AIVI (a higher-end but otherwise similar version of their latest models, N8 and N8 Pro). All the ones we’ve tested worked fine when they were new, but you can usually find a better bot for a lower price. The major flaw is the EcoVacs app, which is glitchier than others.
So with very little effort on your part, your floors can stay constantly tidy. We’ve tested dozens of robots, from cheap models that bump around randomly to fancy machines that empty themselves and steer around dog poop. First, consider the strong, durable, smart-enough iRobot Roomba i3 EVO. So much that I have a special, secret name for my latest robot vacuum cleaner, the Roomba robot vacuum. I have tried every single model, and the newest one is by far my favorite. And it basically never gets stuck, unless it encounters my son’s errant dirty sock.
Since iRobot’s first Roomba came out in the early 2000s, robot vacuum technology has improved dramatically. You can now find better mapping technology, stronger suction, longer battery runtimes, home surveillance, and self-emptying irobot vacuum cleaner charging docks. In testing, the Roomba s9+ performed the best of any robot vac on hardwood flooring. Its D-shaped design came within an inch and a half of the corner, picking up everything it could reach.
When it finds an especially dirty area, it automatically goes into Dirt Detect mode and moves over the offending spot multiple times until it’s sufficiently clean. IRobot recently updated this model with smart mapping capabilities, so you can send it right to specific rooms by phone or voice for targeted area cleanings. Then there are the top-of-the-line Roomba s9 and self-emptying Roomba s9+, which we do not recommend. Instead of the classic puck shape, it has a D-shaped body and extra-wide brushes to improve its edge-cleaning and corner-cleaning abilities.
The owner’s manual for each device clearly outlines how to perform regular maintenance like cleaning cameras and emptying dustbins. Via the app, Roombas also will inform users when and how to perform other maintenance such as removing, cleaning, or replacing rollers or brushes. Hands-off cleaning can create problems when a Roomba encounters something it shouldn’t roll over, like cords or animal waste. 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. In testing we found this mop did a lot of overlapping rows to clean across floors , and there was some streaking left behind by the fluid .
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. Many robot vacuums bissell crosswave cordless are now smart, letting you start a cleaning session from an app or by asking a smart speaker. Some, like the iRobot Roomba s9+ Robot Vacuum, let you block off entire rooms in an app, so you don’t have to worry about them getting stuck on your kid’s clothing piles.