And again, we’ve found over and over again that such bots work well in smaller spaces. In December 2022, an MIT Technology Review article revealed that images captured by cameras on development models of iRobot Roomba vacuums were leaked publicly by a third-party company, Scale AI, with whom iRobot had shared the data. Most robot vacs with object-recognition rely on an onboard camera, which not only identifies obstacles (such as cords and stray socks), but takes an image of the purported clutter so you can see what was avoided. It’s important that anyone using a camera-equipped robot vacuum understand that the bot may inadvertently record images that many would consider private, such as photos of people, including children, in the home.
However, we still predict that Roomba bots on average will last longer than any of their competitors and work better at getting hair out of rugs. All those high-tech features come at a cost, and the X1 Omni is also the most expensive robot vacuum for sale today. If there’s one downside (besides the price), it’s that the X1 Omni doesn’t seem to have significantly better suction than other flagship vacuums despite the 5,000p Pa rating. Keep reading to find the best robot vacuums for your particular cleaning needs, and get ready to knock at least one annoying chore off of your to-do list. Whether you need something for your ever-shedding pets or you’re just sick and tired of vacuuming like it’s the 20th century, here are the best robot vacuums for every kind of clean freak. Most are also compatible with in-home smart speakers like Alexa or Google Assistant.
However, I test them in one of the most challenging environments possible—a carpeted, two-story family home with messy kids and a shedding dog—and personally, I find them indispensable. Whether you’re choking on cat hair, need to lighten your chore load, or just want to spend more time with your family, we have a pick that will help. 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.
However, as with most robot vacuums, you could also set a Schedule to accomplish these tasks. That’s where you’ll connect the vacuum to Wi-Fi so that you can schedule cleanings and unlock support for control by voice commands. The app is also where you can see the map of your apartment the robot is generating with its sensors, and obsessively track how much of your space it’s actually cleaned.
Pet owners and people with young kids in particular seem to gain a lot from bots, but many robot vacuum owners have told us that they are amazed at how clean their floors look and feel after they start using one regularly. If you run your bot a few times per week, or bissell crosswave cordless even every day, crumbs and pet hair will never get a chance to pile up; the mess is gone before it becomes a nuisance, with very little effort on your part required. They’re more than a toy or a novelty item, and they can be a valuable floor-care tool in most homes.
While the Yeedi Vac Station robot vacuum performed well on carpets and hard floors—it picked up all of the dirt and sand but left some hairs behind—we particularly loved its mopping feature. It was able to successfully wipe away liquid messes, like spilled coffee, without a trace, and though it took a few passes, the vacuum-mop combo also cleaned sticky syrup off the floor. Whether your home has hardwood flooring, tile, carpets, or rugs, it’s convenient when you can find a device that’s versatile enough to clean all surface types in one fell swoop. That’s why we rated the iRobot Roomba 694 as the best overall robot vacuum after testing; this easy-to-use machine effortlessly navigated multiple floor types while collecting dirt and debris with ease. A consistent cleaner on both hard floors and carpet, this app-controlled robot vac is a reliable addition to your cleaning arsenal. It responded to our voice tests every time, and its app was a similarly reliable way to control it.
Ultimately, this robot vacuum comes at a steep price, but it leaves little room for improvement. If you want a hand with keeping your floors clean, one of the best robot vacuums can help. These appliances come in all shapes and sizes, with prices ranging substantially, but how can you tell you’re getting the best option for your home? Some clues about other methods of data collection come from Giese, the IoT hacker, whose office at Northeastern is piled high with robot vacuums that he has reverse-engineered, giving him access to their machine-learning models. Some are produced by Dreame, a relatively new Chinese company based in Shenzhen that sells affordable, feature-rich devices. Many of the latest models feature a Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) laser (the same technology self-driving cars use) to map your home and plan an efficient cleaning route.
Among the myriad companies that have popped up over the past decade, Scale AI has become the market leader. Founded in 2016, it built a business model around contracting with remote workers in less-wealthy nations at cheap project- or task-based rates on Remotasks, its proprietary crowdsourcing platform. With the raw data required for machine-learning algorithms comes the need for labor, and lots of it.
We bring this innovation to you by designing and building robots to enhance life for you and your family. IRobot OS works together with your robot and your iRobot Home app—cleaning thoughtfully to deliver dyson robot vacuum a personalized experience that fits your life. Best of all, this vacuum empties itself out at the end of every cleaning task, so you never have to come in contact with the gunk it picks up.