If you are looking for a basic robot vacuum, but without the advanced features of other models, this one is a great choice. It does an excellent job of removing pet hair, kitty litter and Cheerios on hardwood floors and even sucked up sand in my tests.
It quickly maps rooms and offers solid obstacle avoidance. It can be controlled by hand by using the remote included.
1. Roomba irobot models s9+
The s9+ is the best robot vacuum we’ve tested cleaning hard floors as well as carpeting. It has some of the strongest suction of any robotic cleaner available and is a great choice for removing pet hair. It can be programmed to make multiple passes or adjust suction levels depending on the size of the room, something which we haven’t encountered in other models. Its app lets you modify the way it functions and select the time it will start working, so you can stay in the room as it’s moving.
The smart mapping feature can create an accurate map of your home, which can help the s9+ navigate and design efficient routes. It can also self-empty so you don’t have to be present to assist. It also recharges itself mid-clean. The s9+ was able maneuver around obstacles such as tables and power cables with any difficulty. It never lost charge and never got stuck. It doesn’t have the hazard avoidance capabilities of newer models and can be caught in a knot on rug tassels and other obstructions that it’s unable to see.
The s9+ features flat fronts, unlike most circular robots. It also has a squared-off front that makes it easier to reach corners than models with curving fronts. It is also quieter than our previous iRobot robot and is smaller than the Neato Botvac D7. It’s not inexpensive, but it’s still a good value considering the quality of its performance and the fact that you won’t have to worry about emptying an unclean bin following the use. In addition, it’s usually available during Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Amazon Prime Day.
2. Roomba j7+ from iRobot
The J7+ is among the most intelligent robot cleaners on the market. It is equipped with iRobot Genius Technology, which allows it to detect obstacles and maneuver around them. This means that you do not have to worry about the robot hitting furniture or walls. It slows down when it gets closer to an object to gently clean the edges. This is particularly useful when you have pets who leave behind messes.
Another amazing feature of the j7+ is that it can mop as well as vacuum with the help of a special mopsitter. If it senses that you are on a floor that needs to be cleaned, it switches to its normal cleaning mode and deploys an arm that has a pad. It scrubbed the floor using a gentle touch, leaving my floors looking and feeling like they had been thoroughly cleaned.
When it’s done mopping the j7+, it returns to its dock and recharges. It then returns to where it started and resumes its cleaning. It usually runs for around 85 minutes, give or take in my home before needing to return to the dock for a recharge. That’s less than the s9+, however it’s nonetheless impressive for a device that can do both vacuuming and mopping.
Like other iRobot cleaners, the j7+ detects obstacles that block its path and is able to avoid them. It also comes with what iRobot calls Cliff Detect technology, which keeps it from taking a tumble down the stairs. It’s a great security feature for families.
The j7+’s bin onboard is relatively small, so you’ll need to return it to the dock to empty it regularly if your home is large. However the j7+ is simple to store. The Clean Base is an charging dock, as well as an external dustbin, as well as an internal bin in which the j7+ is able to deposit dirt.
3. Shark iQ
This robot vacuums carpets and hard surfaces at the same time. Matrix Clean Navigation is also included, which utilizes a grid matrix to cover the entire house. The vacuum automatically emptys itself after every run. You can also check the battery’s status and the current life of the vacuum by looking at the two lights at the top. Press the button to unlock the bin and empty it. It can hold up one week’s worth of trash and is simple to empty from any area of the home.
This model is impressive on plain floors, but is a struggle on floors with low pile. It also has a difficult time to hold large amounts of debris when the dirt compartment fills. It is nevertheless well constructed and has a long battery life, which you can extend by using the energy-efficient Eco mode.
The Shark IQ is compatible with both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant and allows you to control it using your voice. The app lets you name your robot (mine’s Sharky Shark), program and remotely run its runs, view your cleaning history and get alerts for errors. You can also create an outline of your home and manually create zones that are not allowed to enter.
The Shark iQ is more expensive than the iRobot Roomba j7+, however it comes with better mapping and app features and superior cleaning performance on all surfaces types. It also charges more quickly and is less likely to get caught on tassels of rug, which reduces recurring costs. However, this model is unable to stay away from areas that have furniture or pet bowls, and you’ll need to use physical boundary strips to keep it from specific objects.
4. iRobot Roomba 694
With sleek, elegant design that will complement your home decor the Roomba 694 is a fantastic robot vacuum for those looking for an easy-to-use set it and forget it. It will learn your cleaning habits and create a personalized schedule. It also integrates with Google Assistant and Alexa voice assistants so you can start cleaning your home by speaking. It makes use of a wide range of sensors to help you navigate the obstacles in your home. A smart bumper cushions the impact of hitting furniture legs or walls, and four “cliff” sensors on the sides and front inform it when it’s approaching a dropoff like stairs or a balcony, and can back away from the edge.
This model is a great option for the robot vacuums that cost less than $300 range. It comes with a three-stage cleaning system that includes a dual multi-surface brushes that remove dirt from carpeted or hard floors. Edge-sweeping tools take care of corners and edges. This vacuum comes with a slew of convenience features such as Dirt Detect, which automatically is more active in heavily soiled areas. It can be programmed to clean at specified intervals of time and has an app that allows remote control.
The iRobot Roomba i7: Smart Mapping Robot Vacuum Roomba 694 is not as advanced as the i7 one, which is able to self-empty its own trash compartment, and it doesn’t have a mapping system, nor the capability to create virtual boundary markers. It’s still a bit more robust and incurs fewer recurring costs than the less expensive RoboVac G30, has a bigger dust bin, is charged faster, and can navigate around obstacles like electrical cords more easily and is more effective on bare floors and low-pile carpet as compared to the iRobot Roomba 614.
5. Eufy 11s
The Eufy 11s robotic vacuum is a small but elegant machine that gives decent value for money. It can remove pet hair easily, has a large dirt compartment and can run for a long duration on one charge. It’s difficult to maintain, and navigation is a challenge. It doesn’t have voice control or a companion app but has a simple to use remote. It also doesn’t send you a notice when the dust bin is full, so you’ll have to check it often.
The eufy comes with many advantages over the bObsweep Bob Pro however in certain areas, it’s not as good as iRobot Roomba 694. The iRobot Roomba 694 is better constructed, has less parts to maintain, a HEPA-filter that lasts longer on one charge, and provides superior cleaning performance for bare floors, low-pile and high-pile. It also comes with a more advanced navigation system that can navigate around obstacles, and more advanced automation features such as boundary stripes.
Although the eufy is still an acceptable option, I recommend the iRobot Roomba 900 Series for the majority of users. The iRobot is better-built, easier to maintain, has a larger dustbin, and provides superior performance on all surface types. It’s also faster to recharge and offers a longer maximum battery life.
The eufy is an excellent alternative to the ILIFE A4s, but it’s not as good as a top-end robot such as the Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra. The iRobot is more durable and has a bigger dust bin and has lower recurring costs. It also has a smarter navigation algorithm that can navigate over obstacles and has more advanced automation capabilities, such as boundary strips. The iRobot is also better in sucking up pet hair, and is easier to maintain than eufy.