The 10 Best Robot Vacuums for 2022 – Reviews & Buyer’s Guide

The future is finally here; we’re in the age of the robot housekeeper.

With the innovative vacuum cleaners available today, you can go to work and come home to find everything spick and span. Robot vacuums are numerous today boasting even more innovative features.

Many models are able to maneuver to their charging stations automatically and a number accept remote voice commands.

Being aware of what the best robot vacuums in the market have to offer will enable you to know which model best suits your needs.

Best Robot vacuums for 2022 – Quick Look

(Click on the name of any robot vacuum to read it’s in-depth review)

1. iRobot Roomba 675 – Best Overall Robot Vacuum

There is hardly a home surface that the iRobot Roomba 675 cannot reach and clean. Not only does this machine suck up dirt from your floors, but it can also sense where the particles are stuck and need to be loosened before being hovered up.

This is thanks to its groundbreaking three-stage cleaning system.

Another area where the Roomba earns its innovative chops is its remote connection system that allows owners to control it from virtually anywhere.

After one and a half hours of cleaning, this vacuum will automatically go to its charging station for a refill.

Our In-Depth Review:

The cleaning head on this cleaner adjusts itself when working on different types of surfaces to ensure maximum contact for the effective removal of particles. This is how the iRobot Roomba 675 manages to clean hard surfaces just as effectively as it does carpets. Powered by the patented three-stage cleaning mechanism, this vacuum is able to dislodge dirt particles of all sizes, lift them and suck them up. It is ideal for getting rid of everything from pet fur to big food particles.

With Wi-Fi connectivity, homeowners can vacuum their rooms at any time of day and night- even when away at the office, or on vacation. You can take advantage of this connectivity to your phone or another device to schedule cleaning times using the iRobot HOME app.

The connection also allows you to map cleaning routes around your house for the vacuum to follow. Though the Lithium battery in this cleaner has a 90-minute capacity, it will clean for as long as you want- even all day. When it runs out of juice, it automatically locates its charging station and plugs itself in.

Even with all the innovative features, it packs, this vacuum cleaner is easy to use. Its friendly user interface makes it easy for you to take advantage of all the intelligence and cleaning power it offers.

Newer models like the 800 and 900 series come with improved performance and more advanced HEPA filtration and dirt detection, among other features. Then again, such models will hit your wallet much harder.

Conclusion:

This cleaner robot lives up to its names in many ways. It can sense obstacles and get into the spaces between your bed and the floor. Best of all, it can recharge itself. It will prove a godsend for busy professionals who have no one to vacuum the house in their absence. Yes, it will cost you quite a bit more than an ordinary vacuum cleaner, but it does a lot more. Still, it is one of the more affordable robot vacuum cleaners in the market.

2. Eufy BoostIQ 11S – Slim Robot Vacuum

This intelligent vacuum cleaner takes the game to a whole new level. It knows when more suction power is needed and quickly responds. It can sense when there are obstacles and maneuvers around them.

Rated among the best vacuums of 2019, the Eufy BoostIQ offers more than an hour of continuous cleaning on a single charge.

The vacuum stands just about three inches from the ground, allowing it to easily slip under furniture and other hard-to-reach nooks.

To maximize its efficiency, the RoboVac has higher storage capacity and can clean for up to 100 minutes on a single charge.

Our In-Depth Review:

The RoboVac 11S was built with efficiency as a key priority. Equipped with a 0.6L dust box, it requires fewer stoppages for emptying than other vacuums. When you juice it up completely, this little beast can suck up dirt for one and a half hours. And when it runs out of battery power, it can find its way to the charging base.

There are a number of cleaning modes you can choose from and set to allow you to do other things while the RoboVac gets busy.

This vacuum is also built to last with a number of features aimed at keeping it from accidental damage. Infrared sensors enable it to avoid obstacles as it moves around the floor while drop-sensing tech keeps it from toppling over the edge of raised surfaces.

It is also covered with a scratch-proof glass cover to keep it safe from scratches and dents, thereby prolonging its life. An ominous beep sounds whenever the dust box is full, alerting you to empty it.

Those among them who are environment and budget-conscious are not happy with the fact that they have to replace filters every two months or so. Being able to control the vacuum remotely from a device with an Internet connection is standard with many robot vacuums in the market, but not this one.

Conclusion:

For all the goodies it comes with, this vacuum is very reasonably priced. You will be hard-pressed to get the kind of suction power or battery life the RoboVac 11S offers at its price point. In addition to the power and longer operating time, you get a three-stage cleaning mechanism that gets rid of even the most stubborn particles. Plus you can use it on a variety of surfaces from carpeted floors to tile to hardwood.

3. Ecovacs DEEBOT N79S – With Voice Controls

This robot vacuum is built to do a thorough cleaning on various surfaces and parts of the house. It goes about its work unobtrusively with minimal noise and intelligently working its way around obstacles.

You can control the Deebot N79S by its user-friendly remote control or by voice commands via Google Assistant or Alexa through the Ecovacs Home App.

With more than 100 minutes of vacuuming on a single charge, this cleaner will help you get a lot done. And when it runs out of juice, it will find its way to its charging station for more.

Our In-Depth Review:

The Ecovacs Deebot N79S is an entry-level robot vacuum that you will get online at a very reasonable price. It offers a good amount of vacuuming power to get dirt and dust out of medium pile carpets and hard surfaces.

You get 110 minutes of cleaning time whenever you fully charge the N79S and the sizeable 520ml dustbin enables you to take full advantage of this battery power. The auto-recharge feature allows you to continue vacuuming beyond the hour and a half. Before it completely runs out, this cleaner will plug itself into its dock and it will be good to go a few minutes later.

Less is more, goes the maxim, and this couldn’t be truer about this cleaner. It comes with a remote control that is easy to understand and use. The app that allows the vacuum to be controlled from a mobile device is just as easy to operate.

The downside of this simplicity is that, compared to the features in the apps of a number of more recently released vacuums, you’re very limited in what you can do remotely. Other apps allow you to schedule cleaning times and map out paths for the robot.

Conclusion:

While it is admittedly quite a basic Robo vac, the Deebot N79S does have plenty to offer. For a very attractive price, you get a machine that effectively sucks away dirt and particles of all kinds as you do other stuff. Its high-capacity battery and relatively big dustbin allow it to do a lot of cleaning without interruption. But in the age of highly intelligent robot vacuums, this model lags behind quite a bit. Regular robot vacuum cleaner users will be frustrated by the clumsy movement and lack of mapping technology. But these frustrations may be assuaged by the enticing asking price.

4. eufy [BoostIQ] 30C – With Hyper Mode

This vacuum makes home cleaning a breeze by allowing you to go about other activities as it quietly sucks away dirt and pet hairs from your floors and carpets. You can tell it what to do using Alexa or Google Assistant voice commands via its easy-to-use Home App.

It is a great tool to get if you’re on a budget but still want a Robo vac that offers good suction power.

You won’t get frills like self-emptying dustbins or remote mapping of cleaning routes, but you will have a cleaning companion that can go about its work for more than an hour before running out of juice.

Sensors help keep it from bumping into stuff as it weaves its way around a room while adjusting wheels help it to easily navigate between different surfaces.

Our In-Depth Review:

Equipped with nine sensors, the RoboVac 30C will navigate around obstacles as it hoovers up dirt. To further restrict its area of operation, a boundary strip is provided. Large wheels, on the other hand, allow the vacuum to comfortably get over thresholds and move between carpets and hard surfaces.

And to keep it from falling off staircases and other raised surfaces, drop-sensing tech has been built into this vacuum. With these features, you should be able to go about your business without care, confident that the RoboVac is taking care of dirt just like, or better than, you would have. Most users, though, complain that this model still bumps into stuff as it moves about.

On average use, the battery will keep the RoboVac humming for 100 minutes on a single charge. A higher-capacity dustbin allows you to maximize on the longer cleaning time without needing to stop for emptying.

Most of this vacuum’s owners will appreciate just how quietly it operates. The manufacturer claims it is up to 75% quieter than your conventional vacuum cleaner. Looking at the vacuum and listening to it as it works, you get the feeling that it is a solidly built product.

Conclusion:

For its asking price, the RoboVac 30C offers great value for money. It offers a good deal of vacuuming power and will work for a long time without you having to mind it. Granted, it is not as intelligent as a number of its competitors; it won’t empty its bin when full. But it makes up for this by having a bigger bin that will allow you to maximize on its lengthy battery life. Wi-Fi connectivity that allows for voice commands is welcome icing on the cake.

5. GOOVI 1600PA – With 360 Degree Smart Sensor

This powerful, highly efficient robot vacuum offers plenty of versatility to tackle different kinds of dirt on a variety of surfaces. It is designed to easily maneuver from surface to surface, over door ledges, and beneath furniture to effectively reach particles.

Loaded with sensors, this vacuum is able to avoid obstacles in its path as well as dropping off risen surfaces. It is also clever enough to return to its charging station when its battery is running out.

On average it will be 100 minutes before the battery is completely drained after a full charge. Producing less than 75db of noise, the GOOVI Robo vac is not much of a distraction in operation.

Our In-Depth Review:

You are assured of a thorough clean regardless of the surface in question thanks to the multiple cleaning modes this vacuum comes with. Edge mode, for instance, allows it to suck up dust tucked away along the edge of a room while small space mode, like the name suggests, deals with dirt in restricted areas. That it stands at just 2.83 inches in height means it will easily go beneath most chairs and some beds for a thorough clean.

The only complaint some past owners have raised is that they have not been able to deal with dog hairs tucked in carpets- even low pile carpets. 1600Pa of suction power means that the GOOVI robot vacuum can deal with most kinds of dirt from fine dust to food crumbs.

It is equipped with a number of sensors to ensure it can evade obstacles, whichever direction they come from. These sensors also keep it from dropping off the top of a flight of stairs. And when its battery starts waning, the vacuum is clever enough to steer itself to its dock to juice up.

You can use the GOOVI 1600Pa with its AAA battery-powered remote control, which is easy to use. Getting it up and running is a breeze. However, users won’t have the luxury of being able to issue commands from their mobile devices. There is no Internet connectivity on this vacuum. Having said that, the remote control still allows you to schedule a cleaning activity, just like an app would. So the robot vacuum can still get cleaning while you’re away.

Conclusion:

If you’re in the market for a budget robot vacuum cleaner with enough suction power to deal with different kinds of dirt on different surfaces, the GOOVI is a wise investment. It effectively gets the job done and is very easy to use. You don’t get to schedule cleaning times or map cleaning routes from an app, but this vacuum promises you a thorough clean while you concentrate on other things. You can rest assured it won’t damage itself while operating thanks to the numerous sensors it’s fitted with. It is, therefore, a wise investment for the short and long term for the savvy homeowner.

6. iRobot Roomba E5 (5150) – With 3 Stage Mechanism

This robot vacuum is an upgrade of the Roomba 600 series that lives up to the ‘i’ in its name with a raft of innovative features that enhance its efficiency.

Its app allows you to control precisely how the vacuum operates using voice commands from Google Assistant or Alexa. To keep it from bumping into obstacles or falling off your staircase, the Roomba E5 comes with a set of sensors.

Its brushes constantly make micro-adjustments to stay in contact with the surface to ensure no particles are skipped over. And the three-stage cleaning process built into it guarantees a thorough clean.

But the real enhancement over its predecessor is in its suction power. Its manufacturer claims it has five times the power of the 600 series.

Our In-Depth Review:

Starting with the basics, the iRobot Roomba E5 cleans and cleans well. Tested on all kinds of surfaces and carpets, with different sizes of particles, this vacuum sucked virtually everything up. It has been proved to be one of the most effective cleaners in its class.

You don’t have to worry about it getting stuck when climbing onto a rug from a stone surface. If you have to move it yourself, you will find the handle on the face of the cleaner quite handy. The only downside of the E5 at work is how loud it is.

The iRobot Home App offers many useful settings to help you customize the cleaning process. It also offers a good deal of helpful information, all accessible from the convenience of your handheld device. Setting this up is a breeze and once you log onto the interface you will be able to schedule future cleaning sessions as well as start and stop your present one.

All you need is a good internet connection and the patience to go through setting up a Home App account. The app will interpret voice commands issued through Alexa or the Google Assistant.

To restrict its cleaning to one room, you have to close the door or physically barricade the room. On the other hand, it is much less pricey than those models, and it still does the basics very well.

Conclusion:

The E5 is not at the cutting edge of robot vacuuming technology, but it offers excellent performance and is very versatile. It is a no-frills cleaner that does the basics well while offering a few useful extras into the mix. Some may feel that for its price it should do more while for others it is among the more reasonably priced Roomba models. Other robot vacuums in its price-range have the capability to map routes and move from room to room without manual intervention. However, if all you want is a thorough clean, go for the E5.

7. Roborock S5 – Most Powerful Robot Vacuum

The Roborock S5 is a truly modern robovac that comes with a bunch of cutting-edge features to make your life easier and much cleaner. With a maximum suction power of 2000Pa, this is one of the most powerful cleaners available today.

But not only does the S5 do a thorough job of vacuuming, but it also goes the extra mile to mop your house. In addition to cleaning better, this vacuum cleans for longer, thanks to its high capacity battery.

It also goes the extra mile on the tech front. When you download and log into the corresponding app, you will find numerous cleaning modes to choose from to match different environments.

Our In-Depth Review:

This Robo vac may find it difficult to reach dirt under some seats due to its height. At 3.8 inches, it is taller than many robot vacuums that easily slip beneath most furniture. The extra height is for a good cause though; the laser sensor in the middle helps it to avoid obstacles while navigating an accurate course through the room.

It’s hard for this vacuum to miss a spot as it works by scouring the edges of the room first before zigzagging through the rest of it in a systematic pattern.

This sensor is also responsible for helping the cleaner get to the charging base when it’s out of juice. Once fully charged, don’t expect it to run out of power too soon; the 5200mAh battery will keep the S5 vacuuming for up to 150 minutes. It can, therefore, work through multiple rooms for a good amount of time before heading back to its dock.

After picking up loose particles, the S5 can deal with more stubborn ones by mopping them away. All you need to do is attach the mopping module, which consists mainly of a microfiber cloth that needs to be moistened. But put to the test, this mop was no match for the ordinary mop.

You won’t find a physical remote control when you unpack this vacuum cleaner, and that’s by design. When you connect and login to the Home App, you will find a virtual remote control.

Conclusion:

At its price point, this robot vacuum is clearly not for everyone. If all you want is a basic cleaner to get rid of dust and particles while you’re otherwise occupied, there are several cheaper options. But if you’re looking to get more out of your robot vacuum, the Roborock should be on your shopping list.

8. ILIFE V3s Pro – With 600Pa

The ILIFE V3s are for you if you’re looking for an entry-level robot vacuum cleaner that does the basics and won’t cost you an arm and a leg. It will effectively suck up dust, different sizes of particles as well as pet hairs as it randomly moves about the room.

Dealing with pet hair is one of these Robo vac’s key selling points, promising future owners that these pet hairs won’t get tangled in its rollers.

Other than that you get the basic features you expect in any such autonomous vacuum- guiding sensors to keep it from falling or bumping into stuff, cleaning scheduling and a selection of cleaning modes.

Our In-Depth Review:

This vacuum cleaner is the embodiment of the maxim ‘less is more’. You won’t get a lot of the bells and whistles you’ll find on more advanced models such as Wi-Fi connectivity and voice commands. However, it does a decent job of sucking up food particles, dust, pet hair and other forms of dirt.

You can choose between three cleaning modes from this cleaner’s easy-to-use remote control; auto, space, and edge modes. Using these three, you should be able to effectively clear the dirt in a room. The remote also gives you the option to schedule cleaning sessions.

If you’re doing some reading or trying to hold a conversation as this vacuum works, you will appreciate how quiet it is in operation. It produces less than 55dB of noise. But this largely down to the fact that its suction power is quite low- just 600Pa.

While other vacuums offer three-stage cleaning- loosening, lifting and sucking up dirt particles, the iLife V3s only sucks up what its rotating brushes bring into its path. Another shortcoming is its narrow mouth, which restricts it from swallowing up bigger chunks of debris. Perhaps this is to keep its petite dustbin from filling up too quickly.

Unless your house is not very dirty, the 300ml bin will need to be emptied quite frequently if you’re to get a lot of vacuuming done. But it’s just as well as the machine will need to be juiced up quite a few times as it comes with a 2600mAh battery.

Conclusion:

If you are on a tight budget and are looking for a robot vacuum that does a decent job of getting rid of dust and debris, the iLife V3s represents fairly good value. You will, however, quickly find yourself in need of an upgrade if you like what it does and wish it could be done faster and more thoroughly.

9. Coredy Robot Vacuum Cleaner – With Low Noise Production

As far as budget robot vacuum cleaners go, the Coredy R3500 can be considered a wise investment.

It offers a fair amount of suction power to effectively deal with dust, food crumbs, pet hair and other kinds of dirt. When dealing with different kinds of surfaces, this robot cleaner intelligently modulates the amount of suction power for a thorough clean.

You can use this cleaner on hard surfaces as well as carpets (not great for high-pile carpets). To keep it from bumping into furniture and other obstacles or falling off from staircases, the Coredy R3500 has been fitted with a set of anti-collision and anti-drop sensors.

It comes with remote control, which is handy for changing cleaning modes and scheduling cleaning sessions.

Our In-Depth Review:

This robot vacuum is most at home when dealing with debris on hard surfaces. It will easily clean up everything from fine dust particles to pet hair to dog food on wood or stone floors. You can use the default suction power when working on harder surfaces and it cranks up when you move to your carpet. Note that medium pile carpets are the highest it will comfortably deal with.

The different cleaning modes combine to help you effectively clean up different areas of a room and different surfaces. Auto Mode is the default and it will go around the room in no particular pattern sucking up dirt. Lack of navigation means this cleaner might not make the most effective use of the 120-minute run time on this mode.

It works by changing direction whenever it bumps into an obstacle. To improve on this you could use a combination of Edge Cleaning and Spot Cleaning modes for more manual operation. Though this may limit your ability to do other things as the robot vacuums. Max Clean is for carpeted areas where more suction power is required.

Besides its attractive price point, the Coredy R3500 promises savings in terms of its maintenance. It comes with a washable HEPA filter that captures dust and finer particles. Other vacuum cleaners will require you to dispose of and replace filters every so often. With this one, all you need to do is take out the filter, wash it with normal cold water and let it dry.

Conclusion:

The Coredy R3500 Robot Vacuum Cleaner won’t blow your mind with high-tech features, but it will with the amount of cleaning you can get done. It performs quite well for a budget vacuum cleaner, offering multiple modes of cleaning for different tasks. It comes with all the standard features you expect from a Robo vac and is quite low-maintenance.

10. Shark R101AE – With IQ NAV

If you’re looking to go all out and invest in an intelligent vacuum cleaner that you can confidently leave in the house and expect to do a thorough cleaning, the Shark IQ R101AE is worth considering.

You can map out a cleaning route for this vacuum from room to room and it will go virtually all day, emptying itself of dirt when the need arises.

When it runs out of battery power, it will guide itself back to its dock and juice up. This robotic cleaner packs plenty of suction power to help it clear up all kinds of dirt on practically any surface- floor or carpet.

Our In-Depth Review:

This robotic vacuum is thorough in its cleaning. When you press ‘Start Cleaning’, it releases itself from the charging doc and sets off in a predefined pattern, going back and forth in straight lines. Working along these lines, the Shark IQ rarely misses a spot and won’t go over the same spot twice.

It is therefore quite meticulous in cleaning, but as a result, a bit slower than your average cleaner. After its bin gets full, or the battery starts to run low, the IQ NAV leads the vacuum back to its dock. However, some users complain that it is slow in returning to its base and that it fails to find the dock on a number of occasions.

You can also run through your cleaning history via the app as well as see how much battery life the cleaner has left. There are a few tips and tricks, such as how to maximize battery life, on the app. Google Assistant and Alexa allow you to issue voice commands to this cleaner.

Compared to basic robot vacuum cleaners, the Shark IQ R101AE may seem expensive, but it is among the more reasonably priced intelligent cleaners in the market. Other popular models in this premium category cost up to twice as much.

Among the frustrating drawbacks with this vacuum cleaner is how long it takes its battery to charge. Taking the battery from 30 to 70% will typically take five good hours. Its inability to remotely clear errors encountered during operation will also irk a few owners. Errors thrown up by the app have to be cleared by pressing the button on the cleaner a number of times.

Conclusion:

You get quite some bang for your buck with this robot vacuum. You may have to fork out twice the price of the Shark IQ to get a self-emptying bin or intelligent home mapping. However, Shark is a relative newbie in the intelligent robot vacuum space, and this is evident in the considerable number of kinks in the R101AE’s operation.

Robot Vacuum – Buyer’s Guide

What is a robot vacuum?

If you’re a regular user of conventional vacuum cleaners, you’ve no doubt asked yourself the following question: can I do something else as I vacuum? Even if you haven’t, I’m sure you’re curious to know the answer. The answer is yes, and the thing, or gadget, that makes this possible is the robot vacuum.

This machine can be operated using a remote control, phone app or by being programmed to clean areas of the house. These devices have evolved over time to include a number of innovative functions including mapping features that guide the vacuum to clean in a specified route.

Others are able to scoop dirt that is a bit stuck and sweep them up. Even if it doesn’t have all these bells and whistles, if it vacuums and doesn’t have to be guided by hand, it’s a robot vacuum.

How does a robot vacuum work?

Robot vacuums will ordinarily come with a rechargeable battery. After this battery is fully charged (which will take anywhere between seven and three hours), the vacuum will be able to operate. It operates by using the battery to power up a number of motors that are designed for different functions within the vacuum.

There are motors that power the spinning brushes and rolling brushes that work to sweep food particles and dust to where they can be sucked up by the vacuum. When the debris is sucked in, it is stored in a removable bin, which can be emptied whenever it gets full.

To help the vacuum know where it’s going, or at least keep it from bumping into walls or furniture, it is equipped with a raft of sensors on different parts of its body. These work to make the vacuum change direction whenever it senses an obstacle ahead.

There are sensors beneath the machine as well to keep it from tumbling down from high areas. Some models even make use of the sensors to focus cleaning on dirtier, high-traffic areas of the house.

More recent vacuum models rely not only on sensors to know where to go, but also intelligent mapping. Using a smartphone app you can establish a course for the vacuum along with a cleaning schedule. Or simply use voice commands to tell it what to do.

Who needs a robot vacuum?

Most every busy modern household will appreciate their need for a robot vacuum. It is especially well appreciated by those who don’t look forward to daily cleaning and only get to it when they have guests coming round. You can put your feet up as the vacuum scurries around swallowing up dirt.

It is also ideal for those who really want to keep their home spick and span but just don’t have the time to walk around with a conventional vacuum. If this is you, simply juice up your vacuum robot and schedule a session from your office via the app.

This invention is a boon for those who may be physically impaired and not able to go about cleaning like we normally do.

Which kind of robot vacuum is needed for a big house?

If you have a sizeable surface area- spacious rooms or a house with many rooms, you will need to select your robot vacuum with a keener eye. Key among the features to look out for will be a longer-lasting battery.

The simple logic here is that the longer it can run without a recharge, the more the vacuum will get done. If you have that option available, pick one of the vacuums with 90-minute run time as opposed to 60 or 70-minute models. There are even others with 100-minute plus run times.

A vacuum that is self-charging is also recommended for such homeowners. Such vacuums can sense when they’re running low on power and find their way to the charging station to juice up again.

It would also be beneficial, if your budget will allow, to invest in a vacuum that can empty its own bin. This will allow it to keep working even after it has filled its receptacle. If not, look for a vacuum with a larger bin.

A big bin and a higher capacity battery are ideal for owners of big homes.

Do you have a carpet, a wood floor or tiles?

Carpets can present a bit of a challenge for robot vacuums. For one, the transition from floor to carpet may cause lower versions to topple. Others may consider the carpet an obstacle and avoid it altogether.

Conventional robot vacuums usually struggle with high pile carpets, only dealing comfortably with low and medium-pile carpets. If you have one of those fluffy carpets, confirm the vacuum can be used with high pile carpets before committing yourself.

Most vacuums will generally work well with floors made of wood though there are models specifically built to work on hardwood floors. Not only does their cleaning system work well on hard surfaces, but their rollers are also made from rubber to reduce the chances of leaving marks on your floor.

However, there are also versatile cleaners that can adjust their operation to work on both carpets and wooden tiles.

Do you have pets?

If you do, you’ll be looking for a cleaner that can properly deal with pet hair. It should be equipped with brushes that can collect pet hairs without them getting tangled up in the bristles.

This is important to confirm if you have a pet with, particularly long hair. Better still you could look for a brushless robot vacuum to avoid this possibility altogether.

You will also need a vacuum with an efficient filter that can pick out the hairs and deliver them to the bin. There are models that come with HEPA filters that can pick out allergens in these hairs and keep them from affecting the health of your family.

Pet furs tend to fill up vacuum bins pretty quickly so if you want the vacuum to work while you’re away, one that can empty its own bin and continue vacuuming would be ideal. Or simply go for a model with a higher capacity bin to reduce the need for emptying.

Robot vacuums vs. Canister vacuums vs. Upright vacuums

When you set out to shop for a vacuum cleaner, you will essentially have these three options.

We’ve already defined robot vacuums, so what are canister and upright vacuums? They’re fancy names for the conventional vacuums that preceded the robovac.

The former was designed with a wand (where the nozzle is) that is separate from the body, which houses the motor and dustbin. The latter is what probably comes to most of our minds when we think about vacuum cleaners. It has everything on one unit, which stands upright but can be tilted to various angles.

So which is the best option? This is a tricky one to answer as each has its own merits and demerits. Ultimately, the choice you make will largely be determined by your needs and budget. Perhaps the first question you need to ask yourself is if you have the time and energy to vacuum or if you want the vacuuming to be done as you attend to other matters (or dose off).

If you don’t want to entirely entrust your home’s cleanliness to a machine, you will need to figure which, between a canister and an upright vac, works best for you.

Upright vacs are generally easier to move around and store as you’ll be dealing with just one unit. They’re also easier to use than canisters. All you need to do is just plug it into a power source, flip a switch and you’re good to go. You don’t have to worry about how to connect multiple pieces.

If you have a large area to cover, an upright would be the better option as their wide head allows for a larger area of suction. And when you’re done, they’re easy to put away.

On the flipside, uprights can be heavy, so moving them around while cleaning can be a hassle. The weight and the rigidity of the body make it difficult to use such vacuums on staircases. It’s worth noting, though, that there are lightweight models available today.

While their wide body makes it easy to cover a lot of ground, they make it a challenge to reach dirt in hidden nooks. Most users of these traditional vacuums also complain about the cord being tricky to maneuver around. They also take issue with the amount of noise they produce.

Canister vacuums deal with a lot of the upright’s cons. For one they tend to be lighter and easier to lug around. Secondly, they come with a retractable cord to reduce the chances of it being tripped over. This is important for both the user’s safety and the safety of their loved ones (pets included).

The cleaning power of canister vacs is generally higher than that of their elder brothers, with even smaller models starting at nine amps. Newer models will come with multiple power levels for optimal cleaning of different surfaces.

If you have to vacuum a staircase, the canister will give you the required flexibility. You will have a variety of heads to choose from to clean different surface. This flexibility the canister’s wand offers will allow it to clean hidden nooks more thoroughly than both the robovac and the upright vacuum. Being generally lighter than uprights, operating canister vacuums is less of a chore. And their retractable cords make them safer to use too.

With all those pros, do canisters have any shortcomings? Yes, for one, they will set you back way more dollars than a robovac or upright, particularly if you’re out for one with all the bells and whistles. Canisters, light as some models may be, are more cumbersome to move about as you’re still dealing with two pieces instead of one. And they won’t give you remote operation like a robovac will; you have to work it with your hands.

Benefits of using a robot vacuum

There are many reasons to choose a robovac over the other two more traditional alternatives. Let’s start with the fact that you don’t have to lift a finger for them to get to work. With some, you just push a button on remote control, with others you just talk to the machine through a mobile phone app. No need to guide the cleaning head over your floors and carpets, exposing yourself to dust and allergens.

The fact that you don’t have to be physically present to maneuver the vacuum means you can be cleaning your house as you work in the office or nap the afternoon away. Advances in technology mean that these autonomous vacuums no longer get stuck on the threshold when moving between rooms. They can also return to the charging dock automatically when almost out of juice and they can empty themselves when full of dirt.

More recent models can be fed a map of your house and they will systematically clean it from room to room, following a strict pattern of motion. Whereas you could possibly miss a spot because of some distraction, the robovac won’t. Chances are it will go over that spot more than once as it follows its pattern. This results in overall better cleaning results.

If you’re in the house while the robot vacuum is working, you might not even notice it as later models have really low noise levels. Good luck trying to focus on an assignment with someone working an upright vacuum in the background.

Where the robot vacuum beats both the canister and the upright hands down is storage space. Deliberately built to be slim enough to slide beneath furniture, robovacs are the easiest to put away when not in use.

Robovacs are important tools of cleanliness for the physically handicapped and the elderly. They restore a welcome sense of control and autonomy so they won’t have to rely on someone else to do their vacuuming. This will also help them save on the money they would have spent hiring someone to do this kind of cleaning.

Factors to consider when buying a robot vacuum

FAQs related to robot vacuums

Conclusion:

Robot Vacuum has surely become one of the most important home improvement tools.

It not only makes the cleaning easy but also very effective by reaching the places that are hard for you to reach.

Here is the short summary of this Buyer’s Gude:

The Best overall robot vacuum on our list is iRobot Roomba 675

The Robot vacuum with most suction power on our list is Roborock S5

If you are looking for a Slim and effective Robot Vacuum then do check out the review for the Eufy BoostIQ 11s