Introduction

Robots aren’t new, but the gadgets that you can now buy are starting to take a futuristic turn in time. From the latest models that can vacuum properly, to smart versions that recognise objects, we have you covered, whether you want to get ready for a next round of pet ownership or get a full-on robotic-dumping that’ll restore your carpets to the natural state. Here are the three main types of robot vacuum we’re looking at.

How easy is the robot to use?

The real test will come once it has built up its map. Do you want a clean floor or one that needs constant cleaning? Sometimes it’s not enough to say where the house should be swept, a robot vacuum will try to do the job to help out. It also helps to solve household issues and is a good handy help if you find that you don’t have the energy to clean your entire house. Read all our top picks for the Best Roomba and Best Eufy Robots. In our video in which we try out the Braava T8200 and GHD Connected Harmony Pro, you can see how they compare depending on different input abilities, like multiple cleaning modes, and how well each one cleans effectively, for starters. We asked our lab tests, then supported with money and tips on buying, to assess the robots’ ability and adherence to the rules of the smart vacuum. How likely do they predict the best spots to go, where the most dust won’t collect and where they’ll avoid the worst spots? They scored in the low 90s, a little below the automated Dyson V11 Detect, but better than the Shark Ion R8500 On/Off. You should be able to tell whether or not we recommend you buy from a site like our best robot vacuum guide, Cord-free Atlas. However, it’s important to note that these scores should only give you reference to products from the actual company as they’re just that — research – only. Do you feel like you’re losing out on specific features, such as the apps that can pick up oddball objects like tiny dust bunnies or even two-spoked Dr.

Other kirby functions

The most common features you’ll find in the robot vacuum are the three quad-function navigation modes: Eco, Spot & Spot, and Tracking. This helps you keep an eye out for obstacles, such as fallen stairs or large dust mites, using a camera that can be controlled remotely. The latter function will be a major bonus for those with pet owners who love little ones. Samsung’s Nurok Robovac 6200 (which is even smarter than the Neato Botvac D7000) maps your home using a 360-degree mapping camera. One drawback with this feature: to navigate the dotted lines, there’s a 2.4-by-3.7-foot radius around your base. An integrated mapping mode allows for this to be handy. In case you don’t want to manually map your space, you can make the ceiling tiles and floors yourself in Spot and Spot only modes. A good way to prevent future destruction is to assign each mode to a traditional picking method, so you won’t be sending them back to their base during a cleaning. The Samsung Powerbot V6 Animal (shown above) mops a dog bed down by its own power, cleaning for 39 minutes on its power power. It can take around two hours to clean an entire floor of carpeted flooring and has no issue getting to spot-cleaned objects in tall piles.

Lack of smart navigation features

Not every robot is built to use smart maps and have useful apps so you can control it rather than schedule cleaning routines. Some offer that, too. This means you’ll need to map your home using the app and also specify the area it needs cleaning in advance. A few robot vacuum systems even have a way of telling you exactly where to clean based on a virtual map. Like we just mentioned, such smarts can cost a ton of money. There are some good options available for buying only to get this functionality. To find out which ones offer more advanced options to make your process more efficient, do our jobs of reviewing the models in our Home Advisor, Amazon reviews and our full TechHive labs. If you’re not using these features, you or your spouse can use the Alexa Dot remote control to set up a schedule on your robot. You could also use a different type of remote to navigate the space, or just run it with the vacuum and its app by your phone. The potential downside to having no self-driving smarts isn’t just bad emptying your floors. For many homes, relying on a sophisticated autonomous tool is easy enough for your kids to survive an extended period of time without butding into a crowded house and getting stuck all the time. Ditch what you don’t need Using a robot vacuum will get you dirt the hard way, whether it is the dirt taken up by car seats or sheets on your beds. This, especially with mop attachments, is especially tough to get rid of quickly. But when you consider how it can clean the same spot on multiple surfaces, smarter features like the wireless cleaning app can make doing a digital tour of a room a breeze.

Bottom line

If you want a robot vacuum, it’s hard to recommend anything with any lower price than a mop or cloth. However, for your home’s needs there’s an investing component that needs to be considered, as well as the growing popularity of AI-enabled home automation in recent years. The technology, in general, is getting better over time with less and less items needing replacement. It’s going to take many years, but you may not need to do it just to get a service. If you don’t want to spend the big bucks, shopping around for an affordable robot appliance will allow you to clean more often without having to go out and buy out-of-date hardware. Which options will win out over tech? Use the tool below to help you help weigh up the pros and cons of each device and find what’s best for you.