15 Ideas For Gifts For Your Robot Vac Lover In Your Life
Top Rated Robot Vacuums
A robot vacuum can keep floors clean enough to decrease the frequency you'll need to manually vacuum. Choose one that has excellent navigation, is able to clean stairs and corners and also has a large dust bin that needs emptying only every few times.
You can also find models that mop and charge themselves which can be beneficial for those with pets or children. Many of the top performers in our tests have decent obstacle avoidance.
1. Roomba iRobot i3+ from iRobot EVO
The i3+ EVO is identical to its sibling, the i3 EVO. They differ only in the fact that the i3+ comes with self-emptying capabilities. This makes the i3+ a good choice for people who want an entirely automated, hands-free cleaning experience, but don't mind taking the time to empty their robot's trash bin when it is full.
Both robots are good at removing surface dirt on hard floors and carpets and are able to maneuver around furniture and other obstacles. iAdapt navigation software creates intelligent maps of your home that help the i3+ EVO to navigate and clean in a manner that maximizes efficiency. The i3+ isn't able to feature obstacle avoidance features like the i7+ or other top-rated robots we test. It could be stuck on power cords or socks, and may have trouble navigating between surfaces, such as hardwood and rug.
iRobot recommends that you tidy up the area where the i3+ EVO vacuums prior to using it. This includes putting away any toys or clutter it might come across. It's also an excellent idea to keep the dust bin and filter clear so they don't become clogged with dirt. If the i3+'s internal bin is empty or the battery is not fully charged, it returns to the docking station and empties the dirt into the station's dust bin. It then continues cleaning from where it left off. The i3+ EVO's batteries last for about an hour and a half continuous use. It takes about three hours to fully recharge.
2. iRobot Roomba i7+
The iRobot i7+ is a top model from iRobot’s flagship line and is packed with the most recent features. It's self-charging and self-navigating. However, smart vacuum cleaner is the self-emptying bin. This eliminates the need for routine maintenance.
The Roomba I7+ can make rooms more efficient maps using Imprint Smart Mapping. It also integrates with iRobot Home to schedule cleaning tasks, and it can control your robot through the app or via voice.
In our testing the i7+ performed quicker and more maneuverable than our top choice which was the eufy RoboVac G30, and it removed large chunks of pet hair from all surface types, including carpeting. Its biggest advantage over the eufy, though, is its self-emptying dustbin, which eliminates a major source of maintenance and cuts down on the amount of time spent cleaning.
We were also impressed by the i7+'s compatibility Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant AI services. We used these services to instruct the robot on how to begin, stop, or pause cleaning sessions as well as move around the room, and vacuum a particular area. The iRobot Home App made it easy to connect the i7+ to these services. Once connected we were able to give the i7+ voice commands like "Hey Alexa, vacuum the master bedroom." The iRobot Home app also provides options for managing the i7+'s settings and monitoring its performance.
3. Dyson Cyclone V10
This tiny Dyson model is an athletic car in a sea of vacuums with cords that feel like minivans and buses. It is powerful enough to replace a stand-up vacuum in a majority of homes, but also small enough to fit on the bookcase or coffee table.
The V10 is powered by a 7-cell high-energy lithium-ion battery that can provide continuous, non-fading power for 60 minutes. The advanced whole-machine filtering system is able to trap allergens and then releases cleaner air into your home. The cleaning head is specially designed to drive bristles made of nylon that are stiff into carpets to trap large crumbs and fine dust. It has three different suction modes that can be adapted to the specific task. It is able to quickly change from handheld to floor vacuum, and vice versa.
The model also comes with a dock that charges to 100% in around 3.5 hours, and gives users easy access to two attachments and the clip for a wand. This is a significant improvement over older Dysons models, which take a long time to charge and are difficult to store.
The biggest issue with the V10 is its short run time. Its claims on the market that it can provide up to 60 minutes of running time are misleading, as CR's testing shows. This is an average and not a remarkable time for the battery-powered cordless vacuum. It's enough time to vacuum the typical home, but not enough to reach every spot. (A second run usually works). That's not to say this model isn't a good choice: It's lighter and agile than older cordless Dysons and its vacuuming performance is significantly superior on carpets with a low pile.
4. iRobot Roomba 694"
One of the most well-known robot vacuums the 694 is an affordable model that's a good choice for people who don't wish to spend too much on a robot. It was able to remove most types of debris and sizes in our tests, and frequently went over the same area several times for a thorough clean. Its flat front makes it possible to reach corners and the edges of walls.
Its intelligent navigation system makes use of iAdapt technology to steer clear of obstacles and guide you through your home. It's not equipped with the mapping capabilities of more advanced models, including our top picks, the i3+EVO and the j7+ Series. It is prone to getting stuck on phone cords or low furniture and often runs out of power before returning to its original location.
The Xiaomi Mi robot is superior in many ways to the Roomba 694 in that it has less parts that require regular cleaning, is equipped with an allergen-trapping HEPA filtering system, incurs lower costs for recurring expenses, has more advanced automation abilities and is better able to move itself. It also has a larger dustbin and can charge faster.
The sleek RoboVac X8 has a superior battery life than the Roomba 694. It also has physical boundaries and can be controlled with your smartphone's voice assistance. It also feels more sturdy and has a more powerful motor, and performs notably better on floors that are bare and low-pile carpet, while providing a greater variety of automation features.
5. Samsung Jet Bot AI+
Samsung is a brand is seen on a variety of home electronics It's no surprise that they're also one of the most popular robotic vacuum and mop makers. Jet Bot AI+ has the most advanced onboard technology for navigation and obstacle avoidance.
The app offers a wide range of customization options for your robotic cleaner. These include mopping levels, virtual barriers and behavior modifications docking frequency settings and many more. The app is easy to use and understand, just like other Samsung devices.
In our tests of the Jet Bot AI+ excelled on hard floors and dealt with dog hair (on carpet) quite well, cleaning up 86 percent of it. However, it wasn't particularly well with taller objects like cords and socks which was a disappointment. It's also more expensive than other models we've tested and this could be a deal breaker for some buyers.
The app lets you access the onboard camera of the smart vacuum. You can also create live streaming from the robot's area of cleaning. This feature allows you check in on your children or pets when you're away. The dustbin and the filter can be cleaned to ensure the quick and easy cleaning. The Jet Bot AI+ also comes with a clean and tidy station that's self-emptying and helps keep the robot's dustbin clean and optimizes suction power for each cleaning.
6. Black & Decker Robot Vacuum
Black and Decker robots have been developed specifically for hard flooring. They feature an extra-wide cleaning path as well as a large dustbin that holds twice as much debris than the competition to keep the cleaning area clean for the longest time. They also include two side sweepers that can be used to clean around corners and edges. The POWERSERIES Extreme model also comes with AutoSense technology, which can tell the presence of dirt or debris on the surface and automatically adjusts its power level. It also has a smart app that lets you view the virtual map, and control the functions and schedules. You can also monitor the vacuum's status and send it to its dock for charging at the press of a single button. The app lets you customize the LED lights on the top of the vacuum to discern where it is focusing or if it has gotten stuck.
The app makes it possible to manually steer the robot in the event of need. For example my living room rug has a darkly colored border that has a tendency to trip up some of the other robots I've tested. The HRV 425BL, however was able to continue to move across the border without ever registering the high point. The ability to program the weekly cleaning schedule is a fantastic time-saving feature.