When choosing a robot vacuum, consider if you need one that would work well on carpets. If you have a large space to clean, it’s better to invest in a robot vacuum with a long runtime and large dustbin capacity. We’ve included robot vacuums of various prices, features, and efficiency in our list of top picks, so check out each one to ensure you are making a well-informed purchase decision.
iRobot Roomba i7
Best Overall
Top-notch performance and features make the iRobot Roomba i7 a top pick. Using Alexa or Google Assistant voice commands, you can just say, “Ask Roomba to start cleaning,” and voilà — it will vacuum without you having to lift a finger. Equipped with smart mapping technology, this robot vacuum can learn your floor plan. Through the iRobot HOME App, you can designate off-limits areas, making it easier for you to tell the vacuum precisely where you need it to go and clean.
You will also love that this robot vacuum learns where and when it cleans so that it can suggest optimal cleaning schedules for you, further improving your hands-off experience. Not only that, but it can also modify its recommendations during pollen or shedding seasons. When its battery runs lows, it will automatically go back to its dock to recharge.
Why we love it:
- Avoids the “no-go” zones you set on the app
- Delivers extra cleaning on high-traffic areas
- Allows you to schedule cleaning at your convenience
Why we don’t:
- On the more expensive side
Something to consider:
The iRobot Roomba i7 is compatible with the Clean Base™ Automatic Dirt Disposal, but this must be purchased separately.
ILIFE V3s Pro Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Best Value
You don’t have to splurge to get a robot vacuum that will effectively clean your floors spotless. The ILIFE V3s Pro Robot Vacuum Cleaner comes at an affordable price but is still equipped with outstanding features. With 90 to 100 minutes of battery life, it can go over a large area or even your entire house on a single charge. It is also self-charging, so you do not have to worry about keeping an eye on its battery level during use.
This robot vacuum allows you to schedule cleaning times at your convenience or while you’re out so you can come home to a clean space. You can ensure it will even clean under your furniture, thanks to its low-profile design. To make things even more convenient for you, this robot vacuum allows you to operate it using a remote control.
Why we love it:
- Equipped with sensors to prevent bumps and drop-offs
- Features four cleaning modes
- Tangle-free technology cleans up pet hair with ease
Why we don’t:
- Only 300 ml of dustbin capacity
Something to consider:
This robot vacuum might run on random patterns. If you notice it missing a spot, you can use the remote to direct it there.
Eufy RoboVac 15c Max
Best Multi-Surface
Whatever the surface of your flooring is, the Eufy RoboVac 15c Max will not have trouble cleaning it up. This robot vacuum is great for tile, laminated, and hardwood flooring. On these types of surfaces, it can efficiently run on low mode with a run time of up to 100 minutes. You can also use this on low and medium-pile carpets while using maximum suction power. On carpeted floors, this will last for up to 40 minutes.
The dustbin of this robot vacuum has a capacity of 0.6 liters, so you don’t need to empty it out every so often, making it easy to maintain. If you have stairs or floor ledges, this robot vacuum is an excellent option. It is equipped with lots of accessories such as a remote control with batteries, a charging base, cleaning tools, an extra unibody filter, and more.
Why we love it:
- Comes packaged with lots of convenient accessories
- Great battery life, around 100 minutes per charge
- Pairs with Alexa or Google Home voice control feature
Why we don’t:
- It does not have a mapping feature
Something to consider:
You can’t designate specific areas with this robot vacuum, so if there are areas you want it to steer clear of, such as play areas or pet bowls, you need to set up barriers.
Roborock S7 Robot Vacuum and Mop
Most Versatile
The two-in-one design of the Roborock S7 gives it an edge among other robot vacuums on the market. Aside from its strong suction power that can deep clean carpeted floorings, it can also scrub off stains just like a mop. It utilizes sonic vibration technology and can scrub at the pace of 3000 cycles per minute, making it highly effective.
This vacuum is also programmable, so you can set up no-go zones, invisible walls, and no-mop zones. This way you can sit back and relax while your vacuum handles your chores for you. Best of all, it has a runtime of up to 180 minutes on a single charge for uninterrupted cleaning.
Why we love it:
- Large capacity dust bag can go up to eight weeks without emptying
- Excellent battery life
- Intelligent mop lifting design creates a wonderful two-in-one product
Why we don’t:
- Self-emptying dock is sold separately
Something to consider:
The brush of this robot vacuum can get tangled on high-pile carpets, hair, and strings, so cleaning the brush might be more challenging.
Shark IQ AV1002AE Self-Empty XL Robot Vacuum
Best for Pet Hair
A common problem among pet owners when using robot vacuums is the need to cut and clean away hair and fur wrapped around the vacuum brush during use. Luckily, the Shark IQ Robot Vacuum AV1002AE is equipped with a self-cleaning brush roll to save you from this hassle. This robot vacuum also delivers strong suction power ensuring that it won’t leave hair, fur, or any kind of debris on your floor.
You don’t have to empty this vacuum bin after every cleanup thanks to its ability to automatically empty itself into its base. Its base has an excellent capacity, large enough to hold up to 45 days of debris. This robot vacuum also automatically goes back to its dock when it needs to recharge, so it won’t run out of power in the middle of cleaning and leave you peeking under your couch trying to find it.
Why we love it:
- Google and Alexa voice command integration
- Room mapping means effective and efficient cleaning
- Features multi-surface brushrolls that can easily pick up pet hair and debris
Why we don’t:
- It is not equipped with AI laser vision
Something to consider:
The onboard dustbin might get full quickly, so the robot vacuum would have to go back and forth to the base to self-empty multiple times. Because of this, this robot vacuum might take a longer time to finish its job.
Do robot vacuums need WiFi?
Even without WiFi, you can still use robot vacuums because you can operate them by pressing buttons on the device. However, you won’t be able to enjoy everything robot vacuums with WiFi connectivity have to offer without a connection. These include app-controlled features such as scheduling and room designation. Without WiFi, you also can’t take advantage of your robot vacuum’s voice control feature.
What makes a robot vacuum good for carpets?
Most robot vacuums can work on hardwood floors and carpets, but some have special features to make working on different surfaces more efficient. Some can detect carpeted surfaces and automatically increase the suction power. Most robot vacuums that are designed to clean carpets also have large wheels that allow the device to move on leveled surfaces with ease.
About the Author:
Robyn Camilla has been a homeowner for over 20 years and has spent the last 15 years of her professional career in software development. Through this experience, she’s used a lot of different applications, both corporate and personal, as well as had to purchase and try tons of household appliances and more. Recently, she’s began making her older home smarter with new thermostats, plugs, lights and more. This experience has taught her a lot about these products, and now she’s working hard to share that information with you to help you make a smarter purchase the first time.
Why You Should Trust Us:
The Digital Trends team prides itself in offering expert product recommendations in ways that everyone can understand. Our team of experts is constantly using and reviewing the latest and greatest consumer tech, smart home gadgets, televisions, and so much more to offer insights to help guide your purchasing decision. We have vigorously tested thousands of different products across these categories, and we’ve distilled our lists to bring you the best of the best. If we feel a product does not live up to our expectations, it doesn’t make the list. We are humans though, and realize that not every recommended product will be perfect for everyone, so we do our best to call out important features that may impact your choices. Below our top picks we’ve included additional product information to ensure that you are making the right choice for your unique needs.
The products in this guide have been carefully curated by our team of experts and enthusiasts who understand the value and quality needed for the best options.
